Say why it matters
A reason tells them you're right. An impact tells them why they should care.
Debaters call it claim–warrant–impact. Everyone gives the claim, most give a reason, almost nobody says what the reason LEADS TO for real people. 'It costs more' is a reason. 'It costs more, so the clinic in your town closes' is an argument.
Instead of
It would cost about two billion.
Try
It would cost about two billion — which is roughly every rural bus route in the country, gone.
Try it today
Add 'which means…' to the end of one argument today and say what actually happens.
The science
Claim–warrant–impact is the analytical core of competitive debate judging; the 'so what?' step maps to Toulmin's backing and to Heath & Heath's concreteness principle (Made to Stick, 2007).
Where you'd actually use it
Next lesson
- 🪞 Use their own wordsThe hardest evidence to argue with is what someone already said.
- 🤫 Don't fill the silenceThe first one to speak after the number loses.
- 🔀 Break the false binary'Either you're with us or…' — no. There's a third door.