How do you weigh and compare different types of impacts in debate?

3 How to analyze impacts?

To analyze impacts, you need to consider their magnitude, probability, and timeframe. These are the criteria that help you compare and evaluate different impacts. Magnitude refers to how big or important the impact is, in terms of numbers, severity, or significance. Probability refers to how likely or certain the impact is, based on evidence, logic, or common sense. Timeframe refers to how soon or distant the impact is, in terms of days, months, years, or generations.

4 How to use impacts in rebuttals?

To use impacts in rebuttals, you need to challenge the validity, relevance, or significance of your opponent's impacts, and show why yours are better. You can do this by using impact defense or impact offense. Impact defense is when you undermine or refute your opponent's impacts, by showing that they are not true, not relevant, or not important. For example, you can say "their policy will not reduce poverty because it will create inflation, corruption, and dependency". Impact offense is when you turn or outweigh your opponent's impacts, by showing that they are harmful, counterproductive, or insignificant compared to yours. For example, you can say "their policy will reduce poverty, but at the cost of environmental degradation, human rights violations, and global instability".

5 How to use impacts in summaries?

To use impacts in summaries, you need to highlight and prioritize your impacts, and show why they are decisive for the judge's decision. You can do this by using impact calculus or impact framing. Impact calculus is when you compare and contrast your impacts with your opponent's, using the criteria of magnitude, probability, and timeframe. For example, you can say "our impacts are bigger, more likely, and more urgent than theirs, because we affect more people, have more evidence, and solve the problem now". Impact framing is when you explain why your impacts matter more than your opponent's, using values, principles, or perspectives. For example, you can say "our impacts are more important than theirs, because we uphold human dignity, justice, and peace, which are the core values of this debate".