Curriculum

26 lesson plans a teacher can run tomorrow.

Three novice courses with a lesson for every practice: Lincoln-Douglas, Policy, and Public Forum. Each lesson has an objective, a warm-up, twenty minutes of instruction, a drill, a round, homework, and the CUDL materials it uses. Written for a sponsoring teacher with no debate background; CUDL coaches teach the same lessons at partner schools.

Published September 14, 2026. Lesson plans link to the guides, tools, and cases on this site.

A coach leading a classroom session while a student raises a hand

26lessons across three courses

75-90minutes per lesson

29guides the lessons draw on

12practice tools used in drills

Novice Lincoln-Douglas

Takes a student from never having seen a round to competing in a novice division. Each lesson is 75 to 90 minutes: a five-minute warm-up, twenty minutes of instruction, twenty minutes of drills, and a half round or full round with a debrief.

10 lessons, one per week | No experience needed

1What a round isRecite the LD speech order with times and describe what each speech does.

Warm-up (5 min): Everyone gives a one-minute speech on a prompt from the prompt generator.
Teach (20 min): Speech order and times; the affirmative and negative burdens; what a judge decides on. Watch a recorded novice round together.
Drill (20 min): Flow the recorded round on a printed LD flow sheet; compare flows in pairs.
Round (30 min): None. Instead, each student explains the round to a partner in two minutes.
Homework: Read the beginner sections of the value and criterion guide.
Materials: Speech timer, LD flow sheet, a recorded round

2Arguments: claim, warrant, impactBuild an argument with all three parts and identify a missing part in someone else's.

Warm-up (5 min): Click drill for filler words, two minutes each.
Teach (20 min): The three parts of an argument. Why 'it is bad' is not an impact. Examples from the current resolution.
Drill (20 min): Argument builder: coach reads a claim, students write a warrant and impact in ninety seconds, share, critique.
Round (30 min): Half round: two students each give a two-minute constructive on a practice resolution; the group flows.
Homework: Write three complete arguments on the current resolution, any side.
Materials: Prompt generator, practice resolution bank

3Value and criterionChoose a value and criterion for each side of the current resolution and explain why the criterion measures the value.

Warm-up (5 min): Thirty-second summary drill: explain the resolution in thirty seconds, then fifteen.
Teach (20 min): What the value is, what the criterion is, and how they decide rounds. Three common pairings and when each fits.
Drill (20 min): Framework speed round: coach names a resolution from the bank, pairs write a value and criterion for each side in five minutes.
Round (30 min): Framework-only debate: three-minute constructives with framework and one contention, then the group votes on the framework alone.
Homework: Draft the framework for your affirmative case.
Materials: Value and criterion guide, resolution bank

4Evidence and researchFind a credible source, cite it correctly, and cut a card that supports a specific claim.

Warm-up (5 min): Flashcards: warrant, impact, card, tag, cite.
Teach (20 min): What counts as evidence in LD; where to find it free; how to cut a card honestly; evidence ethics.
Drill (20 min): Card-cutting drill: everyone cuts three cards from one article in fifteen minutes; trade and verify.
Round (30 min): None. The last thirty minutes are research time on the current topic with the coach circulating.
Homework: Cut six cards for your affirmative case.
Materials: Research skills guide, links page

5Writing the affirmativeComplete a six-minute affirmative case using the case template.

Warm-up (5 min): Metronome reading for pace.
Teach (20 min): The case template: resolution, definitions, framework, two contentions, conclusion. Read a sample affirmative aloud and mark its parts.
Drill (20 min): Case clinic: students read their drafts to a partner, who marks every place a warrant or impact is missing.
Round (30 min): Each student delivers their 1AC to the group with the timer; the group flows and gives one note each.
Homework: Revise the affirmative to time.
Materials: First case guide, sample affirmative, speech timer

6Writing the negativeComplete a seven-minute negative case with framework, contentions, and answers to the common affirmative.

Warm-up (5 min): Rebuttal drill, three rounds of sixty seconds.
Teach (20 min): How the negative differs: the seven-minute NC, answering the AC in the same speech, the block. Read the sample negative.
Drill (20 min): Answer bank: the group lists the six most likely affirmative arguments and writes a two-sentence answer to each.
Round (30 min): Half round: 1AC and 1NC only, then a debrief on which NC answers landed.
Homework: Finish the negative case.
Materials: Sample negative, rebuttal drill

7Rebuttals and time allocationDeliver a 1AR that answers framework, the NC, and extends the AC within four minutes.

Warm-up (5 min): One breath, one idea drill.
Teach (20 min): The four rebuttal moves; the 1AR time budget in seconds; collapsing in the NR and 2AR.
Drill (20 min): 1AR redo: watch a recorded 1AR, then each student gives their own 1AR from the same flow.
Round (30 min): Full round, novice pairing, with the coach judging and a full flow walk in the debrief.
Homework: Write blocks to the four arguments you could not answer.
Materials: Rebuttal guide, weighing drill, flow sheets

8Cross-examinationAsk four kinds of questions and answer without conceding ground.

