CONGRESSIONAL

DEBATE

REFUTING OR SUPPORTING THE

ARGUMENTS OF OTHERS
CLASS PRESENTATION
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 I CAN - 44

• Participate in Student Congress

debates
• Agree or disagree with various
topics in debates

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The 4 Steps to
Refutation/Support

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THE 4 STEPS TO REFUTATION/SUPPORT

Teaching students to refute or

support an argument can be easily
done in 4 simple steps!

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THE 4 STEPS TO REFUTATION/SUPPORT
“They say …”
• Briefly restate the point the
STEP
speaker just made and the
point you are about to answer.

• For example:
• “They say that guy control laws
lead to increases in gun sales
made through the black
market”

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THE 4 STEPS TO REFUTATION/SUPPORT

“But…”
STEP • Make your counter assertion!

• For example:
• “But eliminating gun control
laws would cause greater hikes
in crime as almost anyone
would be able to purchase
firearms.”

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THE 4 STEPS TO REFUTATION/SUPPORT
“Because …”
STEP • Offer reasoning and evidence to
support your counter-assertion.

• For example:
• “This is because it becomes easier to
purchase firearms after laws are eliminated.
According to a Mayors Against illegal gun
crimes in America occurred with guns
purchases legally from states with relaxed
gun control laws”

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THE 4 STEPS TO REFUTATION/SUPPORT
“Therefore …”
• Conclude your point by comparing
STEP your point to the point you’re
answering.

• For example:
• “Therefore while gun control laws may
lead to greater sales in black markets,
eliminating gun control laws all
together would drastically increase
violent crime even further.”

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 2
Put it All Together

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 PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
Put is All Together!

They say that gun control laws lead to increases in gun sales
made through the black market, but eliminating gun control laws
would cause greater hikes in crime as almost anyone would be able
to purchase firearms. This is because it becomes easier to purchase
guns after laws are eliminated. According to a Mayors Against
Illegal Guns study, over half of the violent gun crimes in America
occurred with guns purchased legally from states with relaxed gun
control laws. Therefore while gun control laws may lead to greater
sales in black markets, eliminating gun control laws all together
would drastically increase violent crime even further.
 THE A.R.E METHOD TO SPEECH WRITING
Outlining the 4-Step Plan
Refuting Supporting
1. They say …. 1. They say ….

2. but … 2. but …

3. because … 3. because …

4. Therefore … 4. Therefore …
WHAT DID WE LEARN TODAY? - 44
We learned that:

• We learned the 4 steps to refutation/support for the

Student Congress:
• Restating the speaker’s point,
• Offering counter assertion
• Providing evidence and
• Concluding
 
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 THANK YOU
AND
KEEP LEARNING!

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