Homeschoolers Hate Topicality: A Metagame Story (Part 2)

Topicality went from being a mainstream argument to a hated argument. Where does it fall now?

PolicyJoseph AbellFebruary 24, 2020topicality, homeschoolers, ace, peak, joseph, abell, ncfca, nsda, debate, stoa, practice, strategy, tiny affirmatives Comments

Stoa 2019-20 TP: Defining Finance Policy (Part 2)

In the last post, we uncovered the problems with typical interpretations of finance policy.

PolicyDrew MagnessNovember 6, 2019Stoa, Stoa TP, Finance, Finance PolicyComment

Stoa 2019-20 TP: Defining Finance Policy (Part 1)

Two of the terms are easy to define. The third one is hard.

Policy, ResearchDrew MagnessOctober 30, 2019Definitions, Stoa, Stoa TP, Finance POlicy Comments

Free Case: Destroy the Maze | Stoa TP 2019-20

Here’s a free affirmative case for Stoa Team Policy debaters.

Case Writing, PolicyDrew MagnessOctober 9, 2019Case Writing, Cases, Free cases, Free case, Free NCFCA TP case, Stoa TP, Stoa, Evidence, Finance POlicyComment

Reader Question: Topicality and Funding

We’re diving into some policy theory on this one. Grab your snorkel!

Policy, TheoryJoseph AbellMarch 4, 2019stoa, tp, theory, debate, policy, team, team policy, topicality, extra topicality Comments

How to Criticize America

It is virtually impossible to compete in academic debate without ever criticizing the country in which you live.

Persuasion, PolicyDrew MagnessFebruary 20, 2019Patriotism, Persuasion, persuasion, Team p, Lincoln Douglas, judgeComment

The Other 3 Biggest Burden of Proof Myths (and How to Defeat Them)

Last time, we discussed three ways that the term “burden of proof” has been tortured beyond recognition. Today, we tackle the other three.

3 of the 6 “Burden of Proof” Myths You’ll Hear at the Next Tournament

Let’s break down what burden of proof isn’t – and then what it is.

PolicyJoseph AbellOctober 22, 2018Policy, debate, burden of proof, theory, strategy, helpComment

Explaining Stock Issues

“Inherency is usually run about once a season on a team that is either incredibly unlucky or incredibly ill-prepared.”

Theory, Policy, ComprehensionDrew MagnessSeptember 12, 2018Stock Issues, Policy, Team Policy, Theor, Topicality, Inherency, Significance, Solvency, Com, ClarityComment

Three Ways to Run Counter-Warrants

Counter-warrants are an advanced strategy. Here are three general templates you can use to set yours apart...

Winning with Evidence: The Counter-Warrant Strategy

We've already talked about argument structure. Now we dive headfirst into something known as counter-warrant strategy.

Strategy, Value, PolicyJoseph AbellApril 8, 2018Counter Warrant, Warrant, Policy, Stoa, NCFCA, Evidence, Debate, Team Policy, LD

How to Prep for Cross-Ex

Cross-ex is a fast-paced, dynamic battle in which the witness has...

Flowing, Value, Strategy, Policy, Cross ExaminationJoseph AbellApril 1, 2018Flowing, Cross Examination, CX, Cross Ex, LD, Stoa, NCFCA, Debate, Questions, Question

Creating Voting Issues

A voting issue (or “voter”) is a reason for the...

Strategy, Policy, Parli, ValueJoseph AbellMarch 29, 2018voting issues, LD, TP, Strategy, Stoa, NCFCA, ParliComment

Toulmin Model 2.0

Deductive reasoning (Betsy is a cow, all cows eat grass, therefore Betsy eats grass) is widely regarded as the most scientific...

Logic, Value, Policy, ParliJoseph AbellFebruary 28, 2018Logic, Toulmin Model, Deductive, Inductive, Argument, Structure, Claim, Ground, Warrant

Cross Ex - The Division Technique

An admission is something your opponent says that you can use against his advocacy. And of all your options, an opponent's admission is the strongest...

Cross Examination, Policy, Value, StrategyJoseph AbellFebruary 25, 2018Cross Examination, Questions, Witness, Examiner, Evidence, Admissions

How to Explain Things - Part 1

There are two basic tools that make explanation possible. This post covers the first one:

Reference Points

Reference points are things that two people already know, like a shared language. This post is written in English, because I know that’s what you speak. If it were written in Swahili, it may still contain useful information, but it would probably be useless to you.

Beyond language...

Policy, Value, ParliJoseph AbellJanuary 28, 2018Comprehension, Case Writing

Policy Evidence - The 80/20 Rule

Many policy debaters treat evidence like rare silver, to where having more of it makes the case more valuable by default.

"I have 17 pieces of evidence in my 1AC!"

As a result, many policy cases are written with a primary emphasis on...

PolicyJoseph AbellJanuary 21, 2018Policy, Evidence, Comprehension, Case Writing

Reference Points

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