debate final!
a burden of proof
both sides have a burden of proof; must have enough support for any major contention
the first debate between 2 major party presidential nominees
Kennedy-Nixon in 1960
the 3 burdens of proof
THE burden of proof, A burden of proof, the burden of REFUTATION
distinguishing good and bad resolutions/what does a good resolution have?
a good resolution identifies the central issue in a controversy; it establishes the issue and facilitates clash; usually main claim in the debate
prima facie case
arg on initial inspection that is strong enough to demand a resp
public sphere
argument is addressed to, and offered in behalf of, the general public
AFF and NEG strategy in regards to stock issues
attack need/harm - the harm hasn't been proven/not as bad as AFF claims attack inherency - is harm not actually inherent attack plan/solvency - will the plan not actually work; will the plan actually deliver on advantages; if it does deliver on advantages; are they enough to justify change? attack advantages - argue that the plan doesn't actually deliver on promised advantages; show plans disadvantages
typical AFF needs cases
**aff must prove all stock issues the need is significant the need is inherent plan the plan will solve the need wo causing more problems
assessing case strength using stock issues
- aff must prove all stock issues since they're trying to make a change to the SQ; wo this, neg could claim that its easier/better to stay with SQ - neg doesn't have to prove all stock issues; just as many as it takes to win enough pts and get their point across
how does flowing help debaters/why do we flow (4)
- capture major args and classify them appropriately - make appropriate consolidation and separation decisions in order to highlight clash points - make implicit claims explicit - make judgements about debate; serves as a summary
critiques of the presidential debate model
- lacks a single resolution (covers lots of topics, and on top of that, has limited response times for each one) - debate is shaped by moderators (meaning that its up to them and the quality of their questions - but they also ask gotcha! q's sometimes which is bad) - lacks many sustainable clash points other notes: answer times are short, formality has gone down, format encourages sound bite responses
what is a simple arg composed of
1 claim, support, and warrant
neg case strategies
1. challenge AFF stock issues: a. capture the AFF case (flow!) - it identifies opportunity b. plan the NEG case - AFF has to prove all stock issues; NEG can potentially win by refuting 1-2 AFF stock issues 2. defend status quo a. minor repairs - suggested changes to SQ that solve AFFs suggested problems b. are the flaws of the SQ outweighed by the benefits? c. is the AFFs plan as good as/better than the SQ? 3. offer counterplan a. offer solution not possible under AFFs plan; (neg then assumes an equal burden of proof)
argument scheme
common, defeasible, reasoning pattern
validity
deals w quality of the arg, independent of the content of the claim/evidence
assessing strength of an attack/defense
does the attacker hit a major part of the opposing case? does the attacker weaken the opposing case significantly w a solid argument? and do they do it well? does the attacker make clash clear and highlight the impact of their attack? does it further their point?
personal sphere
exchange of divergent views accompanied by reasons
claim types, definitions, and examples
fact: description of reality; past, present, or future ex. the earth revolves around the sun definition: meaning, interpretation, or classification ex. chemical addictions are diseases value: involve judgement, an appraisal, or evaluation ex. assisted suicide is a moral action policy: what should or should not be done ex. we should eliminate the DOE
types of support/evidence (and descriptions)
facts - information widely accepted as true; zarefsky lists this in "social consensus" examples - single instances statistics - quantitative statements of enumeration or measurement testimony - statement by a qualified source
categories of fallacies
fallacies of warrant fallacies of relevance fallacies of vacuity (fallacies of clarity) - not tested on
strategies for identifying arguments to attack and defend
flow the opposing case select an attack/defense type develop attack/defense perform attack/defense using 4 step refutation
undistributed middle term
for categorical syllogism; arguments middle term isn't distributed; falsely links 2 things and results in incorrect conclusion
affirming the consequent
for modus ponens; incorrectly concluding that the "if" part of an "if __, then __" statement is true just because the "then" part is true
denying the antecedent
for modus tullens; incorrectly concluding that if the "then" part of an "if __, then __" is false because the "if" part is false
argument from form/commitment and basic structure
form based warrants are used to infer the fulfillment of the form commitment evidence premise: ___ is committed to propA linkage of commitment premise: when someone is committed to propA, they are usually also committed to propB conclusion: in this case, ___ is also committed to propB
types of arg from example (and definitions)
generalization - evidence relates to a part, claim relates to whole illustration - evidence relates to whole, claim relates to a part
policy stock issues and their subcategories
