Ian Ritchie

Constructive Speech lecture

The constructive is unique in that it is the only prewritten speech in PF, and as such allows you unlimited time to prep and refine your cases.

It is my personal view that a good case is the most important speech in the round, as without a solid base to launch your attacks from you are left defenseless.

What the constructive is

Since the case is your time to establish your foundation for the rest of the round you have to take advantage of it be using both offensive and defensive positions in your case.

Offensive positions are those which are used to attack your opponents and contradict what they say.

Defensive positions are those which will help your case stand after the other team has attacked it.

Offense and defense

For the camp topic on the Aff side a sample Framework would look like

We define “in the best interest” idiomatically as something that is beneficial, after taking all other options into account.

The burden of the aff in this round is therefore to show that investing in public transportation is a net benefit. Conversely, the neg must show that investing in public infrastructure is net harmful

How framework can be offense

and defense.

Contention one: cutting assistance is essential to gaining credible Pakistani assistance

Pakistan does not work with us to the full extent they are capable, this halfhearted effort leads to tacit approval of insurgents operating in Pakistan

In the article Talking Tough to Pakistan How to End Islamabad's Defiance published in this month’s issue of Foreign Affairs By Stephen D. Krasner explains January/February 2012

Pakistan does not heed overt U.S. threats because Washington has time and again backed down from them. Only by credibly threatening to end all assistance to Islamabad can Washington convince Pakistan’s leaders that genuine cooperation is in their best interest.

This resolution does not call for a permanent cutting of all aid money, just for a temporary suspension, if the US provides a credible threat to their aid is prepared to enforce it until Pakistan steps up its efforts, America will gain a much more useful partner in Afghanistan.

Red= offense Black= defense purple= both

Examples of these positions in a

case.

The degree of offense you put into your case really depends on the topic, but you should strive to make all your contentions have some offense to carry through the round.

Offense is highly valuable and this is the best time to get it out.

How much offense is sufficient

Minimize the amount of superfluous language you use in your case, you should not use multiple words when one will do.

Read fast.

How to maximize your case’s

potential