The 3NR

The 3NR is a blog about high school (mostly policy) debate. It is written and edited by @BillBatterman. We also have a new podcast called Burden of Rejoinder.

[The 3NR @the3nr]

I'm rebooting this account after a long hiatus. Because it has been dormant, many followers have likely moved on from high school debate. If so, please unfollow. If you're still interested in debate-related content, I'll be using this account to share it. (—@BillBatterman)

[The 3NR @the3nr]

The @NFHS_Org held its annual Policy Debate Topic Selection Meeting this past weekend in Kansas City. For the 2023-2024 season, students will debate Agricultural Subsidies, Climate Change, Economic Inequality, Latin America, or South Asia. Voting will take place this fall.

[The 3NR @the3nr]

New content, finally: Analyzing The NATO Topic Using Justification Burdens: Strategic Considerations and An Affirmative Case Selection Checklist

I hope this will be useful for students working on summer research (at home and at camps).

https://t.co/0S0dp2VDEU

[The 3NR @the3nr]

https://t.co/ZLoYTtFKbb

[The 3NR @the3nr]

New Post: Breaking Down The Final Two 2022-2023 Topic Choices: Why I Am Not Voting For The NATO Emerging Technologies Topic

I don't feel great about either of the final choices. Despite my (many) concerns, I think you should vote for the climate topic.

https://t.co/zMTxOS8aNG

[The 3NR @the3nr]

If you think I'm wrong about any of the wording issues, please @ me or post a comment.

In particular, please share any topicality "support" cards you've found. It only takes a few good ones to make a neg T argument winnable, but I came up empty.

[The 3NR @the3nr]

New Post: Breaking Down The Final Two 2022-2023 Topic Choices: My Concerns About The Multilateral Climate Change Regimes Topic

I did some research into the wording of the (topic paper-less) climate topic. I think it might be bad. Here's why:

https://t.co/t2SzpXBnWe

[The 3NR @the3nr]

@GBSDebate That year (and I assume this was usually true) GBS was 11/20-22, the Glenbrooks RR was 11/23-25, and GBN was 11/27-28. Thanksgiving was 11/25, so I guess teams spent their whole Thanksgiving Break competing. Totally different world of debate travel. https://t.co/whcfv0FzXD

[The 3NR @the3nr]

New Post: An Updated List of TOC Qualifying Tournaments in Policy Debate, 1992-1993 to 2021-2022

Want to know which tournaments were TOC qualifying tournaments in policy debate — and at what bid level — dating back to the early '90s? Here you go.

https://t.co/6qFueOemEo

[The 3NR @the3nr]

New article about why DBT songs can help explain debates about dams.

Teachers/coaches could create a pretty cool little water topic-related lesson plan out of this.

[Jeff Opperman💧🐟🎸 @jjopperman]

To understand the complexity of #rivers, people & #hydropower dams you could study law, engineering & geomorphology.

or you could listen to the insights of @drivebytruckers @JasonIsbell @pattersonhood & MikeCooley.

New @Forbes
@WWFLeadWater @WWFscience https://t.co/eXoVdUiqbk

[The 3NR @the3nr]

New Post: National Circuit High School Policy Debate Participation is Cratering

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. If you're a coach, you probably already knew this — at least anecdotally. Unfortunately, the data is even worse than I thought.

https://t.co/JBIsX9kV2b

[The 3NR @the3nr]

I think this @Patrick_Wyman quote from the latest episode of Tides of History (an interview with @dgjones) is a good way to think about "debate work" (whether you're a student or a coach). There's always more to do, but you should do the best you can on the work you're doing now.

[The 3NR @the3nr]

Despite the reduction/elimination of tournament travel, I think debate coaches experienced a similar increase in working hours last year (and this year) — typically on top of their "regular" teaching responsibilities, which also increased. And few (if any) got paid more for it.

[Matt Barnum @matt_barnum]

Teachers worked more hours than usual in the '20-'21 school year, and saw their hours rise more than those in other professions. https://t.co/MM53FHSxXD

[The 3NR @the3nr]

ICYMI, the third episode of Burden of Rejoinder was posted last weekend. If you're not subscribed to our feed in your podcast app, you can still download/play it here:

https://t.co/YW1xy6nNhX

[The 3NR @the3nr]

This is why Zoom/Campus cross-examinations are awkward. Turn-taking is hard even when both speakers are legitimately trying to take turns. And in CX, sometimes one of the speakers needs/wants to interrupt the other. That makes turn-taking even more complicated/difficult.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Why Zoom feels stilted:

Struggling to figure out when it’s your turn to talk disrupts the natural flow of conversation.

Due to the ambiguity of turn-taking cues, it takes us ~3x longer to respond remotely than face-to-face—even after accounting for audio transmission delays.

[The 3NR @the3nr]

In a new Jacobin interview with Garrison Lovely, Michael Stipe once again confirms that R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" is not about policy debate. Alas.

https://t.co/FNyNWL0mY4

[The 3NR @the3nr]

@ANTIdebate I worded that awkwardly, but I meant that all administrators are “non-partisan” (performatively/aesthetically if not actually). Many defenses of debate are good to pass along to the bosses; this is not one of them. Still, I thought it was well-argued and I’m glad CA published it.

[The 3NR @the3nr]

Lawrence Zhou (an assistant coach and grad student at Wyoming) wrote a lengthy case for high school debate in Current Affairs. It won’t appeal to “non-partisan” (scared-of-anti-CRT-backlash) administrators, but it is a well-argued article that most debate coaches will appreciate.

[Current Affairs @curaffairs]

Should high schoolers be taught how to debate? https://t.co/rMsHaZcOLd

[The 3NR @the3nr]

New Post: What If? The High School Policy Debate Topics That Finished In Second Place, 1995-2021

Ever wonder what debate seasons would have been like if the runner-up topics had been selected instead?

Me, too.

Here's a list to spark some conversations.

https://t.co/LkZiFrGrqp

[The 3NR @the3nr]

The Minnesota Urban Debate League has some cool debate merch available in their Bonfire store, including this cool new version of the classic "Debate Like A Girl" t-shirt. Consider buying something for yourself or a friend and support the MNUDL in the process.

[MNUDL @MNUrbanDebate]

We've got a brand new way to support debate- shop our @Bonfire store! https://t.co/ulKgW7ERoc

Just in time for the holidays- wear your support (or give merch as a present!)

Profits from your purchase will support our growing programs.

#nonprofit #fundraising #merchdrop

[The 3NR @the3nr]

Today, the NFHS announced the final two policy debate topics under consideration for the 2022-2023 season: Climate Change and Emerging Technologies.

I broke down the results and shared a few takeaways here: https://t.co/Rqrli35eBJ

We'll find out the winner on January 10th.