Chicago Debate League -- Core Files Researcher/Writer

[Les Lynn]

2014 CDL Core Files Lead Researcher
Job Description

Duration of Position

May 24 – November 15

Compensation

$4,000 paid in three increments

June 9
July 23 (after completion of the CDL Core Files)
November 14 (after completion of the CDL Core Files Supplement)

Principles by Which the CDL Core Files Are Created

   CDL Core Files are analogous to a central text in a year-long course taken by 1000+ students so their importance as an educational resource is paramount.

   As an educational resource, the CDL Core Files are constructed so that every argument in them aligns with an argument on the other side (affirmative – negative), and the arguments on each side are approximately balanced.  In this manner, the CDL Core Files facilitate the fundamental debate skill of refutation. 

   CDL Core Files are a model of the way policy debate arguments should be structured and the way arguments are supported by strong textual evidence.  CDL Core Files are a tool to teach debaters the right way to research and write their own arguments. 

   CDL Core Files contain high-quality, sophisticated arguments, though with limited use of jargon, that provide students with everything they need to start debating as soon as the season begins, with the Chicago Summer Debate Institute. 

   CDL Core Files serve a wide range of debate experience – and that breadth is an important element in facilitating debater development – though about half of the files are oriented toward first-year debaters. 

   CDL Core Files include traditional policy debate arguments along with examples/models of newer, alternative modes of competitive debate argumentation. 

   CDL Core Files are professionally and electronically formatted, with consistent citation features, accurate pagination and indexing, and attention to detail throughout. 

CDL Core Files Deliverables

   A set of files of about 450 – 500 pages
   3 affirmative cases, two of which should be oriented toward new or newer debaters, structured consistently: inherency, harms, plan, solvency
   Case attacks against each of the 3 affirmative cases – frontline and negative block extensions on inherency, harms, solvency
   One critical or performative affirmative case, along with case negative. 
   2AC responses to the negative case attack frontlines
   4 generic disadvantages, with links to all four cases – two of the disadvantages should be oriented toward first-year debaters
   2AC responses to each of the disadvantages – possibly with 1AR extension blocks
   Disadvantages should have frontlines and negative block extensions against each of the 2AC responses
   A generic counterplan with solvency for all four affirmative cases
   2AC responses to the counterplan
   Counterplan should have a frontline and negative block extensions against each of the 2AC responses
   Possibly one additional generic counterplan, or one or two case-specific counterplans or case-specific critical arguments
   4 topicality violations, one applying to each of the affirmative cases
   2AC responses to each of the topicality violations
   Topicality violations should have a frontline and negative block extensions against each of the 2AC responses
   A generic kritik with links to all four affirmative cases
   2AC responses to the kritik
   Kritik should have a frontline and negative block extensions against each of the 2AC responses
   Possibly one additional generic kritik
   Will revise, update, format, and supplement with research as needed between July 18 and August 15
   Provision of one 50 – 75 page supplement in November, the specifics for which to be determined
   All files must be produced in electronic form as text Word documents, formatted according to the standard of CDL Core Files and as requested in editing

Project Timeline

May 24 – Lead Researcher hired – researcher should begin hiring any additional help needed for this project and organize needed resources to complete research of files

May 27 – Research should begin no later than this date

June 2 – Identify which four affirmative cases will be written (first two affirmatives accessible to new or newer debaters written first)

June 9 – Identify which negative generics will be written (first two Disadvantages and Topicality violations accessible to JV debaters written first)

June 16 – First wave of initial research completed and sent to the Chicago Debate Commission (two JV-ready affirmatives, two Topicality violations, and two JV-ready Disadvantages)

June 16 – CDC feedback provided to the Lead Researcher

June 21 – Revised initial research completed and sent to the Chicago Debate Commission

June 30 – Full draft of the CDL Core Files completed and sent to the CDC

July 2 – CDC feedback provided to the Lead Researcher

July 10 – Full final draft of the CDL Core Files completed and sent to the CDC

July 16 – Final edits provided by the CDC

July 18 – Final edits incorporated into the CDL Core Files by the Lead Researcher, and final finished version of the files sent to the CDC

October 27 – Draft of CDL Core Files supplement completed and sent to the CDC

October 29 – CDC feedback on CDL Core Files Supplement provided to the Lead Researcher

October 31 – Final version of the CDL Core Files completed and sent to the CDC

To Apply for This Position

Send a letter, a résumé, and a substantive sample of debate files that you have written for beginning- and/or intermediate-level debaters, to:

Les Lynn
(e) leslynn@chicagodebateleague.org
(o) 312-300-3442  (c) 312-848-2271
Chicago Debate Commission
332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 500
Chicago, IL   60604