What is a Case?

       The Case, or Constructive speech, is where you present your main arguments and evidence. You introduce your side of the debate. It is prepared in advance and read instead of delivered impromptu. Although the case is prewritten, the effort and energy required to create a good case are equal if not greater to the requirements of the other speeches.

Dialogy’s three PF Philosophies behind a great case are:
1. Introduce all the important information.
2. Frame the round.
3. Relate everything to the resolution.

Introduce all the important information.

       The case is the foundation of your debate. It presents your main arguments, the central ideas you want the round to be about, and the key evidence needed to prove your arguments. “Holding back” your best argument or piece of evidence does not work. Some debaters believe that you will outwit your opponents or fool them by withholding key evidence. While this may happen, you cannot leave out foundational information and expect your arguments to make sense. Always remember the judge ultimately decides who wins, and the judge must understand and believe the arguments you present. Not providing evidence or analysis to support your arguments also sets you up for failure. Do not start the round with holes in your case; this means you should provide evidence to establish all of your key points. Great debaters want their opponents to beat their arguments rather than try to pull a fast one and fool them. Repetition of ideas also helps the judge remember and be persuaded by your arguments. For that reason, introducing important information early allows for repetition throughout the round.

After writing your case, it is easy to forget your initial confusions that arose during research. Take time to remember these confusions and clarify them in your case. The judge is likely to have the same confusions as you. Remember that although you will have a working knowledge of the topic when you debate, the judge may not.

For all of these reasons, the case contains all the important information of the round. The case is like the foundation of a house – it must be laid with care and substance so that it can support the house itself.

Frame the round.

       The case should also frame the round. Framing the round means you highlight the key issues and concerns at stake through an additional argumentative structure called Framework. Every case will make arguments. Great cases will inform the judge about why those arguments matter. Cases also should compare arguments and ideas that will clash in the round. You are not just presenting information; you are creating a cohesive story about your side of the resolution. Framework makes an overarching argument about how the round should be judged or how arguments should be weighed. This can help you dictate what arguments get the most speech time in the round, eliminate pesky arguments your opponent may make, and empower the judge with understanding rather than leaving them confused with the basic terms of the debate. Refer to the chapter on Framework for a full explanation creating and using this structure.

Relate everything to the resolution.

As you are writing, you tend to focus on the logic of your arguments, integrating your evidence, and clearly stating your impacts. While all of these things are important, they are details of the case. With focus on these details, it is easy to forget the resolution. When writing and reviewing your case, always step back and ask yourself if you have linked the point to the resolution. A simple check is to see if the resolution’s key terms are within your claim and impact. If not, you want to go back and make sure your case is connecting back to the resolution in each argument you make.

Writing a case isn’t all about considering the resolution at a lofty level. It’s a very practical approach in writing. Think about an argumentative essay you would write for your English class. You’ll have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Each body paragraph would introduce a new idea that would support your thesis. A case is no different. The three parts of a case are the Set-up, the Arguments, and the Wrap-up. Each part serves a specific function in the case.