Parts of a theory argument
The unwritten rule of debate that the opponent’s argument violates.
What is an interpretation?
An argument against reasonability.
What is
1-arbitrary/invites judge intervention?
2-no brightline?
3-encourages debaters to be as abusive as can get away with?
The size of the topic, in number of topical affirmatives, under an interpretation.
What is limits?
One reason to prefer the negative's interp.
What is
1-semantics? -or-
2-ground?
The number of PICs the neg is allowed to read according to the Iron Dome aff 1ar interp.
What is zero?
Why (or how) the opponent’s argument fails to meet the interpretation.
What is a violation?
An argument against competing interpretations.
What is
1-encourages students to get good at theory and ignore substance/highly technical debates?
2-distracts from substance?
3-the aff shouldn't lose for meeting a perfectly reasonable interpretation?
Arguments that one or more sides in a debate has at its disposal under an interpretation--a core topic controversy.
What is ground?
One reason to prefer the affirmative's interp.
What is
1-plans are good? -or-
2-clash?
The number of conditional advocacies the negative is allowed according to the Iron Dome aff 1ar interp.
What is zero?
The “interpretation” in a topicality argument (or textual support for that interpretation) – the meaning of the word in the resolution that the affirmative plan violates.
What is a definition?
An argument for dropping the argument.
What is
1-punishment should be proportional?
2-encourages substantive education?
A list of affirmatives that are topical under your opponent's interp, but shouldn't be.
What is an offensive case list?
The side that wants the ban to apply to all countries and not to any one specific country.
What is the negative?
One reason reading a counterplan conditionally is abusive according to the Iron Dome aff 1ar.
What is
1-lit skew?
2-contradictions?
Reasons to prefer your interpretation.
What are standards?
An argument for dropping the debater.
What is
1-the abuse affected the debater's strategy as a whole and not only on one argument/sheet of paper?
2-dropping the argument isn't harsh enough to deter abuse?
A list of affirmatives that are topical under your interp, proving you aren't overlimiting.
What is a defensive case list?
How important is it for the neg to win its definition of "ban" if extending its definition of "states" or "weapons?"
What is not particularly important?
One reason PICs are bad according to the Iron Dome aff 1ar interp.
What is
1-infinitely regressive?
2-don't disprove the aff?
3-lit skew?
4-encourages vague plan writing?
Elements that determine how to compare interps, and the recourse a judge should take in dealing with an argument determined to be illegitimate.
What are paradigm issues?
The best argument for RVIs.
What?
The number of words you should counter-define in the 1ar.
What is "every word that was defined in the 1nc?"
How important it is to win reasonability if the aff is winning the neg's interp doesn't solve for limits either.
What is "extremely important?"
The way a judge would "drop the argument" on conditionality.
What is "stick them with the advocacy?"