What is Debate?
Policy debate is a form of speech competition in which teams of two advocate for and against a resolution that typically calls for policy change by the United States Federal Government. It is also referred to as cross-examination debate because of the 3-minute questioning period following each constructive speech. Affirmative teams generally present a plan as a proposal for implementation of the resolution (for change) and the Negative teams argue against the new resolution (against change).
The times and speech order are generally as follows:
| Speech | Time | |
| First Affirmative Constructive (1AC) | 8 minutes | |
| Cross-examination of First Affirmative by Second Negative | 3 minutes | |
| First Negative Constructive (1NC) | 8 minutes | |
| Cross-examination of First Negative by First Affirmative | 3 minutes | |
| Second Affirmative Constructive (2AC) | 8 minutes | |
| Cross-examination of Second Affirmative by First Negative | 3 minutes | |
| Second Negative Constructive (2NC) | 8 minutes | |
| Cross-examination of Second Negative by Second Affirmative | 3 minutes | |
| First Negative Rebuttal (1NR) | 4 minutes | |
| First Affirmative Rebuttal (1AR) | 4 minutes | |
| Second Negative Rebuttal (2NR) | 4 minutes | |
| Second Affirmative Rebuttal (2AR) | 4 minutes | |
Debate Proposition 2011-2012
Topic: Space Exploration
Resolved:
The United States federal government should substantially increase its exploration and/or development of space beyond the Earth’s mesosphere.
Information Links
Debate Central
Affirmative Outline
1)Article Topic: Why Explore Space? By: Micheal Griffin, Administrator of Nasa
Web Address: www.nasa.gov/exploration/home/
Description: This article is about why should we explore space and how it helps us evolve as a country with new sciences and other things. It explained how other people have explored too, like Christopher Columbus.
2) Article topic:Moon potential goldmine of natural resources
Web Address: www.moondaily.com/reports/Moon_potential_goldmine_of_natural_resources
Description: this is about the possibility of natural resources on the moon.
Detect/ Deflect asteroids.
www.universetoday.com
They talk about how we have some of the technology but not the money or the other resources to to make it happend.
ballistic missile defense
www.wslfweb.org
They are just talking about how we are going into a new age and nuclear missile is becoming a treat more and more each day, and ways we can stop it.
Subject: Space Colonies
Site name: www.nss.org
Registrant: National Space society
Registrants city: Washington
About: The National Space Society is an internet nonprofit organization specializing in the study of space.
Subject: Possible Intelligent Life on Other Planets
Site Name: www.science20.com
Registrant: Private Registrant
Registrants City: California
About: Looks at all aspects of science in many different sections.
Topic Solar Energy from space
http://www.solarenergyworld.org/solar-energy-facts/
Website talks alot about how the world would greatly benefit from a cheaper source of energy. Doest really talk about getting energy from space but just getting the energy from the Sun. Has many interesting Facts.
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news141.html
How to detect asteroids that could be of danger to planet Earth
http://planetary.org/programs/projects/mirrorbees/
How to deflect asteroids that could be of danger to planet Earth
http://www.nss.org/settlement/ssp/index.htm
Solar energy does little harm to the enviroment & space has so much energy so it is limitless.
Space Advantages-
http://www.universetoday.com/37079/benefits-of-space-exploration/
Shows techonology about why space is good
http://www.good.is/post/geoengineering-with-space-particles-artificial-volcanoes-and-special-k/
This is a good website to use because it shows the benefits to geoengineering. A strong point that it has
is the blocking of 1-2 % of the suns ray to slow down global warming and to suck some of the cardon
dioxide out of the atmosphere.
http://climate.envsci.rutgers.edu/pdf/WhitherGeoengineering.pdf
Explains how geoengineering is beneficial to the enviroment and who it will work. It shows it over time
and gives an outline how it would effect us!
http://news.discovery.com/space/how-many-aliens-drake-equation-110505.html
- It gives a mathematical formula that shows that there is at least fifty contactable civilizations in our galalxy right now. There are over 400 billion stars that are out there right now, so the chance is slim of us actually contacting anthing. However, it still shows there is something out there.
http://www.astrodigital.org/space/nuclear.html
- This website talks about the advantages of the advantages of nuclear propulsions in space.
These are on Lunar Resources, they show you what you could find on the moon and how it could be used to our advantage. The first link talks about the financial costs of it all, and the various advantages to using the moon.
http://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/HumanExplore/Exploration/EXLibrary/DOCS/EIC033.HTML
http://www.lunar-research-institute.org/charter.asp
www.nfhs.org/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=4149
This web page leads to the pdf file attached. It talks about positive affirmative ideas having to do with space travel. It is an argumentative paper in favor of increased space exploration.
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/whyweexplore/Why_We_11.html
NASA's view on the controversy of space exploration. - New goals for NASA; New missions.
Solar Energy from Space
http://www.nss.org/settlement/ssp/index.htm
Its talking about how we need to find new, clean sources of energy for earth. It can solve ( not just help) greenhouse and energy gas emission problems etc with little environmental impact. There is a LOT of solar energy available, billions times greater than we what we use today. Unlike nuclear power plants, solar power wont be a target for terrorists.
Mars Development
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/03/0315_050315_marscolony.html
Spacecraft roaming mars have located areas where large amounts of water may be available. Also areas of methane gas that could support oxygen-producing bacteriallife have been spotted as well. This arises the possibility that life on mars exists today and could just as well in the future. Space scientists say that to discover the truth of this thought,they may need to send humans to mars to check it all out. It isnt a matter of "if" we go to mars, its a matter of "when".
Exploration Increased
http://www.space-exploration.org/?page_id=12
This website gives many advantages for increasing our exploration in space.
Geoengineering
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/21stC/issue-2.1/huyghe.htm
This website explains geoengineering very well. There are many details about why it is our way out of trouble.
