Glossary of key debate terms
12 MARCH 2005

• Affirmative side- Pro-resolution, Anti-status quo; A team that attempts to secure the acceptance of a proposition.
• Analogy- An inferred relationship between evidence and assertions.
• Argument- Oral disagreement.
• Assertion- A statement of opinion based on evidence.
• Bibliography- A compilation or list of sources.
• Brief- An outline of your case (affirmative), or an outline of your position (negative).
• Burden of proof- They have to prove that there is a need for change on the affirmative.
• Burden of rebuttal- Is on the negative; has to prove that there is no need and the plan won't work.
• Case- The process that you use to prove your point.
• Clash- Conflicting evidence.
• Constructive speech- The speech in which the main body of evidence is brought out; a statement of position.
• Counter plan- The negative proposes a plan which they say is better than the affirmative plan.
• Debate- A formal oral controversy.
• Delivery- One of the points on which a debator is judged.
• Evidence- All the proof you have for your position.
• Example- A supportive statement.
• Fallacy- Fault, wrong; A defect in reasoning.
• Issue- A matter of fact or opinion.
• Needs Issue- The issue in the first affirmative speech that says there is a defect in the <i>status quo</i> .
• Negative side- A team that attempts to secure the rejection of a proposition; want to retain <i>status quo</i> .
• Prima Facie Case- An open and shut case; A case which has such a high degree of probability that the proposition must be accepted unless the case is refuted.
• Proof- A documented fact or opinion.
• Proposition- A plan.
• Reasoning- Your argument should be reasonable and logical.
• Rebuttal speech- Purpose is refutation.
• Refutation- disagrees with what someone says and backs up the statements with facts.
• Status quo- Present situation.
• Stock issues- The standard issues that occur in most every debate.