Educational Handouts
Debate
This section is a file share of resources for coaches nationwide
The NFL asks that all teachers consider contributing resource materials for this section. Click on an item below to utlize the resource.
The NFL is proud to host a pool of free educational resources from top speech and debate teachers, coaches, and administrators nationwide.
Handouts include: Topics, Informational Handouts, Skills Handouts, Sample Structure Handouts, Vocabulary, Topicality, Assessments, and Ballots.
Please send coaching/teaching resources to the NFL for addition to the resource pool. The NFL asks that all contributors observe all copyright laws when submitting materials. The more educators and coaches that participate, the stronger the resource.
Topics
| TOPIC NAME | TOPIC DESCRIPTION |
| Lincoln Douglas Debate Topics | A listing of past Lincoln Douglas debate topics. |
| Policy Debate Topics | A listing of past Policy Debate (CX) topics. |
| Original Orations | A listing of past Original Orations. |
| Public Forum Debate Topics | A listing of past Public Forum Debate topics. |
Informational Handouts
| HANDOUT NAME | HANDOUT DESCRIPTION |
| Public Forum Guidelines | Provided by the NFL National Office, this 16 page document provides valuable information on beginning to compete in Public Forum Debate. |
| CX/LD Information for Public Forum | A handout on areas of Policy Debate and Lincoln Douglas debate necessary for Public Forum debaters. Compares and contrasts the different types of debate. |
| Fallacies | Outlines the various types of fallacies that can be used in arguments |
| Kant Brief | Handout which covers the major points of Kantian philosophy most used in competitive debate. |
| Lincoln Douglas Introduction | Informational introduction to the Lincoln Douglas debate and the form of Lincoln Douglas debate |
| Philosophers Handout | A Handout which provides basic information on a number of philosophers and their major arguments |
| Types of Values | Explains the different types of values which are present in debate forms. |
Student Congress
Visit the Student Congress page.
Skills Handouts
| SKILL NAME | SKILL DESCRIPTION |
| Debate Flowing Instructions | Handout covers the basics of flowing a debate - beneficial for coaches, students, and judges |
| Flowing Symbols/Shorthand | Handy cheat-sheet for shorthand, especially for the 2008 Policy Debate topic! |
| Rebuttal Revision Handout | Approach for students to use when revising their rebuttals, designed as a partner activity. |
| Clash Drills | Drill in which students will debate a particular word. Handout provides a guide to the form of the drill as well as the expectations |
Sample Structure Handouts
| STRUCTURE NAME | STRUCTURE DESCRIPTION |
| Disadvantages Form | Provides a sample structure for students learning to construct a disadvantage case. |
| Lincoln Douglas Case Outline | Worksheet for students to follow for a complete Lincoln Douglas debate case outline |
| Public Forum Argument Claim | Handout on creating a Public Forum Argument claim |
Vocabulary
| Novice Debate Vocabulary | A list of 18 basic debate words to help familiarize novice debaters. |
| Fill-In Debate Vocabulary | Handout in which debaters are able to indicate how a number of terms are used in debate |
| Fill-In Policy Debate | 22 terms which debaters can fill-in on the terms' use in policy debate. |
| SAT Vocabulary | Handout for debaters to pepper their vocabulary with a veritable array of sophisticated language. |
Topicality
| Topicality Standards | Information on the various standard topicality arguments |
| Topicality Answers | Worksheet where students are able to write out answers to the opposite sides topicality arguments. |
Assessments
| Novice Affirmative Assessment | Handout for the completion of a usable policy debate affirmative case. |
Ballots
| Public Forum Debate Ballot | Public Forum Debate Ballot designed to aid in the creation of an individualized ballot |
