1. A CONTENTION (CLAIM) is constructed as a major point that you are trying to make regarding the topic.
Contentions cannot stand alone without support. You must add evidence to prove your claim, which means that this step involves quite a bit of research.
2. There are two types of EVIDENCE used in LD
a. EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE states facts and figures about the world now or what will happen in the future. – facts, figures, studies, reports, etc.
b. AUTHORITATIVE EVIDENCE quotes famous people who make claims about issues relevant to the topics. – quotations from philosophers, government officials, professors, advocates, legislators, victims, etc.
Evidence is critical, but take care to avoid using too much evidence in your constructive. Use evidence to support your ideas, not in place of your ideas
State the author of the quotation and their credentials if they are not well known.
Gather more evidence than you will need. This will come in handy for the subsequent portions of the debate.
3. A WARRANT shows how the empirical or authoritative evidence proves the claim that is being made.
This is necessary for every contention/claim that you make.
4. An IMPACT is the final step as the debater uses the contention, the evidence with its warrant, and then explains how that contention (claim) upholds the framework, and, therefore, how it upholds or reject the resolution. It basically answers the
question, “Why do we care?” When the impact is delivered in the debate, the debater actually says, “The impact of this argument is. . .”