by Josh Arnold | Dec 29, 2018 | Negative, Strategy, TP
You listen as the Aff speaker presents their case. They drone through their introduction and into their first point, and a sinking feeling begins to slide its icy fingers around your heart. You’ve never prepared a negative strategy against this case; you don’t know... 
by Toby Rivas | Oct 30, 2018 | Disadvantages, Negative, Strategy, Theory, TP
There’s a common misconception that, in TP, moral arguments and pragmatic arguments don’t mix. That’s false. This article is about the Bad Precedent DA—one of the main ways you can couple your principle-based arguments with a pragmatic dimension. We’ll discuss it in... 
by Josh Arnold | Oct 20, 2018 | Negative, Public Forum
This is the first post from another one of our new team members, Josh Arnold. With a Master’s in Public Policy from Pepperdine University, Josh brings extensive experience in policy analysis and publications to Ethos’ NSDA PF Sourcebook Team. Keep an eye out for more... 
by Toby Rivas | Oct 6, 2018 | Inherency, Negative, Strategy, Technique, Theory
This is the first post from one of our new team members, sixth-year debater Toby Rivas. Keep an eye out for more practical strategy tips from him coming soon! Debaters have lots of silly quirks–“debaterisms,” if you will. Things like always quoting Ronald... 
by Thaddeus Tague | Sep 29, 2018 | Advocacy, Fiat, Negative, Strategy, Technique
This is, hands down, the topic that I cover most as a coach. Every debater, new or experienced, has been in this situation. Listening to the first affirmative speaker (or PRO or GOV or PROP), and recognizing that not only do you NOT have any prepped material on what...