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.