CAP Debates 2021 Project Packet

OBJECTIVE: Assemble a coherent and well supported

argument on an issue and defend your argument in a formal
debate setting.
● For this project, you will participate in a formal debate
● You will have a topic with a proposition that will
present a claim
● Your goal is to present an argument in favor of, or
against the claim.

STEP 1: Find Out Your Topic! - December 21

On Monday, December 21, CAP10 will meet as a whole group to discuss the CAP Debates Project and dole out the
debate topics and sides. Once you learn your topic and side, add in your information below! If you need to check
back on the list, CLICK HERE!

My Topic: Legalizing Sex Work in DC

My Topic Proposition: DC should pass the Sex Work Decriminalization Bill

My Side (pro or con): Con

My Debate Partner and their Student ID Chris Ha - 446601

number:

My Debate Opponents: Ingrid Holmquist, Sophie Chopra

PRO = Affirmative CON = Negative

The side that “affirms” or argues for the proposition or The side that argues the status quo, against the
change proposition.

Has burden of proof, therefore goes first and last. Can cast doubt on the arguments or proposition, not
introduce alternative

Must outline the case and introduce new points of Responds by refuting Affirmative, rather than
argument formulating new arguments
STEP 2: Research! - Over Winter Break
Now that you know your topic and the side you will debate, you will need to do some research. Use the charts
below to organize your claims, key quotes and statistics, and make notes on reasoning and credibility. You will
also want to collect some opposition research, including the opposition’s claims, so that you are able to build your
crossfire and rebuttal. Finally, you will collect a works cited list of credible sources.
Your Side:
Claims
Claim #1
DC would become a magnet for traffickers
seeking to sell their victims and other illegal
services that would be sold to customers free
of punishment.
Passing the bill would further endanger
women by emboldening pimps
Legalizing prostitution would increase human
traffiicking rates.
Claim #2
Prostitution rates would dramatically increase
in DC as there is no longer a legal deterrent,
make DC a sex tourism location, reflect poorly
on country (especially as capital and location
where international affairs are centered)
Notes, Quotes, Evidence, Statistics, Reasoning
● Legalization in Europe has created a large and illegal
secondary market in minors and foreigners who are
trafficked and controlled by organized crime. The same
problems would occur here as sex buyers would also
want to buy from younger women who can’t sell
themselves legally or who want specific services that
also might be unpalatable for women who have control
over their own bodies.
● This bill claims only voluntary prostitution would be
legal but what would stop pimps and traffickers when
they are already working illegally.
○ “With the new legislation, if police have
probable cause of prostitution but suspect
trafficking, they will be unable to move forward
to protect the victim.” (What Would Really
Happen if DC Legalized Prostitution?)
● The bill would make it extremely difficult to prove who
is a victim of trafficking (similar to rape cases, the
abuser or trafficker would be hard to pinpoint)
○ The legality of prostitution would increase the
instances of forced sex work
○ “‘To separate prostitution from human
trafficking is impossible,’ said Janet Rodriguez,
a human-trafficking survivor”, multiple
trafficking surviviors have said that such a law
would make them feel less safe
● New Zealand legalized prostitution, and instead of a
safer business, it resulted in brothels becoming
locations for rape and pimps being able to control what
prostitutes do and what they’re paid, rather than setting
their own rates and boundaries as they did previously
● “the city would see a 20 percent jump in the number of
people willing pay for sex.” / 1 in 5 men who have not
participated in the sex industry say they would buy sex
if it was legal (“Who Buys Sex?”)
● Human traffickers, often very astute business people,
would seize on this opportunity. D.C. would become a
mecca for sex tourism, as it would be the only city in
the country with legal prostitution.
● As demand for women would not be met locally,
trafficking would increase to bring women to DC
● Countries such as Austria, Denmark, and the
Netherlands have reported that legalization increases
prostitution rates by drawing in migrant workers
●
 Claim #3
Rather than decriminalizing sex work, the US
should work to abolish the trade and find
alternative positions for women who are
prostitutes out of financial need
● Prositution is an inherently violent trade
● With legal sex work it is easier to be pulled into the
● A majority of sex workers are only prostitutes because
they have no other choice; mental illness, childhood
neglect or abuse, homelessness, and most of all
poverty, are extremely prominent factors in prostitution
○ 65-95% of sex workers were sexually assaulted
as children
○ 30% of youths in shelters and 70% of youths on
the streets become prostitutes in order to supply
basic necessities
○ 85-95% of prostitutes surveyed claim they want
to escape prostitution but have no other
employment option
industry and an increased amount of people will be
stuck. It will be harder to leave the industry than to
enter.
○ After New Zealand decriminalized prostitution
in 2003, there were still reports among
prostituted persons of “continuing stigma” and
“harassment by the general public.” In addition,
there was little difference in disclosure of
occupation to healthcare professionals before
and after decriminalization. (The Impact of the
Prostitution Reform Act on the Health and
Safety practices of Sex Workers: pp. 11 and 12)

