Parts of a Debate
The topic, action, policy, or belief being put up for debate.
What is a resolution?
This tells the judge what arguments you are going to discuss before you discuss them
What is signposting?
These three letters stand for the three basic parts of an argument.
What is CWI?
This is an argument made against another argument.
What is rebuttal/refutation?
What is PRO and CON?
"Now moving on to our second argument, the environment” is an example of this
What is flagging?
“We should ban cars because cars contribute to climate change.” This argument makes a claim, but never explains how or why cars cause climate change. It is missing this part of CWI
What is a warrant?
This type of rebuttal says the opponent's claim itself is false.
What is a direct rebuttal?
The side that argues against the resolution
What is CON?
A speaker begins: “We have three arguments today: the economy, the environment, and public health.” What technique are they using?
What is signposting?
“Cars release CO₂, which traps heat and contributes to global warming.” This explains why cars harm the environment, but the argument never tells the judge why that harm matters. It is missing this.
What is an impact?
“They say this policy hurts businesses. We agree—but hurting this harmful industry is actually has a good impact.” What type of rebuttal is this?
What is an impact turn?
Resolved: The Canadian government should ban cars.” If you are on PRO, what must you argue?
The Canadian government SHOULD ban cars
Your judge looks confused because you jump straight from your first argument into your second without announcing the transition. What did you forget?
What is flagging?
Identify the warrant: (A) Cars are bad for the environment. (B) Climate change could cause droughts and famine. (C) Cars release CO₂, which traps heat and contributes to global warming.
What is C?
“Their impact might happen, but it will be much smaller than they claim.” What type of rebuttal is this?
What is mitigation?
Your opponent says, “The resolution says governments should ban cars, but we're going to argue that governments should regulate cars instead.” What fundamental problem have they created?
They are not actually arguing for/against the resolution
Give an example of a signpost followed by a flag for a speech with arguments about the economy and environment.
“We have two arguments: the economy and environment. Now moving on to our first argument, the economy.”
Identify each part of CWI: (A) Air pollution causes serious respiratory illnesses. (B) We should reduce car use because cars harm public health. (C) These illnesses can lead to thousands of preventable deaths.
What is B = Claim, A = Warrant, C = Impact?
Name all five types of rebuttal from the guide.
Direct Rebuttal, Impact Turn, Mitigation, Non-Uniqueness, and Outweighing.