Category Archives: Learn

Judges’ Top Pet Peeves, and How to Avoid Them (Part 2/2)

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Rachel Stevens

After asking a wide range of frequent judges in each event, we have uncovered some of the most common debate judge pet peeves. Yesterday, we discussed the first half of the responses, and how to avoid making these classic … Continue reading →

Posted in Cross-Examination, Learn, Lincoln-Douglas, Public-Forum | 1 Comment

Judges’ Top Pet Peeves, and How to Avoid Them (Part 1/2)

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Rachel Stevens

For today’s article, we consulted a diverse group of active judges from each event about what debater habits irritate them the most. Here are the results, along with how to modify your behavior and become every judge’s favorite debater!

Posted in Cross-Examination, Learn, Lincoln-Douglas, Public-Forum | 2 Comments

Improve Your Body Language to Improve Your Performance

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Rachel Stevens

This excellent TED talk discusses the transformative power of strong, powerful body language in shaping not only how we are viewed by others, but also how we view ourselves. According to Amy Cuddy, studies show that people who enact … Continue reading →

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The Cross-X Questions You Can’t Afford Not to Ask

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Rachel Stevens

Cross-examination is perhaps the most under-utilized several minutes of any debate round. Since your cross-x gives you complete control over what subjects are discussed, it is crucial that you work to wring every last drop of strategic potential out … Continue reading →

Posted in Cross-Examination, Learn | 8 Comments

Research Means More Than Cutting Cards

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Rachel Stevens

When you sit down to do some debate research, the number one thing on your mind is probably finding evidence to support your claims. However, there’s another kind of research that’s just as important: the kind that helps you … Continue reading →

Posted in Cross-Examination, Learn, Lincoln-Douglas, Public-Forum | 6 Comments

Stop Going for Framework Against Nontraditional Affs: Here’s Why

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Rachel Stevens

As the number of teams reading “nontraditional” affs continues to rise, more and more debaters from traditional backgrounds are struggling to adjust to the new demands these rounds present. Many students respond by using framework arguments to attempt to shift … Continue reading →

Posted in Cross-Examination, Learn | 4 Comments

Rebuttal Strategy: How to Choose Which Arguments to Go For

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Rachel Stevens

It’s the most ubiquitous strategic dilemma in debate: how do I decide which arguments to carry into my last speeches, and which to abandon or kick out of? This choice is one of the most influential in determining whether you … Continue reading →

Posted in Cross-Examination, Learn, Lincoln-Douglas, Public-Forum | 4 Comments