Understanding Disadvantages in Argumentation

WHAT IS A DISADVANTAGE? A disadvantage ( A disadvantage (disad advocacy will cause something bad to happen. advocacy will cause something bad to happen. disad for short) is an argument that says the other side s for short) is an argument that says the other side s A few important things to note: A few important things to note: Usually focuses on a problem to other side doesn t bring up. Usually needs an impact as big or bigger than the gov s case. It s a reason why the plan is BAD, not a reason why the plan isn t perfect.

ELEMENTS OF A DISADVANTAGE A. A. Uniqueness: Uniqueness: The impact of the disadvantage is not going to happen in the status quo. B. B. Links: Links: The government s advocacy would cause the disadvantage to happen. C. C. Impacts: Impacts: Causing the disadvantage to happen would be very, very bad.

PRACTICE Prepare a disadvantage to this plan: The United States Federal Government should Prepare a disadvantage to this plan: The United States Federal Government should implement a 10 cent per ton tax on carbon emissions. implement a 10 cent per ton tax on carbon emissions. Example Disadvantage: Example Disadvantage: A) A) The economy is stable and slowly recovering now. The economy is stable and slowly recovering now. 1. US GDP grew 5.7% last quarter. 2. Companies added 300,000 new jobs last month. B) B) The plan would destroy the economy. The plan would destroy the economy. 1. Would cause large businesses to cut jobs. 2. Would raise gas prices, so people would have less income. C) C) Hurting the economy causes death and suffering. Hurting the economy causes death and suffering. 1. Starvation: The US would cut its food aid, causing millions to starve. 2. Medical Care: People would lose their health insurance and die from preventable disease.

TYPES OF RESPONSES Non Non- -Unique: The disadvantage will happen anyway. Unique: The disadvantage will happen anyway. No Link: The plan won t cause the disadvantage. No Link: The plan won t cause the disadvantage. No Impact: The disadvantage is much smaller than they say. No Impact: The disadvantage is much smaller than they say. Link Turn: The plan stops the disadvantage from happening. Link Turn: The plan stops the disadvantage from happening. Impact Turn: The disadvantage is actually a good thing. Impact Turn: The disadvantage is actually a good thing.

EXAMPLE RESPONSES O P P S D I S A D V A N T A G E G O V S R E S P O N S E S 1. 1. Non Non- -Unique: Economy is Unique: Economy is terrible now terrible now deficit growing rapidly. rapidly. A) A) The economy is stable/recovering The economy is stable/recovering now. now. US GDP grew 5.7% last quarter. deficit growing A) B) B) Plan hurts the economy. Plan hurts the economy. 2. 2. No Link: Alternatives to No Link: Alternatives to carbon are available, carbon are available, cheap. cheap. Turn: Plan brings in tax Turn: Plan brings in tax dollars, reduces the deficit. dollars, reduces the deficit. A) Would cause large businesses to cut jobs. 3. 3. C) C) That causes starvation/no health That causes starvation/no health care. care. Starvation: The US would cut its food aid, causing millions to starve. 4. 4. No Impact: Only a few No Impact: Only a few people would be affected. people would be affected. A)

RESPONDING TO ARGUMENTS 5 KEY THINGS IN DEFENDING A DISAD Start by restating the title of the DA and _very_ briefly the link and impact Start by restating the title of the DA and _very_ briefly the link and impact Respond to each opponent response to the DA Respond to each opponent response to the DA Point out key points in your DA that your opponent did not respond to ( they Point out key points in your DA that your opponent did not respond to ( they dropped ____ ) dropped ____ ) Always list out the reasons the link is still there Always list out the reasons the link is still there Always list out Always list out the impacts the impacts and explain why the DA impact wins the debate. and explain why the DA impact wins the debate.