I am certain that you are curious about how LD is actually structured....well I am going to try my hardest to show you how. These components are essential for building an LD case:
- Introduction
- Value
- Criteria
This is not your typical high school essay. In debate you have a case that MUST have adequate analysis and case structure. I have divided this page up for viewing purposes. So At the bottom look for the link that takes you to the other page containing the rest of the information you need to know to write an LD case. With this in mind, lets look at the first area of an effective case:
Most people agree that in order to capture the audience you must have an attention getter. This is one of those times. When you are debating, more than likely the topic is going to have a lot of jargon that your average joe blow just doesn't understand. Even if the person is smart as Einstein, they still need something that will capture their attention and put all eyes and ears on you! This is why an introduction is ESSENTIAL to ANY debate case. If you have this attention getter you completely attract your judges attention. This is VERY NEEDED! If they are bored from the start, they may miss very important things that could make them vote for you! I'm sure your thinking, hmmmm ok, let's say i have an introduction, but what if it is still boring. Here are a few ways you can spice it up!
- A catchy quote will capture most people if it is effective enough. Try to pick a quote that you think you would want to hear if you were the judge
- An analogy. Think of it this way. If you were debating about nuclear weapons you could say: Evil is to people as nuclear weapons are to immorality. We don't want either of them to exist, but they do. That one is weak I admit, but it gives you a chance to develop your own.
- A statistic or fact. If you were doing a speech about guns and the protection of society, you might say: Every minute of every day of the year 50,000 people WILL DIE! This would capture attention of anyone with a heart. They will realize HEY MAN, WHAT A BIG PROBLEM!!!! They will definitely listen.
Ok...Something that I believe you already realize is that this is VALUE debate. Values are basically just something that has personal meaning or intrinsic worth. You have different types of values
- Universal Values-Things that are held as global and are cherished and respected worldwide
- Intrinsic Values-Values that are essential and needed for everyday life
Let's take a look at some of the intrinsic and instrumental values in our society:
Universal
- Distributive Justice
- Peace
- Justice
- Equality
- Humanitarianism
- Family
Intrinsic
- Justice
- Freedom
- Equality
- Family
- Globalism
- Privacy
- Safety
- Liberty
- Constitutional Law
Take note that a few of the universal values are also intrinsic values. I know you are probably thinking....well why is it that freedom, safety, and liberty aren't on the universal side. Well basically, some countries and people do not hold these things as valuable. Matter of fact many people and countries think quite the opposite. Think of a value as something that is a goal that human beings try to strive for. Something intangible that is of superior worth.
Sound simple enough? I think it is pretty clear cut! Let's move to the 2nd area of the basic ld case:
This is where Lincoln Douglas Debate gets a little more confusing. Criteria or Criterion set the standard for measuring your value. Sound simple....no I don't think so. Criterion can be the make or break in your case. Let's look at some sample criterion so we can see how they play perhaps the most important role in LD debate.
- Utilitarianism -Greatest good for the greatest number of people
- Teleology-The end justifies the means (or no matter what you do to achieve an end it is justified)
- Deontology-The means justifies the end (opposite of teleology. If the means is not moral it should not be used to produce a positive end)
- Consequentialism-The consequences produced are either minor or major
- Humanitarianism- Respecting human rights and the well being of the majority of human beings
- Categorical Imperative -Immanuel Kant's four prong test for measuring a value:
- The Formula of the Law of Nature: "Act as if the maxim of your action were to become through your will a universal law of nature."
- The Formula of the End Itself: "Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an end."
- The Formula of Autonomy: "So act that your will can regard itself at the same time as making universal law through its maxims."
- The Formula of the Kingdom of Ends: "So act as if you were through your maxims a law-making member of a kingdom of ends."
These are standards by which you can see whether or not a value is desirable or needed. I know that the catagorical imperative is confusing. However, it can usually serve as a model to test ANY value. It is not wise to use it if you are confused about how to format it into your case. I will show you how you link the two together in your case and show why your value is needed and essential to the resolution.
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