What is Case Line?

Objective:

  • You will know what case line is

Key Learning - Case line has two elements:

  • a way of approaching debate
  • a way of structuring your arguments

To Do:
Read the following characteristics of traditional needs cases and compare them to the characteristics of case line. After the reading, see if you can answer the questions.

  Traditional Needs Case Case Line
Thinking about the debate
When you think about debate in a traditional SEDA needs case, you think about what is wrong with the status quo.
 When you think about debate using case line, you think about why the debate is happening. Case line assumes that all debates are a part of bigger debates about what is the right way to approach things.
Preparing the affirmative You look for major flaws in the current system (needs for change) and build a plan to solve them. You find why the debate is happening, then construct a thesis that states the problem. You support your thesis with key arguments that prove your thesis about the nature of the problem is correct.
Fundamental Skill A good traditional needs case rests on being good at finding the problem. A good case line rests on placing the problem in context.

Key Questions:

  1. What skill is essential for making a good case line?
  2. If the resolution is BIRT Canada legalize Euthanasia, what bigger issue is the debate about?

Summary:

Case line is a way of planning your debate so that it has a thesis. It modifies the structure of debate because it follows a new form and places more emphasis on building arguments and less on constructing a bullet-proof plan.

View next page - Policy debate and Case line