2010+Elective+Classes

July 18 - August 15, 2010
 * cfDARTMOUTH DEBATE INSTITUTE **

**__ Elective #1 – __****__ Wednesday July 28 – 10:00 am - 11:45 am __**


 * Mark your first (1), second (2) and third (3) choices for EACH of the 10 elective time slots.**

Getting speaker awards not only gives you shiny trophies to take home to mom, but you also get better seeding in the elims and easier debates in the prelims. This elective will give you at least 100 ways to improve your speaker points. Satisfaction guaranteed: your money back if I don’t hit 100.
 * _ Berthiaume – 100 Ways to Raise Your Speaker Points**

For anyone with a PC laptop that has Word 2007/2010. We'll quickly walk through the installation process of synergy and then talk about how to both flow and create speeches using it. The last hour will be practice using the whole package for debate speeches. Bring your laptop!
 * _ Gulakov – Practicing Paperless **

A good 2AC makes smart arguments on all of the flows. An awesome 2AC makes the block virtually impossible and makes the 1AR significantly more effective. I will talk for an hour about giving the 2AC and then we will work on examples. Bring 2AC blocks that we can edit as a group.
 * _ Kernoff – The 2AC: For Good or For Awesome? **

Learn how to beat the politics DA using arguments that never have to be updated. The discussion will focus on intrinsicness and other politics theory arguments like fiat solves the link, vote no, etc. We will also discuss internal link arguments and other tricks to ensure that you never lose to politics again.
 * _ Lamballe – Beating the Politics DA**

In this session, we’ll discuss some of the core arguments and techniques that go into winning debates on topicality. We’ll start with a general discussion of effective T debating and move on to some more specific comments regarding the major violations likely to be debated under this year’s resolution.
 * _ **** Mulholand – Debating Topicality on the Negative **

The K Framework. One of us loves to hate it, the other hates to love it. Two hours answering the eternal question: who is winning, John or Charles?
 * _ Olney/Turner – The Other F-Word: Framework **

The key to winning on the Aff against the K is to, as the Zen saying goes, “ride your horse along the edge of the sword and hide in the middle of the flames.” Most 2AC’s against the K use a fly-swatter when chopsticks will do. You’ll learn how to shape and rephrase your answers to make them more responsive and offensive against any kritik, with Securitah as the model.
 * _ Quinn – Answering the K, with Security as the example **

Love and enmity in the most volatile regions of the world. We’ll discuss the zero-sum nature of the strategic relationship triangles between the US, topic countries, and their strange bedfellows.
 * _ Ramakrishnan – Threesomes Spell Trouble for your International Relationship  **

** DARTMOUTH DEBATE INSTITUTE ** July 18 - August 15, 2010

**__ Elective #2 – __****__ Thursday July 29 – 10:00 am - 10:50 am __**


 * Mark your first (1), second (2) and third (3) choices for EACH of the 10 elective time slots.**

For anyone with a laptop - mac or pc - that uses Firefox as their internet engine. Topics will include useful add-ons, how to set up a useful google reader, and other electronic research tips. Bring your laptop!
 * _ Gulakov – Pimp your browser **

This elective will discuss the theories behind conditionality, dispositionality, and unconditionality. We will discuss arguments for and against each approach and generate arguments for theory blocks.
 * _ Kernoff – Conditionality, Dispositionality, and Unconditionality **

I debated with four very different partners in college, and I enjoyed every minute of it. This elective will discuss some of the techniques that go into making the most (and getting the most) out of every partnership.
 * _ Mulholand –** **Managing Partnerships**

Lots of people go for the K, but few do it well. In this elective we’ll discuss how to structure your 1NC, how to construct your link arguments, the utility (or lack thereof) of the 2NC overview, the checklist of crucial arguments you must resolve, and the ways you can conceptualize the problem posed by the framework/perm/alt nexus.
 * _ Olney – Going for the K **

Tired of “we outweigh on magnitude, timeframe and probability”? Want to learn how fairness outweighs education (or vice versa)? This elective is like the diff EQ of debate impact calc. The art of impact comparisons can make a huge debate smaller, make concessions less damning, and is the biggest factor in deciding between a win and loss.
 * _ Ramakrishnan – Advanced Impact Calculus**

