Planning A Case

Scenario

I am planning a trip to Bermuda, and I have a limited amount of space in my suitcase. In addition to my clothing, I need your help in determining which 5 of the following 10 items I should bring on the trip. Please rank them in priority order with number 1 being the most important and number 5 being the least important.

Items

SunscreenPassportiPodCameraSunglassesSnorkel and maskShampooToothbrush and toothpasteBeach sandalsCash (I already have a credit card packed.)

What To Do

In groups of 4 reach a consensus as to your top 5 items in order.

Be prepared to share your group’s list with the class, providing the reasoning as to why they ranked the items in this order.

Planning A Case…

Is much like planning for a trip

You need to decide what arguments or items will be included and how they should be prioritized, since space (or time, in the case of a debate) is limited.

Planning a Case Worksheet

You have taken the first step by selecting the topic for the debate.

The second step is to plan. Before you research or write your case, it is essential that you sit down and think about what you are trying to prove, how you are going to do it, what are the roadblocks or oppositions, how you will go around the obstacles, and what evidence you will need.

Step 1:

Understanding What You Are Trying to Prove

Interpret what you think each word in the resolution means. What are you trying to prove?

Example: Be it resolved: Howard County Schools should implement year round school. What does this mean? What is the affirmative attempting to prove? What is the negative going to have to show in order to negate the resolution?

Step 2

Conduct a brainstorming

session

For 10 minutes, write down every argument in support of your case.

For example, the affirmative side on the resolution is to implement year round school would brainstorm all of the arguments in favor of the resolution. No matter how ridiculous the argument may appear, record it on the paper. Do not even take the pen off the paper. Keep writing even if you have nothing to say.

Step 3

Brainstorm your opponent’s arguments

For ten minutes, write down every argument that can be made against your case.

Step 4Cluster similar

arguments together for both

affirmative and negative

arguments

Step 5

Star arguments for which you

believe you will need to gather

evidence.

This highlights for you what you need to look for when researching to help support your points.

Step 6

Highlight arguments that you are going to

have to find evidence against.

Know the weaknesses of your case and find arguments in the research that answer back these arguments

Step 7

Prioritize your arguments

What do you think are your best arguments for your case, and what do you think are the other teams best arguments?

You can put numbers next to each

argument to show its level in the priority sheet. These will be the arguments that you really want to present in the debate and have evidence for.

Step 8

Make 3 Columns

Arguments For, Arguments Against, and Responses to Arguments Against. You will need this sheet to bring to your research session. This will lay out for you what you are looking for in the library.

Specifically, you will be looking for

evidence that backs your top arguments in column 1.

You will be looking for evidence for

column 3 that backs arguments against the opponent’s arguments.

Congratulations!

You now should have an outline of the case you are going to present. The next step is to go to the library or research on the computer to fill in the gaps, gain additional insights, and find evidence to support your points.