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Middle School Novice Curriculum Guide
Responding to Arguments
So now you can make an argument for your side. But what do you do when the other team makes their own arguments about why their side should win? You don’t want to just repeat your points, it’s your job to respond to your opponent’s arguments as well. There are a few strategies that you can use here, and the acronym DR. MO is a good way to remember them.
Deny. To say that your opponent’s argument isn’t true.
Reverse. To say that the opposite of your opponent’s argument is true.
Minimize. To say that even if your opponent’s argument is true, it doesn’t affect the debate round.
Outweigh. To say that even if your opponent’s argument is true, your arguments are more important.
Let’s come back to our argument from before: pets are good for your health.
Deny. No, pets do not improve your health. Just because pet owners are healthier doesn’t mean that pets are the cause of better health, according to a 2017 study from the RAND corporation.
Reverse. No, pets are bad for your health because they can carry and spread diseases like rabies.
And since “M” and “O” are comparative, we’ll need an argument of our own. Let’s use this one: pets are expensive.
Minimize. Even if pets can boost your health, you’ll be spending more on them so you might not be able to afford healthy food options.
Outweigh. Even if pets can boost your health, it’s more important to save money so that you can afford health care when you get sick.