We'll go over some basic strategies for ensuring you write USEFUL 1AR blocks, you NEVER drop critical negative block arguments, you never get interrupted by the 2AC, and you put pressure on the 2NR.
 * _ Serrano – 1AR **

This session will present a theory of T that is slightly different from both reasonability and comparison, but a lot better for debate. Standards for arguing T will also be discussed. The focus will be on how the negative can increase their chances of winning T, but affirmative counter-moves also will be suggested.
 * _ Strange – A theory and strategy of topicality **

** DARTMOUTH DEBATE INSTITUTE ** July 18 - August 15, 2010

**__ Elective #3 – __****__ Thursday July 29 – 11:00 am - 11:50 am __**


 * Mark your first (1), second (2) and third (3) choices for EACH of the 10 elective time slots.**

Most debates are won or lost before you leave for the tournament. This class will teach you strategies to prepare more effectively and efficiently for debates so that you can have more time to update your Facebook status. It will be divided into three parts: (1) Preparation for your first tournament of the year, (2) Ongoing preparation over the course of the year, and (3) Debating new affirmatives - how to make your preparation work against affs you've never heard before.
 * _ Berthiaume – The Art of Preparation**

If you have debated paperless (with or without debate synergy) and want to get more tips, this elective is for you. Bring your laptop!
 * _ Gulakov – Advanced paperless **

_ Harkins – How to Deal With Theory in the 1AR. This lecture will go over time-saving tricks for the 1AR on theory: how to deal with theory spew-downs on K’s and other positions, how to extend theory to punish the Neg, and how to set up a 2AR on theory.

Even highly skilled debaters often have trouble answering and extending case arguments. We’ll talk about how to debate the case without destroying the line-by-line structure or getting bogged down and wasting your time. We’ll practice these skills using case-debating drills.
 * _ Kernoff – Debating the Case (Aff and Neg) **

Cross – X is the most underutilized 12 minutes of speech time in almost every debate. This elective will focus on strategies to uses cross examination most effectively to win debates and increase speaker points.
 * _ Lamballe – Cross examination**

The elective will cover giving the hardest speech in debate. We will go over important concepts such as combining efficiency with persuasion, picking the right arguments to go for, using prep time effectively, and pre-empting the 2AR.
 * _ Olsen **** – The 2NR **

Answer their CPs in under 3 seconds.
 * _ Serrano – Permutations **

A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away we used to not feel afraid about making kritiks aff inclusive. We can live in that world again-join the rebellion against the darkside of the anti-K empire.
 * _ Turner –** ** Affirmative Inclusive Kritiks **

** DARTMOUTH DEBATE INSTITUTE ** July 18 - August 15, 2010

**__ Elective #4 – __****__ Saturday July 31 – 10:00 am - 10:50 am __**


 * Mark your first (1), second (2) and third (3) choices for EACH of the 10 elective time slots.**

If you have debated paperless (with or without debate synergy) and want to get more tips, this elective is for you. Bring your laptop!
 * _ Gulakov – Advanced paperless **

Tired of losing on T-Substantial is without material qualifications? This elective will cover debating topicality in the 2AC, 1AR, and 2AR. In particular, I will focus on constructing and defending counter-interpretations. I will also specifically address major T issues for next year such as T-military presence.
 * _ Kernoff – Debating Topicality on the Aff **

Sure, speaker awards are nice, but there are other reasons to values higher speaker points. Placing yourself higher in the bracket can make all the difference in important prelim debates and elimination seeding. This elective will teach you several techniques to instantly raise your speaker points.
 * _ Lamballe – Improving Speaker Points**

Cross-x is one part of debate that high school competitors frequently don’t make the most of, but it’s often one of the most significant elements in close debates. In this elective, we’ll identify strategies for making cross-examination more useful and effective.
 * _ Mulholand –** **Cross-examination**

No offense, but y'all are quite bad at this. We will discuss how to organize a file in a productive matter after you have cut a bunch of cards. We will also discuss how to write blocks effectively for your files. I think this is the most important elective I will teach.
 * _ Olsen **** – The most Non-Sexy elective - writing and organizing files **

The most panic-stricken moments in debate occur in 2AC prep time when you have no answers to their new off-case. Not all of us are Boy Scouts – preparation is good but being caught off-guard is inevitable. We’ll discuss how to recover your senses and win without specific evidence.
 * _ Ramakrishnan – How to Be Affirmative Against a New Argument **

