China Debate Education Network

Constructing Arguments for the Prime Minister

Prior to Preparing the Speech: Analyze the Motion

• Most motions can be interpreted in a number of different ways.

• All debaters (Opposition as well as Government) need to focus some attention on what they expect will be the focus and direction of the debate given the motion.

• One thing to be considered when analyzing the motion is what kind of motion has been presented. A number of different kinds of motions exist. The two most common ones are frequently referred to as: – Value Motions (those that evaluate an object (person, idea, concept,

or institution) by applying a value to the object, and – Policy Motions (those that evaluate a proposed policy by associating

the proposed policy with consequences or principles)

Constructing the Case: Three Steps

• 1. Define and interpret the motion

• 2. Specify the position the Government Team will defend. Frequently, but not always, by presenting a model of the motion

• 3. Create a case for the motion (or model)

Step One: Defining And Interpreting the Motion

• The First Government Team has the right to define and interpret the motion.

• Parallel to this right is the responsibility to define and interpret the motion in a reasonable fashion.

Step One: Defining And Interpreting the Motion （ continued)

• Defining the motion includes defining any words or phrases that: – Are ambiguous– Might not be understood

• Interpreting the motion includes narrowing and focusing the topic for debate– focus on the issues debated in the public forum– Narrow and focus for the purpose of creating a

good debate, not just to help yourself win the debate.

Step Two: Presenting The Model

• A model is specific illustration of the position the Government team will defend.

• Some motions may not require models:– Those that evaluate specific objects according to certain

values. (Capital punishment is unjust). – Those that evaluate rather specific policies. (The United

States should completely ban capital punishment). • Models are needed when the interpretation of the

government team needs to be more specific than the motion itself. (The people’s Republic of China should revise it’s one-child policy).

Step Two: Presenting The Model

• If the motion is about a policy or action, and if that policy or action needs further specification, then a model is appropriate.

• In such a case, then model should probably contain at least three things:– Who is the actor?– What is the proposed action?– Are any other details of the proposal needed?

Step Three: Creating a CaseConstructing Arguments

for the Motion (Model)• Case Defined: A case consists of one or more

arguments in support of the motion (or the model).

• Qualities of the case: The case as presented by the Prime Minister must be prima facie

Step Three: Creating a CaseConstructing Arguments

for the Motion (Model)• Two broad conceptual ways to create arguments to

support a motion: principles and consequences• Principled arguments, usually grounded in morals

and ethics, focus on the inherent rightness or wrongness of an action.

• Consequential arguments, grounded in the effects or outcomes of policies or actions, suggest that the best action is the one that causes the most positive and fewest negative consequences.

Four Examples

• Principled argument for a value motion• Principled argument for a policy motion• Consequential argument for a value motion• Consequential argument for a policy motion

These examples are taken from a previous lesson on “Combining Arguments Coherently.) In the following examples, the case consists of a single argument. In most cases, a case will consist of a series of arguments.

Case For a Value Motion Using Principled Argument

• Define the object to be evaluated by describing its essential features

• Associate those features with a principle– Identify the principle– Show how the features are related to the

identified principle• Evaluate the principle and thus the object– Show how the value the audience holds for the

principle should be transferred to the object

Example: Free Syrian Army is engaged in a noble cause

• Describe the FSA as a group of defectors fighting to bring down the oppressive regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

• Associate the FSA with a principle– In principle, fighting for freedom is a noble cause.– Another group associated with this noble cause is

the Vietnam National Liberation Front (NLF).• Evaluate the principle and thus the FSA.

Transfer the value of the NLF to the FSA.

Case For a Policy Motion Using Principled Argument

• Describe contrasting features of the current and proposed policies.

• Associate those features with one another and through their similarity, associate those features with a principle.

• Evaluate the principle.

Example: The UN should adopt the declaration of rights of Great Apes• Describe contrasting features– Great Apes have advanced cognitive & linguistic

abilities, consciousness, complex social & familial structures but have no protection for their rights

– Humans have advanced cognitive & linguistic abilities; consciousness, complex social & familial structures. Rights are protected under the UDHR.

Example: The UN should adopt the declaration of rights of Great Apes• Associate contrasting features with a principle– Principle of justice demands that objects of

essentially the same class be treated in the same way.

– Great Apes should be treated the same as humans• Evaluate the proposed policy– A declaration of the rights of Great Apes is

consistent with the principle of justice– Declaration would assure right to life, protect

individual liberties, and give freedom from torture

Policy Motion Example: Consequential Argument

• Describe features of the current system and contrast those features with those of your policy proposal.

• Relate that feature to a consequence. Create a cause and effect relationship between that feature of your policy proposal and a consequence.

• Evaluate the consequence of the policy.

Policy Motion Example Using Consequences: Nations of the world should provide a minimum

level of education to all their citizens.• Main argument: Increasing funding and

infrastructure for education will improve people’s lives by helping to alleviate poverty– (Describe) The Government proposal substantially changes

the funding and infrastructure of the present system– (Associate) Funding and infrastructure are causally related

to access to secondary education– (Evaluate) Increased access to secondary education will

help relieve poverty and improve people’s lives.

• Can have additional main arguments if desired

Case for a Value Motion Using Consequences

• Describe a feature of the thing to be evaluated.

• Associate that feature with some consequence.

• Evaluate that consequence

Value Motion Using Consequences: Example Traditional Chinese medicine is a useful part of an overall health care system.

• Main Argument: TCM has advantages over surgery. • Describe a feature: Traditional Chinese medicine is non

invasive.• Associate with consequence

– Non-invasive techniques help patients– Non-invasive techniques prevent harm to the patient

• Evaluate the consequences– Positive evaluation of acupuncture– Negative evaluation of surgery

– Additional main argument if needed

Role of the Deputy Prime Minister

• Refute the arguments introduced by the Leader of Opposition

• Rebuild the case offered by the Prime Minister – Refute any arguments raised against the case by

the Leader of Opposition– Add additional evidence and examples as needed

• Add one or more new arguments to the case as presented by the Prime Minister