Analyzes the present nature of topicality argumentation. Argues for an alternative view of topicality as jurisdiction, balancing resolutional ground and focusing debaters' attention and arguments on central substantive policy issues implied by the resolution under consideration. Concludes with an application of the jurisdiction analogy to…

Argues that few clear standards exist for value debate. Defines values as instrumental or terminal, and identifies four prima facie burdens necessary for affirming a value resolution: value identification; value criteria; value hierarchy; and topicality through relevance. Examines the role of presumption and burden of proof in value debate. (MM)

Argues that "substantive" rules instituted by the National Debate Tournament (NDT) Committee are ineffective and counterproductive. Critiques the rule restricting evidence reading at the end of a debate and the rule requiring judges to compare definitions when evaluating topicality arguments. Concludes that the NDT Committee should…

Responds to an article by John Katsulas, Dale Herbeck, and Edward Panetta (same issue). Concludes that the article improperly discounted the possibility of utopian advocacy in the policy debate context. (MM)

Responds to Alfred Snider's and Richard Edwards' criticisms (same issue) of the authors' article on utopian advocacy and policy debate (same issue). Assesses flaws in the responses, and notes that neither Snider nor Edwards refutes the central theses as outlined in the authors' original article. (MM)

Critiques the views of Alfred Snider and Richard Edwards, who defend simultaneous advocacy of utopian and policy claims and promote utopian gaming. Argues that conceptions of debate theory promoting utopian advocacy are uneducational. Claims that fiat theory should be restricted to assumptions grounded in real world policy making processes. (MM)

Responds to an article by John Katsulas, Dale Herbeck, and Edward Panetta (same issue), noting that the article misrepresented the author's positions on fiat power and gaming. States that their approach to fiat power ignores some basic realities concerning social organization, and contains some important inconsistencies. (MM)

In academic debate the affirmative plan is the basis of argument; for debate to be competitive, therefore, the importance of the counterplan cannot be overstated. This article proposes a new criterion for assessing whether counterplans are competitive. (PD)

Discusses the counter-resolutional counterplan: its advantages and strategic use by the negative debate team. (PD)

Reaffirms the merit of the six conditions requisite for political debate posited in previous research. (EJ 217437) discusses the difficulties which arose during the League of Women Voters' planning for the 1980 debate and suggests possible solutions. (PD)

Comparison of a newly developed debate approach with the standard need-plan'' case

Asserts that impromptu speaking should be viewed as an event which develops students' organizational ability, creative thinking, audience analysis, and delivery skills. Presents various techniques to aid students and coaches in pre-tournament preparation for impromptu speaking. (MM)

Argues that presumption represents a multidimensional concept, not a monolithic one. Claims that in reaching a decision on a nonpolicy debate, the decision rule "one who asserts must prove" ought to be given primacy over the predispositions of a given audience or of society at large. (JD)

Documents the educational benefits of academic debate. (PD)

Responds to the issues raised in the previous article on the nature of the debate resolution (CS 706 818). Deals particularly with comments on counter-warrants. (PD)