Dear TP families,
We are glad that you will be joining us for the Last Rodeo! Because TP and LD are both debates, it is easy to forget just how different they truly are.
Students: As you prepare your LD cases, you must wrestle with value and philosophy. I hope this is an enjoyable, thought-provoking process.
Please be sure to review all of the LD rules as you go through this process.
Parents: You may be used to judging and coaching with fact-based logic. As you prepare to judge LD, please review the purpose and rules of this value debate.
Highlights are listed below.
Here are some highlights from the Lincoln Douglas Debate rules:
I. Stoa LD Purpose Statement:
Lincoln Douglas is a value debate. A Lincoln Douglas debate examines competing value systems to answer big questions. The purpose of the Lincoln-Douglas value debate is to instill in Christian home school students the skills of presentation, critical thinking, research, and value analysis. That endeavor is accomplished in an environment of honorable competition that cultivates maturity, wisdom, grace, poise, and brings glory to our Lord, Jesus Christ.
II. ... In LD, it is the job of the affirmative team to uphold the resolution. If the affirmative is successful, they win, and the judge should vote for the resolution.
If the affirmative fails to do so, the negative team wins, and the judge should vote accordingly.
III. ... Lincoln Douglas Value debate is a discussion of values in the context of the resolution. It primarily concerns what ought to be instead of what is. The judge should place greater weight on philosophical and logical arguments over specific applications or evidence in deciding on the big-picture idea.