Constructing a Case for the Opposition International Debate Education Association

Alternative approaches The following are alternatives from which to choose. You will rarely use all of these alternatives. Alternatives –No need to change –Government plan will not work –Disadvantages of the plan –Philosophy of the plan is wrong –Alternative plan of action

No need for change Show that the present system is solving the problem with incremental steps. Show that the effects described by the Government are not occuring.

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 produce the advantage.

Disadvantages of the plan Describe some feature of the Government plan. Relate that feature to some effect Show how that effect (disadvantage) is worse than the problem the Government claims to solve.

Counterplan Present an alternative course of action. Show why your proposed course of action is a true alternative – Why should your alternative preclude the Government’s plan of action? Does the counterplan solve the problem outlined by the Government? Does the counterplan avoid some of the disadvantages of the Government’s plan?