Yang Ge, Dalian Nationalities University Constructing a Case for the Proposition 2010 Advocacy Institute International Debate Education Association and Willamette University

Principles of Case Construction 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: – Comparative Advantages Case – Need—Plan—Benefits Case

Comparative Advantages Case Present a plan of action Present the advantages of your plan – Name the advantage (your claim) – Show why the current system is unable to achieve the advantage – Show why your plan is able to achieve the advantage – Demonstrate the importance of your advantages

Plan of Action Who or 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.)

Present the Advantages of the Plan Show that the current system cannot attain your advantages. What is the cause of the problem (who or what is to blame)? How is the cause of the problem associated with current policy? – Does the current policy contain gaps? – Does the current policy contain barriers?

Show that your plan of action creates the advantages. How does your plan alleviate the cause of the problem? How does your plan fill the “gap” or eliminate the “barriers?”

Demonstrate the importance of your advantages... Quantitatively Qualitatively