PREPARING DISADVANTAGES

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.