Write your disad like
this--
I. TWO OR THREE WORD TITLE
Thesis: The plan
will cause this terrible consequence X .
A. CURRENT
POLICY/ACTIONS WON’T CAUSE X
(evidence) OR
A. WE ARE ON THE
BRINK OF _____X_____
(evidence)
B. THE PLAN WILL
CAUSE _____X_____
(evidence)
C. X WOULD BE
DISASTROUS
(evidence)
Note--the word “X” is the same in every single label.
Sample
Disadvantage:
I. SPENDING CRISIS
The plan will increase
spending thereby crushing investor confidence and sending us into an economic
tailspin and conflict
A. CURRENT POLICIES STOP
INTEREST RATE SURGES
(evidence)
B. THE PLAN WILL CAUSE
INTEREST RATE SURGES
(evidence)
C. INTEREST RATE SURGES
WILL CAUSE MASS SUFFERING IN THE THIRD WORLD
(evidence)
Your disadvantage should
have:
1.
A clear
scenario--in other words, your judge should be able to identify what specific
event will occur when the plan is passed.
Generic “this will cause war” does not cut it. A piece of evidence that argues something like “China would
invade in the south seas setting off a conflict with Japan, Russia and the
U.S.” does. This scenario does not need to be in the shell but must be at least
in the backup briefs.
2.
Note--if
you are writing a “blowoff” disadvantage that you will punt in the rounds (a
disadvantage that you will not support in rebuttals) or if you want to provide
more details about the scenario in the second negative speech, then you may
have a weak scenario.
3.
Clear
links. Show the plan really will cause
the disastrous X.
4.
Clear
internal links. An internal link is the
second part of the following--(1) The plan will cause Y which (2) will cause
X. For example, (1) the plan will cause
interest rates to go up. (2--the internal link) Interest rates going up will
cause third world backlash. MAKE SURE YOUR INTERNAL LINKS DON’T ALLOW THE AFF
TO ARGUE “NOT-UNIQUE.” For example, if you argue “any action would cause
interest rate hikes” is a real easy one to not-unique.
5.
New
brinks. Brinks should not be older than
1 or 2 weeks.
6.
Impacts
should be big and outweigh other arguments.
7.
NOTE:
KEEP YOUR DISAD SHORT! Your shell should not take more than 1.5 minutes to
present.
Your backup briefs for
your disadvantages
1.
You
should answer every single affirmative response.
2.
Use
cards and analysis in your responses.
3.
Use full
sentences for your labels followed by explanations.
4.
Start
with the opposite statement for your first response. For example, for a versus “not unique” brief--your first response
would be “it is unique.”
5.
Include
additional links and extensions for the impacts.