Preparing to Write Arguments & DARE-I Style Argumentation

In middle school parliamentary debate we use a formula for creating arguments called DARE-I. Each letter stands for a step in the process for creating a strong argument. When you have a full DARE-I argument you have a powerful tool! For the sake of demonstrating how DARE-I works we are going to use the topic:

Burritos are the best Mexican food.

Before we begin creating our DARE-I arguments we have to prepare by Defining the Topic. Defining the words/terms in the topic allows our opponents, judges and other listeners to know what we mean.

EX:

Burrito = A Mexican dish consisting of various fillings wrapped inside a flat bread called a tortilla.

Best Mexican Food = The best type of food to eat at any meal that has origins in the country Mexico, not including dessert.

Defining the topic allows us to not only tell the judge what we are arguing about, it also allows us to narrow the focus of the debate so that we protect ourselves from certain arguments. Since we defined “best Mexican food” as not including dessert, my opponent can’t ask a POI or make an argument like “Are you saying that burritos are better than Mexican desserts like churros or flan!?!” 

Burritos VS Taco 

DARE-I:

D: Definition

Define all the unfamiliar words/terms in the argument. Don’t define any words or phrases that were already defined in the topic definitions. Although this is the first part of DARE-I, and when you present the argument you will talk about it first, when you are writing your argument it’s often helpful to write this part last. You might not know until you finish writing what needs to be defined.

EX. Tacos = A flatbread called a tortilla made of corn or flour rolled or folded around various fillings.

A: Assertion

This is the topic sentence of the argument, it tells the audience what the argument is about. It is very short and simply stated reason to support or not support the topic. DO NOT USE THE TOPIC AS THE ASSERTION.

EX. Burritos are safer to eat than other popular Mexican foods like tacos.

R: Reasoning

Reasoning explains what the topic sentence means in words, but DOES NOT give examples or evidence. It should be at least 3 sentences in length, preferably closer to 5 or 6 sentences.

EX. Burritos made of a large round flatbread called a “tortilla” in which a savory filling is bundled into. The contents of this burrito usually rice, beans, salsa and cheese, are somewhat messy. However, due to the package like shape of the burrito, the contents are safely kept inside the flatbread and away from the eater’s shirt/clothing. The burrito is unlike a taco, where the same messy fillings are merely placed in a tortilla that has been folded in half like a card or a folder.

E: Evidence

There are several types of evidence that one may use to support their argument, including statistical, expert advice or opinion, contemporary, historical, anecdotal, and hypothetical. I have listed them in the order of the greatest strength generally, however this differs from situation to situation. You should use a variety of evidence when writing different arguments for the same topic. Show the connection between the reasoning and the evidence.

EX. One example of the problem that the taco has is I once had a taco at lunch before I had a job interview and it spilled all over my white shirt and created a huge mess. If I had chosen to eat a burrito that might not have happened! (anecdotal+hypothetical)

I: Impact

The impact of the argument shows the audience why they should they care. Explain the significance of the argument quantitatively (in a way that can be measured) and/or qualitatively (in a way that can be described) and include what a likely result might be.

EX. At the job interview I felt like the interviewer was staring at the blob of taco on my shirt, it made me very self-conscious and I wasn’t able to be my best. As it turns out I didn’t get the job. If I had got the job I would be making $10,000 more right now (quantitative), my life would be so much better if I were able to afford rent at a better apartment and have money to go on vacation (qualitative). I would also be able to save a lot of money to buy a car or a house. With an extra $10,000 a year I could make huge life changing decisions that would give me enormous benefits both now and in the future (result).