Policy Camp Talks
The Stock Issues - This session will focus on the explanation and importance of the Stock Issues for both AFF and NEG, and how these tools are a part of every debate round, even if the terms are not used.
Resolution/Plan Analysis - In depth analysis of the Resolution and then each AFF Plan is essential to developing argumentation as well as refutation. This talk will take you through this year's resolution and then the seven steps of analysis which will set you up for argument development.
Advanced Case Structure - How a debater structures their AFF case is important. In this session we will discuss the four main case structures that can be used, and how to choose which one works best for your case.
The AFF Plan - The AFF Plan needs its own talk as it is quite unique. We will discuss all the components of the Plan, how they fit together as well as with the resolution. Included will be discussions on solvency, identifying the inherent barrier, plan advocacy, and making modifications.
Evidence Standard - Researching, formatting, and cutting evidence is a key part of Policy debate. So key that most all adjudications are a result of a challenge to the opponent’s evidence. In this talk we will cover what evidence is, and how to ethically cut and present evidence in the debate round, as well as how to identify evidence violations.
Logic, Fallacies, and Debate - What’s the difference between “valid” and “true?” How about contradictions vs. contraries? There are different categories of fallacies, some seen more than others in the debate round, and they can show up anytime someone is speaking, even in CX. Learn how to identify and deal with these infringements on logic.
Winning Cross-Ex - Every CX can be won by either the “examiner” or the “witness.” There are good strategies that can be utilized by experienced debaters that will enable them to win more Cross-Ex times, including lines of questioning, forcing a stance, how to answer tough questions, understanding the objective, the use of rhetoric, and more.
Advanced Negative Strategies - Besides the “hand tools” discussed in “The Negative” talk, there are also some “power tools” that can be used by more experienced teams. We will look more into advanced Inherency Presses, Workability, Evidence Evaluation, Impact Calculus, DisAds, Shell and Extend, and how to research in order to utilize these tools.
Debate Research Strategy - Every debater must know the topic, and the only way to do this is through research. The more you know, the deeper your argumentation can go. There are NO shortcuts to good research, but there are ways to make it more effective. Learning some good search engine operators will get you more valuable/useable information more quickly.