Resources for Debaters
Sections in this Unit:
General Debate
Policy Debate
Lincoln Douglas Debate
World Schools Debate
General Debate
These resources are applicable to all formats of debate whether you are using debate to explore a content in another subject, teaching a debate unit in the general education classroom, or introducing your competitors (Policy, Lincoln Douglas, Public Forum, Congressional, World Schools, Big Questions, etc.) to the fundamentals of debate.
Glossary
A common set of terms used by members of the Speech & Debate community.
Intro to Argument
This presentation teaches students the basics of argument construction. It explores what constitutes an argument, what one looks like, etc. It is applicable to any debate format. (Applies to classroom debates, Policy Debate, Lincoln Douglas Debate, British Parliamentary Debate, NPDA, public forum, Congressional Debate, and any persuasive speaking event.) For coaches, this lesson can easily be combined with “Intro to Debate.”
Cross Examination & Ethos
This presentation explores two aspects of debate regularly overlooked or undervalued by debaters. It explains the importance of each and offers tips on how to do them well.
Taking Notes
Flowing or Taking Notes in debate rounds. This presentation introduces the benefits of flowing and the best practices for taking notes in debate. Two additional comments:
1) I highly recommend teaching basic debate theory, speaker roles & responsibilities, and basic argumentation types (disadvantages, counterplans, etc.) before teaching students how to flow. I usually wait until after their first tournament, as well, so they have some context for this lesson.
2) I worked with the National Speech & Debate Association to produce a top-notch video lecture on this subject, as well. If you have an NSDA membership, I highly recommend watching that video instead. You can view it here.
Intro to Debate
This presentation teaches the basics of argument construction and explores what constitutes an argument, what one looks like, etc. As a presentation for the St. Louis Urban Debate League, it appears to focus on Policy Debate… in reality, almost the entire presentation can apply to any format of debate. For educators, this presentation can easily be combined with “Intro to Argumentation.”
Your First Tournament
A student’s first tournament can be daunting and overwhelming. This 26-minute presentation highlights some of the important logistical elements of a tournament.
Policy Debate
These resources are applicable to Policy Debate (aka - Team Debate, Cross Examination Debate, CEDA, & NDT). Many of the concepts are used in other formats such as NPDA, and to a lesser extent Lincoln Douglas, Public Forum.
Policy Debate 101
This video provides a 9-minute introduction to the policy debate format. This particular video was created with volunteer judges in mind. However, it could be a very useful video for brand new debaters.
Building an Aff Case
Building an Affirmative Case with the Stock Issues. This presentation explores the 5 core elements of every policy argument (and several other foundational concepts).
Disadvantages
This presentation introduces the concept of disadvantages to students. It explores the key components of DAs: link, brink/uniqueness, and impact. It also discusses the ways in which we conceptualize disadvantages and the ways in which affirmative teams can answer them.
Disadvantages (Old)
This is an older version of the disadvantage lecture (above). The newer version is better, particularly for beginning debaters. However, I decided to leave this one on the website because it includes some elements that I didn’t cover in the newer version. Those elements could be useful to your students after they have a semester or two of experience.
Counterplans
This presentation explores the reasons we run counterplans, the traditional core elements of a counterplan, and how to respond to this type of argument.
Kritiks
This presentation explores the nature of Kritiks in debate. Why do they exist? How do you use them in a debate? How do you answer them?
Speaker Roles & Responsibilities
This presentation walks students through an entire debate round by role. It explores the unique responsibilities of each speech/speaker with suggested ways to prepare for those speeches.
Alaska Core Files
If you debate in Alaska and you would like access to the Alaska Policy Debate Core Files, please have your coach contact me for the password.
Policy Glossary
This button takes you to a glossary of useful terms and acronyms used in policy debate.
Policy Shorthand
This button takes you to sample shorthand for various terms used in policy debate. This shorthand is useful for improving your flows (or note-taking).
Summary Speeches (The 2NR & 2AR)
This presentation discusses the final two speeches of a policy debate round (the 2NR & 2AR). It explores the process and methods of delivering an effective summary speech.
Building a Tub
Yes, I know. No one does this anymore. We have gone almost entirely digital. I include it here mostly as a throwback to the 80s and 90s (and some teams in the 00s) for historical reference and entertainment.
Lincoln Douglas Debate
These resources are applicable to Lincoln Douglas debate at the high school level.
LD Debate Glossary
A common set of terms used in Lincoln Douglas Debate.
World Schools Debate
These resources are applicable to World Schools Debate and (somewhat) British Parliamentary Debate as practiced as the World Universities Debating Championships).
Intro to WSD
This presentation provides a brief glimpse into the World Schools Debate format, which was somewhat modeled after British Parliamentary Debate.
Speaker Roles & Responsibilities
This presentation explores the expectations of each debater in a World Schools Debate Round.
Sample Worlds-Style Debate
This video showcases the final round of the 2010 World Universities Debating Championship. This 4-team format of debate is similar to what you will find in a good World Schools Debate.
Student Reflections
Debaters at Parkway West HS (Missouri) reflect on their first experience with World Schools Debate at the 2017 National Speech & Debate Association’s national championship tournament.
Winning Debates
This (free) textbook by Steve Johnson is an excellent read on British Parliamentary Debate (as practiced at the World Universities Debating Championships). While the text is not specifically about World Schools Debate, it provides excellent insight into international-style debating. It could be very easily adapted for anyone wishing to explore WSD.
Johnson, Steven L., Winning Debates: A Guide to Debating in the Style of the World Universities Debating Championships, New York: International Debate Education Association, 2009.
