SKILL #1: Argument Structure

Debate is like a sport for your mind! Whether you’re tackling Policy, Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, or Congress, the core skills you’ll learn here will help you become a critical thinker, persuasive speaker, and sharp questioner.

🎯 Objective:
Understand how to construct a complete argument using Claim, Warrant, and Impact, and recognize how each part connects.

What Is CWI?
CWI is the basic structure of every strong argument. Here’s how it breaks down:

Claim: The main point or conclusion you are arguing. It’s the “what” you want your audience to believe.

Warrant: The reasoning or evidence that explains why your claim is true. It connects your claim to facts, logic, or examples.

Impact: The “so what” of your argument. The impact explains why the claim and warrant are significant — what effects they have on the world, the audience, or the debate round.

When you put these three parts together, you create an argument that’s not just a statement, but a complete proof.

EXAMPLE OF CWI IN ACTION:

Example 1: School Start Times

Claim: Schools should start later in the morning.
Warrant: Scientific studies show that later start times align better with teenage sleep cycles, improving focus and reducing stress.
Impact: This leads to higher academic performance and better mental health for students.

Why This Works:

The claim gives a clear stance.
The warrant provides a factual reason, citing sleep research.
The impact ties it back to what matters for students: grades and health.

Example 2: Social Media Regulation

Claim: Social media platforms should be held legally responsible for harmful content.
Warrant: Without accountability, platforms allow misinformation and hate speech to spread unchecked.
Impact: This harms public safety and trust in online spaces.

Why This Works:

The claim is a clear policy proposal.
The warrant connects lack of regulation to real problems (unchecked harm).
The impact shows broad social consequences, making it relevant and persuasive.

Example 3: Renewable Energy

Claim: The U.S. should invest more in renewable energy.
Warrant: Renewable energy sources like solar and wind reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs.
Impact: This helps combat climate change and strengthens the economy.

Why This Works:

The claim states a clear action.
The warrant gives a dual benefit: environmental and economic.
The impact emphasizes the global and national stakes.

How to Spot/Build a CWI:

1️⃣ Start with a clear claim — no “kinda” or “maybe.”
2️⃣ Support it with a reason or evidence that explains why it’s valid.
3️⃣ Always connect it to the bigger picture: Why should anyone care?

Practice Exercise
Choose one of these topics:

Should homework be banned?
Should junk food be taxed?
Should college be free?

Write a complete CWI argument. Then, explain how each part (C, W, I) works together.

🎯 Objective:

Understand how to properly take notes/flow in a debate round.

What Is Flowing?
Flowing is a note-taking system for debate. It helps you:

Track your arguments and your opponent’s
Follow the structure of the round
Stay organized for line-by-line refutation and crystallization

✅ Use columns: One per speech (1AC, 1NC, 2AC, etc.)
✅ Write in shorthand: Abbreviate long phrases, use symbols (→, ∆, ≠)
✅ Label each argument: With a short, clear tagline (“Renewables Good”)

Practice Exercise
1️⃣ Pick a topic: e.g., “Cell phones should be banned in schools.”
2️⃣ Write a complete CWI argument.
3️⃣ Flow the argument in shorthand.
4️⃣ Have a partner present a counterargument; flow it in a new column.
5️⃣ Respond with a refutation.

Skill #2: Casewriting >>>