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
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