ARGUMENT ANATOMY
What are the three basic parts of a strong argument?
Claim, reasoning, and evidence/example.
or
Claim, warrant and Impact
What is a rebuttal?
A response that challenges or answers an opponent’s argument.
What does BIRT stand for?
Be It Resolved That.
What is wrong with this response?
“My opponent is wrong because he clearly doesn’t understand teenagers.”
It attacks the person instead of the argument.
Give one strong argument for allowing phones in school.
Any logical argument with a reason.
What is the difference between a claim and evidence?
A claim is what you are arguing; evidence is what supports or proves it.
Which is the stronger rebuttal and why?
A. “That makes no sense.”
B. “That argument assumes all teenagers use social media in the same way, which isn’t true.”
B, because it identifies a specific weakness in the argument.
What is the burden of proof?
The responsibility to provide enough reasoning/evidence to support your claim.
What is wrong with this reasoning?
“My cousin played video games all night and failed his test, so video games cause bad grades.”
One example does not prove a general cause
Now argue against your/another peron's argument from the previous question.
Must directly challenge the original reasoning.
Improve this weak argument:
“School uniforms are bad because nobody likes them.”
Must add a clear reason and supporting example/evidence.
Rebut this:
"Homework teaches responsibility, so students should get homework every night.”
Answer: Any logical response that directly challenges the reasoning.
What is the difference between an opinion and an argument?
An opinion is what you believe or think. An argument gives reasons and evidence to support that belief.
What is wrong with this argument?
“Either we ban social media or teenagers will stop communicating completely.”
It creates a false choice.
You have 20 seconds:
Parents should have screen-time limits too. Defend the motion.
Any structured and persuasive argument.
Build a complete argument supporting this statement:
“Teenagers should have a four-day school week.”
Answer: Must include claim + reasoning + example/evidence.
Question: Rebut this using the structure “While it is true that…, however…”
“Social media is harmful because teenagers spend too much time on it.”
Answer: Must concede part of the argument and then directly counter it.
In debate, we attack the argument, not the....
Person
What is wrong with this?
“Millions of people believe it, so it must be true.”
Popularity does not prove truth.
You do not get to choose your side:
Being famous is more of a disadvantage than an advantage.
You have 30 seconds
Clarity and persuasiveness of argument.
Question: You have 30 seconds to argue one side of this motion:
Voting should be mandatory, with fines in place for people who refuse.
Full points if the response includes:
Voltaire: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Challenge: Rebut this by arguing that free speech should have limits.
A strong rebuttal should argue that freedom of speech can have legitimate limits, for example where speech causes serious harm, incites violence, threatens others, or deliberately spreads dangerous misinformation.
Full points: directly challenges the quote, gives a clear reason, and explains why unlimited free speech can create harm.
In a debate, which is more important: what you say or how you say it?
Both matter, but what you say is more important. Strong delivery can make an argument more persuasive, but confidence cannot replace weak reasoning or poor evidence.
I will also accept:
Answer:
A strong debater needs both. Content gives the argument substance; delivery helps the audience believe and remember it.
What is wrong with this argument?
“If most people support a law, that means the law is fair.”
Majority support does not automatically make something fair or just. Popular opinion can still disadvantage or violate the rights of a minority.
THE IMPOSSIBLE CASE
BIRT weekends should be abolished.
You have 30 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to convince us.
Award based on argument quality, creativity, and delivery.