Advances a justification for instituting limited rules governing the conduct of debates. Contends that declining participation calls for establishing rules designed to minimize the abusive debate policy practices presently affecting policy debate. Refutes D. A. Herbeck and J. P. Katsulas's position on the supposed educational dangers of the debate…

States that the American Debate Association is committed to rulemaking as a mechanism to control the excesses which have contributed to the decline of policy debate. Explains the advantages of a rule-based approach. Outlines and justifies current rules. (PRA)

Looks at incrementalism as a means of revitalizing the role of inherency arguments in modern debate. (PD)

Examines the types of arguments used in newspaper editorials about presidential debates. Advances three claims about argumentative criteria employed in declaring winners: editorials contain the same flaws media critics find in the debates themselves; the press uses debate criteria which it admits are flawed; and ineffectual argumentative criteria…

This paper focuses on the alternative-justification approach to debate, seeks to explore some of the objections to this approach, and considers several of the basic assumptions made by its supporters. The alternative-justification theory of debate is based on the assumption that any given question under debate has a number of affirmative plans and…

Argues that the "Multiple Preference System" in assigning debate judges should be discontinued because it is unfair, discriminatory, and perpetuates ethnocentric responses. Recommends a nonevaluative system of judge assignment. (PD)

Analyzes the visual and verbal content of the 1984 televised debates between Walter Mondale and Ronald Reagan. Asserts that the televised depiction of the debates visually structured portions of them in a manner inconsistent with their verbal content. Focuses on clash, when candidates engaged in arguments of attack or defense. (MS)

Compares the visual structuring of the 1976 and 1984 nationally televised presidential campaign debates, isolating changes in visual structuring that could interfere with the comprehension of verbal content, undermine the political purpose of the encounters, and promote unequal visual treatment of candidates. Reveals three changes in visual…

Competitive intercollegiate debate programs have long been premised on the unique educational opportunity the activity affords its participants. The central problem with National Debate Tournament (NDT) rounds is that policy advocacy too frequently occurs, reducing questions asked to one of whether advantages outweigh disadvantages. While issues…