1. Arguments How to Build Them Alfred Snider, World Debate Institute

2. Components Assertion – The name of the argument Thesis – Describe the argument briefly Reasoning – Explain the logic behind the argument Evidence – Show things in reality that support the argument Significance – Explain why this argument is important Result – Explain what this means for the decision in this debate

3. ASSERTION A complete thought What the argument is, briefly Rhetorically Snappy This becomes the “name” or “label” in the debate. Just like in a paragraph

4. THESIS Explain the argument in one or two sentences Bring the audience on board with the idea When they understand the whole, they assemble the parts more effectively

5. REASONING Use the logical connections: causation, category Explain relationships between parts of the argument Explain “why” things happen The “why” can be thought of as the warrant

6. EVIDENCE Explain how the abstract argument operates in reality Example Statistics Narrative Visualization Common idea Famous quotation

7. SIGNFICANCE Explain why this argument is important, who cares? Number Each one is important Time frame Probability Reversibility Voluntary or involuntary Morally required

8. RESULT What does this mean for the decision? How does this compare with what else is being said? Why is this more important than other ideas?

9. SO WHAT? IF YOU AIM AT NOTHING YOU WILL SURELY HIT IT MAKE ARGUMENTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WAY PEOPLE LISTEN MAKE COMPLETE ARGUMENTS, JUDGES WILL NOT DO YOUR WORK