1. Intro to Debate

2. What exactly is debate?
A regulated discussion of a proposition by two matched sides

3. What is a proposition? Agreed-upon topic of discussion
A statement about which reasonable people may accept arguments on either side

4. What are the two matched sides?
Affirmative: side that argues that a change should be made in the status quo
Status quo: current state of affairs; the laws, regulations, and rules that people live by. Also called the present system.
Negative: side that defends the status quo

5. What is the standard debate format?
First Affirmative constructive (8 minutes)
First Negative constructive (8 minutes)
Second Affirmative constructive (8 minutes)
Second Negative constructive (8 minutes)
First Negative rebuttal (4 minutes)
First Affirmative rebuttal (4 minutes)
Second Negative rebuttal (4 minutes)
Second Affirmative rebuttal (4 minutes)

6. What are the roles?
Affirmative Team
Negative Team
Timekeeper
Judge

7. Affirmative team
Argues for the adoption of the debate resolution or proposition
Decides which area of the proposition it wishes to discuss, develops a position, and presents an affirmative case

8. What does the Affirmative case include?
Justification for changing the present system
A plan of action change
The advantages of that plan
Often divided into two basic parts:
Justification for change (the case side)
A plan for implementing change (the plan side)

9. Negative team
Responds to the affirmative by attacking and destroying the affirmative’s arguments. This is called refutation.

10. How does the negative refute the affirmative?
1) Deny the affirmative harm exists
Harm: an undesirable effect caused by the present system
2) Claim that adopting the proposition will not solve (or meet) the harm that the affirmative has identified
**These kinds of arguments challenge the affirmative’s inherency
Inherency: issue of whether a problem is caused by the present system, and whether the present system can solve the problem

11. How does the negative refute the affirmative?
3) Attack the affirmative plan. May demonstrate the plan: a) Can be circumvented b) Does not take into account outside factors that could affect the plan c) Has an internal flaw 4) Argue that adopting the affirmative plan will cause negative side effects and that these disadvantages will outweigh any advantages gained by the affirmative plan **To win, the negative needs to win only ONE of these arguments

12. What does a Timekeeper do?
Keeps track of each debater’s time
Lets the speaker know how much speaking or preparation time has elapsed
Counts down time using time cards
Counts down in minutes until the last minute when 30 second increments are used

13. What does a judge do?
Evaluates a debate and decides who wins and loses
Bases decision on the debaters’ analysis, reasoning, evidence, organization, refutation, and delivery

14. Writing propositions Identify the problem area
Problem area: a general issue that causes concern to a community or group of people
Narrow down to a specific question

15. Writing propositions Example:
General Problem area: Should adequate medical care be guaranteed?
Specific question: Should medical care for major illnesses be provided for everyone?
Proposition: RESOLVED: That the federal government should guarantee medical care for those with catastrophic illnesses.

16. Elements of a strong proposition
Significance
Controversy
Single Idea
Debatability
Durability

17. How could you rewrite these flawed propositions?
a. RESOLVED: That every U.S. citizen should be given an opportunity to earn a living. b. RESOLVED: That strengthening United States alliances with one or more countries in the Middle East would be beneficial. c. RESOLVED: That the U.S. should cut military spending and increase space exploration.

18. How could you rewrite these flawed propositions?
d. RESOLVED: That the federal government should establish comprehensive security guidelines for U.S. airports to make them safe. e. RESOLVED: That women should be drafted. f. RESOLVED: That world governments should work to reduce global pollution.

19. Types of claims/propositions
Proposition of Fact
Proposition of Value
Proposition of Policy

20. Proposition of Fact DEFINITION claim that something verifiable is true
(data or facts show that a condition did, does, or will exist)
EXAMPLES
Detention is ineffective in changing student behavior.
Boston will be flooded by the year 2085 if polar ice continues to melt at its current rate.

21. Proposition of Value DEFINITION
claim that something is good or bad, right or wrong, desirable or not
involves judgment and often some determination of the criteria of evaluation
EXAMPLES
Taylor Swift is America's greatest singer.
Not paying taxes is immoral.

22. Proposition of Policy DEFINITION
claim urges a particular action be taken or a rule/policy/law be adopted to solve a problem
EXAMPLES
The electoral college system should be abolished.
The United States should significantly increase its military presence in the Middle East.

23. Justice system FACT CLAIM The death penalty does not deter crime.
VALUE CLAIM
Since it is inequitably administered, capital punishment is unjust.
POLICY CLAIM
Because it does not deter crime, because it is inequitably administered, and because it is unjust, the death penalty should be abandoned by civilized societies.

24. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
FACT CLAIM
The presence and availability of wildlife enriches human life.
VALUE CLAIM
Changes in land use patterns in Southern California over the past 100 years have rendered the Salton Sea the single most important waterway in the West for migrating waterfowl.
POLICY CLAIM
Congress must pass effective legislation to ensure the restoration and continued maintenance of the Salton Sea so that loss of avifauna does not diminish human existence.

