Project:#49 Debate & Forensics


What are Forensics?

Often the question is asked, "do you have anything to do with science or the study of
dead bodies like the Forensic experts on CSI?"

The answer is no, although both types of forensics do share some origins. As Golden,
Berquist and Coleman note, "Legal speaking in the law courts was referred to as
forensic discourse" (Rhetoric of Western Thought, 3rd edition, Kendall/Hunt, 1983, p.
39). Aristotle's Rhetoric (book 1, 3.5) describes three forms of speaking. One is
forensics, for which Aristotle notes: "The end of the forensic speaker is the just or
the unjust." In book 1, 3.4, Aristotle defines forensic speaking as "either accusatory
or defensive, for litigants must necessarily either accuse or defend." (Both
quotations come from the J.H. Freese translation, Harvard University Press, 1926).

So how do people tend to look at both of forms of forensics as the same? Golden,
Berquist and Coleman suggest it is because forensic discourse "deals with happenings
in the past as in the case of alleged criminality" (ibid, p. 60).




Here's a format I've used in the classroom with success. I adapted it from
the formats I'm familiar with in competitive debate. It allows for a good
back-and-forth exchange. I ended up not really enforcing the time limits
shown--You could adapt those as needed.

Format

Affirmative Presentation        4 minutes

The affirmative side will present their prepared arguments.

Cross-Examination                 3 minutes

The negative side may cross-examine the affirmative side on their position.

Prep Time                               3 minutes

The negative side may have time to prepare their responses to the affirmative's
arguments.

Negative Presentation            4 minutes

The negative side will present their prepared arguments.

Negative Rebuttal                  2 minutes

The negative side will respond to specific arguments that were made by the
affirmative.

Cross-Examination                 3 minutes

The affirmative side may cross-examine the negative side on their position.

Prep Time                               3 minutes

The affirmative side may have time to prepare their responses to the negative's
arguments.

Affirmative Rebuttal               4 minutes

The affirmative side will respond to specific arguments that were made by
the negative and summarize why they should win the debate.

Negative Summary                 2 minute

The negative side may briefly respond once more to the affirmative, and
summarize for the audience why they should win the debate.

In debate you have a proposition (resolved that the federal government should more
fully fund education). You have two teams -

Affirmative who aregue for the proposition and negative who argue against the
proposition.

The format basically follow the following format
1st affirmative
Cross Examination by 2nd negative
1st negative
Cross examination by 1st afirmative
2nd affirmative
cross examined by 1st negative
2nd negative
cross examined by 2nd negative
1st negative rebuttal
1st affirmative rebuttal
2nd negative rebuttal
2nd affirmative rebuttal
(those last two may be turned around)

There is also values or Lincoln Douglas debate which argues values.  These are two
people debates http://www.uoregon.edu/~forensic/StructureLD.html


Go back to CyberEnglish