Plan-inclusive counterplans can be a powerful negative strategy. The affirmative usually has to resort to theory whines. We'll talk about answers to the typical affirmative theory garbage.
 * _ Strange – PICs are Good **

We'll talk through some classic K arguments that just keep winning debates even though they shouldn't. Chart-toppers include No Value to Life, FIAT Illusory, and don't trust any affirmative authors, and others.
 * _ Turner –** **Golden Oldies**

**DARTMOUTH DEBATE INSTITUTE** July 18 - August 15, 2010

**__Elective #5 – Saturday July 31 – 11:00 am - 11:50 am__**
 * Mark your first (1), second (2) and third (3) choices for EACH of the 10 elective time slots.**

Theoretical arguments can win you close debates (even against teams who are better than you!) Why, then, do judges complain so much? Come to this elective to learn how to revive theory as the weapon it should be – and to keep from losing on it. You will also learn how to go for theory without losing points.
 * _ Berthiaume – The Strategy of Theory**

For anyone with a PC laptop that has Word 2007/2010. So you don't want to be paperless, but want to learn how to create a virtual tub to access files easily or want to flow on your computer. We'll walk through that process. Bring your laptop!
 * _ Gulakov – Debate Synergy for the non-paperless **

Many of us were not born talented debaters. This elective is geared toward those of you who enjoy debate but aren’t necessarily //the// Debater of the Year. It isn’t easy, but there are ways to beat even the best debaters if you’re willing to put in the time. Learn how to capitalize on the strengths of your opponents.
 * _ Harkins – The Not-So-Great Debater**

(somewhat incoherent lecture notes) We’ll talk about what Nietzsche really says, why the argument is so difficult to answer, how he lays the groundwork for a whole variety of 20th century critical theory, and what implication all of this has for this year’s topic.
 * _ Olney – Nietzsche **

**_ Ramakrishnan – Big Picture Debating** See the forest in spite of the trees. One of the biggest skills in debate is realizing how flows interact or where to make strategic concessions. Kick disads to strategically operate on other flows, spot the non-obvious double turn, make the most of your rebuttals. This lecture will help you step back and realize how the judge views the round. We’ll go over hypothetical and actual debates.

We'll go over some basic strategies for ensuring you write USEFUL 1AR blocks, you NEVER drop critical negative block arguments, you never get interrupted by the 2AC, and you put pressure on the 2NR.
 * _ Serrano – 1AR **

Debates against affirmatives that focus on the question of social location, standpoint, identity or position within our community aren’t going away. Learn to research responses and develop positions beyond topicality for responding to this set of critical affirmatives.
 * _ Turner – Social Location, Standpoint and Identity Politics **

**DARTMOUTH DEBATE INSTITUTE** July 18 - August 15, 2010

**__Elective #6 – Monday August 2 – 10:00 am - 10:50 am__**


 * Mark your first (1), second (2) and third (3) choices for EACH of the 10 elective time slots.**

_ Harkins – Researching the Politics Disad Whether it’s the bane of your existence or your negative lifeblood, winning on politics means having the right evidence. Learn where to look (and how to avoid having to look) for new politics disads, the best politics answers, and everything related to researching the politics disad.

Beating the international fiat cp on theory.
 * _ Lamballe – International Fiat is Bad**

The 1AR is one of the most intense speeches in debate because of the time pressure and strategic thinking it requires. This elective will examine some of the most effective techniques of strategic and efficient argumentation that the 1A can deploy to shift the pressure back on to the 2N.
 * _ Mulholand – The 1AR**

It seems so simple. But debates are won and lost at the margins and impact comparisons are one of the least effectively utilized ways of tipping the scales. Rather than sticking to the rote, unthinking application of probability, magnitude, timeframe, and ‘turns the case’ we will delve into the seldom-seen world of well constructed impact evaluation.
 * _ Olney – Impact comparisons **

I realized many of the Lab Leaders at the Camp were 2A's. It is important to know that 2A's are all genetically liars. In order to compensate for their lying, we will discuss some "theoretically questionable" strategies for this topic (think fun abuse not veto-cheto etc.).
 * _ Olsen – Abusing the Affirmative **

**_ Ramakrishnan – Staying Organized in Debates** Does your coach wince when they see your tubs? Does it take you 4 minutes of prep to find your 1NC? These tried and true methods will help you stay organized pre, during and post-rounds.