Claim #4 ● Partial decriminalization “would ensure the safety of

The US should instead pass a bill that sex workers, allow them to leave the trade and secure
decriminalizes sex workers but keeps buyers homes and jobs without the scourge of
as criminals (Nordic Model) prostitution-related arrest records”
● Essentially the model makes it so that prostitution is
nothing but a conscious choice, and legislation would
provide support for sex workers looking to change their
lifestyles

Opposition Research: To craft your rebuttal!

Refuting - There are three basic techniques of refuting arguments -
1. Directly attack the data upon which your opponents’ claims rest. An example would be arguing that the
data for global warming is faulty.
2. Absorb their argument. Rather than disagree with the data behind their argument, you provide an
alternative interpretation of the data that accords with your overall arguments. In other words, concede the
data and refute the claim. For example, you might say, “Yes, it is historically true that we have never used
our nuclear arsenal; however, that example merely proves my point that stockpiling these weapons has been
an effective deterrent, because…”
3. The strategic concession. Rather than disagree with either the data or warrants of your opponents, explain
why their arguments are irrelevant. For example, you might say, “Even if our opponents win that our plan
will cost several billion dollars, we still win the debate because the plan’s benefits outweigh its costs,
since…” These last two techniques allow you to defend your strongest ground rather than get sucked into
argumentative quagmires that you have no chance of winning. If the data is good and credible, then start
looking for ways to spin it to your advantage.
 Opposing Claims
Claim #1
Decriminalizing prostitution would make it
easier for sex workers to escape violence, as
they would not have to fear arrest when
making a report
Claim #2
Bodily Autonomy
Claim #3
Decriminalizing prostitution would allow sex
workers to ger back on their feet and find
better jobs and housing without having
prostitution arrests on their record
Claim #4
Sex work can be regulated safely. Violent
crimes in sex work can be reported and
sexually transmittted diseases can be tested for
and prevented.
Your Rebuttal
Julie Bindel interviewed a sex trade survivor, she stated about
sex work, “There is no way to make it safe.” The people who
work is this industry have and are already weaving through the
law, by decriminalizing sex work you are immediatly ignoring
human trafficking and pimping which has been illegally
flourishing on it’s own. This doesn’t make prostitutes any less
safe when the people they work around are the same.
● Interviews with prostituted individuals in New Zealand
reveal that a majority of prostituted people in the
country did not feel as if decriminalization had curbed
the violence they experience, demonstrating that
prostitution is inherently violent and abusive. (Report of
the Prostitution Law Review Committee : pp. 14)
While we agree that women have the right to choose what they
want to do with their bodies, decriminalization of sex work is
not a viable option. As stated previously, prostitution is not a
real choice as it surfaces from desperation.
This would actually make it harder for sex workers to get out of
the industry. Decriminalization of sex work will make it easier
for people to get these jobs and be sucked into the industry. Just
because it is legal doesn’t mean it isn’t frowned upon any less
by the majority. Sex wokers may not have a crminal record but
they will have a much harder time removing themselves from
that form of work.
“ Rachel Lloyd is the founder of Girls Educational and
Mentoring Services, a nonprofit for sexually exploited women
in New York. She says there's nothing that will equalize the
power unbalances in the sex industry.” The people who end up
in the commercial sex industry are the people who are the most
vulnerable and desperate. “Those power dynamics of
exploitation were still there.” These dynamics is what causes
dangerous sex work to go unreported.
● Demand Abolition commissioned a survey completed
by 8,201 adults males across the US. “Non-buyers are
much more likely than active ones to say that
purchasing someone for sex involves treating females
as objects, and that those actions exploit others. Active
buyers are very likely to say they are “just guys being
guys” or “taking care of their needs.””
● A review of the empirical evidence on the Dutch
legalization of prostitution found that many prostituted
persons still rely on anonymity, secrecy, and cash
transfers, demonstrating that a legalized prostitution
market operates much like a criminal market. (Legale
sector, informele praktijken. De informele economie van
de legale raamprostitutie in Nederland : pp. 115-130)
● Evaluations have found that regulation of prostitution
creates a façade of legitimacy that hides sexual
exploitation, and that brothels can “function as legalized
outlets for victims of sex trafficking.” (The challenges
of fighting sex trafficking in the legalized prostitution
 market of the Netherlands: pp. 227)

