Parliamentary Debate

What is parliamentary debate?

What is Parliamentary Debate?

•Parli is a spontaneous partner debate• Format: 1AC, 1NC, 2AC, 2NC, NR, AR

• Constructives are 7 mins, rebuttals are 5•Resolutions are released before rounds!•Requirements:

• General knowledge of current/historical events• Following magazines, periodicals is a good idea

• The ability to think on your feet• Practice• Creativity!

What to expect in Parli Resolutions

◦ Fact: Is the resolution true? Ex: This house believes that President Obama has done a

better job at fighting terrorism than George Bush◦ Value: Yes/No, and how should you decide if it is?

Ex: This house believes the United States should have a drinking age

◦ Policy: Should we adopt a plan? Ex: This house would abolish the electoral college

It’s not that simple! ◦ Resolutions often are a mix of the three general categories

Ex: This house would lower the drinking age◦Is it wise to adopt a plan to do so?◦How do you decide whether or not is wise to do so?

A mix of the other debates◦“Lay Debate,” At league tournament

Less debate jargon, more explanation of issues◦“Technical Debating” At invitationals and larger

tournaments Jargon is used, along with strategies from Policy and LD

Parli is for those that want to…..◦ lay debate sometimes, and debate technically other times◦approach debate for the first time ◦show advanced debate knowledge◦ run craaaazy arguments (time capsules, plankton, babies,

etc.)◦have fun

If you said yes to any of the above, Parli is for you!

Why Parli?

Lincoln Douglas Debate

What is LD Debate?

LD is one-on-one debate◦Resolutions are bi-monthly!

Basics:◦It is called “value” debate◦Places emphasis on logic, ethics, and

philosophy◦named for the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas Debates

between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas because their debates were centered around slavery and the morals, values, and logic behind it

What is LD Debate

Example Resolutions:◦Resolved: States ought not possess nuclear

weapons.◦Resolved: A just society ought not use the death

penalty as form of punishment.Cases:

◦LD is always “in theory” debate ◦ If topics discusses government policies etc., LD

debaters discuss its ethical impacts◦Crux of every LD case is something called “value”

and “value criteria”◦Value Premise: Your arguments all solve for this value; the

case attempts to demonstrate the resolutional action is in accordance with this value (i.e. justice, equality , etc.)

◦Value Criteria: How you measure, quantify this value

What to expect in LD

Most Unique NFL Debate◦No other NFL debate includes ethics and values! ◦Arguments are not limited to “quantifiable impacts”

only as in many other debatesLD is for those who…..

◦are looking to debate the “human aspect” rather than economic, political feasibility of issues

◦Prefer to stay away from creating policy measures or solving political issues, etc

◦Need a stepping stone to Policy debate◦Want to improve personal refutation skills, cross-

examination, AND argumentation skills! ◦Do not want to depend on partners◦Want to read about basic philosophy!

If you said yes to any of the above, LD is for you!

Why LD?

PUBLIC FORUM

PF is 30 minute, partner debateResolutions are released every month!Basics:

◦Topics are current events, “stripped off of headlines” Following magazines, periodicals is a good idea

◦The newest and shortest NFL debate event◦A simple, organized debate form intended to

be audience friendly and laymen-comprehensible

What is PF?

Example Resolutions:◦Resolved: That the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008

will successfully mitigate economic slowdowns over the next year.

◦Resolved: NATO presence improves the lives of Afghan citizens

No technicality! Public Forum cases feature basic cost-benefit analysis No jargon, or theory Argumentation revolves around economic, social,

political feasibility and impacts Evidence and statistic heavy debate

What to Expect in PF

Most Audience Friendly NFL Debate◦Orthodox argumentation: PF debaters weigh

quantified Pro’s against quantified Con’s◦Realistic, informative argumentation!

PF is for those who…..◦Want an introduction to basic debate and

argumentation◦are looking to debate the economic, political, social

feasibility of issues ◦Want to improve their research skills◦Enjoy current events ◦Want to widen their general knowledge ◦Want to hone basic economics knowledge◦Prefer to depend on partners

If you said yes to the above, PF is for you!

Why Public Forum?

POLICY DEBATE

The oldest and most famous NFL debate event! Considered the most prestigious debate event and also,

most complex Partner debate event One topic per year

◦ 2010 Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its military and/or police presence in one or more of the following: South Korea, Japan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey.

Many high school policy debaters continue policy debate in college

Also known as “Cross-X” debate Resolutions directly relate to government policy

What is Policy Debate?

Cases: Affirmative side always presents a plan that solves for the

resolution Example Resolution- Resolved: The federal government

should adopt a comprehensive, long-term agricultural policy in the United States

Very evidence and statistic heavy! Policy debaters carry around tubs full of multiple plans and

hundreds of pages of printed evidence

What is Policy Debate?

Style: Policy is all about technique and jargon Lots of room for creativity! Focused on evidence gathering and organizational

ability Less emphasis on persuasiveness

Why Policy?

Policy is for those who….. Want to build advanced research skills Want the same topic for the entire year Want lots of time to develop arguments Enjoy all out, total global thermonuclear war and extinction in every single round!

Want to debate what their debate coach did!

The “Granddaddy” of NFL Debate Very large community of debaters across the country! A long legacy of famous politicians, media personnel