Understanding how to use each definition is key to success.

Case Writing, Resolutions, ValueDrew MagnessSeptember 11, 2019Preventive War, Preventive, Preventive War is Ethical, NCFCA, NCFCA LD, LD, Lincoln DouglasComment

Argument Tier List (Neg) | Truth-Seeking > Privacy | Stoa LD 2019

We’re taking a look at the Stoa metagame. Here’s our ranking of the most popular arguments for negative.

Argument Tier List Neg: NCFCA LD

This is an incomplete list of popular arguments and case patterns for NCFCA LD Negatives, along with my thoughts on their competitive potential.

Resolutions, ValueDrew MagnessMarch 27, 2019Free Trade, fair trade, ncfca ld, ncfca, NCFCA, Arguments, Argument list, practiceComment

Free Case: The Humanity Principle

Merry Christmas! Here’s a free affirmative case for NCFCA LDers.

NCFCA LD: Ranking the Definitions of Fair Trade

Fair trade is a nebulous term that can mean a variety of different things. Let’s rank each of the definitions in three separate categories.

Value, AdvancedDrew MagnessOctober 17, 2018NCFCA, Fair Trade, Free Trade, Definitions, Arguments, LD, Lincoln DouglasComment

8 Types of Justice (And How to Deal With Them)

In the current Stoa resolution, this is the obvious front-runner value. But not all justice is created equal. Here are eight possible definition types.

ValueJoseph AbellSeptember 10, 2018Stoa, Justice, LD, Value, Debate, Definition, Truth Seeking, individual privacy, privacy, Criminal Procedure, Case Writing, LD case, aff, negComment

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

Behold, the Value Link

Last time we unpacked what values are, and then how to create them. Now we talk about how to run them...

Case Writing, Value, Theory, LogicJoseph AbellApril 4, 2018Value, Link, Value Link, Debate, Theory, Parli, Stoa, NCFCA, NSDA, Preemptive Warfare, Resolution, Case Writing

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

Three Ways to Test a Value

A good value meets three standards...

Logic, Value, TheoryJoseph AbellMarch 8, 2018Value, Case Writing, Theory, Justice, Morality, Definition, Weighing Mechanism

Value Theory: Creating Order from Chaos

There's one word that sums up the stigma of high-school value debate...

Value, TheoryJoseph AbellMarch 4, 2018Value, Theory, Lincoln Douglas, NCFCA, Stoa, Debate

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

Application Profile: The Six Day War

This article covers Stoa's current LD resolution: Preemptive warfare is morally justified.

Affirmatives everywhere are winning with a really simple narrative: "we have...

Value, StrategyJoseph AbellFebruary 18, 2018Stoa, LD, Preemptive Warfare, Applications, Six Day War, Strategy, Preemptive

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

Reference Points

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