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Chapters 10-11-12- Chapters 10-11-12- 13 13 Affirmative Terms and Affirmative Terms and Cases Cases
Chapters 10-11-12-13Chapters 10-11-12-13
Affirmative Terms and CasesAffirmative Terms and Cases
Affirmative TermsAffirmative Terms
Case: Reasons:Case: Reasons:
observationsobservations-statements of fact-statements of fact
contentionscontentions-serious, widespread -serious, widespread
problemsproblems
AdvantagesAdvantages-unique benefits -unique benefits through through
adaptation of affirmative planadaptation of affirmative plan
Affirmative TermsAffirmative Terms
Status quo-present way of doing Status quo-present way of doing things (law, policy, program)things (law, policy, program)
Should-ought to be adoptedShould-ought to be adopted Should-Would: negative argues-prove Should-Would: negative argues-prove
that the topic should be acceptedthat the topic should be accepted Fiat-”let it be done” affirmative does Fiat-”let it be done” affirmative does
not have to prove that the plan will be not have to prove that the plan will be passed, only that it should be passedpassed, only that it should be passed
Affirmative TermsAffirmative Terms
Burden of Proof-show why the status Burden of Proof-show why the status quo can’t solve the problems quo can’t solve the problems presented or gain the advantages. presented or gain the advantages. Show status quo is not effective!Show status quo is not effective!
Prima Facie Case-”on the face of Prima Facie Case-”on the face of things” sufficient evidence and things” sufficient evidence and reasons must be presented for the reasons must be presented for the resolution-much like a grand jury.resolution-much like a grand jury.
Affirmative TermsAffirmative Terms
Stock Issues: Stock Issues: TopicalityTopicality-case must relate to issue-case must relate to issue HarmsHarms-problem with status quo-problem with status quo InherencyInherency-”built in” to system-so status-”built in” to system-so status quo will not workquo will not work SolvencySolvency-Affirmative plan must solve the-Affirmative plan must solve the problemproblem DisadvantagesDisadvantages-no new disadvantages or -no new disadvantages or disadvantages must not outweigh disadvantages must not outweigh
advantages advantages
Tips-TopicalityTips-Topicality
Affirmative is free to choose the case Affirmative is free to choose the case they want to build based on the issue.they want to build based on the issue.
Make sure advantages are directly Make sure advantages are directly related to the issue!related to the issue!
Affirmative plan must directly relate to Affirmative plan must directly relate to the resolution stated in the propositionthe resolution stated in the proposition
Must make Must make significantsignificant change not change not minor changesminor changes
Harms-TipsHarms-Tips
Problems in the status quo-so this is Problems in the status quo-so this is why we have to change!why we have to change!
-physical: such as illness or death-physical: such as illness or death
-monetary: such as too much -monetary: such as too much spending spending
or not enough spendingor not enough spending
-social: discrimination or depriving of -social: discrimination or depriving of
rightsrights
HarmsHarms
Must be significant in terms of:Must be significant in terms of: quantitative (millions affected), quantitative (millions affected),
qualitative (quality of life drastically qualitative (quality of life drastically improves), orimproves), or
future aspects (avoid BIG problems in future aspects (avoid BIG problems in
future).future).
People disagree over the type of People disagree over the type of damage occurring in some situationdamage occurring in some situation
InherencyInherency
The system we currently have is The system we currently have is faulty and we faulty and we cannotcannot fix it-so….we fix it-so….we need to get rid of the system we need to get rid of the system we currently have and adopt the currently have and adopt the AFFIRMATIVE PLAN!AFFIRMATIVE PLAN!
laws, treaties, court rulings, or executive orders that prevent the proposed affirmative plan.
InherencyInherency
Status quo is capable of solving the Status quo is capable of solving the problem without resorting to extreme problem without resorting to extreme measuresmeasures
Three types: Structural, gap, Three types: Structural, gap, attitudinal! attitudinal!
Structural InherencyStructural Inherency
Structural inherency is the Structural inherency is the strongest type of inherent strongest type of inherent barrier to establish. A structural barrier to establish. A structural analysis suggests that a law, or analysis suggests that a law, or rule, or fact of life is causing the rule, or fact of life is causing the harms. harms.
Structural InherencyStructural Inherency For example, the Affirmative may For example, the Affirmative may
argue that people who do not get a argue that people who do not get a good education have low productivity, good education have low productivity, and thus earn low wages, and thus are and thus earn low wages, and thus are condemned to poverty. The causal link condemned to poverty. The causal link of poor education to low income is of poor education to low income is based on economic facts. Similarly, the based on economic facts. Similarly, the government rule that people who have government rule that people who have given up looking for jobs are not given up looking for jobs are not counted as "unemployed" means that counted as "unemployed" means that the unemployment figures the unemployment figures underestimate the number of people in underestimate the number of people in need of work; a law demonstrates need of work; a law demonstrates structural inherency.structural inherency.
Gap InherencyGap Inherency
Gap inherency is weaker than Gap inherency is weaker than structural inherency. The structural inherency. The Affirmative notes that the present Affirmative notes that the present system has identified a problem system has identified a problem and is taking steps against it, but and is taking steps against it, but those steps fall short of curing the those steps fall short of curing the harms. There is a gap between the harms. There is a gap between the solution now in existence and the solution now in existence and the harm that needs to be cured. harm that needs to be cured.
Gap InherencyGap Inherency
For example, federal welfare For example, federal welfare payments are designed to relieve payments are designed to relieve poverty, but the money a family poverty, but the money a family receives from welfare is too little receives from welfare is too little to raise it above the poverty line to raise it above the poverty line — a gap exists. Gap inherency is — a gap exists. Gap inherency is weaker than structural inherency weaker than structural inherency because it shows that the status because it shows that the status quo is already making some quo is already making some effort to remove the problem.effort to remove the problem.
