League Policies

1. 1. Sources for evidence presented in the round must be verbally mentioned in the delivery of the speech.
   2. Evidence presented in the round must contain a full citation including source and date.
      1. The source citation requires the following items: title of publication or website, URL (or page number for a printed source), article title if applicable, and author (or publisher if there is no author). Sources for evidence must be verifiable via public means.
      2. The date includes the date first published if available, the date updated if applicable, and the date accessed if a publication date is not available.
   3. Evidence presented in the round must have been compiled, cut, formatted, and printed prior to the round unless the evidence is presented  directly from a complete printed source which is present in its entirety with the debater during the round.
      1. For evidence presented directly from a complete printed source, cutting and formatting will consist of bookmarking the page(s) containing the cited segment and marking the cited segment with pen, pencil, highlighter, and/or adhesive labels.
      2. The marked segment must be clearly readable.
   4. Words may not be added, subtracted, or substituted in cut and formatted evidence.
   5. If cut and formatted evidence includes words that are formatted to indicate that they are not intended to be read aloud in the round, those words must remain easily readable.
   6. Common knowledge that is known to most people does not need to be cited in any way.
   7. Evidence must be presented in a manner consistent with its use and context in the original source material.
   8. Distorting evidence is prohibited. Distorting evidence is representing evidence in a way that alters the author’s meaning and includes, but is not limited to:
      1. Using only a portion of the entire quote in such a way that it is no longer consistent with the author’s position throughout the entire article without making that clear to the listener.
      2. Changing words within the quote. This includes changing words like “might” to “will” or “could” to “is.”
      3. Summarizing a quote but presenting it as a direct quote from the author.
   9. Fabricating evidence is prohibited and includes, but is not limited to:
      1. Asserting as fact information that cannot be found in a published source.
      2. Manufacturing articles, quotes, or dates.
   10. Evidence used in a debate round, whether quoted or summarized, may not include language or explicit descriptions that are vulgar, heinous, sexually explicit, obscene, or profane.
   11. [Updated 11/7/2024] Debaters may request any pieces of evidence presented in the round from the opposing team and judges may request from either team. In Team Policy debate, debaters and judges may also request the specific text of the Team Policy plan.
       1. Debaters must only request evidence during their own speech, cross-examination time, or prep time. Requests must be verbal.
       2. Judges may only request evidence after the conclusion of the round by following the Evidence Review Guidelines for Judges.
   12. [Updated 11/7/2024] Debaters must promptly provide a copy of the evidence in context or the specific text of the Team Policy plan.
       1. At in-person tournaments, a printed copy must be provided.
       2. In online tournaments, the Online Evidence Exchange rules must be followed.

   > See definitions that apply to the rules in this section.

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