This paper, taking linguistic theory of adaptation as its theoretical foundation, examines how courtroom questioning on the part of the judge is adapted to various contextual factors in legal setting. To account for the judge's adaptation to the legal procedures in courtroom questioning, three types of questions are found as specific choices at…

In this article, we focus on a set of remote activities regarding simulated juries, judges' evaluations, communication of verdicts, and a post-discussion conversation. These activities aimed to promote learning of the preservice teachers about the differences between remote and in-person teaching in a chemistry teaching methods course. The set of…

The article focuses on practical experiment on perception of argumentative nature of court opinions by non-native speakers. Several argumentative frames most frequently used in the texts of court opinions are identified and described in the article. The article also aims at analyzing the distribution characteristics of the identified frames. Text…

Through interviews with judges and victim advocates, courtroom observations, and rhetorical analyses of victims' reactions to proposed sentences, the authors examine the features that judges and advocates think make victims' arguments persuasive. The authors conclude that this genre, recently imposed upon the court, functions as a mediating device…

Interpretation analysis is a new and interesting event on the forensics horizon which appears to be attracting an ever larger number of supporters. This event, developed by Larry Lambert of Ball State University in 1989, requires a student to perform all three disciplines of forensic competition (interpretation, public speaking, and limited…

The theoretical perspectives of intercollegiate debate are constantly shifting. This paper evaluates the mirror state counterplan--a strategy open to the negative team--both generally and in light of the criticisms leveled against it by Richard H. Dempsey and David J. Hartmann in their recently published article entitled "Mirror State…

Updates J. Robert Cox's analysis of the first National Debate Tournament (NDT) judging philosophy booklet. Compares the 1974 and 1988 results showing both similarities and differences among judges attitudes and beliefs about debate issues. Offers further research questions to study the influence of judging paradigms and the decline of NDT debate.…

The term "turnaround" has taken a permanent place among the intercollegiate debate jargon. All too often, the first affirmative rebuttalists charge "turnaround" for every plan or response they do not know how to label properly. After so many "false alarms," judges are too weary or aggravated to notice the real thing,…

Noting that a series of mechanical rules created for pairing and placement of judges at the National Debate Tournament (NDT) may be useful in developing a computer program to pair tournaments, this paper focuses on the methods used to pair rounds at the NDT and also looks at some pairing options frequently employed by other debate tournaments. The…

Analyzes judicial dissent as a backdrop for examining Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's dissenting opinion in the 1983 abortion decision. Highlights O'Connor's distinctive defense of personal credibility, emphasis on legal logic, and appeal for reversal of "Roe vs. Wade." Discusses how effectively the value appeals characteristic of judicial…

Identifies the purpose of academic debate (to teach students argumentative skills) and the characteristics that a debate paradigm must have to fulfill that purpose. Takes a functional view of the debate judge as one who judges argumentative practices, not one who decides policy issues as would a real-world decision maker. (PD)

Discusses how paradigms, such as "tabula rasa," reduce the judge's influence as a critic. Suggests alternatives. (PD)

Contends that, while "tabula rasa" has produced improvements in academic debate, it also has encouraged harmful practices. Proposes limitations and draws implications for a more general dialectical approach to argument evaluation. (PD)

Counters that the best answer to the problems engendered by "tabula rasa" is to strengthen this approach by applying a minimum standard for argument evaluation and by banning argument about certain theoretical issues that could destroy debate. (PD)

The editor of the NDT transcripts since 1978 confirms statistically Professor Southworth's observations about the trend of debaters toward rapid speaking rates and garbled, incomprehensive reading of large quantities of evidence; also agrees that decisions ought to be rendered promptly after the debate. (PD)