Getting To Know Debate The Resolution The Affirmative

Getting To Know Debate: The Resolution, The Affirmative & The Negative

Status Quo § § § Present System Present Policy Present Beliefs § Question To Ask: § What’s going on RIGHT NOW with the topic?

The Two Sides § Affirmative (Aff. ) § Argues for the resolution/proposition § Negative (Neg. ) § Responds to the Aff. by attacking and destroying arguments § Argues for the change § Argues for the present system that is in place.

What is a Resolution? § Resolution / Proposition § Defined as the formal statement of the topic of debate. § The main resolution is the big umbrella topic. § In each debate they will have a specific resolution that falls under the main resolution.

Resolutions Must Be… § Significant § Controversial § Single Idea § Debatability § Worded Correctly § Durable

2016 -2017 Resolution § RESOLVED: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic and/or diplomatic engagement with the People’s Republic of China. .

The Affirmative § Burden of Proof § The obligation to provide sufficient evidence and arguments to support a claim. § Affirmative Responsibility § To prove that the status quo is not working

Argument Structure § Argument § Overall argument topic § Warrant § The reasoning “why” behind your claim. § “The Because” § Claim § The point you are making in the argument § Data § Evidence supporting the claim and warrant

The Affirmative § Prima Facie Case § “At First Site” § An Aff. case that satisfactorily address all four stock issues and adequately covers all Neg. arguments and claims.

Stock Issues Harms/Advantages Inherency § Harms: § The reason why the status quo allows the § Evils occurring in the world harms to happen. § Advantages: § Shows what good will come if the plan is put into action § Ask the question: Are there significant harms/ills/needs within the present system? § Ask the question: Why and/or what is wrong or not working in the status quo relating to the harms?

Stock Issues Plan § The course of action proposed to solve the problems within the status quo. § Ask the questions: What do you to fix the problems? What’s your plan and solution? Solvency § How you know your plan will work and the additional benefits of putting your plan into action. § Ask the question: How are you going to prove that your plan is better?

Two Types of Evidence Factual § Verifiable statements that describe real objects and events. § Examples: § Statistics § The sun rises in the East § There is no mail delivery on Sundays § The human body requires sleep Expert Opinion § Consists of authoritative statements that explain factual evidence. § An expert interprets the meaning. § Examples: § A doctor or Ph. D. (Great) § A high school student (Not so good)

Quick Review – Without Looking § What is status quo? § What are the four stock issues? § What is Prima Facie Case? § What does burden of proof mean? § What are two types of evidence?

The Negative § Responds to the arguments and claims made by the Aff. team. § Neg. teams must respond to all of the stock issues presented by the Aff. team. § Provides additional evidence showing why status quo is “ok. ”

The Negative Responses Disadvantages (DA) § The Neg. claim that the Aff. plan will cause serious disadvantages and that we are better off staying with the status quo. § DA’s Include: § § Link Brink Impact Uniqueness Topicality (T) § A negative claim that the Aff. case violates a term in the resolution. § T’s Include: § § Definition Violation Standards Voter

Disadvantages § Link § How it the DA relates to the Aff. Case. § Brink § What in the Aff. Plan is going to make the DA occur § And the TIMELINE § Impact § The bad things that will be caused by the Aff. Plan § Uniqueness § How the DA will only occur if and when the Aff. Plan takes effect.

Topicality § Definition § Define the word from the resolution § Violation § Explain why the Aff. Plan does not meet the Neg. definition § Standards § Explanations and methods of evaluation that should be used in that round regarding definition § Voter § Demonstrating abuse by other team giving reason for judge to vote

Two Terms To Know On Case § Stock Issue Arguments Off Case § Arguments that are NOT considered ‘Stock Issues’ § Brought up by Aff. Team § Brought up by Neg. Team § Arguments that make § Arguments presented that THE CASE for why the take THE CASE OFF of status quo should change. the Aff. And move it to the Neg.

How Do Aff. & Neg. Respond? Negative Responses § Topicality Affirmative Responses § Answer Topicality § Disadvantages § Answer Disadvantage § On Case Clash § Against Stock Issues § Supporting Stock Issues § Refuting Neg. Clash