Topicality - Stock Issue in Policy Debate 2013

Topicality SPENCER FIELD FALL 2013

Spencerfield.me

Overview

Top

icalit

y

Foundation

Types

Criteria For Pressing

Pressing

Affirmative

Foundations

Foundations Life

Answers the question: Are we talking about the right thing?

Present Your Definition Boundaries and fences Creates stability and clarity. Keeps people on topic

Foundations Debate

Flows directly from the definitions of a case

Flows from the resolutional intent letter deals just with the mandates and a smidge with the advantages

Provides protection for the negative team. keeps the round “educational”

Types

Types Overview

Topicality: “The state of conformity to the intent of the debate resolution. A plan is topical if it justifies the full intent of the resolution as a direct result of the planks in the plan that implement the resolution.”

~ Policy Debate FAQ

“Topicality is the question: has the affirmative team stayed within the bounds of the resolution?” ~ Policy Debate Orientation

Types Overview

Extra

Effects

Aff’s

Neg’s

Standards1

2

3

Types Standards

Definitional Topicality

Flows directly from the definitions of a case

Fails presented(Aff’s) definitions Redefined to negative

Types Standards Aff

Resolution: The United States federal government should reform it’s policy towards then regulation of restaurants.

Towards: Effecting in some form

Restaurants: A permanent location that derives more then 50% of it’s profit from the production and service of food.

Mandate 1: Implement mandatory inspection of restaurants

Types Standards Aff

Resolution: The United States Federal Government should reform it’s policy towards then regulation of restaurants.

Towards: Directly connected within the first degree

Restaurants: A permanent location that derives more then 50% of it’s profit from the production and service of food. Mandate 1: Require that all butchers wear gloves

Types Standards Aff

Resolution:

Definition 1:Definition 2: Mandate 1:

Types Standards Redefining

Present Your Definition Explain Why Your Definition is Better than

the Affirmative: Stipulated Definition Contextual Definition Legal Definition Source

Types Effects Topicality

Changes a policy outside resolution effecting outcome inside.

Deals with length of connection between the definitions and the mandate.

Types Effects Topicality

Change round to round. Very fluid. You can technically make anything connect

or topical with enough links and jumps. Connect nuclear policy with the production

of imported handmade Egyptian tile made out of the mud found along the Nile river that is carbon dated 150 BC.

Types Effects Topicality

Your Team Needs to Decide if it is Too Big of a Leap

Factors for deciding include: 1) Connect under their definitions2) Preview of main governing organization3) The Pluto Test

Explain why it’s outside the wall of debate - based on definitions.

Types Effects Topicality

Resolution:

Definition 1:Definition 2: Mandate 1:

Types Extra Topical

Some are Out of Bounds and Some in Bounds

Types Extra Topical

Resolution: The United States Federal Government should reform it’s policy towards the regulation of restaurants.

Towards: Directly connected within the first degree

Restaurants: A permanent location that derives more then 50% of it profit from the production and service of food.

Mandate 1: Requires that no food be prepared without Saturated fats

Mandate 2: Dissolve the IRS

Types Extra Topical

Resolution: The United States Federal Government should reform it’s policy towards the regulation of restaurants

Towards: Directly connected within the first degree

Restaurants: A permanent location that derives more then 50% of it’s profit from the production and service of food.

Mandate 1: RequireS that no food be prepared without Saturated fats

Mandate 2: Dissolve the IRS

Types Extra Topical

It is Allowed Only if not Deriving an Advantage (or Preventing a Disadvantage) From it

Types Effects Topicality

Resolution:

Definition 1:Definition 2: Mandate 1:Mandate 2:

Criteria For Pressing

Criteria For Pressing Judges

Do Not Be Scared

Criteria For Pressing Judges

Who is Your Judge Parent/community/woman Debaters/lawyers/man Read the bio

Criteria For Pressing Judges

Do You Have a Strong Case Definition Types Bold line

Criteria For Pressing Worth

Is it Worth it Are there stronger arguments Automatically weakens other arguments

Criteria For Pressing

Funding

Funding

Pressing

Pressing Overview

Standards Violation Impact Voter

Pressing Timing

1 NC Set-Up + Explanation (Min of 3 Minutes) 2 NC: Clarify, Correct and Refine (Min of 2:30) After CX of the 2NC Ask for Ruling

Pressing Overview

Standards Violation Impact Voter

Pressing Standards

What is Our Measuring Tool What definitions do we use What is the correct interpretation of

the resolutional intent letter CCA Rules(cite and read it)

Pressing Overview

Standards Violation Impact Voter

Pressing Violations

Why Does the Case Fail the Standards Definitions: which one and why Resolution: what part and how Rules: standard held to and place case brings

Pressing Overview

Standards Violation Impact Voter

Pressing Impact

Who Cares Not just about you Purpose of being there “educational” Waste of time.

Pressing Overview

Standards Violation Impact Voter

Pressing Voter

What the Judge Needs to Do? About the Judge A priori What is coming

Affirmative .

Affirmative Avoidance

Avoidance is the Best PolicyDetermined Before Round Begins Definitions Is your case prone to pressing Spike the argument Know why you think you are topical

Affirmative Dealing with

Walk Through the Same Steps Standards Violation Impact Voter

ReviewAVOID THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE

Review Foundation

Fence Protection

Review Types

Standards Effects Extra

Review Criteria for pressing

Scared Judge Cost vs. Benefit Know Your Type How Strong

Review Pressing

Structure Violation Impact Voting