Breaking Down Barriers:
Ask Jim about Debate

Return to the BDB List of Questions

You can submit questions too, just email Jim at hansonjb@whitman.edu

What is the difference between high school and college policy debate?

1. college is faster--all rounds, pretty much, are moderately fast to very fast

2. college is more indepth--quotations are longer, debaters challenge the claims in the evidence more, and the tags are more accurate

3. college has more debate process strategy--1ar's spend a lot less time on disads, topicality, etc. that the neg. probably won't win on even if the aff. virtually dropped them; the neg. strategies are more focused--exclusion counterplans, etc.; neg. strategies tend to be more two or three tiered--e.g. several arguments support the counterplan; several arguments support the critique; several arguments support the status quo. the 2nr picks one of these to go for.

Thanks to steve for this question

Got additional ideas or another question? Just email me at hansonjb@whitman.edu