Claim #5 ● Enabling people to find those jobs into the industry is

Legalizing prostitution would increase
business and boost the economy / create more
job opportunities for struggling women
more harmful to them as sex work will never be fully
safe.
● Drug abuse and violent crimes go hand in hand with
sex work making it unsafe for anyone to be involved.
○ The Journal of Psychoactive Drugs did a study
of 200 street prostitutes, they found “55% of the
subjects reported being addicted prior to their
prostitution involvement” and that “30%
became addicted following and 15%
concurrently with their prostitution
involvement”
○ “Giving legal immunity to the men who buy sex
or profit from it will, they fear, create a demand
that will lead to more young girls and women
forced into the sex trade.” (The Washington
Post)

Works Cited: Add your list of credible sources in here. Make sure to use proper MLA citations. You will put
together a formal team copy of this to turn in on Debate Day!

Works Cited Document:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oKj14rqUZ1aL-WgrZFyQYAbhSgnzxyVieU5V9WeydpY/edit?usp=sharin
g

My work as a prostitute led me to oppose decriminalisation

D.C. effort to decriminalize sex work won’t move forward after 14-hour hearing
D.C. leaders hear from public over proposal to decriminalize sex work
Breaking the Myth of Prostitution as a Choice
What would really happen if DC legalized prostitution?
Why Prostitution Should Never Be Legalized
Should Sex Work Be Decriminalized?
Why Prostitution Shouldn't be Legal
Substance Abuse and Prostitution
Who Buys Sex?
Is Prostitution a Choice?

STEP 3: Debate Prep! - January 4 (9am-11am)

On Monday, January 4, you will have the chance to meet with your debate partner in a breakout room to combine
your research and build your debate. First, take a look at the debate format, so you will know what you need to
prepare. Visit the Debate Prep slideshow to see more information .
Constructive Speech (4 minutes): Make sure to include a hook, your introduction, your claims, and your
analysis. Constructive Speeches Introduce New Issues.
● For the PRO (Affirmative) side, this is the only entirely scripted speech, in that it is composed almost
entirely of expert quotations, clearly organized into solid positions. The affirmative team sets forth a
case. A case defends a new policy, called a plan.
● For the CON (Negative) side, this should lay out the choices for how you will attack the affirmative. It is
important to remember that the negative team attacks the affirmative plan, not the topic. For this reason,
the negative side constructive can never be completely scripted.

