Debate Basics Review
What are the key or essential features
of debate?

Controversy

2 sides

Status quo

Constructive speeches

Rebuttal speeches

Proposition
What are the advantages of the Aff?

Start and end the debate

Set:

Definitions

Values

Criterion
What are the advantages of the Neg?

Defending the status quo

Has longest block of uninterrupted speaking time
Who has the burden of proof?

Affirmative
What are the key differences between
the constructive and rebuttal speeches?

Constructive:


Presents the initial arguments
Rebuttal

Defends arguments that have been attacked
What are the 3 types of Propositions?

Fact

Value

Policy
Give an example of a proposition of
fact.
Give an example of a proposition of
value.
Give an example of a proposition of
policy.
What does critical listening entail?

Continually summarize what the opposition has said

Pay attention to evidence being used

Identify nonverbal or “hidden” meanings
What does debate teach?

Critical thinking skills

Critical listening skills

Evaluate both sides of an argument

Speak extemporaneously

Organization

Essential values
When given a proposition, what is the
first step towards building an argument?
RESEARCH!!!
What are key characteristics of values?

Standards for determining worth

Abstract

Accepted as enduring goods

Ideals of lasting importance
Give examples of intrinsic values.

Justice

Freedom

Equality

Knowledge

Security
Give examples of instrumental values.

Property

Altruism

Work

Progress

Family

Community

Leisure

Privacy

Quality of Life
What are quasi-values?

Similar, but does not quite meet the criterion to be a
value

Generally builds towards values
Where can you find definitions?

Common usage

Dictionaries

Encyclopedias

Books/articles

Examples
What are the qualities of a good
definition?

Relevant to the argument

Consistent with common usage

Consistent with policymakers

Consistent with grammatical standards
Draw the 1st Triad of the Toulmin
Model
What are the 3 types of claims?

Factual claim: something either is or is not the
case

Value claim: what an individual thinks is good or
bad

Policy claim: what should or should not be done
What are the different types of data?


Testimony: opinion that is offered on behalf of the
truth of a claim

Experience

General reputation
Examples: instances used to demonstrate a claim’s
validity


Clearly observed and defined
Statistics: demonstrate wide-spread effect of a claim
What does the Warrant do?

Shows the relevance and importance of the relationship
between data and claim

Evidence infers that a claim is true

A generalization based on data
What is in the 2nd Triad?

Backing

Qualifier

Rebuttals
What is backing used for?

Evidence supporting a warrant
 Similar
to evidence supporting a claim
 Necessary
 Strengthens
an argument, but not necessary
Why are qualifiers necessary?

They express your degree of confidence in the argument
What is the most important part of a
value debate?

To establish the criterion
What are 3 ways to establish criterion?

Appeal to experts

Appeal to public opinion

Appeal to logic
What is the designative issue?

The place where you actually make your arguments.
What are the 2 types of contentions

Dependent

Independent
When building contentions, what is just
as important as research?
 Analysis
What are the steps to refute an
argument?

Identify and summarize argument to be refuted

State why you are refuting it

Present evidence that supports your side

Show the impact of your refutation