November 8, 2024
Prepping for the Nov/Dec topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the wealth tax LD topic! Resolved: The United States ought to adopt a wealth tax.
October 28, 2024
Prepping for the Nov/Dec topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the Taiwan military support PF topic! Resolved: The United States should substantially reduce its military support of Taiwan.
October 24, 2024
The new topic for November/December tournaments is out! For many of you, the immediate reaction is likely "ugh, taxes." However, take this topic as an opportunity to push yourself out of your comfort zone and learn about a new area of the world that you previously did not know too much about! A legal-ish debate about taxes may be new, but arguments about how the United States implements policies and potential alternative approaches to solve. This topic analysis hopes to give you a launch pad with which to learn about this topic, some background, and interpretations to be aware of, as well as some arguments and strategies on the affirmative and negative sides.
September 25, 2024
The Sep/Oct Public Forum topic "Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially expand its surveillance infrastructure along its southern border" offers students the opportunity to grapple with some of the most significant national conversations about security, immigration, and civil rights. As debates enter their second month, it’s critical to go beyond simplistic talking points and begin refining both the framing of arguments and the implementation of weighing mechanisms to prioritize impacts. A successful round will not only be won on the strength of your evidence but also on your ability to guide the judge’s understanding of which arguments should matter most. Here’s how to approach the debate in a way that balances national interests and humanitarian considerations.
September 24, 2024
Prepping for the UIL Fall topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the agroecology LD topic! Resolved: In the United States, agroecology ought to be prioritized over industrial agriculture.
September 23, 2024
The Sept/Oct Lincoln-Douglas topic, Resolved: The United States ought to require that workers receive a living wage, requires debaters to engage deeply with historical precedent and real-world examples to evaluate both the feasibility and the moral obligations behind living wage policies. Examining the evolution of wage laws in the United States and exploring international approaches to living wage implementation offer debaters rich material for crafting arguments on either side. The Champion Briefs file on this topic contains hundreds of pieces of evidence and in-depth topic analyses, providing a comprehensive toolkit for debaters. While the file offers detailed arguments and statistics, this blog article aims to give students a broader historical perspective that can guide their research as everyone works to tweak their cases and blocks going into the second month of debate on this topic. Understanding the historical and moral debates around the living wage can deepen students' arguments and allow them to make more nuanced comparisons in rounds.
September 9, 2024
Prepping for the Sep/Oct topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the living wage LD topic! Resolved: The United States ought to require that workers receive a living wage.
September 6, 2024
Prepping for the Sep/Oct topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the southern border surveillance PF topic! Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially expand its surveillance infrastructure along its southern border.
June 3, 2024
Prepping for the June/NSDA topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the democratic secession LD topic! Resolved: In a democracy, a people ought to have the right to secede from their government.
May 21, 2024
Prepping for the June/NSDA topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the US<>EU Trade PF topic! Resolved: The United States should establish a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement with the European Union.
April 29, 2024
Prepping for the May/NCFL topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the Latin America PF topic! Resolved: Latin American countries should prioritize intraregional trade over international trade.
April 5, 2024
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is pivotal in maintaining international peace and security, with significant powers vested in it. Its structure, notably the inclusion of five permanent members (P5) was crafted in the post-World War II era to avert future global conflicts. But the world has changed, which is why Public Forum Debaters are considering the topic “Resolved: The United Nations should abolish permanent membership on its Security Council.” This article explores the UNSC's origins, its global impact, and the intricate dynamics surrounding its permanent members to help Public Forum debaters consider new avenues and examples for their arguments.
April 1, 2024
As Lincoln-Douglas debaters enter the second month of competition on the March/April resolution, "Resolved: The primary objective of the United States criminal justice system ought to be rehabilitation," many have already traversed ground on stock arguments and standard examples. However, this complex topic offers numerous underexplored areas that could breathe new life into cases and inspire fresh clashing. By taking a step back and interrogating our foundational assumptions through different philosophical lenses, considering innovative international rehabilitation models, and analyzing how rehabilitation goals might shift based on crime severity, debaters can access a wealth of new argumentation opportunities. This article offers a quick overview of some of those avenues of argumentation to help students refresh their approach going into April.
March 25, 2024
Prepping for the April topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the UN Security Council PF topic! Resolved: The United Nations should abolish permanent membership on its Security Council.
March 5, 2024
Prepping for the March/April topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the criminal justice LD topic! Resolved: The primary objective of the United States criminal justice system ought to be rehabilitation.
February 26, 2024
The debate over whether collegiate student-athletes in the United States should be classified as employees of their educational institutions encompasses legal, economic, and ethical dimensions. This complex issue not only impacts the athletes and institutions involved but also reflects broader societal values and priorities. Public Forum debate students exploring this topic must navigate these multifaceted arguments to construct persuasive and informed cases. This article provides an overview of some of these pivotal issues to help debaters approach the student-athletes topic as they prepare for Public Forum rounds in March.
