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

How to Order Your Contentions

There are two persuasive approaches to deciding the order of contentions.

Case WritingJoseph AbellDecember 5, 2018contentions, ld, value, debate, Case Writing, structure, tag, orderComment

The Five Most Common LD Myths (Part 2)

Here’s the remaining two big myths I see constantly in value debate. For the first three, click here.

TheoryJoseph AbellOctober 3, 2018ld, value, debate, theory, myths, framework, contention, value link, resolved, resolution, strategy, Case Writing, LD case Comment

The Five Most Common LD Myths (Part 1)

We’re breaking down the most common myths in LD value debate. Here’s part 1.

TheoryJoseph AbellOctober 1, 2018LD, Value, Myths, Theory, Criterion, value, debate, value link, framework, Case Writing, LD case Comments

Policy Debate: What About Criteria?

Criterion: Excitement
Plan: The judge will set himself on fire and jump off a cliff.

Advanced, Case WritingJoseph AbellSeptember 17, 2018Policy, Criteria, Criterion, Case Writing, Strategy Comments

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

Value, Fact, and Policy Resolutions

Academic debate offers resolutions with three different kinds of claims: value, fact, and policy. Understanding the difference between them allows you to craft your case with precision, and deliver your advocacy with accuracy.

Parli, Case WritingJoseph AbellSeptember 5, 2018LD, Value, policy, Parli, Case WritingComment

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

When Should I Run Definitions?

Logically, the first step to prove a resolution is to...

The Economy of Complexity

Most economics classes begin by explaining the problem of...

Comprehension, Case Writing, StrategyJoseph AbellMarch 20, 2018Debate, Case Writing, Comprehension, Structure, Theory

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

How to Explain Things - Part 2

In the last post, I talked about Reference Points: a way to identify the starting point of any explanation.

The second step, logical chronology, tells you how to take your audience the rest of the way.

Logical Chronology

Logical Chronology is the act of presenting ideas...

Joseph AbellFebruary 4, 2018Comprehension, Policy, Value, Case Writing, Evidence

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