Arguments

EVOLVE your arguments. An argument should sound different in Summary than it did in the Case. Too many Summaries simply repeat the in-case material. Realistically, your arguments have been discussed in Cross-Fire and in Rebuttal. This means an argument must overcome these responses.

An evolved argument in Summary will:

-Engage your opponents’ rebuttal. The Summary must in part respond to your opponent’s attacks and revive or clarify the strengths of your arguments.

-Renew judge’s understanding of evidence. Be concise and don’t re-explain the evidence.

-Focus on the impact of the argument and do impact calculus.

-Address the significance of the argument in the round, not just the validity of the argument.


Exploit a bad Framework. If your opponents’ Framework leaves holes or can be used to amplify your arguments, Summary is the place to emphasize these flaws. Framework should be front and center in Summary because it is your perspective on the resolution. Therefore it should structure any overview of the round. It is best to discuss the competing Frameworks and explicitly compare them in Summary.

Don’t emphasize your opponent’s mistakes – emphasize what you have done correctly or better than your opponents. Too many debaters make Summary into a list of their opponents’ flaws and never build constructive reasons to vote for their side. Your analysis should focus on positive reasons to vote for your team, not reasons why to vote against your opponents.

Do not make the statement “Our opponents dropped this argument.” This phrase in and of itself says nothing to the judge. Avoid jargon like “dropped” to explain arguments in Summary. If your opponents have not discussed your argument, you need to explain to the judge why the argument matters. Your opponents’ lack of rebuttal is not sufficient for you to win the argument. Furthermore, only discuss the argument if you want it to be a voting issue. Briefly mention that your opponents cannot respond to it further in Final Focus. If your opponents are the second speaking team, they still have a chance to respond to the argument. Do not accuse them of “dropping” an argument in this case.