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Debate Strategy
 So far at camp…

• You should know by now:

• What is an argument/ parts of an argument

• Argument & Impact generation - how to come up with
new ideas
• What is a Framework - (A way for your judge to choose
the best arguments)
• Rebuttal ideas - attack directly, or compare to your
arguments
• Summary and Final Focus
 However…

• There are lots of other things you need to know to be

successful in debate!

• Each of these basic skills has many parts, take practice,

and can always be improved.

• Not every topic needs the same things, not every case
will look the same!

• Remember - the best skill you can learn is how to adapt

and change based on the topic or the opponent you
face.
Preparing for a debate
 Preparing for debate

• Other parts of debate case OR debate preparation

• Definitions

• Observation

• Framework

• Evidence

• Blocks
 Definitions

• Sometimes, there are words in the topic that need to be

defined.

• For example: Countries should prioritize climate change

adaptation over mitigation

• What words need to be defined?

 Observations

• Sometimes, there is background information, or topic

framing (like a picture) that needs to happen.

• Definitions might not explain the information in the

context of this debate, and framework is too broad or
not related to these things

• Observations have to be short, or they waste time.

 Observations

• Con Sample Case:

Observation 1: Ending arms sales to Saudi Arabia includes both the sale of weapons

and the maintenance, training, repair, and supervision that is attached to these deals.

According to US Secretary of Defense James Mattis, “ U.S. support...also improves

coalition processes and procedures... and best practices for reducing civilian casualties.” 1

Furthermore, according to TheHill, “Saudi Arabia is entirely dependent on U.S. military

training, maintenance, and spare parts in order to keep its...fighter jets in the air.”2

Thus, ending arms sales to Saudi Arabia is not merely ending the sales of new weapons -

it would end our significant ongoing influence and oversight of Saudi military operations.
 Framework

• Framework

• A way for the judge to evaluate the debate.

• Should they choose arguments that are practical, or

moral?

• Should they choose arguments that benefit the US, or

benefit everyone?

• Should they choose arguments that lead to safety, or

freedom?
 Framework

• If your framework is the same words as your arguments,

it is not a framework.

• If your framework does not tell the judge what TYPE of

arguments are good, it’s not a framework.

• If you don’t understand what a framework is or why you

NEED to use it, don’t use a framework.
Evidence
 Evidence

• Do you have to have evidence in a debate? Is it always

required??

•NO
 Evidence

• Which is more important?

• Evidence or arguments?

• The answer depends on the argument, or the debate

you are having that round.

• Moral arguments - less important to have evidence

• Economic Arguments - more important to have evidence

 Evidence

• Evidence can take many forms

• Quotes - usually smart people saying smart things

• Guessing what might happen
• Talking about something that already did
happen

• Statistics - Using Data - things we can count or measure

• How much money will we make?
• How many people died, or got hurt?
• How does something compare to something else
in size or percentage?
Prepared Rebuttals
(Blocks)
 Prepared Rebuttals

• Can you guess what your opponent is going to say?

• Most of the time

• You can prepare rebuttals for the most common

arguments

• Prepare rebuttals for your own arguments!

 Prepared Rebuttals

• Prepare both ideas and evidence

• Write out arguments and ideas

• When using evidence, keep the paragraph the evidence

came from, just use the most important parts.

• “Cut” down the amount of words

• Add your impact, analysis, etc

 Prepared Rebuttals

• In a debate, prepared responses help you stop from

being nervous, and know what to say.

• They might not always work!

• What else can you prepare in a debate?

• Crossfire questions
• Possible summary and final focus ideas