Constructing a Case for a Proposition

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International Debate Education Association

• Constructing a Case for a Proposition

Prepared for IDEA Youth Forum July-August,
2010 By Robert Trapp, Willamette University
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Principles of Constructing a Case
?A case for the proposition is one or more
arguments that support the framework presented by
the team defending the proposition.
? Two common methods of constructing a case
include the comparative advantages method and
the needplanbenefits method.
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Comparative Advantages Case
?Plan Present your plan to change the current
course of action.
?Advantages Show the advantages of your plan
over the current course of action.
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Present Your Plan of Action
?What is the appropriate actor? Who or what
should implement your plan?
?What specific actions do you propose?
? What other important details are needed?
Funding Enforcement etc.
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Advantages
?Show that the current system cannot attain the
advantages.
?Identify the part of your plan that will create
the advantages.
?Show how that part of your plan creates the
advantages.
?Demonstrate the magnitude of the advantages. --
Show the magnitude quantitatively -- Show the
magnitude qualitatively
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NeedPlanBenefits Case
?Need Is there a need to change current policy?
?Plan Present your plan to change the current
policy.
? Benefits Will your plan solve or alleviate the
need?
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Is There a Need for a Change?
?Identify the problem.
?Show the magnitude of the problem -- Show the
magnitude quantitatively -- Show the magnitude
qualitatively
? Identify the source of the problem. -- What is
the cause of the problem? Who or what is to
blame? --How is the cause or blame associated
with the current policy? Does the current
policy contain gaps? Does the current policy
present barriers?
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Plan
?What is the appropriate actor? Who or what
should implement your plan?
?What specific actions do you propose?
? What other important details are needed?
Funding Enforcement etc.
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Benefits Will Your Plan Solve the Need?
?Identify the part of your plan that will solve
or alleviate the problem.
?Show how that part of your plan alleviates or
solves the need.