1. What is Policy Debate
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2. Policy Debate Resolution of Policy Calls for legislative change
Topic areas vary from year to year
(Click) Policy debate is different from Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum. First, the debaters are advocating for a policy change in our current system or status quo (the way we conduct business). The National Federation of High Schools sponsors the Policy Debate topic meeting in August for state organizations, National Speech and Debate Assn, National Catholic Forensic League, and National Debate Coaches’ Assn to come together to discuss potential resolutions for the following year. (Click)One year, topics will focus on domestic policy, (click) the following year will be foreign issues, and the final year could be either domestic or foreign. Papers are written by high school coaches, students, and/or various governmental organizations. Then, schools vote in the fall and early spring.
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Why slide – overall goal

3. Policy Round Overview Affirmative Team
Resolved:   The United States federal government should substantially increase its funding and/or regulation of elementary and/or secondary education in the United States.
Aff. Team upholds the Resolution. This year, the topic is education policy in the US.
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Why slide – overall goal

4. Affirmative Burdens Prima Facie Case Significance/Harms Inherency
Solvency
Topicality
The Aff has the ”burden of proof” in the debate round. (Click) First, they must present a “prima facie” case, meaning “on face value” without any refutation, the case can stand on its own to support the debate resolution. So, the “burden of proof” consists of the “stock issues”: significance and harms, inherency, solvency topicality. (click)—Present a Problem (Harm) and establishing the magnitude of the harm? How significant? Is the problem happening now or in the future? Is it harming my quality of life? (Click) Next, the aff must present a “cause” for why the harm/problem exists—”inherency.” Specifically, is there a current law or laws that create this problem or is there NO laws in place now which makes the problem exist? OR are there attitudes of policymakers or special interest groups that preclude any action from being taken. Next, the aff. has the burden to present a ”plan” utilizing the agent of action, in this case, the US federal government will do X or Y. The plan must include specific mandates: 1. Who oversees the implementation of the plan? 2. Who enforces the mandates of the plan? 3. How is the plan going to be funded? 4. How does the plan overcome “the cause” or “inherent barrier” to be able to solve the harms (problems existing in the present system)? Finally, the last burden is topicality. Does the affirmative case/plan/advantages or benefits fall inside of the resolution? All of these stock issues must be met for the affirmative to meet the test of ”prima facie.”
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Why slide – overall goal

5. 1st Affirmative Constructive
Observation I: Inherency (cause)
A. Structural Barrier
B. Attitudinal Barrier
Observation II: Significance/Harm (Problem)
A. Problem is big
B. Problem is bad
Plan
USfg will….
Funding…
Observation III: Solvency
A. Plan Solves
B. Plan Solves
Advantage
A. Specific Problem is very harmful
B. Plan solves Specific Problem
The 1st Affirmative Constructive Speech is totally scripted to fill the 8 minutes. This is an outline for writing the script—specific arguments with evidence would be included. An introduction and conclusion would be added. The plan would lay out specific provisions for what the US federal government would do to implement these changes. Then, the affirmative would include advantages over the present system (status quo) would be gained by adopting the resolution.

6. Cross-Examination 2nd Neg Questions 1st Aff
Ask for a copy of the Affirmative Case!
Consider asking the following:
What the policy does/how it works
How will it solve/reduce the problem
How much it costs
Anything that sounds “odd”!
Fill all 3 minutes…
Free 1NC Prep!!!!
You can win here in novice rounds!!!
After the completion of the 1st aff. constructive, the 2nd neg. immediately gets up to ask questions of the 1AC. Both debaters should always face the judge(s) and be standing on the same plane, one debater should not be upstaging another. Avoid rudeness and aggressive behaviors during cx. Your job is to gain a better job of understanding of the aff case that has been presented. Your job is to expose fallacies in the aff’s reasoning and setting up arguments for your partner, the 1st neg.
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Why slide – overall goal

7. 1st Negative Constructive
All major/offensive arguments
Should present at least 3 major positions:
Solvency Frontline
Disadvantage Shell
Topicality, 2nd DA, or Advantage answers
NOTE: Topicality MUST come first if you do it!!!
Should not use more than 1 ½ minutes prep
After the first cx, the 1st Neg should be ready to speak. But, if prep time is used, try to limit it to no more than 1 ½ minutes of your 5 min. allotted. The 1NC may begin their speech with “off case arguments.” These may include: Topicality, solvency arguments, disadvantages, or other alternative arguments, such as: counter-plan, kritik, etc. Those types of arguments will be discussed after you’ve attended a debate tournament or two. (Click) So, what are offensive arguments? Offensive arguments are telling the judge “why you’re winning the debate.” The neg has “presumption” meaning—the present system (status quo is innocent until proven guilty. So, as the neg. stick to your positions and show how those positions are superior to the aff’s case presented to adopt the resolution. (click) Your neg. strategy should include: Solvency frontline meaning the plan won’t work for the these reasons. Present your reasons (logically, but find proof to support your logic); if the aff’s plan is adopted, here are the disadvantage(s) to this plan. Could be economic collapse, nuclear war, politics, etc. Finally the negative can run Topicality indicating why the aff case does not meet the language in the resolution.
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Why slide – overall goal

