Identifying Burdens Warwick Debating Society Training, 19/10/2011

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

What to do Consider what the debate is meant to be about. Decide what needs to be proven in order for your side to carry the motion. Write these burdens down (usually 2 or 3). Think up arguments which meet these burdens.

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. and unlike some vaccines) 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. It is legitimate for teachers 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 Pay Smokers to Quit Smoking Government 1)Smoking has a large negative impact on society as a whole. 2)It is legitimate/fair to pay smokers to quit smoking. 3)It will lead to a reduction in smoking.