Ask Jim about Debate
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Breaking Down Barriers: Ask Jim about Debate |
You can submit questions too, just email Jim at hansonjb@whitman.edu
Topicality is an issue that asks
whether the affirmative plan supports the resolution. If the
topic is Resolved: That the United States should change its
policy toward Canada and the affirmative advocates that the
United States should change its trade policies with Canada so
that the environment is helped, the affirmative plan is probably
topical because it supports the resolution's advocacy to change
US policy toward Canada. On the other hand, if the affirmative
advocated that the United States change its fishing programs with
Mexico-this would not support the resolution and hence would not
be topical.
Topicality is also sometimes an
issue when the negative advances a counterplan. Some believe that
counterplans should be non-topical since they believe that the
negative is against the resolution (not just against the
affirmative as others believe). As a result, the negative may
need to argue that their counterplan is not topical.
Thanks to Jigar Desai for asking this question.