8. Enter Title Here Enter Title Here Point 1 Point 2
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Why slide – overall goal

9. 1st Aff Questions 1st Neg Get a copy of 1NC evidence/positions
About Topicality-
What keeps our plan from being topical?
About DA’s-
Link?
Impact?
About Case Arguments-
Contradictions…
Clarification
Fill your 3 minutes- free prep 2AC prep
Immediately after the 1st Neg is finished, the 1st Aff gets up and does their cross-x. Again, always get a copy of the briefs read in the round or now w/ “paperless debate,” ask for their flash drive to download a copy of their arguments/evidence. Again, the strategy for CX questioning is to fill the entire 3 min because you’re giving your partner and additional 3 min. of prep time. Your strategy is to clarify, clarify, clarify and set up arguments for your partner. The same procedure of facing forward to the judge and not each other is adhered to in the debate round.
Language from Pam and Joe
Why slide – overall goal

10. 2nd Affirmative Constructive
Prioritize arguments
T on Top—Answers to T
“We Meet”
Counter-define the word/term
Answer the Neg Standards
No Voters
(Click) (Bring in Prioritize arguments) and then (click) to bring in the picture. The picture slide gives you a nice outline of how to answer an argument. “Stock Issue” arguments must be answered first. These will have been “off-case” arguments and flowed on separate sheets of paper. (CLICK) Topicality is ALWAYS first because it is considered a procedural argument, like in a court of law.
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11. 2nd Affirmative Constructive (cont)
Answer the Disadvantages
Non-Unique
No Link
Link Turn
No Internal Link
No Impact
Solvency/Advantages
Answer all 1NC arguments!
Line by line x 2--Extend
Other case answers
(Click to bring in image) and (Click for DA)Then, you will respond to disadvantages. Here you should be arguing “link,” “brink,” ”uniqueness,” and “impact components of the neg’s argument. (Click for solvency) Your next task is to answer solvency arguments by showing how the plan solves the harms/problems and is vastly superior to the status quo. (Click for 1NC) Answer all 1NC arguments and (click) go line by line for the case arguments. You should have 2 counter arguments for every neg argument given. Extend your arguments to their conclusion. The 2nd aff should spend approximately 5 min on any off case arguments, leaving approximately 3 min to rebuild and extend the aff case. (Click for Other Case Ans) The key is defense of your original position and why your case is far superior to the status quo.
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12. 1st Neg Questions 2nd Aff Get a copy of the new 2AC evidence
Ask about any DA turns
Ask about any Topicality counter interpretations
Ask about anything that doesn’t make sense!
Fill the 3 minutes- free 2N prep!
Here’s a list of some typical stock questions to be asked of the 2nd Aff. The purpose here is to set up potential counter arguments for the 2NC.
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13. Negative Block Negatives win or lose here
2NC and 1NR should NEVER talk about the same issues. Never…
Never…
NEVER!
Block Purpose- Put a “hurt” on 1AR
Make 2-3 answers to every 2AC answer
Force 1AR to drop things…
It is really important that the 2NC doesn’t take ALL of the 1NC arguments, so that the negative can “split the block”. Splitting the block means that 2NC and 1NR do NOT talk about the same arguments. The point of the block is to put a lot of pressure on the 1AR to undercover or drop negative arguments. The block should put enough out to really make the 1AR difficult.
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14. 2nd Negative Constructive
Will take SOME (NOT ALL) 1NC arguments
Split the BLOCK!!!!!
No new “offensive” arguments in the 2NC
The 2NC will take some of the 1NC arguments to answer- usually one or two in a novice debate- and answer and extend them.
On many circuits, it is considered unfair to the affirmative to run new offensive arguments in the 2NC. Topicality, Counterplans, and Kritiks should never be run in the 2NC (must be run in the 1NC), but sometimes, on some circuits, 2NCs do run new disadvantages. You’ll need to know what the norm of your circuit is.
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15. 2nd Negative Constructive
Will do 1 new position-
Answer an Advantage
Answer Significance/Harm
Answer Inherency
BE CAREFUL…
The 2NC can do new arguments. In most cases, this will be answers to affirmative advantages or (in cases structured with them) harm arguments.
You can answer aff inherency, but in MOST cases, the inherency will make your disadvantage non-unique (if the aff is already happening, then the DA should be, too).
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16. 2nd Negative Constructive
Extend/Answer the 1NC DA
Extend your Story
Answer the 2AC
Add Impacts
2NC should take a disadvantage from the 1NC to answer and extend. This means that 2NC will:
