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The glossary supports competitive understanding for round decision-making.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/important-terms-in-lincoln-douglas-debate-key-debate-terminology/423113/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/important-terms-in-lincoln-douglas-debate-key-debate-terminology/423113.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"lilac","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-09","2026-09-28",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",7,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is the affirmative in Lincoln Douglas debate?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"The affirmative is the side that supports the resolution. The affirmative case explains why the resolution is correct and is presented during the affirmative constructive (AC).","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What does “burden of proof” mean in LD debate?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"A debater who offers an argument must show that it is valid to be accepted. In LD, the affirmative must prove the resolution is true, while the negative must prove the resolution is false.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What is the meaning of topicality and why does it matter?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Topicality describes focusing on the resolution and staying on topic. It helps evaluate whether arguments address the required issues for both sides.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},423113,1791001024,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,95,100,105,109,114,119,122,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":93,"slug":94},70,"exam",{"id":96,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":110,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":121},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":125},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":131},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":33,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":30,"language":139,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":143,"read_time":110,"preview_page_count":4},3985747861865,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_29158cc5080c5b710cf443261637dec0","Important Terms in Lincoln Douglas Debate  \nUnderstanding debate terminology is essential to excelling in the round. These terms are not limited to debate. They are applicable more broadly to assessing ideas and arguments.  \nAffirmative: The side that supports the resolution is affirming. The affirmative case explains why the resolution is correct and is presented during the affirmative constructive (AC) .  \nAbuse: This refers to arguments, assumptions, or definitions made by one side that prevent both sides from completing on equal ground. Abusive assumptions skew the round in favor of one team.  \nApriori-see “Prima Facie”  \nBest Definitions: Debaters may argue that their definition is superior to that of another debater for a variety of reasons such as setting fair limits for the debate or being used in the literature.  \nBurden of Proof: A debater who offers an argument must show that it is valid in order for it tobe accepted. In Lincoln-Douglas debate, the affirmative team has the burden to prove theresolution true while the negative has the burden to prove the resolution false.  \nCard: A piece of evidence with a claim and warrant.  \nConstructive: Constructive speeches are speeches in which debaters introduce their position and advocacy. In Lincoln Douglas debate the first two speeches are constructives.  \nContention: A contention is a major argument in the debate. Pro and Con teams build their cases with contentions.  \nCriterion: A criterion is a necessary or sufficient standard by which to measure the competing values. It is a conceptual tool used to decide which value should be upheld.  \nCross-ex: Cross-ex and CX are both short for cross examination. Cross-ex is the time one debater gets to interact with another debater by asking questions. In Lincoln Douglas debate each debater gets 3 minutes after his/her opponent’s constructive to ask questions. The time can be used for clarification or to set up an argument.  \nCrystallize: Debaters generally crystallize the debate in their last speech. Crystallizing involves summing up the debate, addressing the most important arguments, and offering voting issues.  \n© Forensics University 2017. All RIghts Reserved. Cannot be duplicated for profit, sale, or redistribution. This material is for educational purposes only, and not a guarantee of any particular rank or award.  \nPermission for reproduction can [be sought at 4n6u.org](be sought at 4n6u.org).  \nEvidence: Evidence refers to published literature introduced into the debate to provide support for an argument. Evidence is less of an issue in Lincoln Douglas Debate than in Policy Debate.  \nFIAT: A term used to mean a formal authorization. This refers to the fact that debaters do not have to prove that a plan will occur, under fiat it is accepted that it will. This way the debate can focus on the arguments around the plan, not whether or not congress would pass it.  \nFlow: Flowing is a note taking technique. Debaters and judges flow throughout the round to keep track of the arguments being made. The “flow” may also refer to the notepad itself.  \nGames Theory: Games theory is the idea that debate must be fair for both sides. The rules of debate must not provide a better opportunity for one side to win over another.  \nGround: Ground refers to the arguments debaters can make during the round. It is used to say that each side must have sufficient ground for the round to be fair.  \nImpact: This concept explains what the result of the argument will be. Impacts are why the argument is important/why it is more important than opponent’s arguments.  \nLink: This concept spells out how the argument links to the resolution. A typical argument against something can be ‘No Link,’ which means it doesn’t matter if the argument is true, it isnot applicable to the resolution.  \nPrep Time: In Lincoln Douglas debate, debaters have a total of four minutes of prep time that can be used during the debate to get ready and plan for their next speech.  \nPri","cbCaiiMr1pZkSA2h","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiiMr1pZkSA2h","pdf",242767,"English","# Important Terms in Lincoln Douglas Debate\n## Core Roles and Case Construction\n## Evidence, Standards, and Argument Evaluation\n## Debate Process and Common Techniques","[{\"question\":\"What is the affirmative in Lincoln Douglas debate?\",\"answer\":\"The affirmative is the side that supports the resolution. The affirmative case explains why the resolution is correct and is presented during the affirmative constructive (AC).\"},{\"question\":\"What does “burden of proof” mean in LD debate?\",\"answer\":\"A debater who offers an argument must show that it is valid to be accepted. In LD, the affirmative must prove the resolution is true, while the negative must prove the resolution is false.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the meaning of topicality and why does it matter?\",\"answer\":\"Topicality describes focusing on the resolution and staying on topic. It helps evaluate whether arguments address the required issues for both sides.\"}]","Important Terms in Lincoln Douglas Debate - Key Debate Terminology | PDF",1790630259]