Resources for Policy Debaters

These resources are applicable to Policy Debate (aka - Team Debate, Cross Examination Debate, CEDA, & NDT). Many of the concepts are used in other formats such as NPDA, and to a lesser extent Lincoln Douglas, Public Forum.

Policy Debate

Helpful Tools

Alaska Core Files

If you debate in Alaska and you would like access to the Alaska Policy Debate Core Files, please have your coach contact me for the password.

Policy Glossary

This button takes you to a glossary of useful terms and acronyms used in policy debate.

Policy Shorthand

This button takes you to sample shorthand for various terms used in policy debate. This shorthand is useful for improving your flows (or note-taking).

Policy Debate Lectures

These resources are applicable to Policy Debate (aka - Team Debate, Cross Examination Debate, CEDA, & NDT). Many of the concepts are used in other formats such as NPDA, and to a lesser extent Lincoln Douglas, Public Forum.

Policy Debate 101

This video provides a 9-minute introduction to the policy debate format. This particular video was created with volunteer judges in mind. However, it could be a very useful video for brand new debaters.

Building an Aff Case

Building an Affirmative Case with the Stock Issues. This presentation explores the 5 core elements of every policy argument (and several other foundational concepts).

Disadvantages

This presentation introduces the concept of disadvantages to students. It explores the key components of DAs: link, brink/uniqueness, and impact. It also discusses the ways in which we conceptualize disadvantages and the ways in which affirmative teams can answer them.

Disadvantages (Old)

This is an older version of the disadvantage lecture (above). The newer version is better, particularly for beginning debaters. However, I decided to leave this one on the website because it includes some elements that I didn’t cover in the newer version. Those elements could be useful to your students after they have a semester or two of experience.

Counterplans

This presentation explores the reasons we run counterplans, the traditional core elements of a counterplan, and how to respond to this type of argument.

Kritiks

This presentation explores the nature of Kritiks in debate. Why do they exist? How do you use them in a debate? How do you answer them?

Speaker Roles & Responsibilities

This presentation walks students through an entire debate round by role. It explores the unique responsibilities of each speech/speaker with suggested ways to prepare for those speeches.

Summary Speeches (The 2NR & 2AR)

This presentation discusses the final two speeches of a policy debate round (the 2NR & 2AR). It explores the process and methods of delivering an effective summary speech.

Building a Tub

Yes, I know. No one does this anymore. We have gone almost entirely digital. I include it here mostly as a throwback to the 80s and 90s (and some teams in the 00s) for historical reference and entertainment.