February 21, 2024
Prepping for the March topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the student-athletes PF topic! Resolved: In the United States, collegiate student-athletes should be classified as employees of their educational institution.
January 30, 2024
In recent years, the movement to ban single-use plastics has gained momentum across the globe as nations grapple with the escalating crisis of plastic pollution. This surge in environmental consciousness has led to a patchwork of policies, each aiming to reduce the environmental footprint of single-use plastics. When considering these policies for the Public Forum Debate topic “Resolved: The United States federal government should ban single-use plastics,” it’s important to examine the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from international efforts and local initiatives within the US. This article analyzes some international and local US efforts to find new avenues of argumentation as we begin debate on the topic in February.
January 22, 2024
Prepping for the February topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the single-use plastics PF topic! Resolved: The United States federal government should ban single-use plastics.
January 8, 2024
The January 2024 Public Forum Debate resolution, "Resolved: The United States federal government should repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act," invites a critical examination of a pivotal law that has shaped the internet. For debaters, understanding the alternatives to Section 230 and its global impact is crucial in developing nuanced argumentation strategies. This analysis not only broadens the scope of debate but also equips debaters with diverse perspectives for crafting compelling arguments and countering opposition. In this article, I’ll take a look at global comparisons and proposed alternatives in the U.S., aiming to provide debaters with an arsenal of information for refined argumentation, research, and response strategies.
January 3, 2024
Prepping for the Jan/Feb topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the West Asia-North Africa LD topic!\ Resolved: The United States ought to substantially reduce its military presence in the West Asia-North Africa region.
December 21, 2023
Prepping for the January topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the internet policy PF topic! Resolved: The United States federal government should repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
December 4, 2023
As Public Forum debaters continue to develop their strategies on the topic "Resolved: The United States federal government should forgive all federal student loan debt," it’s important to find fresh perspectives and deeper analysis into your cases. This second month of debate not only challenges debaters to stay updated with recent developments but also to rethink and reinforce their argumentative strategies. In this article, I’m going to give an overview of some different argumentation areas debaters can explore as they prepare for the second month of debates on this topic.
November 13, 2023
While prepping for the Nov/Dec Lincoln-Douglas topic, it’s helpful for debaters to learn more about the context of the resolution by studying the history of public land policies. With this knowledge, debaters will be capable of creating arguments that reference different philosophical approaches to the topic, "Resolved: The United States ought to prohibit the extraction of fossil fuels from federal public lands and waters." This article aims to provide debaters with a comprehensive overview of the history of public lands policy and its underlying philosophical rationales, enhancing their ability to craft informed and nuanced arguments.
October 31, 2023
Prepping for the Nov/Dec topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the fossil fuels extraction LD topic! Resolved: The United States ought to prohibit the extraction of fossil fuels from federal public lands and waters.
October 25, 2023
In the arena of Lincoln-Douglas debate, ethical considerations often take center stage, guiding arguments and shaping resolutions. As debaters grapple with the resolution concerning the prohibition of fossil fuel extraction from federal public lands and waters, a deep dive into ethical frameworks, such as deontology, becomes essential. For both novices and seasoned debaters, a nuanced understanding of these principles can enhance the depth and persuasiveness of their cases. In this article, I'll give an overview of deontology, discuss how novices and experienced debaters can use it on the Nov/Dec Lincoln-Douglas topic, and give advice about how to address these arguments if presented by an opponent.
October 23, 2023
Prepping for the Nov/Dec topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the student loan forgiveness PF topic! Resolved: The United States federal government should forgive all federal student loan debt.
October 4, 2023
The Arctic, with its shimmering glaciers, elusive wildlife, and vast expanses, has long been a subject of human intrigue and ambition. From the early expeditions in search of new routes and territories, to its role as a strategic chessboard during global conflicts, its importance has evolved in tandem with global dynamics. For Public Forum debaters, understanding the intricacies of this region is more than just an academic exercise; it's a journey through time, geopolitics, and the delicate balance of nature. Recognizing the historical significance of the Arctic, the diplomatic endeavors of the Arctic Council, and the pressing ecological challenges faced by the region can equip debaters with a multi-dimensional perspective. This article seeks to be your compass, guiding you through these intricacies and illuminating the complexities of the debate topic.
September 26, 2023
Debating housing rights demands a deep understanding of historical context, the web of interrelated social elements, legislative milestones, and practical initiatives undertaken at various levels of government. Each of these components forms the pillars upon which robust, nuanced arguments in Lincoln-Douglas debates are built. This article looks at the history of housing rights to help debaters refresh their arguments going into the second month of debate on the topic Resolved: The United States ought to guarantee the right to housing.
September 7, 2023
Prepping for the Sep/Oct topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the Right to Housing LD topic!
August 31, 2023
Prepping for the Sep/Oct topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the arctic militarization PF topic!
June 5, 2023
Prepping for the June / NSDA Nationals topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the ranked-choice voting PF topic!
