Case Writing

Meta Level Case WritingJeffrey MillerMarist School2015 Georgia Debate Institutes

Order of the Construction of CaseYou write cases in the following order:ContentionsFrameworkBurdens

J. Miller (2015)ContentionsEach case should have two or three ContentionsYou should be making at least five ways that you can win the debate (notice, thats not five contentions.)RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH10 or 15 sources in the case. Diversify your sourcesRealize Evidence BiasStructure your contentions using the structure of an argument (CDW)Diversify Offensive and Defensive Arguments

J. Miller (2015)Diversifying ArgumentsOFFENSIVE ARGUMENTSThey demonstrate the value of ones position or advocacy. They score points for the advocates side of the debate.DEFENSIVE ARGUMENTSThey dispute the value of an opposing position or advocacy. They prevent ones opponents from scoring points in the debate.

J. Miller (2015)Example of OffenseHes awesome.

Example of DefenseHes not doing anything

Storytelling in Contentions

To improve the flow of your case you should organize each contention Uniqueness Whats going on right nowLink How voting pro/con creates a problem (MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT)Impact How the problem creates something good/bad.

J. Miller (2015)Using Context in CaseYou should NOT write your cases as essays. They are not essays, and this is not IPPF.Advantages:Makes your case/arguments dependent on evidenceMakes giving evidence to your opponents easy because each quote is in contextMakes rebuttals/using case easier because you have the context.Assists you in cross ex if they ask about your evidneceDisadvantage:Makes case writing harder

Maybe if you write good cases, you can get ice cream too.