Attitudinal InherencyAttitudinal Inherency
Attitudinal inherency claims that Attitudinal inherency claims that the problems are caused by the problems are caused by people's beliefs, feelings, or people's beliefs, feelings, or opinions. opinions.
Attitudinal InherencyAttitudinal Inherency For example, racial prejudice — an For example, racial prejudice — an
attitudinal problem — prevents many attitudinal problem — prevents many blacks from getting good-paying jobs, blacks from getting good-paying jobs, thus causing poverty to strike at the thus causing poverty to strike at the African-American family more often African-American family more often than the white family. Another example than the white family. Another example is that people find it humiliating to ask is that people find it humiliating to ask for charity (an attitude), and so many for charity (an attitude), and so many poor people refuse out of pride to poor people refuse out of pride to participate in welfare and food stamp participate in welfare and food stamp programs, and thus suffer poverty and programs, and thus suffer poverty and malnutrition (the harm). Attitudinal malnutrition (the harm). Attitudinal inherency, also, is weaker than inherency, also, is weaker than structural inherency.structural inherency.
UniquenessUniqueness
Refers to affirmative plan of Refers to affirmative plan of comparative advantagescomparative advantages
Advantages are unique to affirmative Advantages are unique to affirmative plan plan onlyonly and cannot be achieved by and cannot be achieved by the negative in the negative in any wayany way!!
SolvencySolvency
Affirmative's goal is to show that the Affirmative's goal is to show that the plan WILL WORK to solve the plan WILL WORK to solve the problems they have mentioned!problems they have mentioned!
Usually this means finding evidence Usually this means finding evidence in which an authority supports the in which an authority supports the specific proposal the Affirmatives are specific proposal the Affirmatives are suggesting. suggesting.
DisadvantagesDisadvantages
harmful side-effects of the harmful side-effects of the Affirmative planAffirmative plan
Advantages must outweigh Advantages must outweigh
disadvantages of the affirmative disadvantages of the affirmative plan!plan!
ParadigmsParadigms
Models used in judging debatesModels used in judging debates The way someone views the worldThe way someone views the world We will use a combination of the We will use a combination of the
stock issues/policy maker model.stock issues/policy maker model.
Affirmative CaseAffirmative Case
Does this particular area have any Does this particular area have any problems?problems?
Do any harms result from these Do any harms result from these problems?problems?
Is there any mechanism in the status Is there any mechanism in the status quo that is capable of solving the quo that is capable of solving the problems if it is expanded, enforced, problems if it is expanded, enforced, better funded, or modified?better funded, or modified?
Affirmative CaseAffirmative Case
Are there any advantages gained Are there any advantages gained from replacing the present policy?from replacing the present policy?
What changes are necessary to gain What changes are necessary to gain this advantage?this advantage?
Has anyone suggested an alternative Has anyone suggested an alternative approach?approach?
Affirmative CaseAffirmative Case
Do the alternatives have serious Do the alternatives have serious problems?problems?
What is necessary to adopt a new What is necessary to adopt a new program-money, staff, enforcement?program-money, staff, enforcement?
Needs Case-Stock IssuesNeeds Case-Stock Issues
1.1. Is there a need to change the Is there a need to change the present system, and is the need to present system, and is the need to change significant?change significant?
2.2. Are there structural, attitudinal, or Are there structural, attitudinal, or philosophical barriers that prevent philosophical barriers that prevent the present system from solving the the present system from solving the harm?harm?
Needs CaseNeeds Case
3.3. Will the adoption of the resolution Will the adoption of the resolution solve the problems?solve the problems?
4.4. Does the plan do what’s called for in Does the plan do what’s called for in the resolution?the resolution?
5.5. Will the plan be free from serious Will the plan be free from serious workability problems and workability problems and disadvantages?disadvantages?
Specific IssuesSpecific Issues
From the stock issues, you develop and From the stock issues, you develop and write the specific issues for your case and write the specific issues for your case and answer these questions in the debate.answer these questions in the debate.
1.1. Is there a need to change the law that Is there a need to change the law that abortion is legal in the United States?abortion is legal in the United States?
2.2. Are there structural, attitudinal, or Are there structural, attitudinal, or philosophical barriers that prevent the philosophical barriers that prevent the legality of abortion from solving the right legality of abortion from solving the right to life issue?to life issue?
Specific IssuesSpecific Issues
3.3. Will the adoption of the making Will the adoption of the making abortion illegal solve the problems?abortion illegal solve the problems?
4.4. Does making abortion illegal do Does making abortion illegal do what’s called for in the resolution?what’s called for in the resolution?
5.5. Will making abortion illegal be free Will making abortion illegal be free from serious workability problems from serious workability problems and disadvantages?and disadvantages?
Comparative Advantages CaseComparative Advantages Case
Use this case if you cannot tear down Use this case if you cannot tear down the status quo.the status quo.
Use this case to stress that your Use this case to stress that your “plan” is BETTER than the status quo!“plan” is BETTER than the status quo!
Emphasize the significant benefits and Emphasize the significant benefits and advantages of your plan!advantages of your plan!
Your plan is unique; it does things that Your plan is unique; it does things that the status quo cannot do!the status quo cannot do!
Comparative Advantages CaseComparative Advantages Case
Make sure all advantages relate to Make sure all advantages relate to the original debate proposition. If the original debate proposition. If they do not, the negative can use they do not, the negative can use this against you!this against you!
Our plan better meets the goals than Our plan better meets the goals than the status quo does!the status quo does!
Focus on all the positives that your Focus on all the positives that your plan creates-not the negatives of the plan creates-not the negatives of the status quo.status quo.