May 26, 2023
I have decided that this will be my final year editing for Champion Briefs. I have loved my time working at Champion Briefs because it has afforded me the opportunity to stay attached to the community that I’ve grown so fond of. Public Forum Debate genuinely changed my life in so many ways, and I am the person that I am today because of the incredible people that I’ve met through debate over the past 14 or so years. That being said, all good things must come to an end, and as my time writing debate arguments comes to an end, I will finally be retiring from debate.
May 24, 2023
Whistleblowing, the act of exposing illicit activities within an organization, often poses significant moral and ethical dilemmas. This becomes particularly complex when government employees encounter classified information revealing potential injustices. This article will examine several cases of whistleblowing across the globe, providing context and raising pertinent moral questions for each. I’m not aiming to answer the questions about whether or not each case was a moral action. Rather, I hope to raise questions that Lincoln-Douglas debaters can apply to the broader conversation about the conflict between moral obligation and personal/national interest.
May 22, 2023
Public Forum Debaters preparing for the NSDA National Tournament are researching a key topic that will better inform your understanding of democratic processes - the proposition of the United States adopting ranked-choice voting (RCV) for federal elections. Understanding the mechanics, potential benefits, and pitfalls of RCV will equip debaters with valuable insights for crafting compelling arguments. In this article, I'm going to do a deep dive in the process of ranked-choice voting, explore some successful and unsuccessful examples, and discuss the broad effects of RCV to help Public Forum teams come up with ideas for their research.
May 11, 2023
Artificial Intelligence has quickly impacted countless aspects of our life, and education is no exception. The promise of personalized learning experiences and data-driven insights is compelling, but the question remains: Does AI help or hinder educational equity? This question is crucial to Public Forum debaters competing in the NCFL National Tournament, where clear understanding and nuanced argumentation can make the difference between victory and defeat. In this article, I’m going to focus on the way debaters might think about equity issues related to the topic “Resolved: The benefits of AI in education outweigh the harms.”
April 3, 2023
In recent years, biometric recognition technology has become increasingly prevalent in our daily lives. From unlocking our smartphones with our fingerprints to passing through airport security with facial recognition scanners, we are relying more and more on this technology to identify and authenticate our identities. However, as the use of biometric recognition technology has grown, so too have concerns about the privacy implications of collecting and storing biometric data. In this article, I’m going to explore the broad concerns about biometric privacy and the potential benefits that are exchanged for the cost to our privacy.
March 28, 2023
The current Lincoln-Douglas debate topic, "Resolved: The justices of the Supreme Court of the United States ought to be term-limited," has sparked important discussions about the future of the Court and the balance of power among the three branches of government. By considering impacts of the long-term effects of implementing term limits, LD debaters will be able to better link their values to argument-level ideas. In this article, I’m going to give an overview of some potential impacts as jumping off points for deeper arguments students can make during the second month of debate on this topic.
March 24, 2023
Prepping for the April topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the biometric data PF topic!
March 2, 2023
Prepping for the March/April topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the SCOTUS term limits LD topic!
February 23, 2023
Understanding the history of term limits in the United States is essential for students who are debating the March/April Lincoln-Douglas topic, "Resolved: The justices of the Supreme Court of the United States ought to be term-limited." By examining the ways in which term limits have been used in the past, students can gain a deeper understanding of the pros and cons of this policy tool. They can also learn about the different ways in which term limits have been implemented, including at the state level and in other countries around the world. In this article, I’m going to give a brief overview of this history in hopes that it better informs your research going forward.
February 21, 2023
Prepping for the March topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the Artemis Accords topic! Resolved: The Republic of India should sign the Artemis Accords.
February 9, 2023
The history of right-to-work laws in the United States is a long and complex one, shaped by shifting political and economic forces. At its core, the right-to-work debate is about the balance between workers' rights and the freedom of employers to run their businesses as they see fit. In this article, I’m going to talk about the historic context of right-to-work laws so that you can apply this knowledge to arguments and refutation in rounds.
February 2, 2023
We often hear the phrase: “debate is a microcosm of the real world.” The more that I think about this, the more I realize the merit that this claim has. Debate is not a space that is isolated from worldly inequities. In fact, many of the issues that plague society at large continue into our community. With this in mind, it is critical to take the time to reflect on our own privileges and biases and discover ways we can use our power to create a more educational, inclusive community for everyone. In this article, I hope to discuss some of the inclusivity issues that reflect in debate and the real world and suggest practical solutions to improve our community.
January 30, 2023
Human migration is a complex and nuanced issue that has been a part of the human experience for millennia. From ancient times to modern day, people have been on the move in search of new opportunities, greater freedom, and more favorable living conditions. This movement of people has had a profound impact on societies, shaping their demographics, cultural identities, and economic systems. In this article, I’ll talk about the reasons people migrate, some historical examples, and ways debaters can consider the context of migration to make better arguments.
