Crossfire By Sharmila Nimbkar and Damien Rivera What
Crossfire By: Sharmila Nimbkar and Damien Rivera
What is crossfire? Crossfire is a 3 minute questioning period between speeches. The first crossfire is ONLY FOR PERSON ONES The second crossfire is ONLY FOR PERSON TWO Grand crossfire (3 rd one) is for everybody Both sides take turns asking and answering questions
The Boxing Match Crossfire is a very flexible period of time in the debate, which is why it can vary wildly from round to round depending on your judge. In general, crossfire is used for ● ● Revealing logical flaws Clarifying complex arguments Forcing concessions Asking for cards However, lay judges LOVE very aggressive crossfires because they see it as a “boxing match” Pinning your opponents or revealing that they don't know what they are talking about will take you a long way.
Chips and Chillax With more experienced judges on the other hand, they will almost always play Candy Crush on their phone and ignore what you are saying during cross, making it your time to do whatever you want. ******ALERT****** ANYTHING YOU WANT THE JUDGE TO HEAR THAT WAS SAID DURING CROSS YOU MUST BRING IT UP IN ANOTHER SPEECH OR ELSE IT WILL BE COMPLETELY IGNORED
Crossfire Etiquette: How to be nice during cross ● ● Conventionally, first speaking team (person who gave the very first speech in the entire round) always asks “ may I ask the first question? ” to which the second speaking team will answer “Yes”. After that, teams should take turns asking questions, asking if they can ask a question before each one ○ ● If you wish to ask a second question in a row that is related to the first, politely ask “may i ask a follow up question” and they can either say yes or no ALWAYS look at the judge while answering and asking questions. Remember, you will never convince your opponents that you are right. your judge is the MOST IMPORTANT PERSON in the round. Also, looking at the judge prevents aggression between teams.
Crossfire Etiquette: How to not be mean during cross ● ● Often times your opponent's will try to take advantage of your question by rambling on for as long as possible to not only waste your time, but to promote their own agenda. HOWEVER, there is a way to politely, but firmly stop them After they have sufficiently answered your question, simply say “Ok thank you, do you have a question? ” Sometimes, a team will avoid your question if they don't know the answer. If it's obvious that they are being evasive, just say “I'm sorry but that wasn't my question. I was trying to ask…. ” Don’t make statements into questions. For example, “ did you know that dogs are far more effective that cats at relieving anxiety? ” This kind of question is very unfruitful.
Epic gaming crossfire strats ● ● Don’t ask open ended questions. Open ended questions will almost always lead to your opponent's going on a 30 second rant on one of their contentions, which allows the judge to hear it another time, giving them an advantage Use the If/then strategy. It allows you to set up a context that benefits you, then ask them a question within that context that is very difficult for them to answer ○ ○ ● Ex. If China- US relations are already very tense, what incentive do the Chinese investor have to help bail out the US debt? Ex. If athletes are unable to pay for their basic needs, how can they be expected to pursue an education? Push your concessions. If your opponent begins to concede ground on a certain topic, keep pushing them, without being rude, to concede more, because after one concession it’s much easier to get another.
How to not Goof Cross ● ● Conceding in crossfire is basically signing the ballot for the other team Conceding in debate is when you admit that the other team was right or that you were wrong at some point in the debate NEVER NEVER CONCEDE. LIKE EVER. That's why you spend so much time writing an airtight case. Even seemingly harmless concessions can come back to bite ○ ○ Ex- If your opponent asks, “Well, lives matter, right”, simply saying yes will give them ground and probably lead into their next point. Instead say, “Yes, but our side is actually saving the most lives, as opposed to yours which would only harm them. ” Never give yes or no answers. It's just a ploy to get you to concede. “It Depends ” is your best friend. Every team has a right to explain themselves. Don't let anybody tell you must answer “yes” or “no”.
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