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WHIPPING

Ateneo Debate Camp

2008

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I Will Survive

The role of the whip speakeris to

summarize the debate Yes, and No. Taking this as dogma is

DANGEROUS (summarizing alone is BORING

and redundant)

BP: Significant shifts in debate focus anddynamics (esp. between halves)

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Whats my burden?

Often, one of the most important whip roles is to

clarify the burdens of both sides of the house. E.g. What they/we have to prove is ____.

Make sure the burden you put on the other side is

reasonable (but ideally, more difficult than your

own). For example, if you are defending freedomto expression, say that their burden to prove harm

is heavier because the freedom is in itself a value

that democracies recognize.

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I have Issues

Live and die with structure: tool for analyzing

arguments and bringing together differentparts of the debate

2-4 themes eachissue has a range of

arguments underit

usually self-contained (avoid repetition, butremember and emphasize the bigger picture)

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How do I identify my issues?

Can think about it beforehand mental map

forhow the adj will follow yourcase E.g.

Issue 1 Is there a problem?

Issue 2 Assuming there is a problem, should the

government in principle accept our policy?

Issue 3 What are the harms and benefits of our policy?

Usually the points ofclash are the issues!

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Many Issues

When identifying issues: FOCUS on getting

your teams extension to win the debate Not all arguments on your side belong to your

team

Do not get carried away: even if you KILL the

other side, you might still get a fourth

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Support Act

Make the member look good!

Stay consistent Decide what to emphasize; plug the gaps in the

extension; nuance more

Carefully disguised expansion of points,

nyahahaha

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INTEGRATE!

Link extension to other arguments or even

previous POIs (la

cking d

imens

ion? Importantstakeholder? On-the-ground analysis?)

Memberhas to do both rebuttal and substantiveand has to bring out as much substantive matter aspossible

Whip should provide the detailed analysis aboutthe importance of the extension

BIG PICTURE ANALYSIS: It has to seem well-chosen!

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MUST-DO:

Eachissue must have an aspect related to the

extension!

Always ask how does this issue relate to theextension?

What if there is no link?Reframe the issue to make extension relevant

to the heading!

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Extension as an issue

Do not say our extension spell it out

Dangers: Sheer repetition of Members analysis

Reinforce the notion that the extension did not fit

into the debate

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Benefits:

If framed as main issue, can swing debate toclosing half (extension is now the central issue of

the debate)

If Opp did not respond, portray other teams as

weak for notcons

ider

ing a major stake

holder

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Remember

Always conclude by reemphasizing the

extension! CONCLUDE issues for your side/team

Some judges will see tit for tat arguments as

deadlocks even if your analysis was superior. SO

its very important to make sure your side winsthe issue in the end!