January 22, 2023
Economic principles are the foundation of the study of how society uses scarce resources to produce goods and services, and how those goods and services are distributed among individuals and groups. In Public Forum Debate, understanding these basic economic principles can help debaters to analyze current events and construct well-supported arguments on a wide range of economic issues. In this article, I’m going to give an overview of 6 important basic economic principles and apply them to the February PF resolution to show how complex arguments can grow from those ideas.
January 9, 2023
Prepping for the Jan/Feb topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the open borders topic! Resolved: Justice requires open borders for human migration.
December 31, 2022
Prepping for the January topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the West Asian conflict topic! Resolved: The United States Federal Government should increase its diplomatic efforts to peacefully resolve internal armed conflicts in West Asia.
November 28, 2022
All debaters should do drills! Even though some of them are annoying or tedious, we need them. Simply, drills are practice techniques devoted to developing specific skills. When we do drills, we target areas in our skill arsenal that we want to improve, and with continued practice, drills make us better debaters. In this post, I will outline a few drills that classes and teams can use.
November 2, 2022
Prepping for the Nov/Dec topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the China environmental protection topic! Resolved: The People’s Republic of China ought to prioritize environmental protection over economic growth.
October 30, 2022
Prepping for the Nov/Dec topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the Great Power Competition topic! Resolved: The United States’ strategy of Great Power Competition produces more benefits than harms.
October 26, 2022
Advanced framework debating appears to have become a lost art in LD, with some exceptions. This is not only because Policy-style arguments are popular, which in many ways improves the activity, but also because debaters with less experience are writing cases with warrantless frameworks. This is a fixable issue, and I’m here to talk about how to improve this type of debate.
October 25, 2022
Circuit debate seems like an entirely new world, with fast-paced speaking, different styles of argumentation, and a more grueling atmosphere. However, as someone who made the switch from competing almost exclusively traditional to attending a combination of tournaments, the national circuit is not as elusive as it seems. The following article seeks to discuss ways to approach circuit debate coming from a small school.
September 12, 2022
Prepping for the Sept/Oct topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the high speed rail topic! Resolved: The United States ought to implement a single-payer universal healthcare system.
September 12, 2022
Prepping for the Sept/Oct topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the high speed rail topic!
September 1, 2022
Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum Debate challenge students and coaches alike to become experts on a new topic in a matter of weeks. Here are some ways that I use briefs in my classroom to make that process easier.
June 3, 2022
Prepping for the June/NSDA topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the social justice topic!
March 21, 2022
Prepping for the April topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the Japanese military topic!
February 28, 2022
Prepping for the March topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the organic agriculture topic!
February 24, 2022
Prepping for the March/April topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from our writers about the free press topic!
February 23, 2022
Flowing is a fundamental debate skill which involves using pen and paper to keep track of the arguments in round. However, the efficiency and convenience of flowing on Microsoft Excel or Google Spreadsheets outweigh the advantages of traditional methods for four reasons.
February 8, 2022
Adam debated in Lincoln-Douglas and was known as a util debater. Now, he's arguing that more students should learn non-utilitarian arguments as a way to expand their argument set, make strategic decisions, and win more rounds. Read on to learn more!
January 27, 2022
Prepping for the February topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Will Watson about the Turkey/NATO topic!
January 19, 2022
As we continue to face the newest COVID-19 variant, families and teams are once again considering the long-term outlook for school activities. Since Speech & Debate heavily relies on our ability to hold tournaments, everyone I’ve spoken with is thinking about what the future of our activity looks like given the new normal. Unfortunately, COVID-19 isn’t going away any time soon, so we need to consider the future of Speech & Debate.
January 7, 2022
This session was recorded as part of Champion Briefs' Winter Coaches Clinic in 2021. All of these sessions were designed to help teachers to hone their skills as team administrators and coaches. We hope these videos are a helpful tool for you and your team!
January 7, 2022
This session was recorded as part of Champion Briefs' Winter Coaches Clinic in 2021. All of these sessions were designed to help teachers to hone their skills as team administrators and coaches. We hope these videos are a helpful tool for you and your team!
January 7, 2022
This session was recorded as part of Champion Briefs' Winter Coaches Clinic in 2021. All of these sessions were designed to help teachers to hone their skills as team administrators and coaches. We hope these videos are a helpful tool for you and your team!
January 7, 2022
This session was recorded as part of Champion Briefs' Winter Coaches Clinic in 2021. All of these sessions were designed to help teachers to hone their skills as team administrators and coaches. We hope these videos are a helpful tool for you and your team!
January 7, 2022
This session was recorded as part of Champion Briefs' Winter Coaches Clinic in 2021. All of these sessions were designed to help teachers to hone their skills as team administrators and coaches. We hope these videos are a helpful tool for you and your team!
December 28, 2021
Prepping for the January topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Srikar Satish about the drug legalization topic!
December 28, 2021
Prepping for the Jan/Feb topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Daniel Shatzkin & Nethmin Liyanage about the space privatization topic!
October 27, 2021
Prepping for the Nov/Dec topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Daniel Shatzkin about the right to strike topic!
October 24, 2021
Prepping for the Nov/Dec topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Srikar Satish about the cryptocurrency topic!
