ERIC Number: ED395343
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1995-Nov-20
Pages: 22
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Counterplans: The Evolution of Negative Burdens as CEDA Makes the Transition from Value to Policy Debate.
Stanfield, Susan; West, Isaac
In 1995, the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) voted for the first time to debate a policy-based resolution. As CEDA embraces policy-based resolutions, it changes the focus of both affirmative and negative strategies. Affirmatives must now necessarily implement a plan while negatives have more freedom to advocate counterplans. Counterplans raise many issues about topicality, conditionality, and fiat, all of which are greatly influenced by policy burdens. Controversy over counterplans will probably erupt. As long as the community assumes that the affirmative plan is the focus of the round, it seems that any counterplan that is beyond the replication of the affirmative plan is worth consideration. The rejection of the counterplan on the basis of its topicality would allow the affirmative to advocate ideas that are polar opposites, to justify the resolution. Also, the affirmative should have to defend his or her plan, not the resolution as a whole, since the negative can suggest his or her own plan. Finally, the use of counterplans shifts the focus of debate. The resolution exists as a framework for the affirmative to advance a proposal while providing an expected area of debate for the negative. (Contains 23 notes and 18 references.) (TB)
Publication Type: Opinion Papers; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A