Cutting Cards

The Anatomy of a Debate Card

A 'card' is a piece of evidence formatted for use in a debate round. Here's the standard format:

1. Tag Line (your words)

A one-sentence summary of what the evidence proves. This is what you say before reading the evidence. Example: 'Climate change increases hurricane intensity by 25%'

2. Citation

Author last name, first initial. Year. Full qualification. Publication. Example: Emanuel, K. 2023. Professor of Atmospheric Science, MIT. Nature Climate Change.

3. Card Body (author's words)

The actual text from the source. Include enough context to be honest about the author's point, but highlight (bold or underline) the key sentences you'll read aloud.

Highlighting

In fast debate formats, you highlight the minimum text needed to make the argument. The full paragraph is available if challenged, but you read only the highlighted portion. Rules:

• Don't change the author's meaning by selectively highlighting
• Include enough context that the highlighted portion makes sense
• Highlight complete sentences or clauses, not fragments that distort meaning

Example Card

Tag: US arms sales to Saudi Arabia fuel the Yemen crisis

Riedel 23 — Bruce Riedel, Senior Fellow at Brookings Institution, former CIA officer and senior advisor to three US presidents on Middle East policy. Brookings Institution, 2023.

The United States has sold over $100 billion in weapons to Saudi Arabia since 2009. These weapons have been used extensively in the Yemen conflict, contributing to what the United Nations has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Over 150,000 people have died, and 21 million Yemenis — 70% of the population — require humanitarian assistance. The coalition's air campaign, conducted with American-made aircraft and munitions, has struck hospitals, schools, and weddings.