Topicality & Extra Topicality. Coloring inside the lines

Transcription

1 Topicality & Extra Topicality Coloring inside the lines Copyright 2013 Blue Book Debate Camp

2 Overview Definition Why do we need Topicality? Why Topicality is one of the Big 4 stock issues of policy debate How can Negative win on Topicality? FIRST: Avoid worthless Topicality arguments Definitions: Indict, Insight and Invite

3 Definition Topicality is the first fundamental issue that every Affirmative case must resolve. Before harms, solvency or disadvantages, the basic duty of the Affirmative team must, indeed, affirm the resolution. If they are not upholding the resolution, then they are (intentionally or not) being abusive toward the Negative team (by introducing unfair items into the round) and to the Judge (by falsely agreeing to affirm the resolution and then showing up with a plan to do something else). The Affirmative team that loses on the issue of topicality deserves to lose the debate round, regardless of how good their case may be on any other issues. -- Vance Trefethen, KEYS TO TEAM POLICY DEBATE

4 Coloring Inside the Lines Use proper definitions Qualified Sources Not overly broad Make sure the plan proposed actually follows the definitions given Avoid plans that only affirm part of the resolution

5 Coloring Inside the Lines The resolution The entire resolution Nothing but the resolution

6 Why Do We Need Topicality? The Negative owns the Status Quo AFF responsible for changes, within the resolution AFF must stay inside the resolution to give the NEG chance to prepare. Predictability Checks abuse: Stops AFFs from writing extremely crazy plans

7 Why Topicality is one of the Big 4 stock issues of policy debate Some say T is a procedural issue, not a stock issue. They may be right. Big 4 of Policy Debate: Topicality, Inherency, Significance, Solvency Think of 4 equal sides of the box within which AFF must stay to be fair to NEG ALL 4 are voting issues that AFF must carry to win Topicality is the EASIEST stock issue for the AFF to win

8 How can Negative win on Topicality? FIRST: Avoid worthless Topicality arguments Change vs. overhaul significant must equal a percentage Too specific or narrow Negatives can be punished for Topicality abuse, just like AFFs: Junk topicality arguments waste NEG s time and may turn judges off

9 How can Negative win on Topicality? QUESTION: Do you REALLY think that the average community judge is going to believe that this case doesn t fit this resolution? If not. Don t waste everybody s time If so Run it and help teach AFFs not to run untopical cases.

10 How can Negative win on Topicality? Definitions: Indict, Insight, Ignite, Invite Indict the AFF definition/fulfillment - They don t meet their own definition - Easiest topicality argument to win - Their definition is flawed because - Too broad - Bad source - Out of context

11 How can Negative win on Topicality? Definitions: Indict, Insight, Ignite, Invite Use Insight to distinguish your position Read a better definition Topicality Brief Process vs. Policy Significantly Show AFF doesn t meet it

12 How can Negative win on Topicality? Definitions: Indict, Insight, Ignite, Invite Ignite: Show the burning impact if you accept AFF s abusive definitions If you accept their definition, then. The impact to that would be

13 How can Negative win on Topicality? Definitions: Indict, Insight, Ignite, Invite Invite the judge to consider it an abuse - Give the in-round or out of round impact to this argument - Letting them use this abusive definition creates and to show that this is not acceptable you should award a NEG ballot

14 EFFECTS TOPICALITY An AFF plan changes something that then will have an effect on the policy area mentioned in the Resolution. Resolved: change environmental policy Plan: Fed Reserve raises interest rates, coal companies won t be able to expand, less coal burned, environmental benefits.

15 SIGNIFICANCE TOPICALITY vs. SIGNIFICANCE STOCK ISSUE Most TP resolutions require AFF to significantly or substantially change something. This gets confused with Significance as the issue of measuring the size of the harms or advantages. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING

16 SIGNIFICANCE TOPICALITY vs. SIGNIFICANCE STOCK ISSUE R: The UN should be significantly reformed Inherency: UN Poverty Fund = $1 billion Plan: Increase UN Poverty Fund by $1 IS THIS PLAN TOPICAL? We should be able to decide before we know anything about the advantages. T is determined by the mandates alone.

17 SIGNIFICANCE TOPICALITY vs. SIGNIFICANCE STOCK ISSUE Advantage 1: $1 increase in UN Pov Fund would be enough to restart a critical mission in Africa, saving 20,000 lives. DOES AFF WIN SIGNIFICANCE? Sure, 20K lives saved is significant. But does this change your opinion about Topicality? It shouldn t. They re 2 separate issues.

18 WHAT IS EXTRA-TOPICALITY The AFF mandates do accomplish the resolution, but they also add some extra things not mentioned in the resolution.

19 WHAT IS EXTRA-TOPICALITY The AFF mandates do accomplish the resolution, but they also add some extra things not mentioned in the resolution. SIMPLE TEST: Could we do this mandate without affirming the resolution?

20 WHAT IS EXTRA-TOPICALITY The AFF mandates do accomplish the resolution, but they also add some extra things not mentioned in the resolution. NOT talking about funding, enforcement, etc. JUST MANDATES

21 WHAT IS EXTRA-TOPICALITY The test: Could we do this mandate without affirming the Resolution? If so it s EXTRA-TOPICAL.

22 EXTRA-TOPICALITY EXAMPLES Resolved: That medical malpractice law should be significantly changed in the United States. PLAN: Mandates 1. Remove malpractice suits from tort law and set up administrative boards to hear the cases. 2. Federal government funds a health care safety study research program to reduce frequency of medical malpractice.

23 EXTRA-TOPICALITY EXAMPLES Resolved: That medical malpractice law should be significantly changed in the United States. PLAN: Mandates 1. Remove malpractice suits from tort law and set up administrative boards to hear the cases. 2. Federal government funds a health care safety study research program to reduce frequency of medical malpractice. WE COULD DO SAFETY STUDY WITHOUT CHANGING MED MAL LAW

24 EXTRA-TOPICALITY EXAMPLES Resolved: That the US Federal Govt should substantially change its Agriculture policy PLAN: Mandates 1. Stop spraying cocaine fields in South America 2. Increase US Coast Guard drug interdiction patrols

25 EXTRA-TOPICALITY EXAMPLES Resolved: That the US should significantly change its foreign trade policies PLAN: Mandates 1. Remove trade barriers on imported cars 2. $300 million assistance to displaced auto workers

26 EXTRA-TOPICALITY EXAMPLES Resolved: That the US should significantly change its foreign trade policies PLAN: Mandates 1. Remove trade barriers on imported cars 2. $300 million assistance to displaced auto workers

27 Why do extra-topical mandates sometimes appear? 1. To spike a disad 2. To gain extra advantages

28 What to do about EXTRA-TOPICALITY 1. It s not a voting issue in and of itself. 2. Argue it in the 1NC 3. Point out the mandate that is XT and show how it could be done without the resolution 4. IMPACT: This mandate should be dropped 5. IMPACT: If this mandate is dropped, what happens? DISAD, SOLVENCY, etc. 6. IMPACT: What s the impact to the DISAD or SOLVENCY argument that follows?

29 QUESTIONS?