League Policies
The following definitions are offered to help clarify how some common terms are used in NCFCA rules and in conversations concerning debate.
Case The main substance of the assertions and/or plan set forth in a team’s first constructive speech of the round
Complete Printed Source Can be a published book, pamphlet, tract, etc. May also be a printed copy of the complete (entire) text of a proposed or actual piece of legislation, journal article, magazine article, etc.
Constructive Speeches The speeches in a debate round dedicated to introducing, building, and responding to arguments
Cross- Examination
The period immediately following each constructive speech, during which the specified opponent is allowed to ask questions of the speaker
Cut and Formatted Evidence Also commonly referred to as a “piece of evidence,” “evidence card,” or simply “evidence.” Cut and formatted evidence consists of three essential parts:
- An exact excerpt of the text and/or a graphic that a debater plans to refer to in a debate round either by reading as a direct quote or summarizing
- The surrounding context cut to the closest reasonable boundaries such as the beginning and end of the surrounding paragraph
- A complete citation
Generally, it also contains a tag line. See samples.
Evidence Facts, documentation, or testimony of others whether directly quoted or summarized
Support Generally, consists of any or all of the following: analysis, analogies, evidence, examples, explanation, logic, and appeals to common sense
Team Policy Plan The words read during the first constructive speech that set forth the terms of a team’s proposal for how to change the status quo, including but not limited to any of the following: mandates, agency, funding, enforcement, and timeline.
Rebuttal Speeches The speeches in a round reserved for responding to and extending existing lines of argumentation rather than introducing new arguments
Refutation A competitor’s response(s) to counter an opponent’s assertions, arguments, or support
Resolution The arguable assertion set forth as the topical starting point for all debates of a particular style during the current competition season.
Tag or Tag Line Title or heading used to label a verbally delivered argument or a piece of cut and formatted evidence
Verifiable by Public Means Information that is verifiable by public means consists of publicly available information. Such information includes publications that are publicly available for purchase or may be obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. If the general public can access the information, then it is verifiable by public means. Information that is not available to the general public includes classified information, information that legally cannot be released, or private communication to which the general public does not have access (such as personal emails or phone calls).