1. Topicality “That sounds good. That’s a good skill to have.” –Julia Marshall “Naw. Advantages don’t matter when it comes to Topicality.” –Humza Tahir

2. Topicality Intro 1. How to Use Topicality A. To beat certain affs B. To limit the topic down C. To waste 2ac time

3. Big Picture Issues A. Explain your interpretation B. It is about comparative reasoning NOT about being right C. The violation should be specific to the aff D. One Impact and do calculus E. Quality Evidence

4. The Interpretation 1. It should be clear & flowable 2. Have a reason to prefer your source -USFG definition -Legal definition -Dictionary -Industry Standard

5. 3. All Impacts must be tied to your interpretation 4. What the topic IS not what the topic ISN’T -DEFINE OTHER WORDS IN THE RESOLUTION -INCREASE = make larger NOT CREATE -ITS = belongs to the USFG 5. Their interpretation is bad - it doesn’t solves standards - source indict -context of the resolution Questions?

6. Violation 1.Clearly written and specific to the plan. 2. You can answer reasonability with a well written violation. 3.Tie it to your interpretation of the resolution- -“x” is topical -“plan” isn’t an example of x

7. Standards/Reasons to Prefer 1. This is your impact - Calculus -Must outweigh their offense 2. Must be clearly articulated. 3. Have 2 in the 1nc [or more] 4. Condense to 1 for impact calculus purposes

8. Limits 1. The Gold Standard 2. The topic should be small 3. Be prepared for “too small” 4. Impact the affs that their interpretation allows as a clean example -in your speech -in cross-x 5. Impact Calculus -Limits insures ground -Limits boost Education -Limits makes everything predictable

9. Ground 1. Affirmative Ground -expands advantage ground -helps the aff vs negative arguments 2. Negative Ground -limits out core negative ground -have to win that it is necessary and critical 3. Impact Calculus -Having arguments makes all debates easier -Fair division makes preparation possible -Educate by researching both sides and defending

10. Grammar 1. Shared language makes comprehension possible 2.An internal link into predictability 3.Internal link into others

11. Framer’s Intent 1. Silly 2. Is your judge a framer? -Read evidence from topic paper – but not relevant -is there a clear violation of the resolution. 3. An Internal link into predictability

12. Extra T The plan text is an example of the resolution. The plan just does other things as well. 1. Has the same impact as being not topical 2. Aff Ground vs Neg Ground -CP out of it -not about advantages

13. Effects T Just like Extra T – a standard The aff is not ‘on face’ topical. But, may result in a topical effect. Obviously not a unique argument – just an answer to we meet. An IL into Limits

14. T is a Voting Issue 1. Rule of the game – 2.The reasons above are reasons their aff shouldn’t be considered. 3.What the Topic ought to be. 4. Alternative is worse. 5. Switch Side Debate Good – not a reason we should always be aff – but consider being aff. 6. Kritik of T

15. Topicality Research 1.0 1.Dictionaries – -onelook.com -legal dictionaries -define: words in the resolution 2. Journal Databases – -check all major databases -results will be broad, read and narrow down 3. Books – -hardest but highest reward -index -looking around when you are in the library

16. Topicality Research 1.1 4. Others you have to check -Industry Sources -US Code -US Registry -Recent USFG Laws 5. Include and know ALL words in the resolution.

17. Topicality Research – Search Terms “the term x” “the word x” “x is defined” “defines x” “definition of x” “x means” “x does not mean” “meaning of x” “x includes” “x is not” “is not x” “different from x” “distinct from x” “describes x as” defin! w/10 w/p defin! w/s “x”