What is a 'contention' in debate case building?
A) A disagreement between teammates
B) A main argument or point that supports the team's position on the resolution
C) A piece of evidence
D) A question for cross-examination
What is a 'subpoint' in a debate case?
A) The main argument
B) A specific piece of evidence, reasoning, or example that supports a contention
C) The resolution itself
D) The judge's score
What is 'impact analysis' in debate?
A) Measuring the physical impact of objects
B) Explaining the significance, scope, and consequences of an argument — answering 'so what?' and 'why does this matter?'
C) Counting the number of arguments
D) Analyzing the opponent's delivery
What is refutation in debate?
A) Agreeing with the opponent
B) Directly attacking and disproving the opponent's arguments using evidence and logic
C) Ignoring the opponent's arguments
D) Repeating your own arguments louder
The 'four-step refutation' method involves:
A) Citing four sources
B) 1) 'They say...' 2) 'But...' 3) 'Because...' 4) 'Therefore...' — stating the opponent's argument, your response, your evidence, and the impact
C) Making four speeches
D) Asking four questions
What is a 'value premise' in Lincoln-Douglas debate?
A) The monetary value of the topic
B) The core value (e.g., justice, liberty, security) that a debater argues should be upheld
C) The opponent's weakest argument
D) A factual claim
What is a 'criterion' (or 'value criterion') in debate?
A) The judge's scoring rubric
B) The standard or measure by which the value premise is achieved or evaluated
C) A type of evidence
D) The time limit for speeches
What is 'dropping an argument' in debate?
A) Physically dropping your notes
B) Failing to respond to an opponent's argument, which the judge may then consider conceded
C) Introducing a new argument
D) Speaking too quietly