SKILL #7: Advanced Techniques

​🎯 Objective:

Understand how to use advanced debate tools—Counterplans, Disadvantages, and Kritiques—to challenge your opponent’s case, offer alternative solutions, or question their assumptions.

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What is a Counterplan (CP)?

• A Counterplan offers an alternative to the Affirmative’s plan.

• It solves the same problem, but in a better way—while avoiding the Negative’s objections.

 

Example:

• Resolution: “The government should ban single-use plastics.”

• Aff: Ban single-use plastics.

• Neg CP: Instead of a ban, offer tax incentives for companies to switch to biodegradable packaging.

 

Key point: Counterplans must solve the problem and show they are better than the Aff plan.

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What is a Disadvantages (DA)?

• A Disadvantage argues that the Affirmative plan will cause bad outcomes that outweigh its benefits.

 

Example:

• Plan: Increase surveillance to prevent crime.

• DA: Increased surveillance reduces privacy rights and leads to government overreach.

 

Key point: Show how your DA links to the plan and has a big impact (e.g., privacy loss outweighs reduced crime).

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What are Kritiques (K)?

• A Kritique (or K) challenges the assumptions or language behind your opponent’s arguments.

• It says, “Even if your plan works, it’s built on flawed ideas that we should reject.”

 

Example:

• Plan: Increase policing to stop crime.

• K: The plan reinforces harmful systems of oppression and racism, regardless of its effectiveness.

 

Key point: Kritiques often draw from philosophy or social theory (like Foucault, Marxism, or Critical Race Theory).