Vocab 1
Deny
To argue that a statement is false (must use with fact check!)
Logical fallacy
to point out the flaw in your opponent's reasoning
Clarify
clear up something you didn't understand
claim: don't tax the wealthy because they worked hard to get their money
rebuttal: everyone is working hard, including the poor, and they pay taxes, so why not the rich?
Non-unique
Claim: cops are too expensive.
Rebuttal: yes, we need to spend a lot of money on cops so they can do their jobs without dying!
turn
Minimize
To argue that the statement has a small scope/ magnitude
Red Herring
Distracting from the point by changing the subject
Attack
poke holes in your opponent's argument
claim: we should ban cars because they're bad for the environment
rebuttal: exactly! we need to ruin the environment! humans are a plague and don't deserve to survive!
turn
claim: Americans overwhelmingly distrust the police and want to see police forces abolished.
Rebuttal: only 15% of Americans support abolishing the police.
Deny
Turn
To argue that the statement actually supports your side of the case.
Ad Hominem
Attacking the opponent instead of their points
Defend
Prove your own point
claim: most Americans don't have a place to live
rebuttal: actually, less than 1% of Americans are homeless.
deny
claim: cops kill innocent black people
rebuttal: while this is true, the number of cops who are doing this is pretty small compared to how many cops there are.
Non-unique
To argue that the statement is not the only way to cause or solve this problem (prove with fact check).
Straw Man
Exaggerating the opponent's viewpoints into something extreme and clearly not what they meant, then attacking that extreme version
Why do you think debate is life?
Clarifying Question
rebuttal: Actually, it is true that Americans are scared, but it's actually only 44%, so we don't need to ban cars.
Minimize
claim: cops are too fat and lazy to solve crimes
rebuttal: attacking the moral character of the cops is not a good way to persuade people to your side.
logical fallacy (ad hominem)
B: actually, not all men abuse women.
Straw Man
Causation vs Correlation
The false belief that one thing caused another, when in fact the two things may be connected in some way without causing one another
Debate is the most important subject, isn't it?
Attack or defend
claim: women get sexually assaulted at bars, so we should not allow women to go bars.
rebuttal: bars aren't the problem here, men who commit assault are the problem.
Who is the best debate class in all the land
THIS CLASS.