This is a textbook designed to help debaters who understand the basics of debate but want to begin the next step in their varsity debate journey.

These writings represent the work of some of the most successful Lincoln Douglas coaches and debaters from our generation. Each of the authors has an outstanding track record as a camp instructor and distinguished debate resume, which will be detailed below. This is timeless advice written by those who have been consistently successful, so we know the details and concepts outlined in this book have been field-tested. 

This textbook covers many of the core concepts and skills necessary to succeed in varsity Lincoln Douglas debate. While this textbook cannot replace the invaluable instruction of a coach, it can greatly enhance any Lincoln Douglas debate curriculum for those with established debate programs and serve as an integral part of the debate education of any student. This textbook is packed with fantastic advice and invaluable information from cover to cover, so you’ll be picking up new insights the second and third times you read it. 

In addition to conveying the conceptual basis for different skill and knowledge sets, our goal is to give you practical, implementation-oriented steps to help them improve right away. With that in mind, we encourage you to not only read the book but also take advantage of the drills and other exercises suggested by the authors. It is one thing to know about a concept; it’s another to be able to execute it. Getting the most out of this book will require you to put time and effort into practicing these skills and concepts before they use them in competition. There is no replacement for practice, especially when you’re just starting out!