Tired of reading framework, impact turns and hoping for the best? This elective will focus on affirmative strategies that take advantage of the left-wing mechanism of the topic for beating a variety of negative critical strategies. Learn to plan your 1AC carefully, think through 2AC structure, and set up winning rebuttals with a greater variety of arguments.
 * _ Turner – Aff Kritik –Strategy Beyond Impact Turning**

**DARTMOUTH DEBATE INSTITUTE** July 18 - August 15, 2010

**__Elective #7 – Monday August 2 – 11:00 am - 11:50 am__**


 * Mark your first (1), second (2) and third (3) choices for EACH of the 10 elective time slots.**

This elective will discuss many of the issues around paperless debate, including: mechanics, tech requirements, and in-round implementation. This elective will focus on the Whitman/Dartmouth version of the template – with minor tweaking, it can be run on any version of Word including Macs and older versions of PC word. If you want to try paperless but can't run Synergy, this is the elective for you!
 * _ Berthiaume – Paperless Debate (not using Synergy)**

Things to do before, during, and after each tournament to ensure you bring home the big trophy.
 * _ Lamballe – How to win a tournament**

Foucault is the most commonly deployed critique author, but is often misunderstood. This elective will offer some background on his thinking and use that as a springboard for discussing how to more effectively use Foucault to construct your Ks, as well as how affirmatives can exploit the contradictions created by the traditional interpretation.
 * _ Olney – Rethinking Foucault **

For the faint of heart, it might be better not to attend this elective. Perhaps you could go do some yoga or get a vanilla smoothie. But if you're ready to take the T generic and work through the ins and outs of this year's topicality interpretations and their strategic advantages on the Neg and the Aff, with tips on execution, then put down your smoothie and join us.
 * _ Quinn – How to be a Topicality Dominatrix **

Cheap tricks aren’t just for prostitutes! Learn how to defeat and be that annoying debater who wins on crap from the “necessary perm” to “bottom of the docket”.
 * _ Ramakrishnan – Annoying Debaters & Cheap Shots **

If you're scared you're making fundamental mistakes in the 2ac, this elective is for you. We'll cover a 2ac checklist and talk about how to make and organize modular blocks, how to allocate your time, how to help the 1ar effectively, and how to put the most pressure on the negative block. We'll discuss the extent and limits of both affirmative negative fiat assumptions
 * _ Serrano – 2A: back to basics **
 * _ Strange - The nature and limits of fiat**

July 18 - August 15, 2010

**__ Elective #8 – __****__ Tuesday August 3 – 10:00 am – 11:50 am __**


 * Mark your first (1), second (2) and third (3) choices for EACH of the 10 elective time slots.**

Judges are not black boxes - much as we might pretend otherwise, adaptation is critical to winning debates and improving your speaker points. In this elective, we will discuss the major types of judges and how to win them over. We will also explain how to use judge preferences to your benefit. Bonus Section: How to Adapt for Kevin Hirn.
 * _ Berthiaume/Kernoff – Judge Adaptation **

Or how to make being affirmative even harder. This elective will discuss skills, pre-round preparation and in-round techniques that can help you move your negative strategery to devastating strategy. In addition to generic discussion of negative argumentation, we will discuss topic-specific strategies to deploy on this year’s topic.
 * _ Harkins – Negative Strategery**

Debating at a school with fewer resources and fewer debaters often requires a different approach to debate. This group will talk about dealing with logistics (housing, funding, finding a sponsor, etc.), picking argument types, and approaching research.
 * _ Olsen **** – Debating For Small School **

With the extra prep time, 1NR’s are held to higher standards. Learn how to exceed even those expectations and enjoy the best speech in debate. No 1AR will consider standing-up ever again, not even if they’re wearing Old Spice Scented Body Wash. Apologies to the National Migraine Association.
 * _ Quinn – Migraine-inducing 1NR’s **

A discussion of impact analysis which will include specific evidence and real practice comparing impacts.
 * _ Serrano – Impact Analysis **

**_ Strange – Strategic CX** Debates are not won in CX, but CX can really help win debates in the speeches. The focus will be on the types of questions to ask and the way to ask them. As much time as possible will be spent on practice.

