Points of Information

By: Alex Alifimoff, Stanford University 2015

Points of Information (often called POIs) in American Parliamentary Debate often seem supplementary, so they go unconsidered by the average novice debater. Yet, they’re actually one of the most important ways to remain in the debate when you aren’t speaking, and should never be taken lightly. This article won’t cover the best ways and places to ask questions, but will concentrate mainly on how and when one should respond to POIs.

What is a POI? When should it be used?

A Point of Information is basically a question (or statement) that is offered by a debater on the non-speaking team during her opponent’s speech. In more recent years, APDA has moved to using POIs almost completely for questions instead of making statements that clarify your own position. I would highly recommend that all novice debaters use their POIs for questions only.

Points of Information can be taken during any of the four member speeches (the first four speeches in the round) and cannot be offered during the two closing speeches (rebuttals). POIs can not be offered during the first and final minute of any speech.

How many POIs should I answer during each speech?

The average debater tends to take one to two Points of Information per speech. After several tournaments, you should have a relatively good idea of how long each speech will take you to complete before you give it. Try to estimate how many Points of Information you will need before you give your speech. It’s probably wise to not give more than three. If you are answering more than three points of information per speech, your speech should probably be longer.

How do I not take a point of information?

When a debater stands up to ask a POI, you can just wave them down (literally, just make a waving gesture towards the ground), or you can verbally tell them that you won’t be taking them at this time. This is all really personal choice, but try to pick a mechanism that doesn’t interrupt the flow of your speech (waving often works best!)

When should I take a Point of Information?

Debaters tend to ask POIs about recent parts of your speech. This means that you should never take a POI during a period in which you are unsure about the content of your speech! Only take POIs when you are very sure about the advocacy you are currently discussing in the speech!

Instead, try to take POIs at natural breaks during your speech, whether that is between points or during your switch from on-case to off-case. Many debaters tend to take one POI during the on-case and another during the off-case, but the decision about specifically when to take POIs is really personal choice.

How do I deal with POIs that I can’t answer?

Every debater eventually encounters that “uh oh” moment when he gets asked a question that he cannot answer. There are plenty of strategies for dealing with questions that you can’t easily answer, mostly dependent upon the type of question asked. If the question forces you to admit that there are unfavorable consequences of your advocacy, you might compare those unfavorable consequences to the positive consequences, or you might admit that the unfavorable consequences only exist in extremely specific circumstances. If someone asks you a hypothetical that uses your advocacy’s logic to arrive at an unfavorable position, simply point out that the question isn’t applicable to the issue at hand. You will likely learn specific strategies, but the best general strategy is to remain confident in your advocacy and calmly explain the shortcomings of the question. Don’t get flustered! Often, especially in front of less experienced judges, a good POI is far more damning because of the way a debater goes about answering it, instead of because the POI was answered incorrectly.

Hopefully these tips have helped you understand how you should deal with POIs when they come up during your speeches. Stay tuned for more articles from your Novice Mentor team!

266 thoughts on “Points of Information

  1. Pingback: Arie Baisch
  2. Pingback: Chirurgie Tunisie
  3. Pingback: Quality standards
  4. Pingback: Critical thinking
  5. Pingback: periodontology
  6. Pingback: Online Learning
  7. Pingback: education
  8. Pingback: Course Load
  9. Pingback: Public Policy
  10. Pingback: grandpashabet
  11. Pingback: meritking giriş
  12. Pingback: madridbet giriş
  13. Pingback: meritking
  14. Pingback: fue contact
  15. Pingback: meritking
  16. Pingback: Radiography
  17. Pingback: meritking
  18. Pingback: Graduation project
  19. Pingback: Dental Hospital
  20. Pingback: Biochemistry
  21. Pingback: meritking
  22. Pingback: grandpashabet
  23. Pingback: fuck google
  24. Pingback: fuck google
  25. Pingback: Fiverr Earn
  26. Pingback: Fiverr Earn
  27. Pingback: Fiverr Earn
  28. Pingback: Fiverr Earn
  29. Pingback: Fiverr Earn
  30. Pingback: Fiverr Earn
  31. Pingback: Fiverr Earn
  32. Pingback: Fiverr Earn
  33. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  34. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  35. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  36. Pingback: TLI
  37. Pingback: endopump mediprime
  38. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  39. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  40. Pingback: weather
  41. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  42. Pingback: french bulldog
  43. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  44. Pingback: grey frenchie
  45. Pingback: exotic bully
  46. Pingback: springerdoodles
  47. Pingback: exotic bullies
  48. Pingback: jute vs sisal rug
  49. Pingback: blockchain
  50. Pingback: sorority
  51. Pingback: smartphones
  52. Pingback: best Phone
  53. Pingback: tridelta hat
  54. Pingback: multisbo
  55. Pingback: porn
  56. Pingback: Fiverr.Com
  57. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  58. Pingback: Fiverr
  59. Pingback: french bulldog
  60. Pingback: Lean
  61. Pingback: FUE
  62. Pingback: FUE
  63. Pingback: FUE
  64. Pingback: FUE
  65. Pingback: Moving assistance
  66. Pingback: Commercial moving
  67. Pingback: Local movers
  68. Pingback: Classic Books 500
  69. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  70. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  71. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  72. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  73. Pingback: Streamer
  74. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  75. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  76. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  77. Pingback: OnlyFans Australia
  78. Pingback: pupuk cair
  79. Pingback: partners
  80. Pingback: Predictions
  81. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  82. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  83. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  84. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  85. Pingback: live sex cams
  86. Pingback: live sex cams
  87. Pingback: live sex cams
  88. Pingback: live sex cams
  89. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  90. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  91. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  92. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  93. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  94. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  95. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  96. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  97. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  98. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  99. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  100. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  101. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  102. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  103. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  104. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  105. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  106. Pingback: Farming
  107. Pingback: wix seo expert
  108. Pingback: pharmacy
  109. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  110. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  111. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  112. Pingback: sikiş
  113. Pingback: cheap sex cams
  114. Pingback: fullersears.com
  115. Pingback: fullersears.com
  116. Pingback: fullersears.com
  117. Pingback: fullersears.com
  118. Pingback: french bulldog buy
  119. Pingback: grandpashabet
  120. Pingback: live sex cams
  121. Pingback: marketplace
  122. Pingback: frt trigger
  123. Pingback: grandpashabet
  124. Pingback: grandpashabet
  125. Pingback: abogado fiscal
  126. Pingback: Alienlabs Gelato
  127. Pingback: 늑대닷컴
  128. Pingback: Bandar judi online
  129. Pingback: One Peace AMV
  130. Pingback: One Peace AMV
  131. Pingback: One Peace AMV
  132. Pingback: One Peace AMV
  133. Pingback: nang sydney
  134. Pingback: superslot
  135. Pingback: allgame
  136. Pingback: 918kiss
  137. Pingback: หวย24
  138. Pingback: bulldog in clothes
  139. Pingback: pg slot
  140. Pingback: child porn
  141. Pingback: AI Lawyer
  142. Pingback: cybersécurité
  143. Pingback: resort lake placid
  144. Pingback: cratosroyalbet
  145. Pingback: megagame
  146. Pingback: 220 swift
  147. Pingback: 44 mag ammo
  148. Pingback: sicarios
  149. Pingback: itsMasum.Com
  150. Pingback: itsMasum.Com
  151. Pingback: itsMasum.Com
  152. Pingback: itsMasum.Com
  153. Pingback: itsMasum.Com
  154. Pingback: nangs Sydney

Leave a Comment