Writing Your Constructive Speeches
As you already know your team will present two, four minute constructive speeches during the debate. The purpose of the constructive speech is to make and support your main arguments in favor of the resolution (when you are affirmative) or against the resolution (when you are negative).
A constructive speech should always accomplish the following:
The 1st Affirmative Constructive (1AC) and the 1st Negative Constructive (1NC) speeches include the introduction, definition ofterms and sets up the need stock issue.
The 2nd Affirmative Constructive (2AC) and the 2nd Negative Constructive (2NC) speeches re-establish the need set up by the 1AC and develops the practicality and desirability stock issues ending with a conclusion.
The Introduction
Your case should always begin with an introduction. The introduction needs to accomplish two things.
1. Provide a persuasive attention-getter to encourage the audience to listen to your speech.
2. State the resolution and your position (in favor of or opposed to it)
Sample:
"Every year in the United States, our government executes dozens of convicted murderers. Their crimes are so terrible,that our legal system assigns death as the ultimate punishment. What is truly tragic and hypocritical is that every so often our legal system gets the wrong person. Instead of punishing someone for taking an innocent life, it is our government itself that is taking an innocent life. Because my partner and I believe that this should never happen again, we stand Resolved that the death penalty should be abolished in the United States."
Definition of Terms
Define your terms. If you are arguing that compulsory military training should be established in the United States, you must tell what you mean by "compulsory." Will anyone be excluded? What does military training" mean? Does it refer to the infantry, the air force, or a technical school for atomic specialists? In other words, state exactly what you are talking about.
Stock Issue - Need
Affirmative: Show that your proposal is needed (stock issue) be describing the problem that exists and which your proposal will solve. To prove the need, give examples, illustrations, opinions of authorities, facts, and analogies which all point to the need for your proposal. When giving evidence, include a signal phrase citation for the source, much like you would in a research paper. Give enough of these proofs to establish your point.
Negative: Show that the need does not exist. The status quo is enough. To disprove the need, give examples illustrations, opinions of authorities, facts, and analogies, which show that the status quo is enough. When giving evidence include a signal phrase citation for the source, much like you would in a research paper. Give enough evidence to establish your point.
Stock Issue - Practical
Affirmative: Show that your proposal is practical (stock issue). In other words, show that it will do what you say it will do.
Negative: Show that the change proposed by the affirmative will not work; it will not do what it proposes.
As with the previous stock issue use evidence and reasoning to support the practicality or lack of practicality.
Stock Issue - Desirable
Affirmative: Show that your team's proposal is desirable. This means to show that the way in which it will work will be beneficial. Present specific benefits that will occur as a result of the proposal.
Negative: Show that the proposal will not have desirable effects and, instead, will have negative effects.
Use evidence and reasoning to prove the desirability of your proposal.
Conclusion
Wrap up your case by summarizing your main claims and restating your position on the resolution.
As you already know your team will present two, four minute constructive speeches during the debate. The purpose of the constructive speech is to make and support your main arguments in favor of the resolution (when you are affirmative) or against the resolution (when you are negative).
A constructive speech should always accomplish the following:
- It will present your primary arguments
- It will provide support for those arguments in the form of evidence and reasoning.
- It should be persuasively written (should include introduction, transitions, and a conclusion)
The 1st Affirmative Constructive (1AC) and the 1st Negative Constructive (1NC) speeches include the introduction, definition ofterms and sets up the need stock issue.
The 2nd Affirmative Constructive (2AC) and the 2nd Negative Constructive (2NC) speeches re-establish the need set up by the 1AC and develops the practicality and desirability stock issues ending with a conclusion.
The Introduction
Your case should always begin with an introduction. The introduction needs to accomplish two things.
1. Provide a persuasive attention-getter to encourage the audience to listen to your speech.
2. State the resolution and your position (in favor of or opposed to it)
Sample:
"Every year in the United States, our government executes dozens of convicted murderers. Their crimes are so terrible,that our legal system assigns death as the ultimate punishment. What is truly tragic and hypocritical is that every so often our legal system gets the wrong person. Instead of punishing someone for taking an innocent life, it is our government itself that is taking an innocent life. Because my partner and I believe that this should never happen again, we stand Resolved that the death penalty should be abolished in the United States."
Definition of Terms
Define your terms. If you are arguing that compulsory military training should be established in the United States, you must tell what you mean by "compulsory." Will anyone be excluded? What does military training" mean? Does it refer to the infantry, the air force, or a technical school for atomic specialists? In other words, state exactly what you are talking about.
Stock Issue - Need
Affirmative: Show that your proposal is needed (stock issue) be describing the problem that exists and which your proposal will solve. To prove the need, give examples, illustrations, opinions of authorities, facts, and analogies which all point to the need for your proposal. When giving evidence, include a signal phrase citation for the source, much like you would in a research paper. Give enough of these proofs to establish your point.
Negative: Show that the need does not exist. The status quo is enough. To disprove the need, give examples illustrations, opinions of authorities, facts, and analogies, which show that the status quo is enough. When giving evidence include a signal phrase citation for the source, much like you would in a research paper. Give enough evidence to establish your point.
Stock Issue - Practical
Affirmative: Show that your proposal is practical (stock issue). In other words, show that it will do what you say it will do.
Negative: Show that the change proposed by the affirmative will not work; it will not do what it proposes.
As with the previous stock issue use evidence and reasoning to support the practicality or lack of practicality.
Stock Issue - Desirable
Affirmative: Show that your team's proposal is desirable. This means to show that the way in which it will work will be beneficial. Present specific benefits that will occur as a result of the proposal.
Negative: Show that the proposal will not have desirable effects and, instead, will have negative effects.
Use evidence and reasoning to prove the desirability of your proposal.
Conclusion
Wrap up your case by summarizing your main claims and restating your position on the resolution.
