Topicality:A Brief Introduction

Why Topicality

• Abuse! Abuse! Abuse!• Government team has either failed to define key

terms or the Government definitions are unfair to the debate.

• Government team is skewing the resolution to give them a more defensible position.– A Spec: Agency Specification– F Spec: Funding Specification– O Spec: Over Specification– U Spec: Under Specification

Where to Start…

• Counter Definition– Propose a definition which is both more fair to the

debate and fits into the resolution– Your counter definition if the key to your success

in running your topicality. (Don’t give it up easily)– Remember in order to be truly abused you must

have lost something. Try not to run a careless topicality if you don’t need to

Step Two

• Violations– Once the Counter Definition is proposed the

Opposition must prove that the governments definition does not meet the definition of the oppositions. (If you don’t prove this then you end up arguing semantics… Not fun)

Step Three

• Reasons To Prefer aka RTP– The RTP is a simple concept the basis of which is that

you must prove to the judge that the oppositions definition is better. (Could be the winner)• Common RTP’s

– Bright Line: The oppositions definitions clearly provide a concise area of argumentation

– Grammar/Syntax: The oppositions definitions fit within the grammatical usages of the resolution

– Context: The oppositions definitions fit the contextually framework of the presented resolution (Who, What, When, Where, Why)

Step Four

• Voters– This is the most important part of a topicality! This

section tells the judge where and why he should vote on these abusive government definitions. This is also where you prove that you have truly lost something in this debate ex. D/A’s, C/P’s, K’s and any other defensive/offensive opposition strategies.• Common Voters

– Grounds: Opposition has lost balanced ground and government has skewed meaning of resolution

– Education: No opportunity to debate– Research: Opposition didn’t have time to prepare for either such

a broad topic or specific topic

Final Step

• A Priori!!!• A Priori!!!– What this means is literally “look first.”– You say this when you have completed your

topicality and it signals to the judge that this is a key voting issue for the round• Ex: “And judge as you can see this topicality was not

only necessary, but it also becomes an a priori voting issue.”

What does it look like?

• Topicality– C/def– Violations– RTP– Voters• A Priori

Government Answers

• Provocative– Meaning the government has the right to define how

this resolution is defined and ultimately what is talked about.

• Counter Definition- nothing• Violations– “We Meet”

• What this is ultimately saying is that the oppositions definitions are non-unique and that the government already meets these new definitions so ultimatly topicality is pointless

Government Answers Cont.

• RTP– These become more specific meaning that you

have to argue against each point of oppositions RTP• Ex. A bright line argument would mean you have to

justify your definitions and explain either how it creates a bright line of how a bright line ultimately narrows the area of discussion so that we can no longer debate big picture issues.

Government Answers Cont.

• Voters– This is where you are asking the hard question…

Potential or Actual abuse? If you can clearly prove if is ultimately potential abuse then you win because they were still able to argue against your case and debate still occurred.

– This is also where you throw on the label of “Time suck” this means that this topicality is pointless and simply a waste of time. This is also where you turn there use of A Priori claiming that this “time Suck” is now the A Priori voting issue.

Summary

• Topicality is and ugly but necessary beast in the world of debate, however you usually won’t get to use it in the you everyday arguments. Some will say that topicality is pointless while others argue that it is a beneficial offensive tool for the opposition.

You be the judge of that.

Practice

• Resolution: The United States Federal Government should look to the moon.– Definitions• Look- Turn eyes toward• Moon- Titan (Moon around Saturn)

– Plan• The United States Federal Government will take a field

trip to an observatory to gaze upon Titan’s beauty.