Warm-up (5 min): Twenty questions on your own case with a partner.
Teach (20 min): The four question types; answering rules; what judges punish.
Drill (20 min): Chain drill in pairs, then silent-partner crossfire with a twelve-word limit.
Round (30 min): Full round with the debrief focused only on cross-examination.
Homework: Write ten questions for the most common negative case.
Materials: Cross-examination guide

9Judge adaptation and tournament prepAdapt delivery to a lay judge and complete the tournament checklist.

Warm-up (5 min): Back-wall volume drill.
Teach (20 min): Who judges novice rounds; what they reward; reading a pairing; the tournament day timeline.
Drill (20 min): Deliver the same one-minute argument three ways: to a parent judge, a teacher, a former debater.
Round (30 min): Two half rounds back to back, switching sides, to build stamina.
Homework: Pack using the tournament day checklist.
Materials: Judging guide, tournament day checklist

10First tournament debrief and the next topicTurn ballots into three specific changes and start the next topic's research plan.

Warm-up (5 min): Impromptu prompt, one minute each.
Teach (20 min): How to read a ballot; what dropped and why; the NSDA topic cycle and what happens on release day.
Drill (20 min): Ballot clinic: each student reads their ballots and names one change per round.
Round (30 min): Practice round on the next resolution using the practice bank, no evidence allowed.
Homework: Read the next topic primer when it is published.
Materials: Updates page, next topic plan

Novice Policy

Builds a first Policy team on the year-long resolution. The course front-loads research because Policy rewards evidence, and pairs students early so partners learn to divide work.

10 lessons, one per week | No experience needed; two-person teams

1The Policy round and the resolutionRecite the twelve speeches with times and explain the plan model.

Warm-up (5 min): One-minute speeches on a prompt.
Teach (20 min): Speech order; the plan; the affirmative's stock issues; the negative's options. Read the 2026-27 resolution and define its terms.
Drill (20 min): Flow a recorded novice round with one sheet per off-case position.
Round (30 min): Partners are assigned; each pair explains the resolution to another pair.
Homework: Read the Policy guide.
Materials: Policy guide, flow sheets

2Stock issues and the 1ACIdentify topicality, inherency, harms, solvency, and advantages in a sample 1AC.

Warm-up (5 min): Flashcards: stock issues.
Teach (20 min): Each stock issue with the sample 1AC as the example; what a card is and how it is read.
Drill (20 min): Stock-issue hunt: pairs mark every stock issue in the sample 1AC and find the weakest.
Round (30 min): Half round: the coach reads the 1AC, students cross-examine it.
Homework: Choose a plan with your partner; write a paragraph on why.
Materials: Sample 1AC, cross-examination guide

3Research day: harms and inherencyFind and cut four cards on harms and two on inherency from government and academic sources.

Warm-up (5 min): Card-cutting review.
Teach (20 min): Free sources for this topic: KFF, CBO, CRS, peer-reviewed journals; evidence ethics in Policy.
Drill (20 min): Guided research with a shared document; the coach checks citations.
Round (30 min): None; research continues.
Homework: Six more cards.
Materials: Research skills guide, links page

4Research day: solvency and advantagesDraft two advantages with uniqueness, link, and impact cards.

Warm-up (5 min): Thirty-second summary of your plan.
Teach (20 min): Advantage structure; why solvency evidence is where cases fail; internal links.
Drill (20 min): Advantage builder in pairs with the coach reviewing each chain.
Round (30 min): Each pair reads its advantages aloud to time.
Homework: Finish the 1AC draft.
Materials: Sample 1AC

5The negative: disadvantagesWrite a disadvantage shell with uniqueness, link, internal link, and impact.

Warm-up (5 min): Rebuttal drill.
Teach (20 min): Disadvantage structure; the spending and politics disadvantages on this topic; how the 2AC answers them.
Drill (20 min): Each pair writes a spending disadvantage shell against another pair's plan.
Round (30 min): Half round: 1AC, 1NC with one disadvantage, 2AC answers.
Homework: Complete the disadvantage with cards.
Materials: Disadvantages and counterplans guide, sample 1NC

6The negative: counterplans and topicalityWrite a counterplan text with a net benefit and a topicality shell.

Warm-up (5 min): Flashcards: counterplan, permutation, net benefit, topicality.
Teach (20 min): Counterplan competition; the public option counterplan on this topic; topicality standards and voters.
Drill (20 min): Counterplan clinic: each pair drafts a text and explains why the affirmative cannot permute it.
Round (30 min): Half round: 1NC with counterplan and topicality; 2AC answers.
Homework: Write 2AC blocks to the counterplan and topicality.
Materials: Topicality and blocks guide

7The block and the 1ARDivide the block between partners and deliver a 1AR that covers thirteen minutes in five.