25. You try: PROBLEM AREA: Gun Control TASK
In pairs, write a proposition of fact, value, and policy based on the problem area above

26. You try: PROBLEM AREA: Education TASK
In pairs, write THREE propositions of policy relating to the problem area above.

27. The affirmative-terms
PRESUMPTION: -Assumption that policies in effect should remain in effect; this places the initial burden of proof on the Affirmative
BURDEN OF PROOF: -Obligation to provide sufficient reason for adopting a proposition

28. The affirmative-responsibilities
Because it has the burden of proof (and must overcome presumption), the Affirmative goes first.
The Affirmative writes the resolution.
The Affirmative gives the first speech-- the First Affirmative Constructive.
The Affirmative defines the terms of the resolution

29. First Affirmative Constructive (1AC)
PRIMIA FACIE CASE: The minimal “face value” argument required to support a resolution
The 1AC is the only speech in the debate which can be entirely written out beforehand.
If the Affirmative does not make a prima facie case in the 1AC, it typically loses the debate.

30. First Affirmative Constructive (1AC)-outline
I. Introduces approach
States Resolution
Defines Terms
States the NEED for Change (Harm, Significance, Inherency)
V. Proposes PLAN (shows Solvency)
VI. (OPTIONAL) Additional Advantages (if not infringing on 2AC)

31. Defining terms of proposition
Common usage
Experts
Operational definition (implicit-what it looks like in action)
Use of example (analogy/comparison)

32. Stock issues
HARM: -a problem caused by the presence or absence of current policy
SIGNIFICANCE: -deals with the importance or scope of a harm quantitative: numbers, stats
-example--many injuries qualitative: violation of important values example--undermines democracy

33. Stock issues
INHERENCY -whether a problem is caused by the present system and whether it cannot be solved without the resolution
*often shown by gaps or barriers, structural or attitudinal
*if Affirmative can't show this, it typically loses because the resolution is not needed

34. Stock issues
SOLVENCY -will the affirmative plan solve the problem?

35. Stock issues
Harm, Significance, and Inherency form the CASE Side of the Affirmative speech.
These must be argued in order to show the need for the proposed policy.

36. Stock issues
PLAN -the specific recommended action to support the resolution; made up of plan planks
BASIC PLAN PLANKS
Mandate: specific reforms to be implemented
Administration: who will do it
Enforcement: how it will be enforced
Funding: how it will be paid for

37. STOCK ISSUES
SOLVENCY -the plan's ability to solve the problem identified in the case; solvency arguments should correspond to the identified harms must also show the plan to be workable

38. Two person clash PREPARATION
Break into teams of 2 (middle table will have one group of 3)
Decide on a topic and which side will take affirmative/negative (2 minutes)
Discuss strategy with your teammate (you may jot down some notes) (5 minutes)
DEBATE
Affirmative (2 minutes)
Negative (2 minutes)
Affirmative (1 minute)

39. Stock issues
The Plan (presented through its planks) and Solvency make up the Affirmative PLAN Side.
Beyond Solvency, the Affirmative might also recognize certain Additional Advantages that passing the resolution would bring about.
These Additional Advantages are extra benefits; they do not include solving the harmful problems in the case.

40. negative RESPONSIBILITIES The Negative opposes the resolution.
The Negative can use multiple strategies to undermine the Affirmative case and plan.
STRATEGIES
defending the status quo
undercutting stock issue claims of Affirmative
presenting disadvantages of Aff. plan

41. Negative Strategies NEGATIVE PHILOSOPHY
The Negative point of view or (overall) position in the debate; this is important to avoid inconsistencies in the Negative attacks 

42. Negative Strategies NEGATIVE BLOCK
The part of a debate when the second Negative constructive speech and first Negative rebuttal speech are delivered back to back; the Negative should use this segment to overwhelm the Affirmative with evidence and refutation 

43. Negative Strategies MINOR REPAIRS
Negative argument that while there is a defect in the present system, it can be fixed with a small change in policy
TRENDS ARGUMENT
Argument that the present system is already moving toward the desired end, and therefore the Affirmative resolution and plan are unnecessary 

44. Negative Strategies ATTACK ON HARM OR SIGNIFICANCE
 challenges the reality or magnitude of the problem presented by the Affirmative
ATTACK ON SOLVENCY
shows that the Affirmative plan will not solve the harm(s) presented (because it fails to deal with the real cause or because it does not have any demonstrable success elsewhere (analogy))

45. Negative Strategies DISADVANTAGE
A Harm that the Negative argues will result from adopting the Affirmative resolution or plan
***Negative teams are typically expected to run disadvantage claims! 

46. Arguing about the Evidence
COUNTERPOSITION
 Argument that the real truth is other than what the opposition claims; often involves a presentation of better evidence
Also known as Attack on Reliability of Evidence 
**A good strategy for both sides

47. Negative Strategies COUNTERPLAN
Strategy in which the Negative concedes the Affirmative harm but proposes a completely different plan of action to deal with the harm
This is a risky maneuver, since the Negative gives up all attacks on the case and makes the debate about which plan is more workable and has better solvency evidence