Intro to Critiques

Fiat

The assumption in the debate game that we pretend the plan gets passed by the USFG. Then, we can debate out the

Costs (DA’s) vs Benefits (AD’s)

Some people don’t like the fiat game

They don’t want to look only at ADS vs DA’s

They want to look at assumptions made by the other team

Example

Plan: give money to Afghanistan

Advantage: help save lives

Negative Critique: this plan makes the assumption that we can act as a “savior” for other countries, we shouldn’t think like that

Example

Plan: give money to Afganistan

Ads: help save lives

Critique: we should not use the USFG, it is a sexist organization that tries to use power over people

Example

Plan: give money to Afganistan

Ads: help save lives

Critique: ???? Any ideas?

Critiques are like:

DA’s – but without uniqueness

CP’s – but they don’t always have solvency

They are their own argument type.

Parts of a Critique

1) Link

2) Impact

3) Alternative

Link

What the other team does.

For example: they use the USFG, they use sexist language, they use evidence from the mass media, etc.

Impact

The outcome of the other team doing this bad thing.

For example: the uphold the sexist institution of the govt. Or, they hurt me personally. Ect.

Alternative

Shows what the other team could have done to avoid the critique.

For example: use non-governmental groups instead of the govt. OR not use the sexist language in the first place

Uniqueness

The idea in a DA that the aff alone pushes us down the hill toward the impacts

In a critique: they are usually not unique. It’s more of an absolute GUILTY or NOT GUILTY argument, not a causation argument.

Activity

Come up with as many possible critiques you might run against a plan that:

Supports the government of Lebanon through giving aid to them to help prop up their legal system. Advantage: creating the rule of law in Lebanon.

Types of CritiquesLanguage Critiques

One team uses some language in the round that is bad.

Takes us out of the debate-world game entirely.

Types of CritiquesProcess Critiques

The thought process of the other team is bad.

- They use the usfg- They use bad evidence- They ignore a key group- They prop up US power- etc

Answering Critiques

1) Link

2) Impact

3) Alternative

4) Permutation

Defend your plan and the game of debate. Why is it worth your time?