Argument

An argument refers to a claim that a team makes which suggests that their side of the motion is correct. Typically, an argument will build to an endpoint that suggests the motion should pass or fail by explaining why that endpoint will likely occur, and why that endpoint matters in the debate. These will be outlined in the speaker’s speech as arguments, although different circuits use different terminology; for instance, some countries refer to their arguments as their ‘substantives’ or ‘constructive material’. In many cases, each argument is a distinct reason from the next for why the motion should pass or fail, although teams may loosely use the word argument for different sections leading to one cumulative endpoint in the speech.