Individuals who believe in the half-full philosophy focus on the optimistic aspect of life, which allows them to find silver linings in every situation they are in. On the other hand, those who believe in the half-empty philosophy take a more critical approach to their life, preparing themselves for the worst.

"Hardballing" is a term to explain when you tell someone all of your expectations upfront before getting into a relationship.

"Cut-off culture" refers to the social phenomenon of figuratively cutting people out of one's life. Anyone from acquaintances to significant figures which may include, but are not limited to, close friends and family members are capable of being cut-off from one's life. This act is most commonly, though not exclusively, done at or after the point of conflict/tension within a relationship.

The Chongqing model and the Guangdong model refer to two distinct approaches to governance and economic development in China, particularly during the post-1978 reform era, i.e., post-Mao China.

The Chongqing Model refers to a model emphasizing populist policies and state-led economic development, paired with a strong focus on social stability and ideological control.

The Guangdong Model refers to a model focused on "reform and opening-up" approach” including market-oriented economic reforms, economic liberalisation and decentralisation.

Degrowth involves a planned decrease in the size of economic production and consumption occurring within a given economy (often measured via GDP). It could involve the prioritisation of less emissions intense industries, heavy taxes or limits on emissions, shorter work weeks, and voluntary reductions in consumer spending.

For the purposes of this debate, there are two dominant narratives within the gender liberation movement regarding religion: one where the discourse seeks a constant critique of religion and another where the narrative seeks to generate a reinterpretation of religions to give acceptance to the community.

"Celebratory advocacy" embraces a positive and joyful approach to advocacy, utilizing music, dance, and art to inspire engagement and unity. It emphasizes celebrating achievements, fostering community, and highlighting the movement's successes. On the other hand, "solemn advocacy" takes on a serious and reflective tone, drawing attention to challenges or injustices. It aims to evoke empathy, inspire deep reflection, and mobilize for change through emotional pleas and powerful expressions of dissatisfaction.

For the purposes of this debate, a group of popular girls at a high school have compiled 'The Burn Book'. The Burn Book is a scrapbook with photos of people at their school with lines of widely-believed gossip and insults underneath the photos. For whatever reason, one of the girls decides to make the book public to the entire school by photocopying pages and throwing them in the school corridors.

The term "trauma plot" refers to narratives centered on personal traumatic experiences such as violence or abuse, emphasising individual suffering. Examples include novels such as A Little Life, It Ends With Us, Perks of Being a Wallfower, TV series such as Euphoria and BoJack Horseman, and songs such as Billie Eilish’s "Bury A Friend".

Elena Gilbert is a high school student in Mystic Falls, known for her compassion, resilience, and deep sense of loyalty. After losing her parents in a tragic accident, she struggles to find normalcy but is soon drawn into the supernatural world when she falls for Stefan Salvatore, a mysterious yet kind-hearted vampire.

Stefan, the brooding and self-sacrificing “good” vampire, offers her stability, morality, and a connection to her human self. His older brother, Damon, is reckless, passionate, and unpredictable, challenging her in ways Stefan never does. Over time, Elena’s love shifts between them, and she ultimately chooses Damon in the series’ canon timeline.

The 'dark figure of crime' is a concept in the social sciences that describes the estimated amount of crime that goes unreported or is undiscovered by the authorities. It emphasizes that the actual amount of crime is likely much larger than official statistics suggest. In criminal law debates, the 'dark figure of crime' can be invoked to argue for stricter laws or punishments, suggesting that unreported crimes should be factored into policy decisions.

Restorative justice is an approach to justice that focuses on the needs of victims and the community rather than the needs of the state. This approach includes but is not limited to civil restitution (financial compensation), community service and reconciliation conferences.

For the purposes of this debate, Blue Silence refers to the practice of police officers remaining silent about instances of breach of conduct by their colleagues, often out of loyalty or fear of repercussions. This practice is often invoked when a police officer is faced with the choice of reporting on a colleague or remaining silent out of allegiance to their department or fellow officers.

Impact investing is investing in projects or companies with the intention of measurable positive social impact and a financial return. For example, investments in projects to provide clean water to communities or to provide education to disadvantaged communities.

"For the purpose of this debate, “NGOs” refers to non-governmental organizations, which are non-profit groups that, based on their mission, operate independently from the government. 

Community-based projects are small-scale initiatives that directly support people from a specific community. Community members often participate in these initiatives as both users and providers of the service."

Generalist education systems emphasize a broad, interdisciplinary curriculum, encouraging exploration across diverse fields. In contrast, specialist education systems focus on in-depth expertise in specific areas, guiding students towards mastery within a narrower discipline.