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Flowing (Intermediate): On and Off
Learning Objectives
Organize on- and off-case positions on separate flow sheets.
Increase familiarity with signposting.
Time Needed
~15-20 min.
Resources & Materials
Paper (5-6 sheets per student)
Pens (2 colors per student)
Deck of playing cards
Teacher Preparation
Create labels for an “Advantage” pile and “Disadvantage” pile.
Shuffle playing cards and randomly put them into piles for each category.
Lesson Outline
- Mini-lecture
- Explain to students the difference between on- and off-case arguments:
- 1AC contentions (HIPS/SHIP) are on-case arguments.
- Negative disadvantages are off-case arguments.
- Tell students that each major argument (affirmative contentions, negative disadvantages) should be flowed on its own sheet of paper.
- Tell students to flow affirmative speeches in one color of ink and negative speeches in another.
- Explain to students the difference between on- and off-case arguments:
- On and Off (Activity)
- Have students flow “speeches” of playing cards using the following format:
- 1AC: Announce that you are reading an "Advantage”. Read 4 cards.
- 1NC: Announce that you are reading the “Cats Disadvantage” and read 4 Disadvantage cards. Then announce that you are moving onto the affirmative Advantage and read 3 Advantage cards.
- Before this speech, announce that you will be reading the “Cats Disadvantage”, then going to the aff Advantage
- 2AC: Say, “First, on the Advantage” then “extend”/restate 2 cards from the 1AC and read 2 new cards. Then, announce that you are moving onto the “Cats Disadvantage” and read 3 new cards.
- Before this speech, announce that the order will be the affirmative “Advantage” followed by the “Cats Disadvantage”.
- Spot check students after speeches by asking how many arguments were made on a specific flow or naming cards/arguments and asking to which flow they belong.
- Have students flow “speeches” of playing cards using the following format:
Points of Improvement
Students flow arguments from different piles on the same sheet of paper.
Students don’t put their flows in order when given a roadmap before the speech.
Signs of Mastery
Students have separate flows for each pile.
Students pay attention and switch flow sheets when the current argument is announced.
Instructor Notes
If flowing on the board, either have one student for each flow or have the selected student clearly designate different areas of the board for each flow.
Putting up multiple sheets of chart paper can help visual learners.
To make this activity more challenging, add an advantage or disadvantages.