October 22, 2021
We learned many lessons from pioneers of online tournaments. Today, online tournaments at the local and national levels have become the norm. Whether it be synchronous or asynchronous competition, online tournaments have kept the speech and debate activity afloat when it otherwise would have been impossible. Here are some top tips for success as we compete online and some thoughts about the lessons we’ve learned from this experience.
October 24, 2021
The Champion Briefs team is proud to offer a demo debate so that novices can learn more about Lincoln-Douglas debate and the novice topic.
October 24, 2021
Prepping for the Sept/Oct topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Nethmin Liyanage and Adam Tomasi about the WTO topic!
October 24, 2021
Prepping for the Sept/Oct topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Zach Ginsberg about the NATO topic!
June 8, 2021
Prepping for the June / NSDA Nationals topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Zach Ginsberg about the democratic values topic!
June 3, 2021
Prepping for the June/NSDA topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Nethmin Liyanage and Daniel Shatzkin about the public health emergencies topic!
May 10, 2021
Here is a written topic analysis about the Electoral College Lincoln-Douglas topic that will be debated at the NCFL Grand National tournament! Champion Briefs does not produce a full brief for the NCFL LD topic but we are happy to provide free resources.
April 22, 2021
Prepping for the May/NCFL topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Nethmin Liyanage and Daniel Shatzkin about the Electoral College topic!
March 26, 2021
Prepping for the April topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Will Watson about the International Monetary Fund topic!
March 1, 2021
Prepping for the March/April topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Nethmin Liyanage and Daniel Shatzkin about the universal childcare topic!
February 23, 2021
Prepping for the March topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Will Watson about the Space Force topic!
January 28, 2021
Prepping for the February topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Sara Catherine Cook about the West Africa development topic!
January 4, 2021
Prepping for the Jan/Feb topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Nethmin Liyanage and Adam Tomasi about the autonomous weapons topic!
January 4, 2021
Prepping for the January topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Will Watson about the surveillance topic!
November 12, 2020
Prepping for the Nov/Dec topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Daniel Shatzkin and Charles Karcher about the federal jobs guarantee topic!
November 9, 2020
Prepping for the Nov/Dec topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Zach Ginsberg about the nuclear no first use topic!
September 11, 2020
Prepping for the Sept/Oct topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic conversation from Daniel Shatzkin and Amanda Ciocca about the compulsory voting topic!
September 7, 2020
Prepping for the Sept/Oct topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Anna Kate Lembke about the Medicare for All topic!
May 29, 2020
Prepping for the June topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Zachary Ginsberg about the NSDA National Tournament charter schools topic!
April 2, 2020
Prepping for the April topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Anna Kate Lembke about the military presence in the Persian Gulf topic!
February 28, 2020
Prepping for the March topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Anna Kate Lembke about the nuclear energy topic!
September 11, 2020
Prepping for the March/April topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Adam Tomasi about the predictive policing topic!
January 29, 2020
October 24, 2021
Prepping for the January topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Zachary Ginsberg about the Venezuelan economic sanctions topic!
January 3, 2020
Prepping for the Jan/Feb topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Adam Tomasi about the nuclear arsenals topic!
October 28, 2019
Prepping for the Nov/Dec topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Zachary Ginsberg about the offensive cyber operations topic!
October 24, 2019
Prepping for the Nov/Dec topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Adam Tomasi about the fossil fuels topic!
September 7, 2019
Prepping for the Sept/Oct topic in Public Forum? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Danny Siegel about the Belt & Road Initiative topic!
September 3, 2019
Prepping for the Sept/Oct topic in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Adam Tomasi about the standardized testing topic!
August 1, 2019
This year, we're excited to offer FREE topic primers during each Public Forum topic voting period! Our writers will offer the pros and cons of the two topic options to help you make an informed decision before you vote. Here is the primer for the Sept/Oct PF resolution choices on China.
June 3, 2019
Prepping for the NSDA National Tournament in Lincoln-Douglas? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Daniel Shatzkin about the revolutions!
May 28, 2019
Want to learn more about the June Public Forum topic on antitrust regulations for technology giants? Here's some advice from Danny Siegel about how to succeed!
March 27, 2019
Want to learn more about the April Public Forum topic on India and the UN Security Council? Here's some advice from Danny Siegel about how to succeed!
March 6, 2019
Prepping for the Mar/Apr Lincoln-Douglas topic? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Adam Tomasi about the military aid!
February 28, 2019
Want to learn more about the March Public Forum topic on housing and urban development? Here's some insight advice from Will Watson about how to succeed!
January 23, 2019
Want to learn more about the February Public Forum topic on Saudi Arabian arms sales? Here's some insight advice from Zach Ginsberg about how to succeed!
January 7, 2019
Want to learn more about the January Public Forum topic on federal debt and economic growth? Here's some insight advice from Zach Ginsberg about how to succeed!
January 6, 2019
Want to learn more about the Jan/Feb Lincoln-Douglas topic? Here's some insight from Adam Tomasi about how to succeed!