Warm-up (5 min): One breath, one idea.
Teach (20 min): Block division; what the 2NC takes and the 1NR takes; 1AR time budgeting and grouping.
Drill (20 min): 1AR drill: partners read a block, the 1AR responds with a stopwatch; repeat with less time.
Round (30 min): Full round with the debrief on the block and 1AR only.
Homework: Write 1AR blocks for the two hardest negative arguments.
Materials: Speech timer, sample 1NC

8Cross-examination and evidence challengesAsk questions that set up arguments and handle evidence exchange under tournament rules.

Warm-up (5 min): Twenty questions on your 1AC.
Teach (20 min): Question types for Policy; asking to see cards; what to do when evidence is misrepresented.
Drill (20 min): Chain drill on the opponent's disadvantage link.
Round (30 min): Full round; the debrief tracks which cross-examination answers appeared in later speeches.
Homework: Ten questions for the most common negative strategy.
Materials: Cross-examination guide

9Speed, clarity, and judge adaptationDeliver a 2AR a volunteer judge can follow and collapse to one winning position.

Warm-up (5 min): Pen drill.
Teach (20 min): Why novices should not spread; collapsing in the 2NR and 2AR; adapting to lay and experienced judges.
Drill (20 min): 2NR and 2AR redo from a recorded round.
Round (30 min): Full round judged by a volunteer with no debate background; debrief on what they understood.
Homework: Tournament checklist.
Materials: Judging guide, tournament day checklist

10Tournament debrief and file maintenanceConvert ballots into a research list and organize the team file for the rest of the year.

Warm-up (5 min): Impromptu prompt.
Teach (20 min): Reading Policy ballots; maintaining a shared evidence file; what changes at the second tournament.
Drill (20 min): Ballot clinic; each pair adds three items to the research list.
Round (30 min): Practice round on a Policy practice resolution from the bank.
Homework: Cut the cards on your research list.
Materials: Resolution bank, updates page

Novice Public Forum

The fastest route to a first tournament. Six lessons cover the round, the case, rebuttal, summary and final focus, crossfire, and tournament preparation, using the current topic throughout.

6 lessons, one per week | No experience needed; two-person teams

1The round and the topicRecite the PF speech order and explain the current resolution in plain language.

Warm-up (5 min): One-minute speeches.
Teach (20 min): Speech order and times; the coin flip; the topic primer for the current resolution.
Drill (20 min): Flow a recorded round on the PF sheet.
Round (30 min): Pairs explain the pro and con to each other.
Homework: Read the beginner's guide and the topic primer.
Materials: Public Forum guide, topic primer

2Building the caseWrite a four-minute constructive with two contentions and cited evidence.

Warm-up (5 min): Card-cutting drill.
Teach (20 min): Case outline; evidence in PF; the two strongest arguments each side.
Drill (20 min): Argument builder on the current topic.
Round (30 min): Each pair reads a draft constructive to time.
Homework: Finish the pro case.
Materials: Sample pro case, research skills guide

3RebuttalAnswer a constructive argument by argument with signposting.

Warm-up (5 min): Rebuttal drill.
Teach (20 min): The four rebuttal moves; front-lining your own case in the second rebuttal.
Drill (20 min): Rebuttal redo from a recorded round.
Round (30 min): Half round: constructives and rebuttals.
Homework: Write the con case.
Materials: Sample con case, rebuttal article

4Summary and final focusDeliver a summary that narrows the round and a final focus with explicit weighing.

Warm-up (5 min): Weighing drill, five rounds.
Teach (20 min): What summary is for; the ballot sentence; even-if weighing.
Drill (20 min): Write a final focus in under 120 words, then deliver it.
Round (30 min): Full round; debrief on summary and final focus only.
Homework: Blocks to the four hardest arguments.
Materials: Summary and final focus guide, weighing guide

5CrossfireAsk questions that set up later speeches and answer in one sentence.

Warm-up (5 min): Twenty questions on your case.
Teach (20 min): Crossfire rules; grand crossfire strategy; courtesy and the judge.
Drill (20 min): Silent-partner crossfire.
Round (30 min): Full round; debrief on crossfire.
Homework: Ten questions for each side.
Materials: Cross-examination guide

6Tournament preparationAdapt to a lay judge and complete the tournament checklist.

Warm-up (5 min): Back-wall drill.
Teach (20 min): Who judges PF; reading pairings; the day timeline.
Drill (20 min): Deliver the constructive to three judge types.
Round (30 min): Two half rounds, switching sides.
Homework: Pack using the checklist.
Materials: Judging guide, tournament day checklist

How to run a course

Pick one course for the first year. Add a second format when the first has captains.
Keep the timing. Students learn more from a round that happens than from a lecture that runs long.
Debrief every round with the flow walk in the practice round plan.
Print the flow sheets and use the timer on a projector.
Ask CUDL to teach any lesson in person; partner schools get a coach in the room every week.

For students without a program

The courses work for self-study too. Do the teach and drill sections alone, run the rounds with a friend on a video call, and use the practice tools for the parts that need a partner. Then sign up and we will help your school start a program.

New lessons by email

When a course is added or a lesson is revised.

A coach can teach every one of these.

Partner schools get a CUDL coach in the room each week. The curriculum is the plan; the coach is the difference.

Request coaching Read the coach guide