Debate Tools

Research sources

After your group has brainstored you need to do research on your topic.

Begin by searching for definitions ( you will need to site where you get your definition from )
On your first search you do not need scholarly or credible sites just a general search
Once you have general ideas you need to take a break and think of arguments for BOTH aff and neg. If you can't think of any arguments for both it is okay to start with just Aff or with just Neg
Once you have a few arguments thought out you then find articles, quotes, and case studies to support those particular arguments ( these sources should be crediably )

Suggested Websites a person can use are:

The Economist: www.economist.com

BBC: www.bbc.com

NPR: www.npr.org

Wall Street Journal: www.wsj.com

New York Times: www.nytimes.com

ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN

More in-depth news: Useful for more analysis than just description of events:

Foreign Policy: www.foreignpolicy.com

The Atlantic: www.theatlantic.com

Every Day Debate: http://everydaydebate.blogspot.com/ this is a blog by a debate coach in Ohio who provides a good introduction to Lincoln Douglas and Public Forum Debate Topics

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://plato.stanford.edu/ – provides an introduction to philosophical topics, particularly useful for Lincoln Douglas

United States Government Website: www.whitehouse.gov – useful for finding what current federal policies are

School Library - gives you access to EBSCO which is a research database which contains academic resources

Overall just using Google is good as well if you restrict your search t: .edu or .gov [note: if you find something useful, google the author to see if they have a bias or credentials on the topic]

NOTE: Some of these sites limit how many or what articles you can read for free. Clear your cookies to restart the count.

PS: SAVE ANYTHING YOU FIND HELPFUL AND PAST THE LINKS ONTO A DOC

Evidence

So why does a person do Research? Evidence. To prove someone wrong in a debate you need to be backed up by a source to establish credibility; when using evidence you must always cite your source before talking and include the source, website, and author. Sometimes it is even better to say their profession to give more credibility.

THINGS TO KNOW:

When you need to write a case, you must have evidence. Cases should primarily have other people's words not your own. You usually will paste a whole article on your case and only read the important parts. A person should only use their own words in the beginning to explain the frame of your case and reading quick summaries of your few arguments. ( this will be shown in an example of a case, but if you're still confused go to the Debate captain or coach )
In Parli, you will not use a lot of evidence but you will need to watch the news and read articles to know what you're talking about in a debate. A Parli debtor will have more credibility if they are able to remember the source of their information or even saying things like: "in a past article I read...". However, you can be easily called out so it is better to remember your news outlets.
In the three other debates an essential tool is EVIDENCE CARDS, evidence cards are what they sound like. A debtor is allowed to have cards that have evidence on them, when you know your opponent will likely say an argument you can predict. You are allowed to prepare evidence against that arguments. There is no limit, but be sure you don't spend all your time reading cards against people because you need to also explain them and cite them.
Evidence is almost everything in Pofo, LD, and Policy. It is useful to attack peoples sources by claiming, bias, being outdated, not being connected to the topic, and more. But judges do not enjoy debate only on why one source is better than the other, so make sure you're debating what the evidence says as well.

Outline to making a case

Now that you and your group should have a understanding of your topic, sources to support your arguments, and articles to paste on your case need to put it all together in an outlined case.

How to write a case and what they look like will be taught and each case will vary from each person depending on what works best for them. Despite, each person developing their own style here is an example of an outline and an LD case based on it.

Outline of a Case:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fcurniEYQrqQ5HFoQJBRR80nXuSaifU9F_rmgiZc7Do/edit?usp=sharing

Example LD AFF case based on outline:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NiuBP1-UBpIp1CjdSoKsa4hwGIIYoNpBmsLy_N8vDdw/edit?usp=sharing

Connecting

How to start a case? You need to connect to people on the team who are doing the same event as you. After meeting you should exchange your email, number, or share a google doc with each other. Together you and others working on the same case should:

A. Break it Down

What are the key terms of the resolution?

Which terms need to be further defined?

What are some topics you see within this resolution that can be explored?

B. What You Already Know

Brainstorm anything you guys already know about the resolution.

There is no right and wrong here. Anything you have read, seen on the news, or personally experienced.

Do you already have an opinion on this issue? If so, what is it and why?

What needs to be PROVEN to win the debate? (Consider both sides).

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