Cross Examination

During cross-examination, you can ask to see evidence, try to getting them to agree with your view, ask for explanations or clarifications of what has been presented, and set up some attacks you plan to use later in the debate by asking questions. Look confident like you know what your doing because this is the only time where the judge can compare you one on one with your opponent.

Some guidelines would include:

• Ask a short questions designed to get a short answers.
• Don't telegraph your argument or they’ll have more time to prepare.
• Make the questions seem important, even if it is just an attempt to clarify.
• Politeness is a must! Emphasize the difference if they are rude or snide. Remember not to yell or be overly sarcastic and mean no matter how much fun it is.
• Approach things from a non-obvious direction. Then surprise them into a trap.
• Mark your flow/notes as to what you want to question them about.
• Avoid open ended questions unless you are sure they are totally clueless.
• If they try to waste your time stop them with a blunt but polite answer.
• Face the judge not your opponent.
• Cross-ex answers should be used into your arguments during a speech in order to be effective.

  Some Guidelines for answering questions are:

  • Refer to something you have already said whenever possible. This is the safetest approach and makes you look together.
  • Answer the questions based on your position in the debate so far.
  • Always stay calm even if your nervouse try to appear relaxed.
  • Try not to make promises of what you will do later.
  • Be willing to exchange documents read into the debate. Its not a rule but judge commonly count it against you if you don't.
  • Address the judge.
  • If given the chance of a long answer that won’t hurt you, use it to waste the other teams time and hopefully get him/her angry and to act rude.
  • Never say "I don't know," this shows incompetence, say something like "I am not really sure at this time...."