harm/need - need for change → big: quantitatively important → bad: quantitatively important inherency - need inherent to status quo → structural inherency: formal block → attitudinal inherency: informal block → gap inherency: existing solution incomplete plan - what's the plan solvency - will the plan work to solve the need advantages - does the plan have more advantages than disadvantages
fallacies of vacuity definition and types
have missing elements or don't actually advance the argument circular reasoning, begging the question, ignoring the question, non sequitur, straw man
defeasibility
if the respondent accepts the premises, then that gives them a good reason also to accept the conclusion
their relationship
if youre making a change to the SQ, you've overcome presumption
fallacy analogy post hoc
incorrectly assuming that because y happened after x, that x caused y
fallacy of composition
incorrectly assuming that what's true of the part is true of the whole
fallacy of division
incorrectly assuming that what's true of the whole is true of the part
fallacies of relevance definition and types
introduce an irrelevant element, which disrupts the relationship within the arg ad hominem, ad verecundium, ad popular, as baculum, ad misericordium, ad ignorantium
technical sphere
involves arguments among experts; have to know what's going on to participate
ad hominem
irrelevant attack on character
ad verecundium
irrelevant authority
ad populum
irrelevant public opinion
ad misericordium
irrelevant sympathy
ad baculum
irrelevant threat
argument from slippery slope and basic structure
kinda a subcategory of causal arguments; not much of a distinction between it as an argument and fallacy first step premise: x will happen recursive premise: x will lead to y, which leads to z, etc bad outcome premise: z is terrible conclusion: we shouldn't even start this process because of the terrible outcome that will result
the burden of proof
lies w the AFF, because AFF is calling for a change to SQ
subcategories for conditional syllogisms
modus ponens - affirming the antecedent if rain, then puddles rain therefore, puddles modus tollens - denying the consequent if rain, then puddles no puddles therefore no rain
identify, explain, and distinguish complex arg types
multiple argument - each subsidiary claim is independent of each other; subsidiary claims individually establish the main claim (strongest form of argument) coordinative argument - subsidiary claims are independent of each other; subsidiary claims, taken together, establish the main claim (second strongest form of argument) subordinative argument - subsidiary claims are not independent of each other; subsidiary claims, taken together, establish the main claim (weakest form of argument)
what is flowing
note taking method for capturing claims, evidence, and clash
on and off case attacks
on case attack - attacking something mentioned in original case off case attack - attacking something not mentioned in original case
the 3 spheres of argument
personal sphere technical sphere public sphere
argument from testimony/position to know and basic structure
position to know premise: ___ is in a position to know whether x is true or not assertion premise: ___ asserts that x is true/false conclusion: x might plausibly be taken to be true/false
presumption
predisposition favoring a given side in the debate
argument as product, process, and procedure
product - you make an arg; logical relationship of ideas (a1) process - you have an arg; back+forth change of reasons (a2) procedure - the rules that govern an arg (a3)
straw man
responding to a deliberately weaker version of an argument (misinterprets their views and makes it easier for you to attack "their point")
rationale and benefits to the 4 step model
responds directly to existing opposing arguments, thus highlighting clash; easy to flow/follow
argument from sign and basic structure
sign schemes are used to infer the existence of the unknown from the presence of the known specific premise: x is true general premise: y is usually true when x is true conclusion: y must be true
different arguments (5 cat, 7 names)
sign, cause, slippery slope, testimony/position to know, form/commitment
resolution
statement of judgement that identifies central issue in controversy
syllogism definition, the basic structure that it follows, and the 3 types
syllogism - systematic arrangement of args major premise - generalization minor premise - specific instance related to the generalization conclusion - that must follow from the premises categorical, disjunctive, and conditional
distinguishing between technical and public sphere arguments
technical is more specialized, limited people can participate, and they more so debate to each other/debaters; in comparison, public sphere debates focus on the audience → he used a prop 8 example to show how argumentative strategies that succeed in one sphere can fail in another
circular reasoning
the claim merely repeats the grounds in slightly altered terms
disjunctive syllogism and ex
the major premise includes 2 mutually exclusive alternatives (cannot happen at same time) ex. either congress will amend this bill or the president will veto it congress will not amend this bill therefore, the president will veto it
categorical syllogism and ex
the major premise is unqualified ex. all dogs are mammals toby is a dog therefore, toby is a mammal
conditional syllogism and ex
