Shares demographics that pertain to women and minorities at five national CEDA (Cross Examination Debate Association) tournaments from 1991 to 1995; examines barriers that prevent diversity and representativeness; describes actions taken; and proposes solutions for the future. (PA)

Presents the major argumentative positions advanced by academic teams at the 1995 Speech Communication Association convention debating the relative merits of teaching over research or vice versa. (PA)

Describes the decision-making process, focusing on the central importance of foreclosed opportunities. Offers a brief history and explanation of the "opportunity cost" approach to the evaluation of contemplated actions. Explores the applications of opportunity cost theory to counterplan argumentation, focusing on issues of counterplan…

Offers a historical perspective on the problems that plague policy debate. Reviews the recent evolution of competitive intercollegiate debate. Draws four conclusions from the analysis and makes suggestions for the future of debate. (PRA)

Summarizes arguments for and against Internet censorship written by two contributors to "The Australian" June 24, 1994. The former arguing that censorship is necessary but how controls are developed and who controls them must be confronted, the latter that teaching children how to live in an uncensorable world is the solution. (PEN)

Discusses the ability and desirability of debate critics altering decisional filters on activities occurring in the round. States that research on paradigms suggests that a critic must adopt a paradigm, but questions this by suggesting instead that decision-making paradigms can be transient. Summarizes specific paradigms, critiques each paradigm,…

Discusses criteria for judging space/time cases in parliamentary debate and comments on the controversy with regard to issues of appropriateness and adjudication. Presents four short responses to the points raised in this article. (PA)

We used 2 debates over the course of a semester to encourage upper level psychology students to engage in discussion about controversial issues. The debates considered issues in Affirmative Action and sexual diversity. Students completed a survey assessing their experiences both individually and as a team member. Students found it easier to…

New teachers need to know about the political context in which they are working, and the best way to do this is to adopt and maintain a quiet watchfulness and avoid allegiances. Listening and observing, reserving judgments, reflecting on the motivations of the participants in the debate--these are the crucial behaviors for the teacher learning the…

This article presents the first part of Professor David Eastwood's paper given as the AUA Annual Guest Lecture on October 24, 2007. He begins the article with some reflections on the distinctiveness and the self-referential self-confidence of higher education (HE) because he wants to torsion his later remarks against what he takes to be its…

We live in a climate ripe for noise: Media outlets and 24-hour news cycles mean that everyone with access to a computer has access to a megaphone to broadcast their views. Never before in human history has an opinion had the opportunity to reach so many so quickly regardless of its accuracy or appropriateness. Of course, it's difficult to hear…

An understanding of evidence is necessary for effective rhetoric, especially in the sub-area of argumentation. Evidence can be classified according to (1) the argument field in which it is used (court of reason or court of law); (2) the linkage to the assertion being made (direct or circumstantial); and (3) its persuasive force (how convincing it…

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…

Journalists play a central role in U.S. presidential debates, but their exact role is unclear. Unlike the news conference or interview, the situation of a debate does not favor an adversarial role because journalists who assume this role tend to shift attention away from the main issues and reduce exchanges between the candidates. To insure true…