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Analysis: Khalis Khalid

This document provides tips and examples for how to effectively analyze arguments. It discusses that analysis is important to establish causal links between ideas and conclusions, and to bridge psychological gaps, robustify arguments, and sway judges. Without analysis, conclusions hold little weight. It emphasizes analyzing contentious claims rather than non-contentious ones, and characterizing key terms to inspire analysis. Examples are provided of strengthening arguments by adding missing analysis. The role of characterization and exercises to practice analysis are also outlined.

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Devito Stevanus
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60 views

Analysis: Khalis Khalid

This document provides tips and examples for how to effectively analyze arguments. It discusses that analysis is important to establish causal links between ideas and conclusions, and to bridge psychological gaps, robustify arguments, and sway judges. Without analysis, conclusions hold little weight. It emphasizes analyzing contentious claims rather than non-contentious ones, and characterizing key terms to inspire analysis. Examples are provided of strengthening arguments by adding missing analysis. The role of characterization and exercises to practice analysis are also outlined.

Uploaded by

Devito Stevanus
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Analysis

KHALIS KHALID
1) Understanding the function of analysis
• In sum - establishing causal links between ideas and conclusions.
• Also known as: supports, warrants, etc.
• Table example..
• Difference between an argument and an assertion?
• Learn to identify assertions! Helps with meta-debating and constructing our own argument.
• Difference between analysis and evidence/examples?
2) WHY do you analyse?
1) Bridging psychological gap between you and a judge.
2) Robustifying an argument (insulating).
3) Winning issues (swaying the pendulum).

- Without analysis, ideas and conclusions hold very little WEIGHT (easily dismissed).
3) EXAMPLES
A: THW ban extremist political parties.
Example Gov Argument:
Extremist political parties will lead to a lot of violence in society, especially towards vulnerable
minority groups, and that’s harmful.

What is the missing, crucial link in the argument?


3) EXAMPLES
A: THW ban extremist political parties.
Example Gov Argument:
Extremist political parties will lead to a lot of violence in society, especially towards vulnerable
minority groups, and that’s harmful.

What’s the fix?


3) EXAMPLES
A: THW ban extremist political parties.
Example Gov Argument:
Extremist political parties will lead to violence in society because:
a) These parties use political rhetoric that blames society’s problems on a certain community (Neo-
Nazis with Jews, the Alt-Right with immigrants, etc).
b) These parties often encourage supporters to adopt similar mindsets to mobilize their voters and
gain more support so they can get elected into office.
This occurs especially towards vulnerable minority groups, and that’s harmful.
3) EXAMPLES
B: THW abolish the UN Security Council.
Example Gov Argument:
The UNSC is not effective in acting as a global check and balance between countries, thus, it should
be abolished.

What is the missing, crucial link in the argument?


3) EXAMPLES
B: THW abolish the UN Security Council.
Example Gov Argument:
The UNSC is not effective in acting as a global check and balance between countries, thus, it should
be abolished.

What is the fix?


3) EXAMPLES
B: THW abolish the UN Security Council.
Example Gov Argument:
The UNSC is not effective in acting as a global check and balance between countries because:
a) The veto system allows China and Russia to veto any directive which is meant to be enforced
against it or it’s allies.
b) The UN’s enforcement systems are primarily based on consent – meaning the UN cannot enter
into by force any belligerent country.
Thus, it is ineffective, and should be abolished.
4) WHAT do you analyse? #TIPS
• Contentious conclusions (Test: Does it fulfil my burden? What is my burden?)
• ‘Why’ – playing devil’s advocate.
• Pre-empt your own analysis and find ways to side-step the opp attack.
4) WHAT do you analyse? #TIPS
• Common mistake: spending too much time analysing non-contentious claims!
C: THS the act of eco-terrorism (terrorist acts in the name of saving the environment).

Example Gov Argument:


Climate change is urgent and inevitable – ice-bergs wont re-freeze, sea-levels are not going to rise and it isn’t going to get
any colder. Thus, eco-terrorism should be supported.

Problem?
4) WHAT do you analyse? #TIPS
• Common mistake: spending too much time analysing non-contentious claims!
C: THS the act of eco-terrorism (terrorist acts in the name of saving the environment).

Example Gov Argument:


Climate change is urgent and inevitable – ice-bergs wont re-freeze, sea-levels are not going to rise and it isn’t going to get any
colder. Thus, eco-terrorism should be supported.

Non-contentious! The only conclusion we can reach is that climate change is urgent and inevitable, not that it should be supported!
5) The ROLE OF CHARACTERIZATION
• To inspire ideas for analysis, impacting, etc.
• Case Prep Tip – brainstorm characterizations of key words/actors in the motion first before agreeing on a case with
your partner!
(Ex: THBT the feminist movement should oppose military interventions that claim to further women’s rights).
• Ex: This House would provide free, safe drugs to individuals with addictions.
• Addiction = little control to opt out of drugs due to the reward mechanism of addiction.
• Free drugs = at no cost, they won’t have to fork out any payment (SQ?)
• Safe drugs = free from contaminants (SQ?)
• Never say “we characterize X to look like…”, say instead: “X looks like….”
6) Exercise #1

THW actively encourage women not to have children.


6) Exercise #2

In democratic post-colonial states, THBT the country should


claim and use the legacy of anti-colonial resistance.
7) Getting better
• Read – Fill your analytical locker with non-fiction: The Economist, The New Yorker, NYT – look for op-eds, not facts.
• Practise – Pick a motion and only prep 1 argument, brainstorm how many compelling lines of analysis you can formulate.
• Think – Observe the world and it’s intricacies, be curious, structural reasoning is everywhere.
8) Q&A?

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