Case Construction

Case Construction

A Brief Roadmap • Before you start writing your case… • Affirmative Case Setup • Negative Case Setup

Step 1: Read and Think! • Before you ever put pen to paper, browse the literature • Google • Lexis Search • Go to the Library The point is to get an idea of what others have to say on the topic.

Step 2: Brainstorm! • Make a t-chart, or a flow chart, etc. • Keep your thoughts organized • This means “aff ideas” get put together and “neg ideas” get put together. • Keeping your ideas separate will minimize headaches.

Affirmative Outline • There are many things affirmatives can do. The only thing they must do is prove the resolution is true. • We’ll go over strategies tomorrow, but for now we are going to simply look at what things should go in your case, and in what order those things should go.

Affirmative “Ingredients” • Your case must have: • Restatement of the topic • Definitions • Value/Standard Set-Up • Arguments (Contentions and/or subpoints) • Your case might have: • Observations and/or Burdens

Aff Step 1: Definitions • As the affirmative you get to set up the initial “framework” for the round. • What does the topic mean? • What arguments should the judge consider based on the words in the resolution? • What arguments should the judge ignore?

Aff Step 1: Definitions • The way primary way to set up this “framework” is by defining key PHRASES in the resolution. • Do NOT NOT NOT define each word in isolation. Instead define words in “functional groups”.

Aff Step 1: Definitions • A “functional group” is a block of words that all work together. • For example: If the topic is _____________________________

Aff Step 1: Definitions • You would NOT want to define each word individually. Individually the words are not that important. What’s more important is how the words interact with each other. • You would want to define these PHRASES:

Aff Step 1: Definitions • Once you’ve figured out what phrases you should define, in a few words jot down what you think the phrase means. • If appropriate, write down what the phrase does not mean.

Aff Step 2: Arguments • Generally your affirmative will have 2 “contentions”. These are your two general reasons you want to use to prove the resolution is true. • Look at your brainstorm chart. What are your strongest arguments? What arguments will you have the easiest time explaining in 15-20 seconds?

Aff Step 2: Arguments • When you’re doing your outline, you want to make sure that you include a basic idea of what all will go into your argument. • Claim - what do you want to prove • Warrant - why is it true • Impact - why does it matter if it’s true

Aff Step 3: Value/Criterion • This is the last thing you want to set up. Again, we’re minimizing headaches. • The point of the value criterion is to tell the judge HOW they will evaluate arguments.

Step 3: Value/Criterion • The VALUE is the overarching principle the resolution is addressing. Typically it’s either justice or morality. • 99% of the time the value will be explicitly stated in the resolution. • Don’t worry about defining your value yet. Just identify it.

Step 3: Value/Criterion • The CRITERION (aka STANDARD) establishes a “rule” for determining if the value is a word that can describe something. • Morality and justice are pretty vauge, and both “beg the question”. (What IS morality? What IS justice?)

Step 3: Value/Criterion • Even a definition of justice as generally accepted as ‘giving each their due’ begs the question, “What are people due?” • A Standard can be thought of as a specification or identification of something that people are - or are not - due. (Or a specific quality that indicates morality/immorality.)

Step 3: Value/Criterion • What is your standard? Look at your arguments. Specifically, look at your impacts. • If you think your arguments prove the resolution true for reason X, then X is your standard.

Step 4: Consistency Check • Once you’ve got your outline, make sure everything “jives”.

Case Construction