How does the "impact threshold" affect arguments in debates?

The concept of the "impact threshold" plays a critical role in debates as it establishes a minimum requirement for the strength and significance of arguments presented. Essentially, it refers to the level of evidence and reasoning needed for an argument to be deemed impactful or persuasive within the context of the debate. If an argument does not reach this threshold, it may be considered insufficient to sway judges or effectively contribute to the debater's point.

By setting this benchmark, the impact threshold encourages debaters to focus on the quality of their arguments, ensuring they provide compelling reasoning and credible evidence. This requirement helps to elevate the overall discourse in debates, as it drives participants to enhance their argumentation skills and engage with the topic more thoughtfully.

In contrast, the other options don't accurately capture the function of the impact threshold. It certainly does influence the outcome by promoting strong arguments, it does not dictate time allocation during speeches, nor does it inherently discourage building on previous arguments. Rather, it emphasizes that each argument must hold enough weight to contribute meaningfully to the debate's overall effectiveness.