Mastering Rebuttal Strategies in Debate: A Comprehensive Guide
Novice Bootcamp
Fall 2021
DAY 3
Princeton Debate Panel
Agenda
Rebuttal
Weighing
Replies
POIs
POOs
Debate / Case writing
1.
Actually Engage
Claim: X happens
Bad engagement:
“Yeah but Y happens”
Good engagement:
“Y happens and Y is more important than X because…”
“X doesn’t happen”
3. Try not to drop stuff
2. Deal with a charitable version of their case
Type I: Nitpicking
Nitpicking
●
Claim other side hasn’t justified one
of these burdens
●
N.B. Don’t do this if they actually
have justified it
Burdens View
1.
X
happens
2.
X
is a good/bad thing
3.
X
does not happen without the
policy
Type II: Mitigation
Mitigation has
BURDENS
1.
X
doesn’t happen
that
much/at all
2.
X
isn’t
that
good/good at all
3.
X
already does happen
Notes on usage
●
You only need to prove ONE of
these THREE burdens
●
Works well when combined with
nitpicking
Burdens View
1.
X
happens
2.
X
is a good/bad thing
3.
X
does not happen without the
policy
Type III: Offensive Rebuttal
Rebuttal Burdens
1.
X
is actually bad (if the other team
said it was good)
2.
X
happens more without the policy
Burdens View
1.
X
happens
2.
X
is a good thing
3.
X
does not happen without the
policy
Summary
How to do rebuttal
●
Be very clear what you’re responding to
●
Say why it’s wrong
●
Number responses!
Practice
THW Prefer a world where Vladimir Putin steps down in 2024
Agenda
Rebuttal
Weighing
Replies
POIs
POOs
Debate / Case writing
What is weighing
●
Impact weighing
○
THW Impose a Tax on Automation in the West
○
Opp: causes offshoring
●
Argument weighing
Agenda
Rebuttal
Weighing
Replies
POIs
POOs
Debate / Case writing
Arguments you can make a LOT
What is the alternative going to be?
How is this going to be implemented?
Will people be angry? Happy? Does this make other policies more/less likely?
Agenda
Rebuttal
Weighing
Replies
POIs
POOs
Debate / Case writing
What are Points of Information (POIs)
●
You can ask questions/make points during the other team’s speeches
○
Not during reply speeches
○
Not in the first minute or last 90 seconds
■
Not from 6:00 onwards for PMC, or from 7:00 for LO, MG, MO
●
Should be
under 15 seconds
●
Don’t
accept more than 1 in your speech
○
But try and accept one
POI Etiquette
●
To ask:
○
In person: stand up/raise hand/say “point”/ say “POI”
○
Online: can also text “point”/“POI” in the Zoom chat
●
To reject:
○
Ignore the question/say “no thank you”/“I’ll take you later”
●
To accept:
○
“Sure”/“Go for it” /“I’ll take a POI now if opp has one”
Agenda
Rebuttal
Weighing
Replies
POIs
POOs
Debate / Case writing
What are Points of Order (POOs)
●
Interject during the opposition’s reply speech when you think they’re bringing
up new material
●
Say “Point of order”
●
Judge/speaker will pause timer
●
Explain what you think is new
●
Speaker will try to explain why the argument isn’t new
●
Don’t get into an argument
○
“The judge can take it under consideration”
Agenda
Rebuttal
Weighing
Replies
POIs
POOs
Debate / Case writing
THR the substitution of digital
entertainment (e.g. tv, movies, video games)
for written materials (e.g. novels, Kindle,
comic books) in the lives of children
SWAT PAIRINGS
The End
Discover effective rebuttal techniques in debate such as nitpicking, mitigation, and offensive rebuttals. Learn how to strategically undermine your opponent's arguments by challenging their burdens, reducing the impact of their points, and presenting counter-arguments that strengthen your position. Enhance your debate skills with clear responses, strategic reasoning, and impactful rebuttals.
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Presentation Transcript
Novice Bootcamp Fall 2021 DAY 3 Princeton Debate Panel
Agenda Rebuttal Weighing Replies POIs POOs Debate / Case writing
1. Actually Engage Claim: X happens Bad engagement: Yeah but Y happens Good engagement: Y happens and Y is more important than X because X doesn t happen
2. Deal with a charitable version of their case 3. Try not to drop stuff
Type I: Nitpicking Nitpicking Burdens View Claim other side hasn t justified one of these burdens N.B. Don t do this if they actually have justified it 1. Xhappens 2. Xis a good/bad thing 3. Xdoes not happen without the policy
Type II: Mitigation Mitigation has BURDENS Burdens View 1. X doesn t happen that much/at all 2. Xisn t that good/good at all 3. Xalready does happen 1. Xhappens 2. Xis a good/bad thing 3. Xdoes not happen without the policy Notes on usage You only need to prove ONE of these THREE burdens Works well when combined with nitpicking
Type III: Offensive Rebuttal Rebuttal Burdens Burdens View 1. Xis actually bad (if the other team said it was good) 2. Xhappens more without the policy 1. Xhappens 2. Xis a good thing 3. Xdoes not happen without the policy
Summary Type of Rebuttal What you have to show Strategic Use Nitpicking Other team hasn t given sufficient reasons to believe one of the burdens Make other team spend more time on the argument Mitigation One of the burdens is false Reduce the impact of the other team s arguments Offensive rebuttal The opposite of one of the burdens is true Gain impacts for your side
How to do rebuttal Be very clear what you re responding to Say why it s wrong Number responses!
Practice THW Prefer a world where Vladimir Putin steps down in 2024
Agenda Rebuttal Weighing Replies POIs POOs Debate / Case writing
What is weighing Impact weighing THW Impose a Tax on Automation in the West Opp: causes offshoring Argument weighing
Agenda Rebuttal Weighing Replies POIs POOs Debate / Case writing
Arguments you can make a LOT What is the alternative going to be? How is this going to be implemented? Will people be angry? Happy? Does this make other policies more/less likely?
Agenda Rebuttal Weighing Replies POIs POOs Debate / Case writing
What are Points of Information (POIs) You can ask questions/make points during the other team s speeches Not during reply speeches Not in the first minute or last 90 seconds Not from 6:00 onwards for PMC, or from 7:00 for LO, MG, MO Should be under 15 seconds Don taccept more than 1 in your speech But try and accept one
POI Etiquette To ask: In person: stand up/raise hand/say point / say POI Online: can also text point / POI in the Zoom chat To reject: Ignore the question/say no thank you / I ll take you later To accept: Sure / Go for it / I ll take a POI now if opp has one
Agenda Rebuttal Weighing Replies POIs POOs Debate / Case writing
What are Points of Order (POOs) Interject during the opposition s reply speech when you think they re bringing up new material Say Point of order Judge/speaker will pause timer Explain what you think is new Speaker will try to explain why the argument isn t new Don t get into an argument The judge can take it under consideration
Agenda Rebuttal Weighing Replies POIs POOs Debate / Case writing
THR the substitution of digital entertainment (e.g. tv, movies, video games) for written materials (e.g. novels, Kindle, comic books) in the lives of children
SWAT PAIRINGS Afzal Anais Camille Connie Emily Genevieve Jacquelynn Kimberly Mariana Osamede Sheetal Laya Ebun Roma Yuri Jongnam Isaac Pia Aybars Ayanava Ben Ijay
