Flowing: Track Every Argument

What Is Flowing?

Flowing is the debate-specific note-taking system used to track every argument across every speech in a round. It's called 'flowing' because arguments flow across columns from speech to speech.

The Setup

Turn your paper landscape. Create one column for each speech in the debate. In a standard Policy round:

For British Parliamentary, you'd have 8 columns (PM, LO, DPM, DLO, MG, MO, GW, OW).

How to Flow

1. In the first column, write each argument the first speaker makes. Use abbreviations. 'UBI reduces crime through financial security' becomes 'UBI → ↓crime via $floor.'
2. In the next column, write the opponent's response directly across from the argument it addresses. This creates a visual map of which arguments are being contested.
3. Mark drops — arguments that go unaddressed. Draw an arrow through empty cells. Dropped arguments are conceded arguments. In most judging paradigms, a dropped argument is treated as true.
4. Continue across columns as the debate progresses. By the end, you can trace any argument's journey through the entire debate.

Why Flowing Matters

• It prevents you from dropping arguments. If you can see an unanswered argument in your column, you know to address it.
• It helps you make strategic choices. Not every argument is worth responding to. The flow lets you see which arguments are winning and where to focus.
• Judges flow too. Understanding flowing means understanding how judges track the round.