Policy Debate Basics: Topicality, Presumption, and Case Construction
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A Firm Foundation:
CX Debate Basics (Part II)
A
N INTRODUCTION TO
P
OLICY
D
EBATE
- The Minnesota Urban Debate League -
Definition of Topicality
Topicality (abbreviated “T”): an argument
where teams debate the meaning of certain
words in the resolution in an attempt to prove
that the affirmative either is or is not debating
the topic.
Remember discussing fairness earlier?
Topicality is a guarantee that the affirmative
presents a case that the negative could
reasonably expect and prepare for given the
current resolution.
Again, the resolution:
Resolved: The United States federal
government should substantially increase its
exploration and/or development of space
beyond the Earth’s mesosphere.
Each word, phrase and clause of the
resolution establishes meaning within the
context of the debate.
Another way of looking at it…
USFG
Resolved:
The
should
substantially
increase
its
transportation
infrastructure
investment
in
United States.
the
Topical
(Scope of Resolution)
Topicality & Presumption
The affirmative does NOT need to define the entirety
of the resolution in the 1AC.
Unlike the other stock issues, it is the negatives
burden to define what word they believe the
affirmative is violating in the resolution. Presumption,
in this instances, lies with the affirmative.
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Topicality Format
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Writing a Case
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Observations (sometimes called Contentions)—the
1AC is usually outlined in specific observations.
Observations make it easier for everyone (
including
the judge
) to identify the nature of the evidence being
read.
Order and congruity are important.
Specification
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Plank One
: An explanation of exactly what the federal
government should do (i.e. pass a law, abolish a law,
or create a program)
Plank Two
: Funding—where the funds will come from
to pay for the existence of the plan.
Plank Three
: Enforcement—the means in which the
plan will be imposed.
Be sure that plans and plan planks mirror the
language used by your plan/solvency advocate.
Fiat – The Four Letter “F” Word
Fiat is Latin for the phrase “let it be done.”
Often describes as a “magic wand” that
allows the passage of the plan.
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Normal Means
Normal Means is the general operating
procedures that the federal government
undertakes to pass legislation.
Funding and Enforcement are generally done
through Normal Means.
There are advantages to specifying exactly
where the funds are allocated from.
For example, budget trade-off advantage and
answers to disadvantages.
Normal Means
Two catch phrases that are used in plan text to
explain the implementation of normal means:
“funding and enforcement guaranteed”
“funding and enforcement through normal means”
These statements answer the question “how much
does the plan cost?”
These statements derive from the affirmative power
of fiat.
Putting It All Together: A Sample Plan
Observation One: Inherency
US space programs are being cut in the status quo
Evidence (with Citation)
Observation Two: Harms
US scientific advances stagnate without robust space
program; harms should come with a significant impact
Evidence (with Citation)
Plan: The USFG will fund new space exploration (specify
program)
Language must reflect solvency evidence and overcome
inherent barrier
Observation III: Solvency
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Evidence (with Citation)
Additional Notes
Each contention can have multiple subpoints,
spinning additional inherency, harms and
solvency scenarios
Oftentimes, teams will create additional
advantages following from the case’s
solvency (e.g. “Case solves Sino-US
Relations” (S); “Sino-US relations key to
economic recovery” (Adv.))
Flowing: Note Taking for the Argumentative
Flowing is a logical form of note taking that
allows an individual to keep contentions and
subpoints separate in order to understand
what has and has not been argued.
WARNING: There is no substitute for flowing.
You can’t remember everything…
Organization is the key to winning a debate
and flowing is the key to organization. Ergo…
A few quick “how tos” on flowing
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It’s easiest to understand seeing it in action.
An example of flowing
I. Abstinence-based
education is
incapable of slowing
the HIV/AIDS
epidemic in sub-
Saharan Africa
A.
It imposes a
culturally-biased
view
B. It has failed
where it has been
tried
C. It undermines
condom-based
education programs
Just the opposite is
true: African cultures
have traditional values
which would be
undermined by
condom-promotion.
The Bush
administration’s
approach imposes U.S.
religious values on
African cultures.
Uganda’s success is
primarily the result of
its condom promotion
efforts – not
abstinence promotion.
The “ABC” approach is
confusing because it
sends mixed
messages; education
programs could be
more successful with
straight-forward
condom promotion.
Abstinence-based
programs are primarily
responsible for
Uganda’s remarkable
success against
HIV/AIDS
Untrue: The “ABC”
approach used in
Uganda and elsewhere
combines abstinence
education and condom
use.
Research…
Research…Research…
Google Alerts for topic area
Be Creative
Follow blogs (
www.the3nr.com
;
www.planetdebate.com
;
www.debatecentral.com
;
www.abnormalmeans.com
)
Write your own cases and arguments!
Questions?
PowerPoint available at
http://minnesotaurbandebateleague.wikispaces.com/Curriculum
Explore the nuances of policy debate focusing on topicality, presumption, and case construction. Learn how debaters analyze the resolution, argue definitions, and use standards to ensure fairness in debates. Dive into the essential components of the First Affirmative Constructive (1AC) and how observations play a crucial role in presenting evidence systematically.
