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…

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…

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…

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…

Examines three alternatives for limiting negative fiat: (1) limiting to United States public actors; (2) limiting to proposals found in the policy literature surrounding the topic; and (3) including caveats or parameters to the resolution indicating the appropriate scope of negative counterplans. (MS)

Contends that the different loci of competition for the counterplan--that it must compete with the plan, the policy system, the values implicit within the resolution, or the entire resolution--are grounded in conflicting conceptions of the resolution. Argues for a plan focus perspective. (MS)

Questions the theoretical justification for the standard of intrinsic justification. Challenges the applicability of phenomenological constructs to academic debate, demonstrates that "essences" cannot be readily located in debate resolutions, and illustrates that proponents of intrinsic justification have not adequately operationalized…

Argues that National Debate Tournament (NDT) policy debate remains a feasible option for those establishing a debate program. Speculates on the causes of the transformation of competitive policy debate from traditional to specialized. Asserts that many of the critics of NDT debate fail to understand debate's function in training students in the…