Segmentation method

The segmentation method is a way of forming questions in cross-examination, in which each point is divided into a series of factual questions that expect a yes/no answer. It is commonly used in legal settings, and is often considered the most effective general strategy for cross-examination.

Example
Suppose that the Negative team is trying to show that the Affirmative's harms derive from a different law than the one they are reforming:

Negative: Your harm about the hardrock provision is referring to the Mining Act of 1923, correct?

Affirmative: Yes.

Negative: And your plan reforms the Mining Act of 1977, which amended that law, correct?

Affirmative: Yes.

Negative: But your plan doesn't reform the original 1923 act, right?

Affirmative: Right, we reform the law that superseded it.

Negative: Right. Now, the 1977 act just added on additional provisions, it didn't actually take the 1923 law off the books, correct?

Affirmative: Um... I suppose so?

Negative: Thank you. No further questions.

The Negative now has everything they need to make their argument (that the Affirmative plan will just return the law to how it was in 1923, which doesn't help); the judge may even understand this point already.

Advantages
Segmentation makes it much easier to control the cross-examinee. The yes/no format encourages short answers and doesn't give many opportunities to ramble about details the cross-examiner doesn't want to discuss - and if the cross-examinee does begin to ramble, it's much more clear that they're going off-topic than it would be if the questions were open-ended. It is also much easier to make the cross-examinee actually answer questions: because each question clearly expects a yes/no answer, it's obvious when they haven't answered it, and you seem perfectly justified in asking them to.

Segmentation may also make it easier to show logical connections in cross-examination. Ideally, the judge will be able to connect the dots and understand where the argument is going, without the cross-examinee ever being given an opportunity to rebut it.