Tag Archives: Strategy

Ari: This is the first installment of a National Symposium for Debate round-table discussion that aims to treat several issues that have recently received considerable attention in conversations about the state of Lincoln-Douglas debate. The organizing theme of our round table is, broadly, the question of whether LD, as it …

Tycoons of Piety: On constructing a delineation between acceptable and unacceptable argumentation Article by Rebar Niemi A recurring and perniciously unresolvable discussion about debate is the question of what arguments are acceptable and what arguments are not. Norms of acceptability can be educationally premised, based on rules of common conduct …

RFD – NFL National Final Round 2012 by Dave McGinnis I’ll start with a general discussion of the round, followed by the RFD. Bear in mind of course that this RFD was only mine. There were 11 judges and the round was decided on a 7-4. Both debaters did a …

Avoiding Frivolous Theory: The Benefits of Pre-Round Resolutional InterpretationsArticle by Steven Adler I. Introduction This article discusses ways to avoid having frivolous theory run in debate rounds. Specifically, I argue that individuals should engage in pre-round discussion with their opponents to clarify the resolutional interpretation for that round (or, as …

As part of the run-up to the 2012 Jan/Feb topic, NSD Update presents the third part in its series of videos from the 2011 TOC. (A special thanks to Erik Legried and Samantha Weiss for filming these TOC rounds; their YouTube accounts can be found here and here.) Previously-posted videos …

As part of the run-up to the 2012 Jan/Feb topic, NSD Update presents the second part in its series of videos from the 2011 TOC. We are also unveiling a new channel feature for the 2010-11 season, which should make it easier to browse and view those videos. The new …

As part of the run-up to the 2012 Jan/Feb topic, NSD Update presents the first part in its series of videos from the 2011 TOC. We are also unveiling a new channel feature for the 2010-11 season, which should make it easier to browse and view those videos. The new …

Looking for ideas prepping the new November/December topic? NSDUpdate brings you the third part of a video recap series that will allow you to generate prep ideas by seeing how debaters have previously debated similar topics. Specifically, this installment of this recap will feature more videos from the 2007 TOC …

Looking for ideas prepping the new November/December topic? NSDUpdate brings you the first part of a video recap series that will allow you to generate prep ideas by seeing how debaters have previously debated similar topics. Specifically, the first installment of this recap will feature some videos from the 2007 …

NSD Original Content. “‘I Allow for More Discourse’: Why Micropolitical Debaters Should Have to Flip Aff.” Article by Steven Adler, Staff Writer. Jalon Alexander of Bodine (PA) reads a micropolitical position affirming against Nathan Lintz of Needham (MA) in the run-off round of the 2011 TOC. Bodine JA v Needham …

by Daniel Moerner Before judging Octas at Valley, a debater asked the panel the following question: “Do you believe that competing interps implies an RVI?” To my surprise, the rest of the panel said yes. I think the rest of the panel was deeply confused about theory debates. It is …

By NSD instructor, Alex Smyk Every Congress squad I’ve encountered is really close. We spend absurd amounts of time together, both inside and outside of rounds. That’s part of the beauty of Congress – it’s a social event that is conducive to teamwork. Teamwork, though, sometimes goes awry. The problem …