Today I must negate the resolution (Resolved ...



Sample Lincoln Douglas Negative Case with Comments

There are many different ways to write a good Lincoln Douglas debate case. This is a sample case that has all the important components. I have commented in red and explained the different parts of the case.

Most people start by affirming or negating the resolution depending on what side you are on. Some people like to add an introduction first.

Today I must negate the resolution (Resolved: Anthropocentrism ought to be valued above biocentrism)

Terms should be defined here. You should pick terms that make your arguments clearer or stronger. Keep in mind how much time you use on definitions and only define what will help your case.

I offer the following definitions for clarification of the debate round:

From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Anthropocentrism - considering human beings as the most significant entity of the universe

Biocentrism - considering all forms of life as having intrinsic value

Extinct - no longer existing

Species - a category of biological classification comprising related organisms or populations potentially capable of interbreeding

Virus - the causative agent of an infectious disease

At this point you should define your value and criterion. The value should be an important goal that is to be upheld or protected. It should focus your case and help focus your argumentation. The criterion should be a standard used to measure the impact on the value and evaluate the arguments during the round. Both the value and criterion should be referred to throughout the round and the relationship between the two should be clearly articulated.

My value for this debate is life as defined by The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary - The property or quality that distinguishes living organisms from dead organisms and inanimate matter, manifested in functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli or adaptation to the environment originating from within the organism. The criterion I will be upholding is that of Utilitarianism defined as the idea that when faced with two actions, an individual ought to choose the action that produces the greatest good for the greatest number. In this case the correct action is one that benefits the greatest number of life.

Sometime people but observations in their cases to make points that apply to the whole case. The observation can also be used to frame your argument or to set up the premise of an argument. This is an optional component of an LD case.

At this point you can give an overview by listing your main points. I have not done it for this case but it can be helpful to the judge. If the judge knows the major points it can help him/her prepare the flow (notes).

At this point you will want to make your points. It is very important to be very clear where each point starts and stops. You can call them contentions, points arguments etc. The name does not matter as much as being organized and signposting for the judge. (Signposting is letting the judge know when a point ends and starts.) I prefer to try connecting points by creating sub-points. This way the judge sees how the sub-points support the main point. Sub-points are not necessary. It is a stylistic decision.

Contention 1 Life is scarce and needs to be valued as such

Sub point A – Earth is the only planet in this vast universe where we can confirm there is life.

We have sent probes to Mars and the Moon as well as other planets in our solar system and found no existence of life.

Sub point B – Life can only develop within a very narrow range of characteristics

From NASA - In order for life to evolve on a planet, scientists believe that the planet must be warm enough to contain at least some liquid water, but not so hot that all of the water turns to vapor, as appears to be the case on the planet Venus. It must also contain certain important elements, like carbon and nitrogen, that are necessary to build living cells, and the environment must be calm enough that life has time to develop - the planets in some star systems may be hit so frequently by giant meteorites (causing all the surface water to boil or vaporize) that life never has a chance to form there. Earth is a very special place, in that it appears to be the perfect environment for life to form and flourish.

Contention 2 All life has value and man has participated in only a tiny portion of the history of life on the planet Earth

It is the unbridle arrogance of man to assume that he or she has greater value than any other form of life. According to National Geographic humans have walked the Earth for 190,000 years, a mere blip in Earth's 4and a ½ -billion-year history. A lot has happened in that time. According to the History of the Universe. The Universe was formed 15 billion years ago, the earth was formed 4.7 billion years ago, amino acids started forming and bonding 4 billion years ago, Jellyfish developed 650 million years ago, insects developed 380 million years ago, mammals developed 200 million years ago, Neanderthals developed 200 thousand years ago, and modern man developed around 100 thousand years ago. Which means that modern man has only been around for .0021% of the existence of Earth and .00067% of the existence of the universe.

Contention 3 Man is a virus that destroys life

Sub point A Man has caused the destruction of billions of species

According to Conservation International Species are estimated to be heading towards extinction at a rate of about one every 20 minutes. That’s a pace a thousand times faster than the norm during Earth’s history. That’s not just fast, that’s out of control. And it’s definitely not good. This situation is directly tied to two issues – habitat destruction and climate change. In the same 20 minutes, we will destroy 1,200 acres of forest and emit 180,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere worldwide. Less forest cover means fewer acres of habitat for species and more climate-changing carbon in the atmosphere. As climate, landscapes, and oceans change, species must move or adapt. Those that can’t simply die out.

Sub point B Man is in the process of making the planet uninhabitable for himself as well.

From Nobel Prize winner Al Gore Carbon dioxide and other gases warm the surface of the planet naturally by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. This is a good thing because it keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere and temperatures are rising. We're already seeing changes. Glaciers are melting, plants and animals are being forced from their habitats, and the number of severe storms and droughts is increasing.

Sub point C Man is the only animal who kills for pleasure

All other creatures kill for survival or to feed themselves. In addition to killing for fun man creates weapons of mass destruction that not only kill large numbers of humans and other life forms, his weapons leave a path of destruction that will last for hundreds of years. All one has to do is think about nuclear weapons to confirm that man is a virus bent on the destruction of the world.

The Negative case has seven minutes for their first speech. You must decide how to split the time between establishing your case and clashing with the affirmative case. I tend to use a rough split of four minutes of case, leaving three minutes for clash with the affirmative case and a conclusion. It is a good idea to have some extra examples in case the clash does not use all the time you have allotted.

The case should end with a strong conclusion. The conclusion professionally ends the speech, ties your points together, reinforces your value and criterion and includes an appeal for the judge to vote for your side.

In conclusion, I have proven using my criterion Utilitarianism that man is a destructive force that destroys my value of life. Valuing biocentrism is best because it support the most life and the long term viability of the planet. Therefore you should vote for the negative.

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