LD Phil
What are the Value and the Value-Criterion?
The framework under which the round is judged; whoever wins the framework debate will determined what standard we're trying to uphold. The value is something inherently good that we want to achieve (justice, morality, etc) and the criterion is a tangible way to achieve the value (maximizing expected well-being, e.g.)
What is a turn?
turn = their argument actually works in my favor
- link turn: "no first use policy DECREASES chances of nuclear war; nuclear war bad" -> "no first use policy INCREASES chances of nuclear war; nuclear war bad"
- impact turn: "jobs guarantee reduces unemployment; unemployment bad" -> "jobs guarantee reduces unemployment; unemployment good"
What is a roadmap and where does it belong in the speech?
Outlines the main points of the speech; it is the last sentence of the introduction.
What are three things to remember when filming your speech?
2. Stand up while filming
3. Film in good lighting
4. Look at the camera
5. Don't forget to use hand gestures and move around while you speak
What do you do before giving a speech?
1. Ask if everyone is ready
2. Give an off-time roadmap for rebuttals
3. Time yourself
What is Utilitarianism?
Consequentialist framework that focuses on generating the greatest good for the greatest number of people. VC is always maximizing expected well-being
- act util: in any given situation we ought to act in a way that maximizes expected well-being
- rule util: we ought to create rules that maximize well-being in the long term (more applicable to debate)
What is uniqueness?
An argument is unique if it only happens in one world. If an impact happens both in aff and in neg, then the judge shouldn't evaluate that impact
What is the minimum number of sources you should have per paragraph?
What is the triangle?
Start in the middle while making your intro. Move towards your dominant hand for your first point. Move towards your non-dominant hand for your second point. End your third point and conclusion in the middle. Never walk backwards
When is it appropriate to interrupt someone in CX?
If they're talking too long, interrupt them kindly with thank you or I'm sorry, you didn't answer my question
What is the veil of ignorance?
Rawls - we ought to make decisions under a veil of ignorance where we know the outcomes of our actions but we don't know what role we will play in society. That means that all of our decisions must benefit the least advantaged.
Provide a weighing argument for improving infrastructure over improving the economy (1 min prep)
1. infrastructure is vital to long-term economic health; i outweigh on time frame
How do you introduce sources?
What is one general strategy for judge adaptation?
Check and see if the judge is flowing/taking notes. If they're not, go slower and articulate your points more
When is it appropriate to bracket a card?
Any type of exclusionary language should be bracketed. Check the Style Guide to make sure our language is politically correct
What are three problems with util?
governments aren't purely util - there are side-constraints to protect human rights; therefore, it's not a very functional framework
well-being is subjective; how do you measure it?
what do we do when there is uncertainty?
What is uniqueness overwhelms the link?
Their impact is so obscure that it won't happen
What is a solvency advocate and when should you provide one?
A solvency advocate is an expert who is promoting the same solution as you are. You provide them whenever you are recommending solutions in your speech
How do you use the foot-in-the-door strategy to order voters?
Start by showing one place you can vote for me. While you're at it, you can also vote on five other issues
What do we wear to tournaments?
Anything we feel comfortable and professional in!
Answer a "respecting individual autonomy" framework with "minimizing structural violence" (1 minute prep)
1. minimizing SV precludes. SV = unequal life chances. in order to protect autonomy, we must ensure that everyone has equal autonomy to make self-regarding choices, so prefer minimizing structural violence in the round.
2. prefer on actor-specificity. respecting autonomy isn't a functional framework for the resolution b/c governments are forced to make choices that infringe on autonomy every day - ultimately, evaluating under their framework is chaos. look to minimizing sv instead because it is the role of the gov't to protect the least advantaged (Rawls)
Refute the conventional war impact on a No First Use policy (1 min prep)
1. it's non-uq - conventional wars already happen in the squo even without a no-first-use policy, so don't evaluate that impact
2. even if it did happen, the probability of nuclear war outweighs on magnitude. conventional wars almost always remain local, and the best of conventional war technologies don't have extinction impacts like nuclear war would. prefer magnitude as a weighing mechanism on murphy's law - the probability of a nuclear war happening increases every year; even if probability is low now, it will be high in the future.
What is the structure of an introduction?
AGD, Link, Background, SoS w/ source, Question/Answer OR Thesis, Roadmap
What does it mean to be clear and interesting?
clear: loud, enunciate, not too fast
interesting: vary vocal tone, inflection, volume, etc.
What do we do if we receive a problematic ballot or judge?
Let Sumi and/or Mr. Rightmyer know as soon as possible. If there is a problem with the judge, don't allow the round to begin until it is resolved.