Constructing a Case for the Constructing a Case for the OppositionOpposition

International Debate Education Association

Alternative Alternative approachesapproaches

The following are alternatives from which The following are alternatives from which to choose. You will rarely use all of these to choose. You will rarely use all of these alternatives.alternatives.AlternativesAlternatives– No need to changeNo need to change– Government plan will not workGovernment plan will not work– Disadvantages of the planDisadvantages of the plan– Philosophy of the plan is wrongPhilosophy of the plan is wrong– Alternative plan of actionAlternative plan of action

No need for No need for changechange

Show that the present system is solving Show that the present system is solving the problem with incremental steps. the problem with incremental steps.

Show that the effects described by the Show that the effects described by the Government are not occuring.Government are not occuring.

Plan will not Plan will not workwork

Show that the plan does not eliminate a Show that the plan does not eliminate a necessary cause of the problem. The necessary cause of the problem. The relationship between the present system relationship between the present system and the effect is coincidental, not causal.and the effect is coincidental, not causal.Show that the plan is not sufficient to solve Show that the plan is not sufficient to solve the problem or produce the advantage.the problem or produce the advantage.

Disadvantages Disadvantages of the planof the plan

Describe some feature of the Government Describe some feature of the Government plan.plan.Relate that feature to some effectRelate that feature to some effectShow how that effect (disadvantage) is Show how that effect (disadvantage) is worse than the problem the Government worse than the problem the Government claims to solve. claims to solve.

CounterplanCounterplan

Present an alternative course of action.Present an alternative course of action.Show why your proposed course of action Show why your proposed course of action is a true alternative – Why should your is a true alternative – Why should your alternative preclude the Government’s plan alternative preclude the Government’s plan of action?of action?Does the counterplan solve the problem Does the counterplan solve the problem outlined by the Government?outlined by the Government?Does the counterplan avoid some of the Does the counterplan avoid some of the disadvantages of the Government’s plan? disadvantages of the Government’s plan?