1. Wellesley Speech & Debate Workshops
Parli Basics
Forming a Case
Guide to Speeches and Responsibilities
Leader of Opposition
Prime Minister
Members of Gov & Opp
Style Tips

2. Leader of the Opposition
A Wednesday Workshop brought to you by the Speech&Debate Society

3. The Speeches: PMC LOC MGC MOC LOR PMR Intro intro
Present case statement
Independent points of analysis
Respond to opposition’s main points
deconstruct
crystallize
reconstruct
case point 1
Case point 2
Case point 3

4. The Constructive:
LOC
intro
Independent points of analysis
deconstruct
At the very beginning, state and explain any important objections to the case or case statement, for example, claims of tightness or specific knowledge. Then move on—it’s up to the judge to decide on your arguments and you must attempt to debate the case!
If relevant, introduce a counter-case.
Construct an opposition based on independent arguments (these are points that deal with subjects that were not brought up by the government, but are relevant to the case)
Deconstruct each case point that the PM brought up
(some credit to apdaweb.org)

5. The Rebuttal:
LOR
intro
crystallize
Crystallize the round into clear Opposition voting issues. The speech serves to frame the debate from the Opposition's point of view. The LO should explain each of the reasons why the Opposition has won the round and why these reasons outweigh the arguments the government has made.
The last opportunity to remind the judge briefly of any objections the LO raised about the case or the case statement (spec knowledge, tight, tautology, etc.)
Point out ‘holes in the flow’- arguments that the MG failed to address (ask the judge to count these dropped arguments against the Government)
No new arguments, only new examples
(some credit to apdaweb.org)

6. Basic Opposition Strategies:
When in doubt….
use the “Harvard Cheat Sheet”
Too expensive
Right place, right idea…Wrong time
Right time, right idea….Wong place
Infrastructure does not exist
No need

7. Damn, he is hot!

8. Those Funky Countercases…
Sometimes, you will be presented with a case statement describing a problem or issue that you care about (rare, but it does happen). You will then probably feel that the Government's case sucks, so you can use a Countercase to present your own solution to the problem as an alternative to the case (must present during the LOC).
You will be arguing against the Government’s case and for your case, describing how your countercase has an advantage that the government’s case lacks.
A countercase must be different from the status quo (current situation) and mutually exclusive to the proposed government’s case, i.e.. one could not do both cases (sometimes it is permissable to have a countercase that is not mutually exclusive, but that is argued to be superior...this is very tricky though)
Example: case is that a taco bell should be in the new student center, countercase is that a kfc should be in the new student center; the countercase will only work if it is the situation that only one greasy fast-food place will be allowed in the new student center; if both could be placed in the new student center, they are not mutually exclusive cases

9. Opp-Choice? Wtf?
In an Opp-Choice round, the Government will present a case and then allow the Opposition to choose which side they will argue
Example: Wellesley should or should not have an Alcohol Policy that ruins everyone’s social life– the Opposition will choose if they wish to argue should or should not
Why would anyone do this?
It makes everyone look good– wow, so smart, she can debate both sides of this case!
You may not really care about which side you want to argue, presenting your case as Opp-Choice is a way to get someone else to make the decision for you
It’s fun!

10. Tips and Helpful Hints:
Make sure you ask for points of information to clarify the case statement/background
Have an overall ‘theme’ or strategy that you can use to characterize your opposition throughout the round
End with “We beg/are proud to oppose”

11. That’s all folks!
For more details, check out the Parli Guide at
Stay tuned for next week’s presentation….an overview of the Prime Minister position!
(10/17/01, 5pm, Schneider)
“I killed the President of Paraguay with a fork…how have you been?”