January 7, 2019
Want to learn more about the Nov/Dec Public Forum topic on pharmaceutical pricing? Here's some insight advice from Zach Ginsberg about how to succeed!
January 7, 2019
Want to learn more about the Nov/Dec Lincoln-Douglas topic? Here's some insight from Adam Tomasi about how to succeed!
January 7, 2019
Want to learn more about the Sept/Oct Public Forum topic on the law of the sea? Here's some insight advice from Zachary Ginsberg about how to succeed!
January 7, 2019
Want to learn more about the Sept/Oct Lincoln-Douglas topic? Here's some insight from Adam Tomasi about how to succeed!
June 6, 2018
Want to learn more about the June/NSDA Public Forum topic on NAFTA? Here's some insight advice from Danny Siegel about how to succeed!
June 5, 2018
Want to learn more about the June/NSDA Lincoln-Douglas topic? Here's some insight from Adam Tomasi about how to succeed!
March 26, 2018
Want to learn more about the April Public Forum topic on H-1B Visas? Here's some insight advice from Harrison Hurt about how to succeed!
March 1, 2018
Looking for extra prep for the March/April LD topic on a universal basic income? Here's a bonus topic analysis from Adam Tomasi about the topic's wording, cases, and more!
February 27, 2018
Want to learn more about the March Public Forum topic on the AUMF? Here's some insight advice from Danny Siegel about how to succeed!
February 25, 2018
Want to learn more about the March/April Lincoln-Douglas topic? Here's some insight from Adam Tomasi about how to succeed!
January 29, 2018
Want to learn more about the February Public Forum topic? Here's some insight from Danny Siegel about how to succeed!
January 9, 2018
Want to learn more about the January/February Lincoln-Douglas topic? Here's some insight from Daniel Shatzkin about how to succeed!
January 1, 2018
Want to learn more about the January Public Forum topic? Here's some insight from Belen Mella about how to succeed!
December 4, 2017
This month, debaters across the country will be discussing Resolved: NCAA student athletes ought to be recognized as employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Not a sports junkie myself, this resolution didn't immediately strike me as interesting as earlier resolutions about issues like international relations or civil rights. However, as I dug into the literature, I realized just how deep this topic goes.
November 26, 2017
Want to learn more about the December Public Forum topic? Here's some insight from Belen Mella about how to succeed!
October 31, 2017
Want to learn more about the November Public Forum topic? Here's some insight from Belen Mella about how to succeed!
October 30, 2017
Want to learn more about the November/December Lincoln-Douglas topic? Here's some insight from Daniel Shatzkin about how to succeed!
September 26, 2017
Happy September, Public Forum debaters! This is the one time of year when the debate resolution spans two months, which means there's more opportunities to master this topic. It's always exciting when the debates taking place in tournaments across the country mirror those taking place on the world stage, and that couldn't be more true for Resolved: Deployment of anti-missile systems is in South Korea's best interest. This past summer saw the North Korean government escalate threats amidst a war of words with the US, as well as the South Korean government waver on whether to deploy an American anti-missile system on their soil.
September 6, 2017
Want to learn more about the September/October Public Forum topic? Here's some insight from Belen Mella about how to succeed!
August 23, 2017
In this Public Forum demo round, Kevin Hautigan and Cornelia Fraser (Pro Team) debate Sarah Branse and Miranda Nutt (Con Team) on the topic "Resolved: Deployment of anti-missile systems is in South Koreas best interest."
June 6, 2017
Want to learn more about the NSDA Nationals Public Forum topic? Here's some advice from Kaitlyn O'Gara that will help you succeed!
May 8, 2017
The NCFL tournament is an odd experience for most PF debaters, and I'm not just referring to the side/position lock. It's a huge tournament compressed in to a short time span and with the 1:1 judge to team ratio, the judging ends up far more lay than the other national tournaments. Last year, in the noisy curtained convention hall, I found myself the only judge flowing in most of my rounds, with decisions splitting between those who were technically superior on the flow and those who projected perceptual control of the arguments (and sometimes those aligned). Thus, this tournament and resolution offer a great excuse to contemplate debater's access to the most classified information in debate: how your judge thinks.
April 4, 2017
Prepping for the Tournament of Champions? Here's an in-depth, high-level topic analysis from Spencer Orlowski about the Jan/Feb Lincoln-Douglas Topic!
March 22, 2017
Want to learn more about the Electoral College Public Forum topic? Here's some advice from Harrison Hurt that will help you succeed!
March 15, 2017
Want to learn how to use a powerful federalism disadvantage on the Right to Housing Lincoln-Douglas topic? Here's some advice from Adam Tomasi about how to succeed with that argument!
March 15, 2017
Want insight about how to best run counter-plans on the Right to Housing Lincoln-Douglas topic? Here's some advice from Spencer Orlowski about how to succeed with CPs!
