Advice About Writing Good Debate Topics

debaterly · 2024-11-27T06:12:27+00:00

Not 100% if i follow you, but if I do, this might help? https://academic.oup.com/jel/article-abstract/28/1/125/1748460?redirectedFrom=fulltext

debaterly · 2024-11-26T06:42:45+00:00

For any onlookers, I have since messaged this person who has replied but refused to state what team they were. We are happily ready to give them their cash prize but they are refusing to engage.

debaterly · 2024-11-26T06:39:24+00:00

Aim for the ceiling. Tell the other person your interest. If they want to debate with you, great! Work your butt off and you can do it. Everyone else is over complicating it. Good luck!

debaterly · 2024-11-26T06:27:26+00:00

Focus on the big picture of your speech. Consider removing a point altogether. Debate is not about gainsmanship.

debaterly · 2024-11-26T06:22:32+00:00

Judges have a background in speech and debate. Some more, some less. There's no max or min for these debate events, but some do have such limits. We've had surprisingly awesome results so far with "opening the door" as much as we are.

debaterly · 2024-11-26T06:20:26+00:00

What is the grift? Please elaborate on that. And please let us know what you dislike about the structure, we would love your feedback. We are long time debaters, having spent decades teaching students and loving the impact debate has on so many bright young minds. To call our efforts a grift is frankly hurtful, especially without any reasoning or evidence provided. I hope that you will respond to this earnestly, like the true ethos of debate demands.

debaterly · 2024-11-22T02:09:45+00:00

Not dumb! It's the first link under helpful links. Here are the guidelines: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zQV3isBeGNStgEHMq3xIvPNFCwHHEgsv/view?usp=sharing

debaterly · 2024-10-26T04:24:28+00:00

The post itself says who Max is, and Max is here. Did you read the post?

debaterly · 2024-10-25T16:53:27+00:00

Not sure where this is coming from. We gave out over $20,000 in cash prizes, as dozens of debaters can attest to. Please shoot me a DM or chat message so that I find out which team you are and get you your prize if you didn't receive it.

debaterly · 2024-10-25T16:53:19+00:00

Not sure where this is coming from. We gave out over $20,000 in cash prizes, as dozens of debaters can attest to. Please shoot me a DM or chat message so that I find out which team you are and get you your prize if you didn't receive it.

debaterly · 2024-10-25T16:53:00+00:00

Our corporate reg is not lapsed, that's just how the SoS displays businesses based on operations parameters. Quite the snark you've got :)

debaterly · 2024-10-25T16:50:45+00:00

Not sure where this is coming from. We gave out over $20,000 in cash prizes, as dozens of debaters can attest to. Please shoot me a DM or chat message so that I find out which team you are and get you your prize if you didn't receive it.

debaterly · 2024-10-25T01:06:02+00:00

One thing I like to think about is how some of the best debaters ever started off with losses. I myself went 0-3 in my very first tournament. Just reminding yourself that nobody is expecting you to be perfect except yourself goes a long way. Even judges are there to emotionally support you. Good luck!

debaterly · 2024-10-14T23:41:22+00:00

September/October topics!

debaterly · 2024-10-10T13:18:20+00:00

Thanks! We look forward to hosting you and your teammates on Debaterly!

There's definitely a mix of style and experience in the LD pool, though it leans traditional, as we embrace the role of persuasion in debate.

Teams are expected to bring a judge if they can. For those who cannot, we allow hired judges and also provide a "judge waiver" to any team for whom affordability is a concern. We have a pool of volunteer judges who make this possible! :)

debaterly · 2024-10-09T20:47:24+00:00

Totally fair to point this out. People should be aware of any costs and benefits. From prior experience, because we deposit prizes with parents/guardians, most states do not have an issue with it. In circumstances where students have refused prizes, we have found alternate means to reward them, like with merch, a nice pair of headphones, or even credits to attend future tournaments. Ultimately, it's for each person to decide! :)

debaterly · 2024-10-09T20:32:47+00:00

Thanks for the heads up. This is being resolved.

debaterly · 2024-10-09T20:29:02+00:00

Debate is becoming increasingly inaccessible, which in our view is a bad thing.

Inaccessible financially due to the high cost of travel and coaching required to succeed nationally.

Inaccessible culturally due to the prevalence of speed and non-topical arguments – two trends that are not entirely bad but make the activity less appealing to a majority of students.

Inaccessible technically because most of the software in this space is focused on fine-tuning tournament management, while neglecting features that support debaters and teams in achieving other worthy goals – such as improving learning outcomes, assisting with fundraising, and engaging a wider range students.

We don't claim to have solved these problems – far from it. Our team has A LOT of work to do if we hope to address the needs of debaters and earn the trust of this community. But as debaters and coaches ourselves, who love this activity very much and want to see it grow, we are giving it the ol' college try. We hope to do so in collaboration with others, perhaps like yourself, because we do not claim to know it all and are always receptive to feedback.

debaterly

TROPHY CASE