1. JSA Debate Techniques
Tips and Tricks

2. Main Arguments – Have them!
We research in the library to find main arguments
Main arguments are built off of facts or statistics, but are opinions
Examples:
Handguns have no purpose other than to kill people
We need guns for the protection of our property

3. Subsequent Speeches – Useless?
Absolutely not!
Most of the clash of the debate will occur in subsequent speeches
How so?
Proponents give an argument
Opponents counter argument in subsequent speech
Proponents counter
Also, opponents can ask questions to make proponents look weaker

4. Effective Questions
Opponent says, “Knives and other weapons are still available to kill even if guns are banned.”
Proponent has a statistic that previously researched that may help: FBI Uniform Crime Report of 2008 says 68% of all murders occur with handguns
Opponent is open to questions, time to jump in
“According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report of 2008, 68% of all murders occur with handguns. Wouldn’t we drastically be cutting down the amount of murders by banning handguns?”

5. Necessity of Prediction
Knives and other weapons are used to kill also
FBI Crime Report of 2008
Murders would shift to another weapon
How convient would that new weapon be as opposed to a handgun?
Some hangun deaths occur over self-protection, more handgun deaths will occur
Do you have any statistics to back that up?
PREDICT, PREDICT, PREDICT
One useful way of predicting is to make a flowchart.
This allows us to anticipate future arguments and find more facts or statistics

6. Allies Back up your friends!
Ask them questions that you have already privately discussed
Back up your friend by giving a subsequent speech that provides more evidence for their argument

7. Watch out for… Loaded questions Logical fallacies
Questions that are not just one question, but many
Logical fallacies
Complex questions (Did the pollution you cause increase or decrease your profits?)
Bifurcation (There are two types of people in this world: the rich and the suckers. Do you want to get rich, or are you happy to remain a sucker?)
Straw man of logic (Liberalize = Unrestricted access)

8. The End