February 22, 2017
Click here to watch Harrison Hurt discuss the March Public Forum Debate topic. You'll want this extra analysis to ensure success in the coming month!
February 20, 2017
Click here to watch Spencer Orlowski discuss the March/April 2017 Lincoln-Douglas Debate topic. You'll want this extra analysis to ensure success in the new year!
February 13, 2017
The National Speech and Debate Association's February topic is a chance for Public Forum debaters to act as policy makers. Furthermore, this topic offers the best opportunity for debaters to dive into a bountiful amount of topic literature. When compared to any other topic that has existed in this season of debate, the February topic is definitively one of the most researched and most current topics that could have been selected.
January 30, 2017
February is an interesting month for Public Forum. Many teams no longer have local circuit competitions every weekend and are now looking at wrapping up their season with one, maybe two national tournaments. This means that most people won't have the luxury of taking one tournament to get their head around the topic so that their second tournament can be successful. Fortunately, there are many different ways one can get sufficiently prepared when only one tournament is on the docket for any given month. In this article I hope to give you some methods to hone your skills before Berkeley, Millard North, Penn, Delbarton, Harvard, etc., while also providing some insights on the February topic - "Resolved: the United States should lift its embargo against Cuba" along the way.
January 25, 2017
Rest assured: plans are here to stay, this topic notwithstanding. The Jan-Feb resolution's wording is straightforward yet apparently hostile to specification. In particular, the phrase "any" seems to problematize an affirmative's attempt to defend anything less than the whole resolution. After some thought, I believe that the resolution poses no innate barrier to plans. The negative can contest the affirmative's narrower grasp on the resolution, but the topicality debate is not unwinnable for the affirmative.
January 23, 2017
The 2017 January/February Lincoln-Douglas topic is engaging both because it is extremely timely and because it affords creative debaters a panoply of strategic opportunities. The resolution reads, Resolved: Public colleges and universities in the United States ought not restrict any constitutionally protected speech. Most debaters and coaches – especially those who have policy debate training – were surprised by the inclusion of the word "any," in part because it opens up affirmative debaters to a nearly-infinite number of plan-inclusive counterplans. I can practically see negative debaters excitedly planning the ten-thousand exceptions to the affirmative; "permit all speech with a narrow exception for X," where X is anything from hate speech to violent pornography to crush videos.
January 20, 2017
Click here to watch Kaitlyn O'Gara discuss the February 2017 Public Forum Debate topic. You'll want this extra analysis to ensure success on a difficult topic!
January 4, 2017
Click here to watch Spencer Orlowski discuss the Jan/Feb 2017 Lincoln-Douglas Debate topic. You'll want this extra analysis to ensure success in the new year!
December 13, 2016
Click here to watch Harrison Hurt discuss the January 2017 Public Forum Debate topic. You'll want this extra analysis to ensure success in the new year!
December 1, 2016
In my second year of college Policy Debate, I've found that "substantial" is one of my new favorite words. This year's college resolution uses the term to limit out plans which are too tiny (hence "insubstantial") to be debatable. For context, the current resolution reads: Resolved: The United States Federal Government should establish a domestic climate policy, including at least substantially increasing restrictions on private sector emissions of greenhouse gases in the United States. The presence of "substantially" makes it viable for teams to read T-substantial against affirmatives designed to be so small that there's little negative offense.
March 9, 2021
The National Speech & Debate Association's December 2016 topic is an excellent opportunity for the PF community to return to its roots. Debaters disillusioned by other topics containing obvious ground skew issues, a limited literature base, or less-than-interesting impacts will find the Plan Colombia topic to be a warm & familiar welcome, even if they don't have extensive knowledge of the topic area. Similar to how most December topics are, this resolution asks us to evaluate a policy decision on the basis of "Should we or should we not do X."
November 21, 2016
Click here to watch Kaitlyn O'Gara discuss the December 2016 Public Forum Debate topic. You'll want this extra analysis to ensure success at upcoming tournaments!
November 15, 2016
This month's topic area is drug policy, and the resolution that has been selected is an excellent chance for debaters to research the American military effort in the war on drugs. The resolution is extremely clear in its framing, yet broad enough to allow debaters to access a variety of arguments, alternatives, and frameworks that should make for great debates in December. Researching this topic will force students to consider the history of the war on drugs, American intervention in Latin America, and the current state of Colombian politics. Resolutions like this one are great for Public Forum, and debaters will have a lot of fun debating Plan Colombia in December.
November 8, 2016
During the prelim rounds of any given national debate tournament, you can find hundreds of public forum debaters scurrying around a high school cafeteria, chatting, prepping, and arguing. There's a nervous yet industrious energy that pervades the air, like a fast food restaurant at rush hour. Tensions are high, and debaters do whatever they can to release stress: listen to music, talk to teammates and friends, and perhaps most commonly, bash on whatever judge they had in the last round.
