INTERPRETING THE MOTION – SLOVENIA JUNE 2009
WSDC – NO TRICKY INTERPRETATIONS, SHOULD CREATE GROUNDS FOR A GOOD DEBATE. THAT SHOULD BE THE STANDARD FOR INTERPRETATION.
NEVER TIME SET, PLACE SET. THE DEBATE IS ALWAYS IN THE NOW.
THREE KINDS OF MOTIONS – MOSTLY WILL BE POLICY OR QUASI POLICY
FACT – SOMETHING IS TRUE –LIKE A LEGAL ARGUMENT
- Causality, definition, conditions of the past, present, future
- This House believes that free trade harms the developing world.
- QUASI POLICY – IF IT IS BAD WE SHOULD NOT DO IT, OPP CAN ARGUE IF WE DO NOT HAVE FREE TRADE IT WILL BE BAD
- HARM GREATER THAN HELP?
FACT CASE:
q Define
q Present a standard for proof: preponderance of evidence, reasonable conclusion, concensus of experts, something.
q Make strong factual points that support the factual conclusion.
VALUE – SOMETHING IS OF WORTH OR VALUE
- VALUES ARE OFTEN INHERENTLY ABSTRACT
- Types: in terms of x, y is better/worse than z; something is always right or wrong; in this case something is riht or wrong;
- VALUE TERM, AND THEN AN OBJECT
- OFTEN A COMPARISON: PRIVACY VS. RIGHT TO KNOW
- VALUE HIERARCHIES
- MUTUALLY ERODING VALUES
VALUE CASE:
q Define the value term, this is incredibly important.
q Think ahead about how this value interacts with other values. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
q Have strong reasons why the value is successfully applied to the object of the motion.
q The importance of values is found in their application. Freedom is important, but not unlimited.
POLICY – SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE
- This House believes that Holocaust denial should be a crime
- This House believes that the United States should withdraw from its military bases in Asia
- This House would make the development of clean industry a condition for receiving non-emergency aid
Action should be done: international, national, regional, local, organizational, individual.
OFTEN DISCUSSING A CURRENT CONTROVERSY
POLICY CASE:
q Define
q Backgrfound/set up/maybe (why is this an issue now?)
q Have a somewhat detailed model (plan), do not be afraid to be specific.
q Have several strong reasons to support it, and within that show how the model will gain the benefit.
CONTENTS OF A MODEL
It should contain:
· Agent: who does it
· Action: what the agent does
o Specific elements, conditions, methods
o Anticipate opposition attacks, write them out
o Time frame – implementation time
o Example of something that worked
· Enforcement
· Funding: if it costs money, how you would pay for it
· Offer to provide additional details if opposition wishes
A model should not:
· Narrow the debate too much
· Provide so much detail that the principle of the motion is ignored
· Attempt to lim it the ground of the opposition
PROBLEM SOLUTION ANALYSIS
IF A PROBLEM EXISTS
-WILL THE PROPOSED ACTION REDUCE IT, AND BY HOW MUCH?
-OTHER CAUSES THAT ARE NOT DEALT WITH
MEDICAL ANALYSIS
-ILL
-CAUSE
-CURE
-SIDE EFFECTS
STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS
IDENTIFY THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED OR CONCERNED
IDENTIFY WHY THEY WOULD LIKE/DISLIKE IT
THIS GIVES KEYS TO ARGUMENTS
WEB OF LIFE ANALYSIS
THINGS ARE CONNECTED
CHANGING ONE THING CHANGES OTHER THINGS
INCOMES-MEAT-FEED-STARVATION