This paper focuses on the role that electronic mail, specifically CEDA-L (the Cross Examination Debate Association listserv) and NDT-L (National Debate Tournament listserv), play in the development of debate theory. The tabula rasa paradigm is chosen as the case study. Through a rhetorical analysis of the postings regarding tabula rasa and limited intervention, trends in argument development can be detected. The paper begins with an overview of electronic mail in college debate and an overview of the theory concerning tabula rosa provided by scholarly literature. The paper then moves to a consideration of the trends that can be discerned from the postings on CEDA-L concerning tabula rasa and limited intervention. Finally, the paper concludes with a presentation of the implications of electronic mail and debate theory. The conclusions are generally positive, in that the electronic mail network contributes positively to the development of debate theory. Contains 29 references. (Author/RS)