Team member responsible: Chris Ha

Draft your constructive speech here:

Sex work is a multi billion dollar industy. Although it functions almost completely illegally it heavily affects
everyone around them. It can disturb people’s safety, reputation, and their normal day to day lives. That’s why
my partner and I do not think DC should not pass the Sex work Decriminalization Bill. Legalizing sex work
would directly increase human traffiicking rates. Janet Rodriguez, a human trafficking survivor says,
“separating prostitution from human trafficking is impossible.” New Zealand legalized prostitution, and instead
of a safer business, it resulted in brothels becoming locations for rape and pimps being able to control what
prostitutes do and what they’re paid, rather than setting their own rates and boundaries as they did previously.
Sex trade rates would dramatically increase in DC as there is no longer a legal deterrent making it a sex tourism
hot spot. As the capital of the United States, it would be univiting to be known as a sex trade hub, especially
where international affairs are centered. Research done by Demand Abolition surveyed over 8,000 males
around the country and found that, if sex work was legalized, they “would see a 20 percent jump in the number
of people willing pay for sex.” / 1 in 5 men who have not participated in the sex industry say they would buy
sex if it was legal”. Moreover, it is an inherently violent and frowned upon industry. After New Zealand
decriminalized prostitution in 2003, there were still reports among prostituted persons of “continuing stigma”
and “harassment by the general public.” In addition, there was little difference in disclosure of occupation to
healthcare professionals before and after decriminalization. (The Impact of the Prostitution Reform Act on the
Health and Safety practices of Sex Workers: pp. 11 and 12). This wouldn’t help previous sex workers to
remove themselves from this industry, or in other words, get back on their feet. Passing this bill would
ultimately negatively affect DC and the sex workers themselves.

Crossfire #1 (3 minutes):
● Be prepared with questions for your opponents. You will add questions to this section BASED ON
WHAT THEY SAID
● Answer your opponent as succinctly as possible. Don’t evade and try to be honest. Be prepared to fire
back with a question of your own

Team member responsible: Chris Ha

The team member that did the Constructive Speech should do this part!

Brainstorm questions you will ask the opposition here, but leave room to add more as you listen to the debate:
● How will you stop/reduce abuse and violence before it happens?
● If this bill was passed, does the law enforcement have to completely rely on sex workers to reach out
for help in their own? How will you know that they will report?
● How do you feel about DC becoming a mecca for sex tourism?
● How do you plan to control/regulate illegal sex work like trafficking, underage workers, and pimping.
● If the bill was passed, Is it possible to properly regulate these laws when sex work has been working
 through the law for decades?

Rebuttal Speech (4 minutes):

● Rebuttal speeches refine and explain previously introduced issues (no new issues allowed).
● Each speaker should have narrowed down the number of arguments, focusing on the most important.
Use a declining amount of quotations.

Team member responsible: Sam Jaffe

My opponent has wrongfully claimed that the decriminalization of sex work will provide bodily autonomy,
reduce violence and increase access to justice. [Debater’s name] has only scratched the surface of the sex work
industry and has overlooked the deeper and inherent nature of it. The legalization of prostitution would serve to
increase prostitution rates and worsen the issues that my opponent claims decriminalization will resolve. We
concede that workers have the right to their own bodies, however, prostitution is not an active choice for the
majority of workers. Melissa Farley, founder of the Prostitution Research and Education organization, has found
that over 85% of sex workers do not wish to be prostitutes; their unlivable conditions have forced them into
such roles and therefore one cannot claim that prostitution provides autonomy. We further disagree with the
opposition’s illegitimate claim that legalization will reduce violence as prostitution’s violent nature cannot be
remedied. In interview with writer Julie Bindel, sex work survivors have declared that there is “no way to make
it safe.” According to a New Zealand study, where sex work was legalized, the majority of prostituted
individuals have revealed that they do not believe decriminalization had curbed the violence they experience.
As the Washington Post reports, “Giving legal immunity to the men who buy sex or profit from it will create a
demand that will lead to more young girls and women forced into the sex trade.” Legalization would only bring
more workers into the industry, causing more people to lose their autonomy as they are subjected to what is
essentially compensated assault. In addition, the legalization of sex work would not increase access to justice or
make the industry more ethical and safe. Legal reports from the Netherlands, another country with legalized
prostitution, have reported that decriminalization has provided a front of legitimacy that allows for sexual
exploitation and makes it easier for traffickers to operate and escape charges. Working conditions have also
worsened, as workers who previously were self employed are pressured into registering under a brothel rather
than working self employed. By putting their work in the hands of another, they are surrendering their
autonomy and may be subjected to actions they don’t wish to partake in, as well as likely being compensated
less. To conclude, my opponent’s arguments are invalid as the legalization of sex work expands the industry
and subjects more workers to an inherently violent and dangerous occupation.