October 31, 2016
The November topic presents an interesting comparative debate for this month. Debaters may not be used to the wording of this topic-where the Affirmative is allowed to weigh any benefit in the round while the Negative seems to just be restricted to defending the very narrow ground of harms to personal privacy. The strategy on this topic, however, I think can be better balanced out to serve both sides equally with some unique links, big picture framing, and impact analysis.
October 25, 2016
On a legal topic like Nov/Dec 2016, it is really important for debaters to hold a basic understanding of the technical questions posed by legal scholars. It’s not like you have to get your law degree before you’re ready to debate qualified immunity, but the topic literature relies on a certain vernacular, as well as a body of case law, so it's helpful for debaters to have a good foundation of knowledge.
October 19, 2016
Click here to watch Spencer Orlowski discuss the Nov/Dec 2016 Lincoln-Douglas Debate topic. You'll want this extra analysis to ensure success at upcoming tournaments!
October 18, 2016
Click here to watch Caspar Arbeeny discuss the November 2016 Public Forum Debate topic. You'll want this extra analysis to ensure success at upcoming tournaments!
October 13, 2016
I come from a unique background in that I have coached national circuit debate but I also possess two degrees in some type of vocal music and am pursuing my third such degree. In my undergraduate I made my money coaching a fledgling but immensely talented local Utah LD team with circuit aspirations. I will never forget attending our weekly LD practice with a colleague and friend also pursuing her voice degree. After watching me give a speech in a practice debate at what would be considered by most to be an average circuit debater's speed, she advised me to quit my job, or at least never do a practice debate with the kids again, lest I do damage to my vocal mechanism.
October 6, 2016
With a few tournaments out of the way, I suspect that most of those reading this post will have a good idea what probable cause is, know the difference between reasonable suspicion and probable cause, and know what SRO stands for. If this does not describe you, I highly suggest you get your hands on our briefs for this month and read the multiple topic analyses and look through the large depth of evidence our writers have compiled for “Septober.” If you are not familiar with the topic yet, this post is not for you. I don’t intend to give a broad overview of the topic, but rather my opinions on arguments people are running, what I think works and doesn’t work in front of all types of judges, and how you can take your argumentation to the next level for the coming month. As a disclaimer, I think any offensive argument can be run well and win rounds, below are just my opinions on some that are better than others.
October 6, 2016
Earning a top-five speaker award feels awesome. Being recognized as the top speaker of a tournament is even more awesome. Though I received a lot of bids to the Tournament of Champions, I never really won many tournaments. I’d usually end up dropping the elim following the bid round, or drop in semis/finals. That didn’t bother me because I knew I wasn’t perfect. It especially didn’t bother me at tournaments where I ended up the top speaker!
September 28, 2016
The 2AR is easily the hardest speech in LD. Everyone likes to talk about the time skew between a 7 minute NC and a 4 minute 1AR; less oft-discussed is the time skew between a 6 minute 2NR and a 3 minute 2AR. Though in both cases the difference is three minutes, the 2AR is still a more demanding speech, the equal time difference notwithstanding. Whereas the 1AR only has a responsibility to put out arguments, the 2AR has a responsibility to crystallize, or summarize the debate in the Aff’s favor.
September 22, 2016
Now that we have a few tournaments under our belts, and arguments from debate camp have been successfully developed, the September/October topic is getting increasingly more complex. There’s an expanding selection of literature and arguments, a number of which would be successful in a variety of settings. With many more tournaments left to go, let’s try to break it down to some of the major points and strategies.
September 20, 2016
Every year I work as the manager of the National Speech and Debate Association store and help out with the NSDA National tournament, and every year I have countless students who walk up to purchase merchandise, look at my name tag, and say, “You’re Shania Hunt… you write for Champion Briefs, right? I love your topic analysis!” While this might be a humble brag, more importantly, it brings me so much joy to see our clients be thankful and happy with our product. That’s what we here at Champion Briefs aim for.
September 14, 2016
As a former Public Forum debater, I often find myself longing for the good old days of excitedly preparing for an important tournament. The endless time I spent researching and writing, though often tedious, was incredibly well spent. I learned more in debate than I did in any other club, activity, or even in any of my classes. At Champion Briefs, we are all former competitors looking to give back to a community that has taught all of us so much and provided unlimited opportunities for our futures. Statistically, debate has been proven to improve test scores, graduation rates, and is highly appealing to future employers. But personally, debate made me the person that I am today, and as the Editor-in-Chief of Champion Briefs’ Public Forum brief, it’s my job to help others have the same enriching experience I was able to have. Our philosophy here is that debate briefs are a crucial service for the debate community, designed to spur discussion and provide resources to as many corners of the country as possible. We do what we do because we love the activity and know that briefs are an important way to enhance the educational potential of Speech & Debate.
September 7, 2016
Click here to watch Varad Agarwala discuss the 2016 September/October Lincoln-Douglas Debate topic. You'll want this extra analysis to ensure success at upcoming tournaments!
September 5, 2016
Click here to watch Harrison Hurt discuss the 2016 September/October Public Forum Debate topic. You'll want this extra analysis to ensure success at upcoming tournaments!
