The Affirmative Position

1
The Affirmative Position

• What is in this Chapter
• Burden of Proof
• Presumption
• The Prima Facie Case
• Basic Affirmative Concepts
• Defining the Terms
• Stock Issues
• Case Formats
• Style and the Affirmative Position

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Benefits in Your Life

• Argue for a change in curfew
• Argue to use the family car
• Argue for a change in school policy
• Argue for a promotion
• Arguing for any change to the status quo

3
Requirements of the Affirmative Case

• Has to meet the burden of proof
• Has to overcome presumption
• Has to present a prima facie case
• These three concepts are related.

4
Burden of Proof

• It rests with the affirmative team.
• There must be sufficient evidence to change from
  the status quo (case side).
• There must be sufficient evidence the affirmative
  plan will work (plan side).
• More specifics will be presented later.

5
Presumption

• The affirmative case must be compelling enough to
  overcome presumption.
• Presumption (like pre-assume) means that we
  assume the current policy should stay in effect.
• It represents a natural resistance to change.

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Presumption

• It is not enough to just show a little reason to
  change, but it must be significant in order to
  overcome presumption.
• Like the US attitude that a person is presumed
  innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable
  doubt.

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Prima Facie Case

• Prima Facie on face value
• The affirmative must present a prima facie case.
• The case must be complete. You can not just
  promise something is true. You must prove it
  during the debate.

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Prima Facie Case

• Prima facie case is the minimal argument required
  to support a proposition if there were no
  refutation.

9
Basic Affirmative Concepts

• Topicality
• Definition of Terms
• The Contention
• Proof and Reasoning
• Stock Issues
• Affirmative Case
• Affirmative Plan

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Topicality

• The affirmative chooses an area within the
  proposition.
• It must be within the intent of the proposition.
• If it isnt, the negative can challenge the
  affirmative team on the topicality of their case.

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Topicality Example

• RESOLVED That the federal government should
  provide comprehensive medical care for all U.S.
  citizens.
• Affirmative plan is free preventative medical
  services.
• Problem is that it may not be considered
  comprehensive enough (value term).

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Definition of Terms

• The affirmative must define terms in the
  proposition that may be contestable.
• Quote definitions given by experts.
• Quote dictionaries (specialized dictionaries
  better).
• Refer to examples of its use.

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The Contention

• A contention is a claim made.
• Usually just a single declarative statement.

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The Contention

• The affirmative typically contends
• There is a harm.
• The harm is significant.
• The harm is inherent.
• The proposed plan will solve the problems causing
  the harm.
• There are advantages to the plan.

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Proof and Reasoning

• It is not good enough just to state the
  contention.
• You must support it with proof and reasoning.

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Proof and Reasoning

• Page 103 contradicts page 9. I like page 9s
  explanation better.
• Proof is logical reasoning, evidence or the
  combination of the two.

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Proof and Reasoning

• The best is to have both.
• The best is to use factual evidence combined with
  logical reasoning to show how the evidence
  supports the contention.

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Stock Issues

• There are five stock issues.
• Four stock issues are the basis of major
  affirmative contentions.
• One stock issue is the basis for major negative
  contentions.

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Stock Issues

• The four affirmative stock issues are the claims
  that the affirmative must make in order to
  present a prima facie case.

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Affirmative Stock Issues

• Harm - There is a something harmful about the
  status quo.
• Significance - The harm must be important enough
  to do something about it (related to presumption).

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Affirmative Stock Issues

• Inherency - The problems causing the harms to
  continue to exist are part of the status quo.
• Solvency - The affirmative plan will solve the
  problem and thus eliminate the harms.
• The affirmative has the burden of proof for these
  four stock issues.

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Negative Stock Issues

• Disadvantages - The disadvantages of the
  affirmatives plan.
• The negative team has the burden of proof for
  disadvantages and that the disadvantages out
  weigh the advantages.

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Stop

• This is all for today! Yeah!

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Affirmative Case

• The affirmative case is made up of
• the definition of terms
• the plan
• the stock issues

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Affirmative Case

• It is best to have the whole case presented by
  the first affirmative constructive speaker.
• Can save the proof to later speeches if necessary.

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Affirmative Plan

• It is the action proposed by the affirmative.
• A plan can be complicated or simple.

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Affirmative Plan

• Structured by planks.
• What is to be done.
• Steps
• How the procedures are to be carried out.
• Timing
• Funding
• Who enforces the plan.

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Defining the Terms

• You need to define the disputable terms in the
  proposition.
• You dont always have to define them in the 1AC
  but be ready to defend them in the 2AC if
  challenged by the 1NC.
• This is related to topicality.

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Common Usage

• A standard dictionary is a good place to start
  but it may lack precision (too general).

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Experts

• Use specialized dictionaries.
• Use definitions by experts.

