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9 Cardcutting Basics
9 Cardcutting Basics
CUTTING GOOD
CARDS
WHY RESEARCH?
Research wins debates. It feels great to win on an argument that
you have written. You will understand it really well, you will know
exactly where all of the cards are and you will be able to predict what
the other team will read against you. That level of preparation
translates into calm confidence that will win debates!
Researching is a responsibility of every team member. You can
always decline an assignment to focus on school or family but
consistently avoiding work impacts your travel priority.
Research takes practice. There is a learning curve. Over time, you
will know what databases or searches to use and what types of cards
are the most useful. Do not be surprised if you have trouble at first.
Regular work is the key to success. Get in the habit of doing small
amounts of debate work on a regular schedule. You will feel
prepared and will generate an impressive amount of work. Even five
hours a week will really add up.
WHEN DO YOU NEED A CARD?
Your previous experience with research was
probably a teacher telling you that you had to
have X number of sources for your grade. I want
you to think about WHY and WHEN you actually
need a source to support your arguments.
Arguments need support from expert sources
when we want to borrow credibility that we do
not have.
WHAT MAKES A SOURCE WORTH QUOTING?