Case Study – Prepping for Nationals Quarterfinals
The Ethos team makes appearances at both Stoa and NCFCA […] The post Case Study – Prepping for Nationals Quarterfinals appeared first on Ethos Publications.
View ArticleA Perm by Any Other Name
“Wait, they are running a topical counterplan ag […] The post A Perm by Any Other Name appeared first on Ethos Publications.
View ArticlePersuasive Inoculation Theory
Did you know that debaters can inoculate their audience […] The post Persuasive Inoculation Theory appeared first on Ethos Publications.
View ArticleEverything is Topicality… but what else is there?
Topicality and other theory arguments often get a bad r […] The post Everything is Topicality… but what else is there? appeared first on Ethos Publications.
View ArticleCameras in the Supreme Court: Part Two
In the last post, we looked at the background behind ca […] The post Cameras in the Supreme Court: Part Two appeared first on Ethos Publications.
View ArticleA New Look at Impact Calculus: The Plant
As has been noted before, impact calculus it is a fantastic tool for both aff and neg, but it is terribly underused. I totally understand; it can certainly get complicated, especially as you get into...
View ArticleThe How and Why of Implied Counterplans
Most debate rounds go a little bit like this: AFF: Here’s a problem, and here’s the solution! NEG: Nah, what we have is just fine. AFF: No, action is needed! Let’s go over the problems again. NEG:...
View ArticleWhat Drives Bad Policy
The new policy resolutions are out for both leagues, so you are all probably frantically searching for the newest and greatest cases (or not, and enjoying the summer like the average person). Many of...
View ArticleWhen the neg runs Nuclear War (Or something else absurd)
“And this brings me to the next disad disad 2 nuclear war card 1 Matthews ‘08 nuclear war most gasp-gasp likely in Asia reads evidence… and now gasp-gasp card 2 Greer ‘09 South China Sea (SCS) unstable...
View ArticleValue Debate Theory – Destination vs. Journey #1 – A Change in Perspective
It is an age-old question: Is the journey more important than the destination? This question plays out in many different areas of debate. For example, one of the largest arguments in ethics is the...
View ArticleDebate Has No Rules Part 1: Topical Counterplans
(Just a quick note: Isaiah has written two very extensive posts on counterplans and parametrics earlier on the blog, and I’m definitely not going to try to outdo him. Instead, this post will attempt to...
View ArticleValue Debate Theory – Destination vs. Journey #2 – Evaluating the Stoa LD...
The journey continues, and it seems we are nearing our destination! That is to say, this is the second article in the two-part series on the destination vs. the journey with value resolutions. In the...
View ArticleHow to Debate Idealistic Foreign Policy vs. Pragmatic Foreign Policy
The Affirmative team gets up and says, “You should pass our plan because of X,Y, and Z principles.” Then the Negative team gets up and says, “You should reject their plan because it does not accomplish...
View ArticleA Manifesto for Debate Training: Not What, But Why
Editor’s Note: As Isaiah steps down as CEO, Head Coach, and Leader of Ethos, it seems rather prudent to publish this post, which embodies everything Isaiah taught and will continue to teach. This idea...
View ArticleStart with Why
In both debate circles and the “real-world”, it’s a shame that bad arguments prevail. But it’s not the blatantly false arguments which remain; rather, it’s the appealing and seemingly simple points...
View ArticleExposing Extra Topicality
“Resolved: ‘This house should eat ice cream tonight.’” The government team launches into a well detailed and superbly structured PMC about the policy resolution. They detail how ice cream is tasty and...
View ArticleWitch Doctor Theory
“Of course we know we shouldn’t touch those vines, Reverend Smith; every village child is told the story of the evil spirits that are forced to live in them, and how touching them allows the evil...
View ArticleKrazy Kritiks
Just the name itself sounds exotic: “Kritik.” Indeed, in the lands of homeschool debate, the mysterious “K” is a creature of great mythology and scorn. However, outside of the welcoming realm of...
View ArticleStoa LD – What’s Different Part 1: The Fact Resolution
It’s been four years since Stoa last employed a fact-value resolution for LD. So most people debating this year will probably have never debated a fact resolution in a value context yet. And while...
View ArticleStoa LD – What’s Different, Part 3: The Exceptions
In the last two pieces, I’ve discussed a couple of things that have changed due to the new resolution we’ve drawn for Stoa this year. So far, we’ve covered the proper role of values in a fact...
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