Knifing

  • Date 2022-07-21

General Definition: Providing argumentation that contradicts or directly refutes a previous partner or front half argument. Debaters should never knife their own side.

  • Public Forum: Not a common phrase in PF, although debaters should be careful not to contradict their partners.
  • World Schools Debate: See general definition.
  • British Parliamentary: In BP, knifing refers to making arguments that refute or directly contradict arguments made by your same side in the debate, most commonly refering to the back half speakers responding to the front half. Knifing may or may not be highly penalized by judges, depending on the expectations set at a given tournament. Knifing is never rewarded and should be avoided when possible. See also “Differentiation“.
  • Canadian National Debate Format:Not a common phrase in CNDF, although debaters should be careful not to contradict their partners.