Debate Terms

Affirmative

The affirmative (AFF) is the team that affirms (agrees) with the resolution. The (NEG) negative side refutes (disagrees with) the affirmation .

The affirmative team will have a plan that they are advocating (supporting) for that should be within the resolution.

The affirmative team speaks first and last.

Negative

The Negative (NEG) is the team which negates the resolution and contends with the Affirmative team (AFF).

The Negative team speaks second and second to last.

Resolution

A resolution or topic is a normative statement, which means that the statement has a subjective statement or opinion rather than statement of fact, that the affirmative team affirms and the negative team negates.

What is a normative statement? Normative statements often have “should” recommendations or “this is better than that” with “better” not measured objectively.

• Examples
  • Animal testing should be banned
  • A college degree is essential for getting a good job.
  • Korea needs one more national public holiday
    • What statement does the AFF argue?
    • What statement does the NEG argue
  • All people should have the right to own guns
    • What is the NEG?
      • No people should have the right to own guns
      • Only some people should have the right to own guns
      • All people should not have the right to own guns

Constructive speech

Constructive speeches are the first four speeches of a debate round. Constructive speeches are each followed by a 3-minute cross-examination period.

The purpose of the constructive speech is to make and support your main arguments in favor of the resolution (when you are affirmative) or against the resolution (when you are negative).

A constructive speech should accomplish the following:

1. Present your primary arguments
2. Provide support for those arguments in the form of evidence and reasoning.
3. Be persuasively written (should include introduction, transitions, and a conclusion). Think P.R.E.P.

In general, constructive arguments are the only time that a team can make new arguments. The last four speeches of the debate are reserved for refutations of arguments already made.

In high school, constructive speeches are 8 minutes long; in college, they are 9 minutes.

Cross-Examination

Cross-examination is the round following the constructive speeches. During cross-ex, short for cross-examination, the AFF asks the NEG questions, and the NEG asks the AFF questions to clarify and better understand each other’s case.

Cross-ex occurs between constructive and rebuttal speeches.

Rebuttal speech

Rebuttal speeches are the last four speeches. Unlike the constructive speeches, rebuttal speeches are not followed by a cross-examination period.

In high school, rebuttals are usually five minutes long (with the exception of certain states and organizations that use four minute rebuttals).In college debate, they are generally six minutes.

Rebuttal speeches must address arguments made in the constructive speeches. They generally may not propose new arguments or recover arguments dropped in a team’s previous speeches.

• Policy debate
• double turns
• drop
• Harms (see also threats)
• Impact turns
• Interlocutor
• Link turns
• Rebuttal speech
• Straight turns
• Turn