Strategy for Selecting Winning Arguments

Get rid of what won’t win. At this point in the debate, some of your arguments should be more likely to “win” than others. This means that your opponent did not sufficiently refute them, your evidence still stands, your impact fits under the framework, etc. If you have major doubts that an argument will be a strong voting issue, don’t focus on it. If an argument has been soundly defeated, don’t waste your time mentioning it. Realize you are going to have to cut some arguments in Summary. The best arguments to cut are the weakest or least compelling.

Find your winning arguments in the central conflict of the round. There should be overlap in the two sides’ themes, impacts, or arguments. Note what issues have taken up the most speaking time, flowing space, and mental space in the round. Your argument selection should reflect the emphasis of the round. Do not debate your pre-planned Second Half strategy if your top arguments have not been successful in round. You can choose to bring back an argument that may not have had much attention, but you must make sure to re-explain the argument so the judge takes it seriously.

Leave yourself at least two offensive arguments, or reasons the judge should vote for your team. Never leave yourself one offensive argument in Summary. This strategy, even if your argument is strong, will make your opponents appear to have more standing arguments. Narrowing to one argument in Summary also leave no options for the Final Focus. Narrow the round; don’t hack away at your case.

Choose what links to your Framework. If some of your arguments don’t really fit or support your Framework, consider scrapping those arguments or put them in the background of your Summary. Your Framework should drive the focus and selection of arguments in Summary.

Choose what links to the Resolution. While a deceptively simple statement, too many Summary speeches leave out the Resolution. Connect each clash, comparison, and element of he speech back to the Resolution. The best way to know you are connecting back is to use the key words of the Resolution. These words are the measuring words, the terms you defined in case and analyzed in your Framework. I debated against a very successful team whose Summary speaker would begin every speech by reading the resolution word for word. I don’t advocate this approach, but it serves as evidence that many debaters and many judges will have lost sight of the Resolution after thirty minutes of debating.