General Debate Knowledge
What are the three components of an argument?
For 50 bonus points, which of these components should you spend the most time on in your speech?
Claim, Warrants, and Impact. You should spend the most time warranting.
True or False: In BP, the objective of both GOV teams is work together to beat both the OPP teams (and vice versa).
False, the two teams on each side don't really work together, because each team is trying to win against the 3 other teams.
[Free Space] What was your favorite motion this term?
Happy to hear that you liked it :)
Give a 30-second speech without using any filler words (e.g. like, um, uh).
THW not eat meat.
Great job!
In July, Hollywood had its biggest opening weekend since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic thanks to the release of which TWO movies?
Barbie and Oppenheimer
What is the difference between a framework and a burden?
Framework: What the judge should value the most in this round.
Burden: What your side needs to prove in order to win the debate.
Name the two benches and two halves in a BP Debate round.
Benches: Government and Opposition
Halves: Opening and Closing
Name and explain one problem with utilitarianism.
Lives are not necessarily equal, minority groups are overlooked, “utility monster”, no consent in utilitarian sacrifice.
Give a 45-second speech without using any filler words (e.g. like, um, uh).
THBT social media has done more harm than good.
Nicely done!
The search for a lost submersible watercraft with five people on board captured the world’s attention in June. The vessel was carrying the group to see the wreckage of which ship?
RMS Titanic
Provide a typical signpost for a GOV 2nd Speaker (what does their speech need to include?)
Rebuttal (to OPP case), Reconstruction (to OPP rebuttal), new argument.
What does it mean for an argument to be "derivative"?
This refers to a closing team's argument that does not add any substance to their opening team's argument.
Present one GOV argument for "THR the rise of teenagers at the forefront of social movements" and explain what the OPP rebuttal to that point could be.
Nice!
Give a 60-second speech without using any filler words (e.g. like, um, uh).
THBT schools should only have pass/fail grades.
That was great!
[Daily Double] By the end of 2023, Donald Trump was at the center of at least four separate criminal investigations, at both the state and federal levels.
How many felony counts does Trump currently face in these four cases?
91 (these include: trying to subvert democracy, risking national security secrets, and falsifying business records)
During refutation, you say that your opponent's impact can also happen on your side. What is this kind of rebuttal called?
Non-unique
OG provides a reason why the policy proposed in the motion is good. Later, CG explains that OG's reason is incorrect and that you should believe their alternative reason instead. What is this interaction called?
Knifing.
For 50 bonus points, how should CG avoid this mistake?
Name 4 of the 5 principles of the Criminal Justice System.
Deterrence, Retribution, Reparation, Rehabilitation, and Protection.
Give a 75-second speech without using any filler words (e.g. like, um, uh).
THBT feminist organizations should only appoint women for leadership positions
Very well done!
There is still no end in sight for the Russia-Ukraine war as both vow to fight on. What did Ukraine’s top commander acknowledge in November about the state of the war?
Ukrainian forces were locked in a stalemate with Russia.
Scope, Magnitude, Probability, Timeframe, Urgency, Reversibility.
Give a BP-specific reason for why teams should ask POIs.
Diagonal teams (OG-CO, OO-CG) can only directly engage with each other through POIs. Opening teams may become irrelevant if they don't ask POIs in the closing half of the debate.
Name and explain one of the problems of the United States' criminal justice system.
Overcriminalization, coercive plea bargaining, lack of accountability for law enforcement, or socioeconomic disparities.
Give a 90-second speech without using any filler words (e.g. like, um, uh).
THBT holidays have become too commercialized.
Incredible!
On Oct. 7, hundreds of Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip rampaged through border towns in a surprise attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people. More than 200 people were taken hostage.
Where is Gaza on this map (that Eliz is about to show you)
Hope you learned (or reinforced) some geography with this!