Charlotte Debate

Please check out the Debate team. We’re relatively new but have grown out of the long-standing Charlotte Speech Team: NinerEngage.

Instagram accounts for Charlotte Speech & Charlotte Debate

Debate Practices for Fall 2025: Tuesdays, 5:30pm-6:30pm in Fretwell 219.
Contact Dr. Aaron Toscano (atoscano) for more information.

Jump Right into Debate

Here are the first things you need to do to set up your 1st Affirmative Contention (1AC) and maybe your 1st Negative Constructive (1NC):

  • Thank everyone in the room or on Zoom
  • State you’re affirming (or negating) the resolution
  • Type of Resolution (pp. 5-6 in the West Chester University Guide)
    • Value–Argue what is morally, ethically, philosophically, etc. right as opposed to what is expedient, feasible, or cost effective.
    • Fact–Defend that something (usually a statement) is more true than false.
    • Policy–Some group (i.e., the US government) should/must/ought to do something.
  • Definitions
    • Define key terms in the resolution
    • Consider which are identifiers and which are weighing mechanisms
      • Identifiers
        • Broadway is defined as the collection of theaters in New York City…
        • College refers to post-secondary education that leads to an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or higher degree
      • Weighing Mechanisms (pp. 9-11 in the West Chester University Guide)
        • Best means the situation that leads to the most satisfaction for [whom].
        • Better than means one thing (film, book, country, system, etc.) is superior to another thing or the status quo itself.
  • Weighing Mechanism
    • This is also known as your “values”–don’t confuse these with “voters” (who would do that)
    • How should the judge weigh the round?
  • Contentions
    • Contention 1: tagline
    • Contention 2: tagline
    • Contention 3: tagline
    • Then…
      • Contention 1: tagline
        • a, b, c
      • Contention 2: tagline
        • a, b, c
      • Contention 3: tagline
        • a, b, c
  • Voters (for Rebuttals)
    • What do you win?
    • What did the AFF/NEG lose?

Fall 2025 Tournaments & Practice Resolutions

This page (and subsequent pages) will serve as a home for instructing participants interested in the debate style from the International Public Debate Association (IDPA). In addition to resources for the structure of an IPDA round and strategies.

Spring 2025 Practice Resolutions

  • February 25, 2025
    GOP control of the US House of Representatives, US Senate, and White House means Republicans have a mandate to lead the country.
    AFF: Isaac
    NEG: Neil
  • February 18, 2025

Novice Nationals–2025

  • Novice Nationals at Berry College in Rome, GA
    February 28-March 2nd; we’ll depart Thursday, 2/27
  • Consider doing an Individual Event (IE) in addition to IPDA, which is on Friday, 2/28
  • This letter has all the events, times, and rule changes (no coaching once resolutions are out, p. 6)

Debate Organizations (we aren’t members of all of these)

Weighing Mechanisms

The Affirmative absolutely must establish the weighing mechanism(s) and explain + defend the significance throughout. It might be good to review pages 9-11 in the Lee College GUIDE TO IPDA DEBATE on “Rebuttals” to remind yourselves of the goal of the rebuttals–to capitalize on your strongest arguments. For instance, the column on the left is a voting propositional, and the column on the right is the significance attached:

Weighing MechanismSignificance
Net Benefits* Provides the most benefits
* The status quo has little to no benefit (AFF)
Cost-Benefit Analysis* Doing this leads to benefits that outweigh costs
Value: Human Life* Must protect human lives
* All lives matter
* Humanity is paramount
Value: No Racism* Must always vote against racism
* No place for racism in the world
* Ultimate evil to allow racism to continue
Any Value/Standard to Uphold* Most important thing in the universe
* No compromise possible
* MUST TAKE ACTION NOW (can’t wait)
Utilitarianism
More Good Than Harm		* This position provides the most good
* Support why the “good” is the appropriate voter
* Maximize benefits / Minimize harms
Preponderance of Logic* Most logical argument (formal logic)
* Common Sense, person-on-the-street
* Conventional Wisdom
Preponderance of Evidence
(not usually appropriate)		* Provide plenty of outside support
* Use statistics and weigh their significance
* Explain why your sources are appropriate
More True than False (51% of the time)* Also known as “On – Balance,” but don’t just drop on balance in; instead, state “more than 50% of the time.”
Decision Calculus* Numbers on your side
* You project the benefits
Highest Value* As it says, highest

News/Topics