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Difference between revisions of "Theory"
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Theory is a style of debate focused around proving why a debater's practice is harmful in the debate round or debate in general. Typically, theory arguments will prove why a debater is being unfair or uneducational in the round. Although theory is intended to be used when your opponent is being unfair, abusive, or uneducational, it can be strategic more broadly by forcing your opponent to spend time answering your theory arguments, even if they were only marginally abusive. Theory is considered to come before and operate on a higher layer than substance, which means that even if you are losing the debate substantively but can successfully prove that your opponent is being unfair or uneducational, you would win the round. | Theory is a style of debate focused around proving why a debater's practice is harmful in the debate round or debate in general. Typically, theory arguments will prove why a debater is being unfair or uneducational in the round. Although theory is intended to be used when your opponent is being unfair, abusive, or uneducational, it can be strategic more broadly by forcing your opponent to spend time answering your theory arguments, even if they were only marginally abusive. Theory is considered to come before and operate on a higher layer than substance, which means that even if you are losing the debate substantively but can successfully prove that your opponent is being unfair or uneducational, you would win the round. | ||
== Structure of a Shell == | == Structure of a Shell == | ||
Theory (also called “theory shells” or just “shells”) are composed of four parts: the [[ | Theory (also called “theory shells” or just “shells”) are composed of four parts: the [[Structure of a Shell#Interpretation and Violation|interpretation and violation]], which isolates what your opponent is specifically doing that is unfair or uneducational, the [[Structure_of_a_Shell#Standards|standards]], which proves how your opponent is being unfair or uneducational, and [[Structure_of_a_Shell#Voters|voters]], which articulate why the judge should care about being fair or educational in round, among other things. | ||
== Initiating Theory == | == Initiating Theory == | ||
Since theory is initiated in response to abuse, it is commonly read in the [[1NC Theory|1NC]] or [[1AR Theory|1AR]] in response to something that your opponent has done. However, it can also be read preemptively in the [[1AC Theory|1AC]] to say that your opponent shouldn't do something in one of their future speeches. More rarely, it can be read in the [[2NR theory|2NR]] in response to abuse from the 1AR. | Since theory is initiated in response to abuse, it is commonly read in the [[1NC Theory|1NC]] or [[1AR Theory|1AR]] in response to something that your opponent has done. However, it can also be read preemptively in the [[1AC Theory|1AC]] to say that your opponent shouldn't do something in one of their future speeches. More rarely, it can be read in the [[2NR theory|2NR]] in response to abuse from the 1AR. | ||