APDA in ~60 seconds
The essentials.
Gov vs Opp - what competing from each side means
Government (Gov)
Your job: propose a fair, winnable case; define terms; explain mechanism; give 2–4 warranted reasons + weighing.
- Be clear & accessible; stake comparative outcomes.
- Explain mechanism (who acts, incentives, feasibility).
- Keep it debatable (avoid tight/spec/truisms).
- Squirrely definitions or unwinnable setups.
- Thin warrants (taglines without reasons).
Motions rounds: Gov also preps 15 minutes after motion reveal.
Opposition (Opp)
Your job: take the best ground; warrant your responses; weigh early.
- Group & answer with warrants; find mechanism gaps.
- Flag tight/spec if needed - keep it minimal and clear.
- Start the weighing story early.
- Chasing every tag while conceding the center.
Case rounds: Opp gets 15 minutes to prep after the case statement; ask POCs during prep.
How to argue - Claim → Warrants → Impacts
Every winning point has three parts: the Claim you assert, the Warrants (reasons/mechanism) that make it true, and the Impact (why it matters).
- Claim: what you assert.
- Warrants: why it’s true (incentives, feasibility, cause→effect, actors).
- Impacts: so what? who is affected and how?
Then compare: scope & magnitude, probability, timeframe, reversibility - this is weighing.
Stems: “Our mechanism makes X because Y, which means Z.” · “Even if they achieve X, ours wins on magnitude/probability/timeframe because Y.”
Roles (click for details)
Prime Minister (PM) - 7:30
- Define terms; set fair ground.
- Mechanism: who does what, how it works.
- 2–4 warranted reasons + initial weighing.
Leader of Opposition (LO) - 8:30
- Frame what matters; take best ground.
- Group & answer with warrants.
- Begin weighing vs Gov.
Member of Government (MG) - 8:30
- Defend the center; rebuild with warrants.
- Answer their best lines thoroughly.
- Collapse; set PMR roadmap.
Member of Opposition (MO) - 8:30
- Extend Opp’s best offense; ladder voters.
- Turn/mitigate Gov benefits.
- Set LOR voters with clear weighing.
Rebuttals & Points of Order (POOs)
Rebuttals (LOR/PMR) = collapse + weigh + ballot story. No new arguments.
How to raise a POO
- Stand briefly: “Point of order.”
- One line: “New argument in rebuttal on [issue].”
- Judge rules: “Well taken / Not well taken”; speech resumes.
Etiquette: brief, neutral, respectful.
POO scenarios
Are these valid POOs?
POOs are primarily for procedural violations like new arguments in rebuttals or timing, not constructives like the MO.
HOW TO WIN
- Pull through your best arguments. Collapse hard.
- Always warrant. Explain the mechanism; no naked claims.
- Always weigh. Why your world matters more (magnitude/probability/timeframe/reversibility).
- Ballot story. “Judge, vote Gov/Opp because…” in one sentence.
Flowing & Clash (and spotting drops)
Flow = notes tracing Claim → 1–2 Warrants → Impact. Mark where arguments clash. Call out drops in rebuttals.
- Abbreviate; number live arguments (G1/O1…) for clean tracking.
- Star warrants/impacts you’ll pull through; in rebuttals, flow only what you collapse to.
- Say drops out loud: “They dropped G2; extend and weigh.”
Partnering 101
Resource management
The 2-minute pact
- Assign: master flow keeper, timekeeper, POO watcher, case notes.
- Agree: max 2 passed notes to speaker (missing warrant; weighing line).
- Set simple signals (speed, finish, move on).
During speeches
- Speaker talks; partner flows and stars warrants/impacts.
- Track protected/grace time; mark clash & drops.
- When roles switch, swap focus but keep one master flow.
15-minute prep: Case rounds → Opp only (after hearing case). Motions → both teams (after motion). POCs during prep clarify definitions/mechanism.
Building a Case
Fair, simple, winnable
- Resolution: “THBT …” (clear, accessible).
- Definitions: key terms only; keep ground fair.
- Actors & Mechanism: who acts, why it works (incentives, feasibility).
- Reasons (2–4): each with warrants → impact; then weigh.
- Comparative world: how your world is better.
- Guardrails: avoid tight/spec/truisms; keep it debatable.
POIs
- Allowed after 1:00 and before the last 1:00 of constructives.
- Optional to offer and optional to accept - taking one is tactical/courtesy, not mandatory.
- Keep them brief and polite; rebuttals do not take POIs.
Equity & Support
PDU is equity-first. If you need support or have concerns, start here.
Glossary (brief)
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