Too many critical 1ACs sound as though the words of the topic changed, but the evidence didn’t. We’ll talk about how to research, write, and develop critical affirmatives that avoid justifying the lazy-K debater stereotype.
 * _ Turner –** ** Writing a K Aff **

** DARTMOUTH DEBATE INSTITUTE ** July 18 - August 15, 2010

**__ Elective #9 – __****__ Thursday August 5 – 9:00 am – 9:50 am __**


 * Mark your first (1), second (2) and third (3) choices for EACH of the 10 elective time slots.**

Successfully wielded, the politics disad is an incredible weapon. Used improperly, it's barely an argument. This elective will teach you how to more effectively research, debate, and win the politics disad, even for judges who traditionally don't like politics. We will go through better and faster search terms, organizing the debate, and choosing scenarios.
 * _ Berthiaume – Debating the Politics DA**

Debates are won or lost in the 1AR. This lecture will go over how to give a 1AR, with a minimum of techniques and tricks to make the 2NR’s life hell.
 * _ Harkins – The 1AR spoke for itself**

Beating the international fiat cp on theory.
 * _ Lamballe – International Fiat is Bad**

An effective 2N knows that all time is prep time and that it’s all about setting up the best possible 2NR. This elective will identify some of the techniques that go into constructing effective negative strategies before and during debates.
 * _ Mulholand –** **Neg Strategy**

If you refuse to understand K's, you enjoy losing. The K is a part of debate whether you like it or not. For some absurd reason, there is an "aura" of some sort around critiques. They aren't that different then other arguments. They aren't that hard to cut. Most "confusing" concepts seem confusing so K debaters can keep being lazy. We'll discuss.
 * _ Olsen **** – K's for "non-K debaters" **

The last speech in the debate isn’t supposed to be delivered through your nose or hiding behind your laptop. Even Roger Solt once said, “if the 2AR was a weapon, it would be a sledgehammer…with bombs taped to it.” Come learn how to make judges stop flowing and just listen to the power of your delivery. We’ll practice some techniques, so bring comfortable shoes and protective eyewear.
 * _ Quinn – Tub-thumping 2AR’s **

We'll discuss strategies and techniques to help win disadvantages. General principles will be discussed and applied to DAs chosen by the class.
 * _ Strange – How to win a DA**

** DARTMOUTH DEBATE INSTITUTE ** July 18 - August 15, 2010

**__ Elective #10 – __****__ Friday August 6 – 9:00 am – 9:50 am __**


 * Mark your first (1), second (2) and third (3) choices for EACH of the 10 elective time slots.**

Despite the collective age of 620 of last term’s justices, the Supreme Court is alive and well. As it will be on this year’s topic. We will discuss how to debate the black-robed brethren on the aff and neg generally, and it will go over likely arguments on this year’s topic.
 * _ Harkins – The Supremes**

Even highly skilled debaters often have trouble answering and extending case arguments. We’ll talk about how to debate the case without destroying the line-by-line structure or getting bogged down and wasting your time. We’ll practice these skills using case-debating drills.
 * _ Kernoff – Debating the Case (Aff and Neg) **

Tired of 2-1’s? Most debates appear closer to the judge than they do to the competitors, and seemingly minor distinctions made in the closing rebuttals can prove crucial in swinging the ballot. This elective will examine how and where to make the important distinctions that win close debates.
 * _ Mulholand –** **Debating Between the Lines**

Some people win speaker awards because they’re funny or have tons of talent. The rest of us don’t have it so easy. Come here to find out how those of us who have no personality can still manage to take home the silverware.
 * _ Olney – How to be a top speaker **

The elective will go over How to do the two most important things in this speech: Allowing the 2AR to Win and Screwing with the 2NR. A LOT of this speech can be improved with technique.
 * _ Olsen **** – The 1AR **

Paul Virilio is this french guy/philosopher that writes that "history progresses at the speed of its weapons systems." In the early 80's he predicted how military conflict such as the Gulf War would be overcome by information strategies and a need for speed. Want an alternative take on war, territory, and the militarization of society? Want a unique angle against Kritik Affs (or any Aff) this year? This elective will hopefully give you a jumping-off point for researching Virilio and using his writings in debates.
 * _ Quinn – Paul Virilio: this year's kritik bear-trap **

If they said "United States Federal Government" and you've taken this elective, you can't lose.
 * _ Serrano – ASPEC **