Identifying Burdens Warwick Debating Society Training, 11/03/2011

What commonly occurs. 1)Motion is announced. 2)Droopy thinks up arguments for his side of the debate. 3)Droopy provides said arguments. 4)Feedback is given; Droopy is told that his arguments were very well made but that another team better fulfilled the burdens of the debate. 5)Droopy frowns.

What will now commonly occur. 1)Motion is announced. 2)You identify the burdens for the debate. 3)You think up arguments which best enable you to satisfy said burdens. 4)You provide these arguments. 5)You stand a far better chance of fulfilling the burden. 6)You smile. 7)Droopy still frowns.

Motion: THW require all schools to teach safe sex to children from age 10 regardless of parental consent. Government: 1.Children are old enough to learn about safe-sex at age It is necessary that children know about safe-sex from age The state has the authority to overrule the wishes of parents on this issue (due to 1.) Opposition: 1.Children are too young to know about safe-sex at age It is unnecessary to teach them about it at age 10 because it is irrelevant to their lives. 3.Parents have the authority to decide if they do/do not want their children taught about this issue at age 10 because it is controversial and is not urgent (due to 1. and 2.)

THW bring back corporal punishment. Government: It is legitimate to hit children. Corporal punishment would lead to a (large) improvement in teaching/learning conditions.

Opposition Burdens 1.It is illegitimate to hit children, regardless of any possible benefit. 2.This possible benefit does not exist anyway because corporal punishment brings more harms than benefits – i.e. worsens teaching/learning conditions.

THW allow children over the age of 13 to have gender reassignment surgery without parental consent. Government: 1.The age of 13 is old enough to know what gender you want to be. 2.Parents should not have any influence over your decision providing you are older enough. 3.This is better for the child in question than under the status-quo (SQ).

Opposition Burdens 1.You are too young at the age of 13 to know what gender you want to be. 2.This decision affects your well-being and thus parents should still have to consent to it (even if you are mature enough). 3.SQ is better for all stakeholders than the policy.

THW Criminalise Adultery Government: 1)Adultery causes so much harm that it should be considered a crime. 2)It is legitimate (and possible) for the state to punish adultery.

Opposition Burdens 1)Adultery cannot be classified as a crime. 2)The state does not have the right to intervene and punish people for actions which they undertake in such a private sphere. 3)Pragmatically it is impossible to implement such a policy.

THBT Black Entertainers Should Not Use the N-word During Performances. Opposition Burdens: 1.Black entertainers do not use the N-word in an offensive manner. 2.Their use of the N-word does more good than harm.

Opposition Arguments 1.Right to Freedom of Expression. 2.Black entertainers need to use the N-word to express themselves i.e. in comedy sketches. 3.The use of the word by black entertainers is not in a racist context and therefore should not be banned. 4.Their use of the n-word can give it new meaning because we live in a new generation. 5.It is only offensive to some black people so we shouldn’t stop it from being used. 6.Banning the use of the n-word will lead to it to forever have such historically racist connotations. 7.Lots of people find the use of the n-word in performances entertaining/humorous so it should not be discouraged from being used.

Next Week: More on prioritising arguments

The End.