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A Firm Foundation: CX Debate Basics (Part II) AN INTRODUCTION TO POLICY DEBATE - The Minnesota Urban Debate League -
Definition of Topicality Topicality (abbreviated T ): an argument where teams debate the meaning of certain words in the resolution in an attempt to prove that the affirmative either is or is not debating the topic. Remember discussing fairness earlier? Topicality is a guarantee that the affirmative presents a case that the negative could reasonably expect and prepare for given the current resolution.
Again, the resolution: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its exploration and/or development of space beyond the Earth s mesosphere. Each word, phrase and clause of the resolution establishes meaning within the context of the debate.
Another way of looking at it Resolved: The United States. USFG the should Topical in (Scope of Resolution) substantially investment increase infrastructure its transportation
Topicality & Presumption The affirmative does NOT need to define the entirety of the resolution in the 1AC. Unlike the other stock issues, it is the negatives burden to define what word they believe the affirmative is violating in the resolution. Presumption, in this instances, lies with the affirmative. If the negative manages to show why the aff is non- topical, they will often win the round without the judge ever considering the aff case. For this reason, topicality is often called an a priori issue.
Topicality Format Definition: Define the word or phrase you would like to argue (definition can come from dictionaries, legal statute, international treaties and just about anywhere else. Interpretation: Why the affirmative use of the word either meets or does not meet the definition. Standards: Why listening to the case creates either a fair or unfair debate (hint: it has to do with fairness). Voters: Why the judge should or should not consider voting against a non-topical affirmative on Topicality grounds alone.
Writing a Case The First Affirmative Constructive (1AC) presents the affirmative case. Observations (sometimes called Contentions) the 1AC is usually outlined in specific observations. Observations make it easier for everyone (including the judge) to identify the nature of the evidence being read. Order and congruity are important.
Specification Plan Planks the plan is usually broken into separate plan planks. Example of Plan Planks: Plank One: An explanation of exactly what the federal government should do (i.e. pass a law, abolish a law, or create a program) Plank Two: Funding where the funds will come from to pay for the existence of the plan. Plank Three: Enforcement the means in which the plan will be imposed. Be sure that plans and plan planks mirror the language used by your plan/solvency advocate.
Fiat The Four Letter F Word Fiat is Latin for the phrase let it be done. Often describes as a magic wand that allows the passage of the plan. Should v. Would Fiat allows the focus of the debate on should the affirmative plan pass and not would the affirmative plan pass.
Normal Means Normal Means is the general operating procedures that the federal government undertakes to pass legislation. Funding and Enforcement are generally done through Normal Means. There are advantages to specifying exactly where the funds are allocated from. For example, budget trade-off advantage and answers to disadvantages.
Normal Means Two catch phrases that are used in plan text to explain the implementation of normal means: funding and enforcement guaranteed funding and enforcement through normal means These statements answer the question how much does the plan cost? These statements derive from the affirmative power of fiat.
Putting It All Together: A Sample Plan Observation One: Inherency US space programs are being cut in the status quo Evidence (with Citation) Observation Two: Harms US scientific advances stagnate without robust space program; harms should come with a significant impact Evidence (with Citation) Plan: The USFG will fund new space exploration (specify program) Language must reflect solvency evidence and overcome inherent barrier Observation III: Solvency New space program solves for scientific advances (cards must state that plan will solve for stated harms Evidence (with Citation)
Additional Notes Each contention can have multiple subpoints, spinning additional inherency, harms and solvency scenarios Oftentimes, teams will create additional advantages following from the case s solvency (e.g. Case solves Sino-US Relations (S); Sino-US relations key to economic recovery (Adv.))
Flowing: Note Taking for the Argumentative Flowing is a logical form of note taking that allows an individual to keep contentions and subpoints separate in order to understand what has and has not been argued. WARNING: There is no substitute for flowing. You can t remember everything Organization is the key to winning a debate and flowing is the key to organization. Ergo
A few quick how tos on flowing Practice Flowing takes time, repetition, and lots of practice. Space Flowing requires a lot of paper. Put different arguments on different paper (i.e. disadvantages, topicality, counter-plans, harms, solvency) Color Using different color pens helps distinguish between affirmative arguments. Abbreviate Nvr wrt cmplt sntcs. (A few common ones: (leads to); (increases); (decreases); (changes); THISS (the stock issues)) Come up with your own shorthand if needed. Prioritize First write the tag (main idea of the evidence), then write the citation, then write any other important details. It s easiest to understand seeing it in action.
An example of flowing Just the opposite is true: African cultures have traditional values which would be undermined by condom-promotion. I. Abstinence-based education is incapable of slowing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub- Saharan Africa The Bush administration s approach imposes U.S. religious values on African cultures. Uganda s success is primarily the result of its condom promotion efforts not abstinence promotion. Abstinence-based programs are primarily responsible for Uganda s remarkable success against HIV/AIDS A. It imposes a culturally-biased view The ABC approach is confusing because it sends mixed messages; education programs could be more successful with straight-forward condom promotion. B. It has failed where it has been tried Untrue: The ABC approach used in Uganda and elsewhere combines abstinence education and condom use. C. It undermines condom-based education programs
Research Research Research Google Alerts for topic area Be Creative Follow blogs (www.the3nr.com; www.planetdebate.com; www.debatecentral.com; www.abnormalmeans.com) Write your own cases and arguments!
Questions? PowerPoint available at http://minnesotaurbandebateleague.wikispaces.com/Curriculum
