Creating Arguments Jessica Bullock

Your Debate Club:
From Start to Finish

Jessica Bullock
SPEAK Founder & Director, Vermont Law School
Welcome; let’s get started!
 Session 3, Objective:
 Today’s Focus: How do I create solid arguments?
 By the end of today’s session we will:

 Work in small groups to create arguments;
 Brainstorm arguments for our motion form this morning;
 Share out our best arguments.
Today’s Agenda:
 Your Debate Group: 15:0o-17:00 PM
 Introductions
 Basic Argument Structure– The Outline
 Persuasive Principles– The Foundation
 Adding your Arguments
 Selecting Strategic Facts
 Conclusion
 *Small group brainstorming-
 Proposition Arguments
 Opposition Arguments
 Small Group Share- Out
 *Up next: 9:00-11:00 AM Argumentation

Introductions:
 Who am I?
 Jess Bullock
 This is a photo of me
and some of my favorite
People– the SPEAK group!
 Introduce yourself!
 Tell us your name and why you chose to be here this morning and
what you hope to gain form the experience
 If you choose not to speak, simply say, “Pass.”
What are Group Norms?
 Group norms are the set or expectations that we have for

each other to make our time together safe and fun for all
debaters.
 Question: How do we create a safe space for group members

to speak and debate? How do you want our conversations to
look and feel?
Today’s Focus: Generating Strong
Argumentation
 Structure, structure, structure! ☺
 Why is structure important?

1. Because we get nervous when we speak
2. When we get nervous we forget what we wanted to say And
how we wanted to say it
3. Planning for a clear structure in your argument ensure that,
even if your nervous, you stay on track and make your point!
 So…Structure is important because it keeps you clear, concis,

and confident!
Structuring a Persuasive Argument!
 Principle- The main value or belief underlying all of your arguments.
 Hook
 An opening statement to get your audience excited about your
idea!
 Your Main Point (You may have 2-3 of these main points)
 Introduce your main point or idea.
 Three reasons to support Main Point.

 Tell the audience about facts, values, and current policies to help
them understand and build your credibility
 Conclusion
 Summarize your main point and thank your audience.
Step 1: What is a “Principle”?
 The main value or belief underlying all of your arguments.
 Examples:
 Freedom
 Family
 Choice
 What principles or values do we already know are important

in this debate?
 Proposition– Think about the 4th Amendment
 Opposition– Think about why the Patriot Act was written in
2001
Step 2: Generating Arguments:
 Each Debate should have three “main points” or arguments
 These points are built on the foundation of the principle and

persuade the judge and the audience to agree with your side
of the debate.
 The structure of an argument– the A-R-E model
 Assertion
 Reasoning
 Deduction
 Helps to clearly and logically build your point

A- Assertion
 Tell them, tell them again, and tell them what you told them!
 Main point:
 central idea or belief that you want to persuade your audience to
adopt by the end of your argument
 Be clear!
 “Today, I am going to tell you…”
 Think of your main point as your title
 Keep it short and sweet!
 Example:
 “Today, I am going to tell you why the government has a duty to
provide second chance housing to inmates.”
R- Reasoning
 Many ways and types of reasoning, today we will look at

three types of reasoning:
 Induction
 Deduction
 Hypothetical or Causal Reasoning
Reasoning--Induction
 Using the generalization method– showing how specific facts can be
generalized under very specific conditions.
 Example: All cats have whiskers. Tabby is a cat. Therefore, she must
have whiskers/
 Example 2:
 People who are related share characteristics. Mary, Jack, and Frank are
all related. Mary, Jack and Frank are tall. Mary Jack, and Frank are tall
because they are related.
 Test your induction!
 Am I being culturally correct consistent and sensitive?
 Are there any “big” example that negate my conclusion?
 Are my examples relevant and timely?
 Are the concepts “big” enough and broad enough to apply to multiple
situations?
Reasoning-Deduction
 Categorical deduction
 Name a category or a group, name the truth of that group, the
find/locate and item or a person that has the same specific then
conclude the whole group shares the same characteristics
 Ex. Federica is a Milan debater. She is a very talented. All Milan
debaters must be very talented!
 Disjunctive Deduction
 Choosing between two ideas– explain why one is better than
the other
 Ex. Shall I go the the movies are shall I save my movey?
Reasoning Causal/Hypothetical
Deduction
 Situation A is the Reasoning for Situation B (Consequence)

 If X, then y. If Y, then Z.
 Example: Smoking causes cancer. If you smoke, then you may get
cancer.
 Ask:
 Does the cause have the means or power to cause the
conclusion/effect?
 Is it a significant cause for your topic?
 Are there any other important causes you are overlooking?
 Watch out for coincidences v causes!
 I walked outside. It started raining. I got wet. = Coincidence
 If it rains then I will get wet. It rained, I got wet.= Causal Deduction
E- Evidence!
 General Facts
 Be careful! Don’t assume that everyone has the same beliefs or
understanding
 “We all know..” (be cautious!)
 Statistics
 Make sure this is up to date
 Remember, it is just a fact! You need to give it life
 Scientific proofs, research