Crossfire #2 (3 minutes):
● Be prepared with questions for your opponents. You will add questions to this section BASED ON
WHAT THEY SAID
● Answer your opponent as succinctly as possible. Don’t evade and try to be honest. Be prepared to fire
back with a question of your own

Team member responsible: Sam Jaffe

- How will the United States be different than other countries whose legalization efforts have had
negative outcomes?
- How do you propose to reduce trafficking rates/keep them regulated?
- How are prostitutes going to prove assault and how will perpetrators actually be charged?
- Do you honestly think that prostitution is healthy and safe for workers? If not, then how do you defend
the fact that legalization will bring more workers into this harmful trade?

Summary Speech (2 minutes): Summarize the main points in the debate and your side’s main arguments.

Team member responsible: Chris Ha

Draft your summary speech here:

There is no easy solution or answer to solving the issues prevalent in this industry but legalizing it would not
help. The bill doesn’t eliminate its issues, it supports those who are affected by those issues, there isn’t really
any solving happening. More people would buy into this industry if it was legal, leading to a higher demand.
Which would ultimately increase involuntary sex work. There’s nothing one can do to change the opinions of
an individual. Sex work will continue to be violent and stigmatized, it is just in it’s nature. In conclusion, the bill
would not be able to fix problems with the sex work industry, many issues will actually be left worse off than
before.

Grand Crossfire (3 minutes): Brainstorm questions that you will ask the opposition to drive home the
rightness of your argument and wrongness of their argument.

BOTH Team members will be responsible for this part!

TIP: You may want to take your 2 min to organize just prior to this part!

- How will you reduce violence if it’s an inherently violent industry?

- Do you have any proposition for aiding prostitutes to exit the industry?
- Would you personally like having a brothel in your neighborhood?
- How will brothels throughout DC reflect on political matters, especially international ones?
- How will

Final Focus Speech (2 minutes): Tell the judge why your side won the debate. For this part, you will speak
directly to the judge.

Team member responsible: Sam Jaffe

While the decriminalization of sex work may be a difficult issue for some parties to connect with, my partner
and I worked to understand the perspectives and backgrounds of those it would most directly affect. My
opposition advocates for the passing of D.C.’s Sex Work Decriminalization Bill but fails to recognize that
legalization would only serve to further endanger sex workers and U.S. citizens. In order to best protect these
individuals, it is imperative that D.C. does not legalize sex work. My side has effectively argued this point by
completing thorough research, acknowledging our opposition’s claims, and critically analyzing the potential
effects of the bill. The use of a variety of sources that extend internationally as well as directly from sex
workers has allowed us to gain the majority perspective and prove that the negative outcomes heavily outweigh
the few potential benefits of legalization.

STEP 4: Debate Team Check-in! - January 6 (@ assigned time)

On Wednesday, January 6, you will check-in with your debate teacher during your assigned check-in time. Prior
to this time, make sure to check in with your debate partner via email, text, zoom, etc to get organized and discuss
your goals for the day. During your meeting with your debate teacher, be prepared to run through major
arguments with the teacher grading you. You should have final speeches and lines of reasoning to show them,
even if there is a part of it that you are unsure of.

Notes from meeting with your debate teacher:

STEP 5: Debate Day! - January 7 (9 am)

Welcome to Debate Day, Thursday, January 7. Prior to class on Thursday, make sure to format, revise, and polish.
Make changes based on the feedback from your teacher. Adjust thoughts, formats, etc. and seek out any
additional research you may need. Think about questions you may ask the other side, and questions they might
ask you. Practice improvising questions, answers and rebuttals.

● 9:00am Meet in our Interdisciplinary Zoom to get instructions for the day

Debate Grading Rubric: