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…

In 1995, the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) voted for the first time to debate a policy-based resolution. As CEDA embraces policy-based resolutions, it changes the focus of both affirmative and negative strategies. Affirmatives must now necessarily implement a plan while negatives have more freedom to advocate counterplans.…

Although many Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) coaches and debaters wish to establish "stock issues" (categories of questions that people naturally ask when confronting a resolution), there are several strong arguments against establishing stock issues in CEDA debate. To enhance the educational value of the activity, stock…

Arguments on topicality have the potential of becoming an infinite regress both as they are articulated in debate theory as well as how they are developed by debaters in rounds. An "Equal Ground" criterion is proposed as an effective means of assessing topicality. This criterion assumes the reasonability standard of topicality.…

Forensic educators stand at a pivotal point in the development of National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) debate culture and standards; we have enough experience behind us to see where NPDA is going, but not so much "tradition" as to enslave us to the past. One area of reform that is highlighted by this paper is the removal of…

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)

The best check on the preposterous claims of crisis rhetoric is an appreciation of the nature of risk analysis and how it functions in argumentation. The use of risk analysis is common in policy debate. While the stock issues paradigm focused the debate exclusively on the affirmative case, the advent of policy systems analysis has transformed…

This proceedings presents 19 papers delivered a National Developmental Conference on Individual Events, addressing individual events, Lincoln-Douglas debate, and parliamentary debate. After presenting the conference schedule, the list of attendees, and resolutions, papers in the proceedings are: "The Ghostwriter, The Laissez-Faire Coach, and…

As the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) debate spreads across the country, as more schools and more students become involved in this type of debate, those involved in the activity need to take a step back and evaluate their progress, as well as plot their future. Coaches have a critical role as educators. NPDA needs clear…

A study analyzed sample cross-examinations in order to describe the different question and answer types that debaters use. Transcripts of five cross-examinations, which represented a variety of debate experience levels, and which were recorded at a Cross Examination Debate Association Tournament held in the Southeastern region during the 1986…

This paper presents a narrative (in feminist style) of a debate round in the Lincoln-Douglas format to illustrate the principles of an intercollegiate debate round. In the context of the debate round, the paper examines the Toulmin model for argument and suggests an alternative model. The paper also challenges specific debate practices with…

The first negative is often an underutilized speech. The question is what can be done to increase the importance of the first negative speech? The preparation of a superior first negative speech begins prior to the round by developing briefs, coordinating arguments with the second negative, and having a pre-round discussion to reduce the…

Both complaints and praise regarding debate as it is now practiced and taught are predicated on the communication which goes on in debate rounds. These communicative relations are fourfold, including the relations of debaters with debaters, debaters with judges, debaters with evidence, and judges with evidence. To study the relations between…

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…

People's conception of uniqueness in policy debate has changed dramatically in the past decade. Concepts like "we control uniqueness" and "direction of uniqueness" have come to dominate disadvantage debates. Unfortunately, policy debate has suffered as an activity as the result of some of these debating practices. In response, debaters and judges…