| A | B |
|---|
| Affirmative | the team that argues in favor of the resolution |
| B.I.R.T. | a commonly used abbreviation for "Be it resolved that...", the standard phrase which proceeds all debate resolutions |
| Case | all of the elements that comprise a team's strategic approach to a resolution |
| Clash | the fundamental point-counterpoint progression of a debate; two teams continually attempt to undermine each other's individual points by presenting more convincing arguments for their own side |
| Constructive Speech | one of the first four speeches in a debate in which, unlike the rebuttals, debaters present new contentions to strengthen their case |
| Contentions | the propositions, introduced in the constructive speeches, through which debaters contstruct their case |
| Definition of terms | may limit the terms of the resolution but must be reasonable; are presented in the first affirmative speech to provide a common basis for discussion |
| Definitional challenge | occurs when the first negative speaker claims that the affirmative definitions are unfair or illegal and then introduces and attempts to substantiate better ones |
| Negative | the teams that argues against the resolution |
| Plan | the course of action proposed by the affirmative team to facilitate the implementation of the resolution |
| Policy Debate | a genre of debate in which the resolution demands a specific plan of action |
| Rebuttal | the affirmative or negative concluding speech which is used for summary and refutation only and not for the development of new contentions |
| Refutation | the process of proving that the other teams arguements are incorrect or illogical |
| Resolution | the subject to be resolved through debate |
| Status Quo | a Latin term which refers to the present established system |
| Values Debate | a genre of debate in which no plan of action is proposed but rather some sort of issue of principle or philosophy is evaluated |
