DEBATE BRIEF
THE AFFIRMATIVE (Pro / Supporters of Plan in Resolution)
GOAL: The affirmative team has the burden-of-proof.
THE NEGATIVE (Con / Supporters of Status Quo or an Alternative Plan)
GOAL: The negative team must fault with the premise or the plan.
OPENING STATEMENT AND ARGUMENTS
I. Establish a need which must be addressed and a plan to address it.
A. State the resolution
B. Offer background/ historical context of problem
C. Define unfamiliar or key terms
1. KISS / use vernacular language
D. Concede points
1. Items you acknowledge you can’t argue.
E. Attack status quo
1. Explain the harm in the current approach.
F. Clearly preview your 3 main arguments.
OPENING STATEMENT AND ARGUMENTS
I. Argue that the problem is not a problem or the plan is faulty.
A. State the objection to the resolution
B. Offer redefined historical context
C. Define unfamiliar or key terms
1. KISS / use vernacular language
D. Concede points
1. Items you acknowledge you can’t argue
E. Defend
1. Explain that the current approach is best.
… or…
2. Suggest an alternative plan that is better.
F. Clearly preview your 3 main arguments.
II. Argument #1 (state as a sentence)
A. Evidence/Example #1 (cite source)
1. Details about example
2. IMPACT -- So What? What does it prove?
B. Evidence/Example #2 (cite source)
1. Details about example
2. IMPACT -- So What? What does it prove?
C. Evidence/Example #3 (cite source)
1. Details about example
2. IMPACT -- So What? What does it prove?
(repeat as necessary)
III. Argument #2.
A. Continue pattern for remaining Arguments.
IV. Argument #3
A. Continue pattern.
*Show relationship b/w exs. by referring back when able
REBUTTAL / CLARIFICATION
*No new arguments may be presented.
II. Argument #1 (state as a sentence)
A. Evidence/Example #1 (cite source)
1. Details about example
2. Impact -- So What? What does it prove?
B. Evidence/Example #2 (cite source)
1. Details about example
2. Impact -- So What? What does it prove?
C. Evidence/Example #3 (cite source)
1. Details about example
2. Impact -- So What? What does it prove?
(repeat as necessary)
III. Argument #2.
A. Continue pattern for remaining Arguments.
IV. Argument #3
A. Continue pattern.
*Show relationship b/w exs. by referring back when able
REBUTTAL / CLARIFICATION
*No new arguments may be presented.
V. Predicted Opposing Argument #1 (label RA#1)
A. Opposing Example #1
1. Details about example they’d use
2. ATTACK (use as many as you can)
a. Use a Press, Turn, or Take-Out
1. Use Strategy handout
b. State how it causes problems
c. Show how a related ex. backfired
d. Cite evidence to prove
e. Use a logical fallacy
VI. Predicted Opposing Argument #2
A. Repeat process
VII. Predicted Opposing Argument #3
A. Repeat process
VIII. Clarify and defend advantages of your resolution/plan
A. Clear up what your opponent “got wrong” about
your ideas
V. Predicted Opposing Argument #1 (label RA#1)
A. Opposing Example #1
1. Details about example they’d use
2. ATTACK (use as many as you can)
a. Use a Press, Turn, or Take-Out
1. Use Strategy handout
b. State how it causes problems
c. Show how a related ex. backfired
d. Cite evidence to prove
e. Use a logical fallacy
VI. Predicted Opposing Argument #2
A. Repeat process
VII. Predicted Opposing Argument #3
A. Repeat process
VIII. Clarify and defend details and advantages of your resolution/plan
A. Clear up what your opponent “got wrong” about your ideas
SUMMARY
IX. Restate main reasons why your position is better.
a. End with memorable persuasive appeal.
SUMMARY
IX. Restate main reasons why the resolution is a bad idea.
a. End with memorable persuasive appeal.
X. Works Cited entries for all cited sources
X. Works Cited entries for all cited sources