IV.Extension
When you “extend” your argument it means that you are restating and strengthening it in a later speech.
Effective extension includes the following:
1) Clarification: You must make sure that the judge understands your argument. Be the one who clarifies the debate.
2) Presenting additional reasoning and evidence: You simply need to strengthen your position with more (and better) support.
3) Add new (additional) argumentation: Sometimes it may be advantageous for you to add new ideas in support of a position. Summary speeches
• The final speeches of the debate should be used to synthesize various arguments into a few critical points for the judge to consider.
• This summary statement is difficult for several reasons. First, because of the general nature of the closing argument, the speaker must focus on the “big picture” and less on specific details.
• Second, the speaker must extend his/her best arguments while answering his/her opponent’s best arguments. This requires a careful balance. Of course, each round of debate will lead to unique summary statements.
1) Ask yourself, what are our most powerful arguments? After selecting your most powerful arguments you must explain why you have won these arguments and why this means you have won the debate.
2) Ask yourself, “what are the weaknesses in my opponent’s best arguments?” Explain these weaknesses to the judge.
3) The summary must be an extension of the debate. It should show what your team has accomplished during the debate. It should not be new ideas or perspectives that haven’t been brought up.
4) The summary should set up a decision-making criteria for the judge. What factors should be given the most weight in making a decision?
In this debate, the two sides would have to weigh saving a species to spending billions of dollars. It is your job as a debater to provide analysis that helps the judge arrive at his or her decision.