Parts of an Argument
Argues in favor of the resolution. This team is responsible for introducing the resolution with relevant definitions, listing the claims that support their argument along with evidence and reasoning, and refuting the negatives' arguments.
What is the AFFIRMATIVE team?
Teams of two debating a topic of national policy.
What is PUBLIC FORUM?
Individuals who listen to the debate, decide the winner, rank debate competitors, and ensure that the experience is educational for all participants in a debate competition.
What are JUDGES?
Information used to support a claim.
What is Evidence?
Claiming that since B always happens after A, then A must cause B is the fallacy.
What is POST HOC?
Statement that a debater supports or refutes with evidence and reasoning. This statement must have at least two sides.
What is a CLAIM?
In Student Congress, all of the legislation is compiled into one document called the _____.
What is DOCKET?
The last four speeches in a Public Forum debate are called the...
What are the Rebuttals and Final Focus?
Evidence from an expert or other external source, such as author, researcher, witness, etc.
What is ETHOS?
Attacking the person instead of their argument.
What is STRAW MAN or AD HOMINEM?
An organized attack on an opponents' argument. It is the practice of specifically addressing the evidence and/or reasoning of an opponent, exposing weaknesses and undermining arguments.
What is REFUTATION?
Argues against the resolution and the affirmative team's arguments. This team states the claims that support their position, provides evidence and reasoning, and refutes the affirmatives' arguments.
What is the NEGATIVE team?
This event has three categories: Dramatic, Duo, and Humorous Interpretation.
What is DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE?
A logical way to present Evidence or Reasoning. such as measurements, numbers and percentages.
What is LOGOS?
Even then it can be fallacious to cite them as an authority, depending on the authority’s claim.
What is APPEAL TO AUTHORITY?
These are the three parts to make a coherent argument.
What are a claim, a reason, and evidence
"9 out of 10 doctors agree" is an example of what type of argument?
What is Ethos or Logos?
Evidence or Reasoning using an emotional appeal. Trying to get the audience to feel one way or another about the debate topic.
What is PATHOS?
Diverting attention from the real issue by focusing instead on an issue having only a surface relevance to the first.
What is RED HERRING?
Turn this topic into an AFFIRMATIVE claim. Cell phones in schools.
What is CELL PHONES should be ALLOWED in SCHOOLS?
Bad or erroneous reasoning that results in an unsound argument.
What is a FALLACY?
During this part of the debate, the lead debater will summarize all the evidence by restating it.
What is CONCLUSION?
Identify the rhetorical appeal: "In 2015, 497 million metric tons of cow milk was produced worldwide, by 2020 that figure had risen to around 532 million metric tons".
What is LOGOS?
To “use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself.”
What is EQUIVOCATION?