In competitive
debate
Debate is a process that involves formal discourse, discussion, and oral addresses on a particular topic or collection of topics, often with a moderator and an audience. In a debate, arguments are put forward for opposing viewpoints. Historica ...
, an advantage is the way that the
affirmative team refers to the positive consequences of adopting their position on the
debate resolution. It is an argument structure that seeks to convince the judge that the
affirmative plan, if adopted, would result in a net-beneficial improvement to the
status quo
is a Latin phrase meaning the existing state of affairs, particularly with regard to social, economic, legal, environmental, political, religious, scientific or military issues. In the sociological sense, the ''status quo'' refers to the curren ...
.
__TOC__
Structure
Some variance in the structure of an advantage exists. The following are two of the most common structures:
Method 1
This method is more popular and widely used in Policy Debate.
*Uniqueness: An
argument
An argument is a series of sentences, statements, or propositions some of which are called premises and one is the conclusion. The purpose of an argument is to give reasons for one's conclusion via justification, explanation, and/or persu ...
describing something in the status quo. Falls under the stock issue of
inherency.
*Impact: an argument explaining why that condition of the status quo is damaging. Falls under the stock issue of
harms.
*
Solvency
Solvency, in finance or business, is the degree to which the current assets of an individual or entity exceed the current liabilities of that individual or entity. Solvency can also be described as the ability of a corporation to meet its long- ...
: an argument describing how the plan can alter the status quo to avoid the impact.
Method 2
This method is more popular and widely used in National Public Forum Debate. It can be remembered as the acronym ULIIT, or Ur Life Is In Talent. Below are the definitions.
*Uniqueness: Claims about the status quo (typically undesirable or heading in a bad direction). The uniqueness explains why what you are debating is important, and sets the stage for the next steps, as well as weighing.
*Link: An argument of how or why the plan causes something in the status quo to change. This is like the warrant.
*Internal Link: How/why the link will result in a particular outcome. This includes evidence, proper reasoning, and warranting. Without the IL, you cannot connect back to the impact.
*Impact: If arguing for the Affirmative, the impact is what can be avoided if we choose Aff, and what can happen if we don't. If on the Negative, the impact is the same - what can be avoided if we choose Neg, and what can happen if we don't.
*Terminal Impact: The Terminal Impact is the final blow - the impact upon the impact. It explains why the impact is bad or good.
See also
*
Disadvantage
In policy debate, a disadvantage (here abbreviated as DA) is an argument that a team brings up against a policy action that is being considered. A disadvantage is also used in the Lincoln-Douglas debate format.
Structure
A disadvantage usually ...
*
Policy debate
Policy debate is an American form of debate competition in which teams of two usually advocate for and against a resolution that typically calls for policy change by the United States federal government. It is also referred to as cross-examinat ...
*
Lincoln Douglas Debate
References
Debating
{{speech-and-debate-stub