For Debaters

2025-2026 Resources

Policy Debate Topic

Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly increase its exploration and/or development of the Arctic.

For Novice Policy:

During the 2025-2026 Season, Novice debaters (those in their first year of debate) will be limited to a set of core files. More core files will become available as the year goes on, but for the first 2 tournaments, Novices have access to:

Novice Core Files

For Varsity Policy:

Varsity Core Files

Resources for World Schools Debaters

World Schools Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eF6gwV0MuU&list=PLbRmCbS7bdKLJ8grdI0kI7bANlVT6luHt
World Schools Motions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oEzZQ7pPUU&list=PLbRmCbS7bdKLJ8grdI0kI7bANlVT6luHt&index=2
Role of the First Speaker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXiN_QDNOrQ&list=PLbRmCbS7bdKLJ8grdI0kI7bANlVT6luHt&index=3
Role of the Second Speaker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl0MUXABTuo&list=PLbRmCbS7bdKLJ8grdI0kI7bANlVT6luHt&index=4
Role of the Third Speaker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbDsIl5YcZs&list=PLbRmCbS7bdKLJ8grdI0kI7bANlVT6luHt&index=5
Role of the Reply Speaker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCFfTl-BM9Y&list=PLbRmCbS7bdKLJ8grdI0kI7bANlVT6luHt&index=6
Points of Information (POIs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWhwZVwMuVU&list=PLbRmCbS7bdKLJ8grdI0kI7bANlVT6luHt&index=7
Etiquette: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG5EMIwwY9A&list=PLbRmCbS7bdKLJ8grdI0kI7bANlVT6luHt&index=8
World Schools Ballots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMEkZzGtmUg&list=PLbRmCbS7bdKLJ8grdI0kI7bANlVT6luHt&index=9

World Schools Speech Outline

Resources for Novice Policy Debaters

Intro to Policy Debate

Being the Affirmative

Being the Negative

Cross Examination

Flowing (Taking Notes)

Impact Calculus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBDm0fO-IXw&list=PLvAvbBRDad3NE4_iBXOdkctiT8nLiaCgm&index=8

Beginner's Guide to Policy Debate

Resources for Varsity Policy Debaters

Topicality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohsqsggFpE4&list=PLvAvbBRDad3NE4_iBXOdkctiT8nLiaCgm&index=6
https://thedebateguru.weebly.com/topicality.html
https://debateus.org/debating-topicality/
Discussion of Topicality begins at 19:54: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKoVg9BMHlo

Kritiks

Finding reliable sources

How to cut cards

Spreading

https://www.atlantadebate.org/spreading

Introduction to Theory

Tournament and Event Schedule

Note- Some dates and locations are subject to change. All changes will be reflected in this document. All coaches and debaters will be made aware of changes in advance.

[2025-2026 Schedule Coming Soon!]

2024-2025 Workshop Materials, Core Files, and Practice Slides

Workshop #1

Session 1- Introduction and Topic Lecture
Session 2 Novice- The Aff/ Neg Packet
Session 2 Varsity- The Case Files
Session 3 Novice- Debate Strategies- Flowing and Cross Examination
Session 3 Varsity- The Off-Case Files

Workshop #2

Session 1- IP Lawyers Panel
Session 2 Novice- Novice Review
Session 2 Varsity- Reviewing Off Case
Session 3 Novice- Example Debate
Session 3 Varsity- Roadmaps, Topicality, and Theory
Novice Workbook
Varsity Workbook

2024-25 Core Files

2024-2025 Practice Slides

Link to Drive