7/21/07, The University of Michigan Lincoln-Douglas Institute

Lecturers: Jen Larson and Jason Baldwin

Subject: Cross Examination

Click here for a pdf version of these notes.

I. Goals of CX

a. Put yourself in a better position

b. Simplify arguments

c. Set burdens

d. Introduce the tone of the argument you are going to pose

e. First impressions are important to the judge

f.  Clarify unclear aspects of the case

g. Stump your opponent

h. Mitigate evidence and statistics

II. As the “Asker”

a. Ask confidently

b. Know your case

c. Use all your CX time

                 i. If you can’t think of questions, use: “Why does this matter?  Why is it true?”

d. Control your CX

III. As the “Askee”

a. Defend your position

b. Be clear, don’t purposely be confusing

c. Respond confidently

d. Don’t fall for hypothetical analogies

                 i. Think about if the example is relevant

e.  If the asker demands ‘yes’ or ‘no’, you don’t have to answer Y or N

f.   Be courteous

g.  Don’t try to waste the opponents’ time

h.  Don’t ask counter-questions

i.   If you get cut off, ask that you be allowed to finish your answer

IV. Strategy

a. Find the underlying principle of the premise

                 i. Then find a negative effect of the underlying principle

                 ii. Don’t ask the clinching question in CX, point it out in rebuttal

b. Find an underlying assumption

c. Do not squander what you did in CX so bring it up in rebuttal