The How and Why of Implied Counterplans
Most debate rounds go a little bit like this: AFF: Here’s a problem, and here’s the solution! NEG: Nah, what we have is just fine. AFF: No, action is needed! Let’s go over the problems again. NEG:...
View ArticleStoa TP Backgrounder #1: Agricultural Subsidies
It’s July, which means fireworks, the beach, and, of course, competitive debate! Granted, it may only be the middle of summer, but we here at Ethos are all springing into the next debate year’s topics....
View ArticleWhat Drives Bad Policy
The new policy resolutions are out for both leagues, so you are all probably frantically searching for the newest and greatest cases (or not, and enjoying the summer like the average person). Many of...
View ArticleHomeschool Debate 2016–17: Topic Review
I’ve already judged about 12 rounds and debated about 6 this season, besides coaching four topics and parli. It was a good start for tasting what some of the topics have to offer. 2016–17 should be a...
View ArticleNCFCA LD Backgrounder #1: Context and Wording
Resolved: Rehabilitation ought to be valued above retribution in criminal justice systems. For the first article in our 2016-2017 NCFCA LD series, we’re going to take a look at the resolution’s context...
View ArticleNCFCA TP Backgrounder #2: China’s Military Power
When you first thought about changing the United States’ policy towards China, you probably instantly thought about trade. Thankfully, that’s not all we’ll be debating this year. There is actually a...
View Article10 Debate National Champions Offer Their Single Best Debate Insight – Isaac Kim
Awesome guest post by Isaac Kim, ethos debater, alumni, and brand strategist. 10 debate national champions offer their single best debate insight As a high school debater without a debate coach, I...
View ArticleStoa LD Backgrounder #2: Not Just Eminent Domain
When we think of private property rights (PPRs), most people think of “No trespassing” signs, A poor old grandmother getting her house stolen from her by the government, or both of those things. But...
View ArticleJustice is Blind
Justice is blind. Nobody understood this better than John Rawls, who argued that the best way to achieve a just society is through total blindness of position. He said that a truly just society is the...
View ArticleNCFCA TP Backgrounder #3: The One-China Policy
The United States has fallen in love with soccer once again. The fact that the U.S. Women’s national team has been so successful has only helped the cause. The U.S. Men’s team, however, has a lot of...
View ArticleStoa Agriculture Policy Backgrounder #3: Herbicides
In our third backgrounder on the Stoa Team Policy resolution, we examine one of the most controversial tools farms use to control those pesky weeds: herbicides. Ever since the creation of the first...
View ArticleStoa TP Backgrounder #3: GMO Labeling
“Frankenstein monsters, things crawling out of the lab,” remarks molecular biologist Robert Goldberg. “This [is] the most depressing thing I have ever dealt with.” However, by “This,” Goldberg is...
View ArticleHow NCFCA Could Make “No Outrounds” Work
We were surprised as anybody by NCFCA’s recent announcement of abolishing outrounds for its qualifiers, and moving to an 8-prelim structure. Having run tournaments in five leagues and coached in 11, I...
View ArticleThe How and Why of Implied Counterplans
Most debate rounds go a little bit like this: AFF: Here’s a problem, and here’s the solution! NEG: Nah, what we have is just fine. AFF: No, action is needed! Let’s go over the problems again. NEG:...
View ArticleNCFCA TP Backgrounder #2: China’s Military Power
When you first thought about changing the United States’ policy towards China, you probably instantly thought about trade. Thankfully, that’s not all we’ll be debating this year. There is actually a...
View Article10 Debate National Champions Offer Their Single Best Debate Insight – Isaac Kim
Awesome guest post by Isaac Kim, ethos debater, alumni, and brand strategist. 10 debate national champions offer their single best debate insight As a high school debater without a debate coach, I...
View ArticleI Am Disappointed
ERRATA: This post referred to “this year’s national champions” at one point in a way that could’ve meant any of several teams and people. At least one national championship team this year specifically...
View ArticleWhen Did Ignorance Become Cool?
[Author’s note: For competitive debaters and coaches, even though this article does not specifically address debate, I write it for you in application of Isaiah’s thoughts here. While we may be...
View ArticleNCFCA TP Backgrounder #4: The Nature of the PRC Part 1
No matter what the foreign policy scenario is that our government is dealing with, it’s always vital that government understand the goals and ambitions of whatever nation they’re dealing with. Debate...
View ArticleNCFCA TP Bakgrounder #5: The Nature of the PRC Part 2
This post is part 2 of 2 in a series of posts regarding the goals and incentives of the PRC. Last week we took a look at the PRC’s economic and military goals, (see that post here if you missed it),...
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