the major premise posts a hypothetical state ex. if the interest rate on treasury notes increases, then more of these notes will be purchased the interest rate on treasury notes will increase therefore, more of these notes will be purchased *its conditional: if x then y, x therefore y
status quo
the norm; existing state of affairs
the burden of refutation
the obligation to answer a charge (like the NEG refuting a prima facie arg/the burden of proof)
argumentation
the practice of justifying claims under conditions of uncertainty
debate
the presentation of mutually exclusive claims by competing advocates to a decision maker for adjudication
begging the question
treating a claim as a settled matter rather than something that needs to be proven
ad ignorantium
treating ignorance as proof of falsity
non sequitur
two statements that seem to occupy claim and support roles, but are unrelated
what makes an arg valid/invalid
valid - if there is no logically possible situation in which the premises are true and the conclusion is false invalid - if there is at least one logically possible situation where its premises are true and the conclusion is false
arg from analogy definition and its subtypes
what is true/false of other types is true/false of the type at hand literal analogies - establish parallel cases figurative analogies - establish parallel relationships
what are the 4 steps in the 4 step refutation
what they say what i say why my argument is better why it matters
hasty generalization
when a broad conclusion is drawn from an insufficient or unrepresentative sample of evidence
factors that make a presidential debate impactful
when candidates are unknown when voters are undecided when the race is close when party allegiance is weak
fallacies of warrant definition and types
when warrant (unspoken assumption) is flawed/missing hasty generalization, fallacy of composition, fallacy of division, false analogy post hoc, affirming the consequent, denying the antecedent, undistributed middle term
give their descriptions (7 evidence tests)
accessibility - can others inspect the evidence? to be credible, it pretty much needs to be accessible credibility - is the source reliable? evidence that's external to our case (if all of your sources are from the NRA and your debate is on gun laws, of course they side w you) internal consistency - does the evidence contradict itself? external consistency - does the evidence contradict the other reliable evidence? recency - is the evidence out of date? relevance - does the evidence bear on the conclusion? adequacy - is the evidence enough to support the claim? (usually a quantitative issue - do you have enough evidence??)
name the 7 evidence tests
accessibility, credibility, internal and external consistency, recency, relevance, adequacy
ignoring the question
addressing other matters instead of the issue at hand
strategic advantages of a concession
allows you to not be thrown off important points; have finite time to argue, focus on points that allow you to strengthen your argument. good concessions build ethos
argument from cause, types, and basic structure
cause based schemes are used to assert the influence of one factor on another; causation is inferred, not observed necessary cause - cause must be present in order for effect to occur sufficient cause - can produce effect by itself, but might not be only thing producing the effect major premise: generally, when x is true, so is y minor premise: x is true conclusion: y must be true
clash point
central, fundamental area of disagreement between 2 opposing sides in a debate; opposing points on the same subtopics
define the parts of a single arg
claim - expressed opinion/assertion that the arguer want accepted support - grounds for believing the claim warrant - what authorizes the reasoning
types of argument attacks and defenses (defending)
→ deny/correct. "you say x will happen; that's not correct". "the plan causes x disadvantage" - it doesn't and here's why → refute/rebuild. "you say x; i say not x" → rebuild the claims. "you say x is bad; i say its not that bad" - actually it is that bad and here's why → outweigh. "your argument is minor in comparison to issue x" → minimize the problem → attack/rebuild evidence → framework/recontextualize/contain → concede. a strategic concession allows you to not be thrown off of an important point. you have a finite time/space, you must pick the best path to a strong argument ** if you never concede a point, the opposition dictates the terms → you are always chasing them; a good concession builds ethos
types of argument attacks and defenses (attacking)
→ refute the claims. "you say x; i say not x" → weaken the claims. "you say x is bad; i say its not THAT bad" (aka not as bad as you claim; similar to refutation but the threshold is lower) → highlight inconsistencies. "your argument x doesn't seem to fit in your case", "what you argue in your harms seems at odds with your advantages" → perform a turn. "the argument is actually good for my case more than it is for yours", "you see this as a bad thing, but its actually a good thing" → attack evidence. "your evidence is weak, out of date, from a bad source, etc" ** when attacking evidence - you haven't proven anything false, you've just weakened evidence; undermining the evidence doesn't establish that the claims false, merely that it has not been proved to be true → use a framework/recontextualize