Extend the original story- this means that you go to each argument on the original DA and extend the author, date, argument and briefly explain the warrant for each one.
Answer the 2AC arguments with reasons why they are incorrect based on your original evidence or backup evidence that you read in the 2NC.
Add Impact stories or “scenarios” to the bottom of the original disadvantage. These will be really specific impacts that result from the disadvantage and end in “terminal” (very large) impacts.
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17. 2nd Aff Questions 2nd Neg Ask for new evidence/positions
Ask for explanations of new arguments/positions
Ask about contradictions between 1NC/2NC
You don’t have to fill all your time, but you probably will!
Here are some question areas to think about to ask the 2N about the 2NC.
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18. 1st Negative Rebuttal (1NR)
SPLIT THE BLOCK!!!
Never repeat ANYTHING in 2NC
Answer remaining (1NC) neg arguments
NO 1NR Prep!
Again- split the block- 1NR should not talk about anything that the 2NC talked about.
1NR will answer and extend the remaining positions from the the NC.
1NR should not take prep time. Since the 1NR won’t talk about anything in the 2NC, the 1N can prep while 2NC happens (8 minutes) and for the 3 minutes of CX after the 2NC. This means that the 1NR has 11 minutes to prep a five minute speech.
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19. 1st Negative Rebuttal (1NR)
Answer/Extend 1NC Topicality:
Extend your original Topicality story
Answer 2AC T Responses
Answer/Extend 1NC Solvency or Advantage Attacks
Extend your original evidence/claims
Answer 2AC responses to these:
Compare the evidence-
Add new evidence for existing arguments
Explain why your Solvency attacks matter
Here are some typical choices the 1NR can make
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20. 1st Affirmative Rebuttal (1AR)
Extend 1AC story/advantages
Answer the Negative offense
Must cover EVERYTHING
Save 1 ½ -2 minutes of Prep
Prioritize
Time Allocation and Word Economy
1AR’s magic word- “group”
The 1AR is the toughest speech in the debate because it has to cover all of the positions in the debate, and it has 5 minutes to answer the 13 minutes of the Neg block.
1AR needs to extend the Aff advantages and solvency (aff offense).
1AR needs to answer the negative offensive arguments- DA impacts, any case or advantage turns, and solvency takeouts.
1Ar should plan to use 1 ½ to 2 minutes of prep time to work with the 2A on making sure that all of the arguments are covered.
It’s really important to prioritize what has to get answered and extended.
It is also really important to plan how much time to spend on each argument/position, and you will need to work on word economy- or making arguments efficiently with the fewest possible words.
1AR should practice “grouping” arguments together. This means that you take multiple arguments (Link arguments on a DA, for example), and say “group these- here are my answers.”
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21. 2nd Negative Rebuttal (2NR)
Should choose 2 or 3 best Negative Positions
Capitalize on 1AR mistakes
Tell the judge why you win!
Answer/Extend those 3 arguments
Save seconds of prep
The 2NR should choose the negative arguments from the debate that lets him/her tell a complete story about why neg wins. 2NR should NOT take all of the arguments.
As you choose the arguments to go for in the 2NR, you should look at the 1AR responses, drops, and things under-covered and capitalized on them.
You should start this speech with an overview that “frames” the debate for the judge-put it all together and explain the debate- think about the world with the aff- explain why that is bad.
Extend the original negative arguments- focus on offense (DA, Case/Advantage Turns, Kritik, Counterplan, and solvency)
Answer the 1AR arguments.
Save seconds of prep time to use before this speech to decide what to go for and how to tell the neg story
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22. 2nd Affirmative Rebuttal (2AR)
Frame the debate
Extend the 1AC story/advantages
Answer ONLY 2NR!
Look for 2NR drops
Save seconds of prep
You should start this speech with an overview that “frames” the debate for the judge-put it all together and explain the debate- think about the world with the aff- explain why that is good.
Using the 2AC or 1AR extension blocks, extend the original 1AC story- make sure to extend solvency and at least one advantage story.
Answer the negative arguments- but you only have to answer what is in the 2NR (you don’t have to answer things that they don’t go for). Pay particular attention to offensive arguments!
Look for 2NR drops that you can capitalize on- maybe they undercovered or completely dropped a turn, for example.
You want to save seconds of prep for this speech.
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23. Questions?

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