Argument Drills

• “I disagree.”: One person generates claims, the other refutes using a structured refutation method. Switch after several repetitions.
• Case Construction: Spend 1 minute creating an aff case for a resolution and give a PM speech. Other person spends 1 minute creating a refutation for the aff case.
  • Sample res. Refute your case after. Write refutations
• Impact Comparisons: Compare the following pairs of competing impacts. Pick one of each pair and show why it is worse than its companion impact. Then show why the reverse comparison is true.
  • Economic growth vs. environmental degradation
  • Warfare vs. poverty
  • Individual rights vs. social welfare
  • Earthquakes vs. flooding
  • Nuclear proliferation vs. biological weapons proliferation
• Impact Explanations: Try and convince us why each of the following impacts are the worst possible thing in the world. Write out the argument you are making in a way that maps each step you take towards the conclusion. The goal is to focus on creating a logical chain to the conclusion, and to practice not making major claims without the reasoning to back them up.
  • Floods
  • Global warming
  • Breast cancer
  • Sexism
  • Drought
  • Slavery
  • Imprisonment
  • Resource wars
  • Inequality
  • Forest fires
  • Opera
  • Imperialism
  • Inflation
  • Weapons proliferation
  • Pineapple on pizza
  • Famine
• Flowing Practice: Have someone read aloud a pre-written speech and practice flowing these speeches
• Refute Your own Argument: Make an argument and immediately make the counter
• Captivating Intro: Find a resolution and quickly come up with an argument that grabs attention and supports your case