Constructing Opposition Arguments International Debate Education Association Prepared for IDEA Youth Forum Summer, 2010 Prepared by Robert Trapp Willamette University

Stances Available to the Opposition The opposition team ought to try to stand for something beyond simply being against the proposition team. Three such stances include: Explicitly defend the present system Defend the present system in principle and suggest minor repairs Offer a counterproposal

Typical Opposition Arguments No need for a change Affirmative (government) plan will not work Disadvantages of the affirmative (government) plan An alternative plan (counterproposal)

No Need for Change Show the present system is working in incremental steps Show the effects described by the affirmative team are not occurring

Affirmative Plan Will Not Work Show that the plan does not eliminate a necessary cause of the problem. The relationship between the present system and the effect is coincidental, not causal. Show that the plan is not sufficient to solve the problem or to produce the advantage.

Disadvantages of the Affirmative Plan Describe some feature of the affirmative plan. Relate that feature to some effect. (Demonstrate a cause and effect relationship). Show how that effect is worse than the problem the affirmative claims to solve.

Alternative Plan (Counterproposal) is Better Present an alternative course of action. Show why your counterproposal is a true alternative – Why should your alternative preclude the affirmative’s plan of action. Does the counterproposal solve the problem outlined by the affirmative? Does the counterproposal avoid some disadvantage of the affirmative’s plan?