Debate Manners

1
Debate Manners

• Recall that debate is a cooperative activity with
  a long history as civil discourse.

2
Before the debate

• Begin when everyone is ready
• Determining sides
• Introductions (dont play mind games)
• Dress appropriate (coat and tie for men and
  semi-formal suit for women)

3
During the debate

• Properly representing evidence
• Identifying the source
• Speak only when its your turn
• Avoid personal attacks (argument ad hominem)

4
After the debate

• Shake hands with opponents
• Stop the debate
• Accept the decision graciously
• Use criticism as a means to improve your skills

5
Additional considerations

• Be here and be prepared for the debate
• Take responsibility for your own behavior, case,
  evidence, etc.
  
• Avoid covert operations against another team,
  disinformation campaigns, etc.

6
Reasoning

• It is important to know something about reasoning
  and the common tests of logical validity

7
Deductive vs. Inductive Logic

• Deductive works from general to specific
• Major premise
• Minor premise
• Conclusion

• Inductive works from specific to general
• Example a
• Example b
• Example c
• Conclusion

8
Deductive (Aristotilean) Logic

• A major premise is asserted and must be
  supported
  
• All insurance companies work to maximize their
  profits
  
• The AFF uses these companies in plan
• Therefore, the AFF plan works against their goal
  of cost savings

9
Types of deductive syllogisms

• Categorical All college students are smart
• Disjunctive College students are either smart or
  they are well connected
  
• Conditional If a student is smart, s/he will
  enroll in debate

10
Tests of deductive reasoning

• Are premises and conclusions overtly stated. If
  an enthymeme, is the missing premise justified?
  
• Is the minor premise within the field of the
  major premise?
  
• Can the premise be accepted at face?
• Specific tests are detailed in ch. 8

11
Tests of inductive reasoning

• Do the examples support the conclusion?
• Are enough examples provided (no--you must use
  statistics)
  
• Are there examples which dispute the conclusion?
  (almost always)

12
Toulmins Inferential Pattern
Data
Warrant
Claim
Medicare has proven cost- effective
The AFF plan will be cost- effective
The AFF plan is very similar to Medicare
13
Tests of Toulmins pattern

• Are there contrary warrants?
• Is the warrant reasonable at face?
• Is the claim overstated?
• Is the data substantial, valid, and correctly
  interpreted?

14
Fallacies common to debate

• Non-sequitar
• Confusing sign and cause
• Post hoc, ergo propter hoc
• Multiple causes
• Arguing in circles
• Argument ad hominem
• Argument ad populem

15
Fiat an affirmative privilege

• Primarily exists in order to prevent the
  possibility of should/would arguments

16
Argument Cogency