Debate Conclusions

The conclusion of the first affirmative constructive speech or the 1AC is quite simple.

Here are the parts of the conclusion:

1. Reasons (signposts)
2. Repeat the resolution
3. Final statement the you support the resolution

Let's look at an example:

Ladies and gentlemen, we have talked about the health, environment and public decency of smoking in public.  Through these reasons we propose, it is clear that smoking in public places should be banned. 

Here are the three parts:

Reason
 health, environment and public decency of smoking in public

Final Statement
 Through these reasons we propose, it is clear

Repeat the resolution
 smoking in public places should be banned

* Note that I switched #2 and #3

Debate Introductions

When preparing for the first affirmative constructive speech or the 1AC, you begin with your introduction.

Here are the parts of the introduction:

1. Greetings
2. Resolution
3. Reasons

Let's look at an example:

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.  We are debating the resolution, "Smoking should be banned in all public places."  We, on the affirmative team, support this with the following reasons:  health, environment and public decency.

Here are the three parts:

Greeting
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

Resolution
We are debating the resolution, "Smoking should be banned in all public places."

Reasons
We, on the affirmative team, support this with the following reasons: health, environment and public decency.

Organizing the First Affirmative Constructive Speech

In the previous post we looked at the First Affirmative Constructive speech or the 1AC. 

In the 1AC there were three parts:  introduction, affirmative points and the conclusion.  We will now look at the affirmative points.

To begin with each point, you need to have a signpost.  A signpoint is the reason for supporting the argument of your opinion.

Some examples of signpost are;  price, function, benefits, design, ease, etc...

Each affirmative point consists of three parts:  signpost, reason and supports.

Remember in your 1AC, you can have multiple points, however, each point follows the above sequence.

Let's take a look at an example.

Point 1

Signpost:  Buying an electric vehicle will save on fuel costs.
Reason:  The cost of electricity is much cheaper than the cost of gasoline.
Support:  A gallon of unleaded gasoline costs an average of $4.00 while a full charge for an electric vehicle will cost you $8.00.

Here the signpost (reason) is price.  The reason explains the signpost.  Support backs up the reason for the signpost.

If you have an additional point, you can link it with the previous point.

Point 2

Signpost:  Electric vehicles are good for the environment.
Reason:  Electic vehicles give off no emissions, so there is no pollution emitting from the vehicle.
Support:  Scientists believe that by cutting down on vehicle emissions, we can reduce greenhouse gases by 20%.

Here the signpost (reason) is environment. 

If you have any additional points, you can link them directly after point #2.

First Affirmative Constructive Speech

The first speech in a debate is called the First Affirmative Constructive speech, known as the 1AC.  The reason it is called the constructive speech is because it begins to build to your case. 

There are three parts to the 1AC:

The introduction:  Giving your opinion

Affirmative Points:  Reasons and supporting statements

Conclusion:  Concluding your speech

As for the affirmative points, you can give multiple reasons and supporting statements. I will explain the organization for the points in another post.

For now take a look at the basic structure below:

Supporting Your Opinion

You have stated your opinion and explained the reason(s) for your opinion, now you need to support your opinion. 

To support your opinion you need to provide evidence.  You can provide evidence in the form of an explanation, an example, statistics or the use of an expert opinion.

Explanation is similar to using the cause-and-effect pattern seen in the explain your opinion section.  This pattern utilizes a "if" with a potential outcome.

ex.)  If we don't change the policies then people on welfare will not receive proper benefits.

We can also use other patterns to provide explanation:

ex.)  People on welfare need additional assistance to live above the poverty line, so the policy needs to change.

ex.)  In order to improve the lives of people on welfare, policies need to change.

Examples provide real-life situations and give an account of past occurances.

ex.)  We need to implement changes to improve the lives of people on welfare.  For example, vocational classes can help people learn skills to get jobs.

ex.)  When I observed their system, it worked by providing skills helpful in finding employment.

Statistics use numbers and data to support your opinion.  Use of accurate data is hard to refute, so this is a good way to support your opinion.

ex.)  Studies suggested that vocational education helped welfare recipients find jobs 50% faster than other programs.

ex.)  Three out of five welfare recipients found a job after completing a vocational program.

Expert opinions can also be profound in supporting your opinion.  Just be aware that who the expert is, is important.  The more credibility an expert has, the harder it is to refute his/her claim.

ex.)  According to John B. May, vocational programs have a higher success rate in getting people off welfare.

ex.)  The Institute on Social Welfare published a study finding that vocational  programs were the key in helping those on welfare find a job.

You may also consider utilizing more than one of the above ways to support your opinion.  The more support your opinion has, the harder it is to refute.  The harder your opinion is to refute, the more likely that others will believe in your opinion.

Explaining Your Opinion

One of the key ways to have people believing in your opinion is to explain your opinion.  Without a strong explanation, our opinions are basically, just our opinion.

The key point is to provide reasons that other people will find reasonable and convincing.  Three ways to do this is by making comparisons, show a contrast or show a cause-and-effect relation.

A comparison compares between different things.  This comparison shows that something is better than or worse than something else.

ex.)  Eating dinner at 6PM is better than eating dinner at 7PM.
        There are more benefits running than speed walking.
        The new law has more advantages than the old law.

Showing a contrast is putting the opposites against each other.

ex.)  Women multi-task quickly; men don''t.
        Children can learn a new language easily; adults can't.
        The city helps senior citizens; the state will not.

A cause-and-effect pattern emphasizes a potential result when something is or is not done.

ex.)  If you elect me, I will lower taxes.
        Eating late at night causes weight gain.
        If we cut spending by 10%, we can extend social security by 10 years.

You may choose to state your opinion with an explaination.  You can also use multiple explainations to convince people to believe in your opinion. 

Opinion of Value, Policy and Fact

Opinions usually fall into three types:  Value, Policy and Fact.

Our opinion is the basis for the argument so by catergorizing them into one of the three types, you can start to build a foundation for your debate.

VALUE:  One thing is better than another (A is better than B)
ex.)  Spring is better than fall.

POLICY:  Rules, regulations or laws that should or should not be implemented. (A should/should not do B)
ex.)  The government should increase spending on health care.

FACT:  Something that is or is not true. (A is/is not true)
ex.)  Rainy weather causes more automobile accidents.

Depending on what category your opinion falls under, you can proceed with the next stage of explaining your opinion.

Using the Toulmin Model of Argument

Stephen Edelston Toulmin developed a layout for analyzing arguments.  The six components for analyzing arguments using his method are:  claim, ground (evidence, data), warrant, backing, rebuttal, and qualifier.

We can utilize his model as a structure to arrange our arguments.

Let's look at the components and examples.

CLAIM:  To make/establish a claim 

Carpooling to commute to work is very beneficial.

GROUND:  Laying the foundation for your arguement

Many people drive to work without any passengers.

WARRANT:  Connection between the claim and the ground of your arguement

Carpooling can reduce harmful emissions and save fuel expenses.

BACKING:  Putting credibility in your argument or convincing statements

Scientist believe that if we reduce the emissions from automobiles by 25%, we can start to reverse the damage to our environment. 

or

With the price of gasoline at record highs, you can save more than half at the pump each week.

REBUTTAL:  Recognizing some restrictions, limitations, exceptions...

If a person chooses not to join a carpool, they may opt to take public transporation or consider a more fuel-efficient vehicle or hybrid vehicle.

QUALIFIER:  Close your arguement with force and make a strong convincing ending

Carpooling will definitely reduce carbon emissions and in turn, reduce overall pollution.  Furthermore, you will be able to save over half of your fuel costs spending your hard-earned money on more important things.