Death penalty:Death penalty:

Should the government Should the government execute/murder in the execute/murder in the

name of Justice?name of Justice?

Affirmative Case Affirmative Case ConstructionConstruction

A GuideA Guide

QuoteQuote

► It is helpful to start off with a quote It is helpful to start off with a quote from a famous person to help uphold from a famous person to help uphold your case. This works as an effective your case. This works as an effective attention getter, and shows your attention getter, and shows your stance on the resolution from the stance on the resolution from the beginning. beginning.

ResolutionResolution

►After stating your quote, you must After stating your quote, you must affirm the resolution. Most debaters affirm the resolution. Most debaters read their quote and say, “It is read their quote and say, “It is because I agree with the words of ____, because I agree with the words of ____, that I must affirm today’s resolution that I must affirm today’s resolution that Resolved:______....that Resolved:______....

DefinitionsDefinitions

►Definitions need to be given to help clarify Definitions need to be given to help clarify the round. You must state the source from the round. You must state the source from which these definitions were taken. which these definitions were taken.

►You should clarify key terms in the You should clarify key terms in the resolution, such as if your resolution was resolution, such as if your resolution was “Discrimination is just”, you would want to “Discrimination is just”, you would want to define “define “discriminationdiscrimination” and “” and “justjust”. ”.

► Also define other key terms in your case. Also define other key terms in your case.

DefinitionsDefinitions

►You need to be careful not to use You need to be careful not to use definitions that will hurt your case definitions that will hurt your case though, such as you wouldn’t define though, such as you wouldn’t define discrimination as – “discrimination as – “a harmful bias a harmful bias decisiondecision”. ”.

► It would be more beneficial to your case It would be more beneficial to your case to define it as “to define it as “making and making and recognizing differencerecognizing difference.” .”

►Do not, however, be unfair to the Do not, however, be unfair to the negative by defining words in a way negative by defining words in a way that allows only the affirmative to win.that allows only the affirmative to win.

ValueValue

► A value is the best virtue that you uphold in A value is the best virtue that you uphold in your case. your case.

► Basically, you say by affirming the Basically, you say by affirming the resolution, you reach your value, which is resolution, you reach your value, which is what everyone should be striving towards. what everyone should be striving towards.

► Such as with the resolution “A decentralized Such as with the resolution “A decentralized government power ought to be the government power ought to be the fundamental goal of a democratic society”, fundamental goal of a democratic society”, you may believe that a decentralized you may believe that a decentralized government achieves social welfare, thus government achieves social welfare, thus social welfare is your value. social welfare is your value.

CriterionCriterion

► A criterion is needed to weigh the round. A criterion is needed to weigh the round. ► It can be better understood through this It can be better understood through this

thought; when judging which is better, an thought; when judging which is better, an apple or an orange, you can constantly debate apple or an orange, you can constantly debate back and forth that you just like the orange or back and forth that you just like the orange or the apple is just bad. But it would be more the apple is just bad. But it would be more beneficial to determine what you are going to beneficial to determine what you are going to debate specifically on. debate specifically on.

► Maybe you are going to debate on which one Maybe you are going to debate on which one has less calories, or which one is prettier, etc. has less calories, or which one is prettier, etc. In LD debate you tell the judge what they In LD debate you tell the judge what they should base their decision on. should base their decision on.

ContentionsContentions

► These are simply value uplifters. Contentions give These are simply value uplifters. Contentions give evidence and analysis on the good that comes out evidence and analysis on the good that comes out of affirming the resolution, and how, by affirming of affirming the resolution, and how, by affirming the resolution, you meet your value. the resolution, you meet your value.

► For example, take the resolution, “Resolved: A For example, take the resolution, “Resolved: A decentralized government power ought to be a decentralized government power ought to be a fundamental goal of a society.” fundamental goal of a society.”

► You may have one contention be, “A decentralized You may have one contention be, “A decentralized governmental power will increase governmental governmental power will increase governmental efficiency.” Under this contention you would give efficiency.” Under this contention you would give analysis and evidence on how efficiency is better analysis and evidence on how efficiency is better achieved with a decentralized government, and achieved with a decentralized government, and how this leads to your value. Most affirmative how this leads to your value. Most affirmative cases contain three contentions. cases contain three contentions.

SubpointsSubpoints

►Most people break their contentions down into Most people break their contentions down into subpoints. Subpoints condense the contention subpoints. Subpoints condense the contention into specific arguments. Contentions normally into specific arguments. Contentions normally contain two subpoints, a few contain three. An contain two subpoints, a few contain three. An example would be, if your contention was, “A example would be, if your contention was, “A decentralized governmental power will increase decentralized governmental power will increase governmental efficiency”, one of your subpoints governmental efficiency”, one of your subpoints may be, “A decentralized governmental power may be, “A decentralized governmental power will increase governmental efficiency by will increase governmental efficiency by lessening bureaucracy.”lessening bureaucracy.”

ConclusionConclusion

►You should have a conclusion at the You should have a conclusion at the end of your case to bring together all end of your case to bring together all your arguments and your values, and your arguments and your values, and says exactly why the judge should says exactly why the judge should vote for your side of the debate. vote for your side of the debate.