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Operational Definitions

• The definition is implicit. It is implied in your
  case.
• Ex if the proposition requires a comprehensive
  program, argue that your plan is an example of a
  plan that is comprehensive rather than trying to
  define comprehensive using a dictionary or an
  expert.

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Use of Example

• Define a term by using an example.
• Give examples of how a term has been used in the
  appropriate field.

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Stock Issues - Harm

• A harm is a problem caused by the present
  system.
• Caused by the presence or absence of government
  policy.
• Social harms are actions by people that hurt
  other people.
• A proposition often points to an area of harm to
  be debated.

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Stock Issue - Harm

• The affirmative must discover the harm(s)
  suggested by the proposition.
• The affirmative should examine a wide area of
  possible harms.
• Finding a harm other teams did not find may help
  you win the debate.

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Stock Issue - Significance

• Significance is sometimes treated as part of the
  harm issue.
• The harm must be substantial enough to justify
  consideration.

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Stock Issue - Significance

• Significance can be qualitative
• Violates core values
• Violates what is important to a civilized society
• Significance can be quantitative
• Use statistics
• Show trends

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Stock Issue - Significance

• Significance can be the sum of less significant
  harms.
• More harms is often better but be careful
• More harms means more need for proof.
• Possibly a more complicated plan in order to
  solve the problem.

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Stock Issue - Inherency

• Affirmative must prove the problem is built-in to
  the workings of the present system.
• Locate the cause of the problem and argue that it
  is just the proposed plan that is needed to solve
  it.

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Stock Issue - Inherency

• Gaps in the present system
• The problem was not anticipated by the present
  system.
• A set of barriers in the present system prevent
  elimination of the harms.
• The private sector is the source of the problem.
• Other examples on page 109.

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Stock Issue - Solvency

• The affirmative plan must solve the problem.
• The plan should not forget important planks.
• The plan should be as concise as possible.
• The plan is best presented in the 1AC.

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Stock Issue - Solvency

• For every harm presented, the affirmative plan
  must contain a solution.
• The must show the workability of the plan.
• Argue by analogy
• Argue from pilot programs
• Argue by using past programs

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Stock Issue - Solvency

• Showing solvency often requires needing to show
  how the plan will change attitudes.
• The plan must show that it can not be
  circumvented.
• Use of punishments
• Use of rewards

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Stock Issue - Disadvantages

• The negative might argue disadvantages to the
  plan out weigh the advantages.
• Usually the negative will bring this out in the
  2NC when arguing against the plan.
• The negative has the burden of proof for
  disadvantage arguments.

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Stock Issue - Disadvantages

• The disadvantage must be unique to the plan. It
  must be shown that it is the plan that causes the
  disadvantage.
• The disadvantages must be significant.
• The disadvantages must be substantially greater
  than the harms in the status quo.

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Case Formats

• The Need-Plan Case
• The Comparative Advantage Case

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The Need-Plan Case

• This is the type most of you will use.

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The Need-Plan Case

• The 1AC of a need-plan case
• A statement of the proposition
• An explanation of terms
• A statement of the problems
• Claims about what has caused the problems and why
  they havent been solved.

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The Need-Plan Case

• A plan
• Proof that the plan will eliminate the causes of
  the problems and therefore the harms themselves.
• Start with this case format.

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The Comparative Advantage Case

• The affirmative argues that the proposed plan can
  solve the problem better than the present system.
• The affirmative sets the rules for comparing the
  two.

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The Comparative Advantage Case

• The 1AC of a comparative advantage case
• A statement of the resolution
• Definition of terms
• Presentation of the plan
• Presentation of comparative advantages

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The Comparative Advantage Case

• Be careful not to have too many comparative
  advantages.

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The Comparative Advantage Case

• Each comparative advantages is like a miniature
  debate.
• Advantage is not possible in the status quo
  (inherency)
• The plan will provide the advantage (solvency)
• The advantage is very desirable (significance)

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The Comparative Advantage Case

• The order of presentation can vary.
• Examples of comparative advantages
• Cheaper
• More efficient
• More comprehensive
• Bring change faster

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Extending Affirmative Analysis

• Once you have your case and plan, try to think of
  weaknesses. Think of ways the negative will
  attack your case and plan.
• Then try to think of arguments and find evidence
  to defend against these attacks.

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Extending Affirmative Analysis

• You can write briefs to defend.
• You can put defense into the initial
  presentation, but be careful it wont cause the
  1AC speaker to have too much to say.
• See Affirmative Checklist on page 119 for good
  ways to prepare.

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Extending Affirmative Analysis

• Prepare multiple levels of responses to defend
  your case and plan.
• The negative may not have that much evidence to
  attack
• Saves time

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Style and the Affirmative Position

• Best to present a case and plan that you really
  believe in.
• Speak in a way that shows your passion for
  solving the problems.
• Use language that can express the significance of
  the harms.
• Use language that can express your passion.