Debate Preparation
12 February 2005

When gathering information:
  1. Name of source
  2. Credentials
  3. Title of work
  4. Date of publication
  5. Page number
  6. Show direct quotes, “ ”
  7. Show omitted material, …
  8. Show interpolated material, [ ]
Keep abreast of changes in arguments.
Sample Sources:  

E.g., for a debate on the present educational system and the nature of public finance of it, consider 

  1. The specific problem posed by these systems
  2. Legal, social, and political factors that shape context of problem
  3. Merits and Demerits of Alternative solutions (including ethical concerns/consequences)
  1. Legal publications:
    1. Treatises
    2. Court reports (in government depositories)
    3. Corpus Juris Secondum
    4. Lawyers edition of U.S. Reports
    5. ABA journal
    6. Journal of Criminal law, criminology and political science
  2. Hearings and reports under:
    1. House commission on education and labor
    2. House commission on ways and means
    3. Senate commission on finance
    4. Senate commission on government operations
    5. Senate select committee on equal education opportunity (Mondale committee)
    6. Joint economics committee
    7. Congressional quarterly
    8. Congressional record