Step 3: Support for your Argument
 Everything come’s in three!
 To support your argument:

 Restate your main point
 Add the magical word: BECAUSE!
 Look to your facts, values, and policies to support you argument
 The government has a duty to provide second chance housing to

inmates BECAUSE…
 1. It is the government’s job to provide citizens with their basic needs;
 2. Recently released inmates need housing options in order to
successfully transition back to their community;
 3. Research shows that inmates who have stable housing upon reentry
are less likely reoffend, decreasing recidivism rates nationwide.
Step 4. Conclusion!
 Tell them, tell them again, and tell them what you told them!
 You have already:

 Hooked your audience
 Introduced your main point
 Given three reasons to support your argument
 To Conclude your speech:

 Summarize your argument in one sentence;
 Urge your audience to vote for your side of the debate;
 Thank the audience!
 Example:
 It is the government’s duty to protect inmates in need and provide them with
transitional housing.
 A vote for proposition in today’s debate is a vote for protecting our most
vulnerable citizens.
 Thank you for your time !
And you’re done!
 Find your Principle, then…
 Four simple steps:
 1. Hook your audience!
 2. Introduce your main point
 3. Support your main point with three reasons

(Use your facts, values to help you! ☺)
 4. Conclude your argument

Let’s draft some arguments together!
 Goal: By the end of today’s session (or tomorrow), we will have

two arguments for the proposition (for the motion) and two
arguments for the oppositions (against the motion).
 1. We’ll find our principles for prop and opp
 2.We’ll generate main points for the proposition and opposition
 3. We will select our best main points and begin thinking about
supporting points
 4. REMEMBER: Debate is about being willing to think about both

sides of an issue! Keep an open mind! ☺
1. What are our principles?
 Proposition:
 1.
 2.
 Opposition:
 1.
 2.
2. Drafting main points
Insert Topic:
 Proposition:
 What is the problem with the current situation?
 What are reasons that the government should provide second
chance housing for inmates?
 Opposition:
 What are the problems with government funded housing?
 What are reasons that inmates should be responsible for finding
their own housing?
3. Selecting our arguments!
 Out of all of the arguments that we generated, talk to a

partner and select the best argument from proposition and
opposition.
 Talk to you partner and try to think of three reasons to

support each argument.
 Remember!
 Restate the main point and finish your sentence with the word
“because”
 Use the facts, values, and other state policies that we discussed
last weekend to support your
4. Supporting our arguments!
 We now have our FOUR best arguments (two for proposition

and two for opposition)
 We need a speaker to prepare each argument with

supporting arguments
 Work with a partner to develop support for your argument
 Remember!
 Restate your main point and add the magic word: BECAUSE
 Use your facts, values, and policies to support your argument!
Thank you!
 Thank you for attending our first day’s session!
 What will we be doing?

 Focus: Generating solid argumentation
 What topics do YOUR DEABTERS want to talk about?
 Until next time! Questions, concerns, or follow-up? Contact

me at jessicabullock@vermontlaw.edu or check out SPEAK
online!

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Your Debate Club:

From Start to Finish

 Today’s Focus: How do I create solid arguments?

 By the end of today’s session we will:

 *Up next: 9:00-11:00 AM Argumentation

 Group norms are the set or expectations that we have for

 Question: How do we create a safe space for group members

 Structure, structure, structure! ☺

 Why is structure important?

 So…Structure is important because it keeps you clear, concis,

 Three reasons to support Main Point.

 The main value or belief underlying all of your arguments.

 What principles or values do we already know are important

 These points are built on the foundation of the principle and

 Helps to clearly and logically build your point

 Many ways and types of reasoning, today we will look at

 Situation A is the Reasoning for Situation B (Consequence)

 Scientific proofs, research

 To support your argument:

 The government has a duty to provide second chance housing to

 You have already:

 To Conclude your speech:

 Find your Principle, then…

 Four simple steps:

 1. Hook your audience!

 2. Introduce your main point

 3. Support your main point with three reasons

 4. Conclude your argument

 Goal: By the end of today’s session (or tomorrow), we will have

 1. We’ll find our principles for prop and opp

 2.We’ll generate main points for the proposition and opposition

 4. REMEMBER: Debate is about being willing to think about both

 Out of all of the arguments that we generated, talk to a

 Talk to you partner and try to think of three reasons to

 We now have our FOUR best arguments (two for proposition

 We need a speaker to prepare each argument with

 Work with a partner to develop support for your argument

 Thank you for attending our first day’s session!

 What will we be doing?

 Until next time! Questions, concerns, or follow-up? Contact

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