Asking and Answering Questions in Cross-Examination

Taken from Breaking Down Barriers: How to Debate (2000 Edition)

The Questioner

1. Ask questions to clarify arguments.

EXAMPLES:

“What was your second point?”

“What program are you supporting?”

“Are you for or against reforming welfare?”

2. Ask questions about the quality of your opponent’s evidence.

EXAMPLES:

“What was the date of that evidence?”

“Didn’t that evidence say your plan should occur on the local not federal level?”

“Doesn’t your evidence actually say that we’re already resolving the fish shortage?”

3. Ask questions to get your opponents to admit their case has weaknesses.

EXAMPLE:

Q: “Did you argue China would destroy Taiwan?”

R: “Yes.”

Q: “And your third point says that China has a very weak army, right?”

R: “Uh. Yes.”

Q: “How is China going to destroy Taiwan with a weak army?”

R: “Well. I...uh...”

4. Ask questions to set up arguments.

EXAMPLE:

Q: “Your plan is to have nationwide sex education. Right?”

R: “Right.”

Q: “And your study that shows sex education works comes from one city.”

R: “Yes and the experts say it will work well in other areas.”

Q: “Hmmm. Do you think it will work even in areas where there are serious community objections to sex education?”

R: “Yes.”

Q: “Any proof for this?”

R: “Our study concluded it would work elsewhere.”

GENERAL RULES FOR THE QUESTIONER

First, do not make statements. The questioner should ask questions only. So, don’t present arguments or new evidence when you are the questioner.

DON’T SAY:

“There aren’t many accidents.”

“Let me read a piece of evidence. According to . . .”

DO ASK:

“How many accidents are there?”

“Given that pitbulls have killed people, how can you argue that pitbulls are good?”

Second, don’t masquerade your arguments as questions. Ask questions to gain information, not to ask your opponent to confirm a point you made.

DON’T SAY:

“Didn’t we show there are homeless people?”

“Didn’t I prove there many deaths occur each year?”

DO ASK:

“Did you show there are only a few homeless people?”

“How many deaths each year do you claim occur?”

Third, and most important, be courteous. Treat your opponents nicely, even if you feel they’re being rude. Debate is supposed to be civil. If you want to duke it out, join boxing.

DON’T DO THIS:

Q: “Is the Clinton administration acting on poverty?”

R: “Yes, it is.”

Q: “What? Do you know anything?”

R: “I, uh . . .”

Q: “Look dummy. Clinton hasn’t done nothing. Got it?”

DO THIS:

Q: “Is the Clinton administration acting on the poverty issue?”

R: “Yes, it is.”
Q: “Do you have any support for your answer?”

R: “Um. Yes.”

Q: “And what is that support?”

Fourth, give your opponent a chance to answer questions.

DON’T CUT OFF YOUR OPPONENT LIKE THIS:

Q: “Why?”

R: “Because of th . . .”

Q: “Are you sure . . .”

R: “Of c . . .”

Q: “Let’s move on.”

DO GIVE YOUR OPPONENT A CHANCE TO ANSWER:

Q: “Why hasn’t there been action on these prescription drugs?”

R: “Because of the government regulations and because of industry profit motives.”

Q: “Okay, but aren’t . . .”

DON’T ASK SEVERAL QUESTIONS WITHOUT GIVING YOUR OPPONENT A CHANCE TO RESPOND:

“What was the date of that evidence? . . . and what did it say? . . . And why did she say it? . . . Huh?”

DO ASK ONE QUESTION AT A TIME:

“First, what was the date of that evidence?”

Fifth, maintain control of the cross-examination. Allowing your opponent to answer your questions doesn’t mean your opponent is entitled to give a full speech each time he or she answers. Just give him or her the needed time to answer.

DON’T LET THE RESPONDENT QUESTION YOU WHEN YOU’RE THE QUESTIONER:

Q: “Why would the United States attack China?”

R: “Hmmm. Well, you answer this: Why would China attack the United States?”

Q: “Well. I don’t know. Hmmm. I’ll have to think about that. Do you have another question for me?”

Use your time for your questions. And use your questions to get information which will damage your opponent’s case and build up your case.

the Respondent

1. Give clear, specific, concise answers.

DON’T ANSWER LIKE THIS:

“The use of detrimental fluid acquisition in the pilot project examination elements makes the confusion understandable. The resulting effects of the H₂O in the ground were not considered, however . . .”

ANSWER LIKE THIS:

Answer: “The pilot project didn’t work because of the large amounts of water underground.”

Answer: “Yes.”

Answer: “Well, that’s because the trees grow much faster.”

2. Ask for clarification if the question is unclear.

EXAMPLES:

“Would you please repeat the question?”

“I don’t understand the question.”

“Would you reword your question.”

3. Qualify your answers.

EXAMPLES:

“A qualified no.”

“Well, yes, but only if the road is built using the south route.”

4. Retort questions that attack your arguments.

EXAMPLE:

Q: “Your plan threatens to cut off ties with the Mexican police.”

R: “That’s right. Until the drug traffic is cleared up, no ties with the Mexican police.”

Q: “Won’t that sour U.S.-Mexican relations?”

R: “No. It will make the relations better by clarifying and resolving the drug trafficking issue.”

GENERAL RULES FOR THE RESPONDENT

First, Avoid being rude. Don’t get into an argument with the questioner.

DON’T DO THIS:

Q: “What is the date of your evidence?”

R: “Look, it’s newer than your evidence. Your evidence is so old it belongs in a nursing home.”

DO THIS:

Q: “What is the date of your evidence?”

R: “It’s from 1999.”

Second, Don’t give long treatises on your case. Answer the question that your opponent asked. Don’t restate every argument that supports your case.

DON’T SAY:

“Yes and, hey, have I told you the fourteen other ways our plan will save the world? Let me tell you all about it.”

DO SAY:

“Yes it will help the environment because litterers will be heavily fined.”

Third, Don’t read new evidence. Cross examination is for questions about arguments that you and your opponent have already made in speeches. It is not for questions about evidence that you have not read yet.

DON’T SAY:

“Well, this piece of evidence will answer that. According to...”

DO SAY:

“Space stations can give added energy and we can document that in a later speech.”

“When you raise that issue, we will respond.”

Fourth, Be honest. Don’t answer questions with lies just to make your case appear better. Answer questions truthfully.

DON’T SAY:

“No. George Bush was never president of the United States.”

DO SAY:

“Yes it is true Bush was president.”

Fifth, Don’t ask questions unless you need to clarify your opponent’s question. Remember that you are the respondent, not the questioner. So, answer; don’t ask.

DON’T DO THIS:

Q: “Will Pakistan attack?”

R: “Would you want the Pakistanis to attack you? Huh?”

DO THIS:

Q: “Will Pakistan attack?”

R: “That would be unlikely.”