Analyze Your Topic: Questions to Ask
- What is your topic?
- What is your proposition?
- What is your position?
- What are potential arguments?
- What are potential arguments of opposition?
- What are some keywords for searching databases?
Sample Topic/Proposition
Resolved: Performance-enhancing drugs in sport should be legalized.
Sample Topic Potential Arguments
Pro:
- Drug-testing is costly and ineffective
- Athletes lack autonomy given restrictions due to regulations and testing, and choice in taking on risks
Con
- Drugs have health risks and could harm athletes in the near or distant future
- Drugs are unethical creating an unfair advantage in competition
- Athletes who do not cheat will be coerced in using drugs
Sample Topic Keywords
- performance enhancing drugs
- doping
- sports
- athletes
- athletics
- competitive sports
- professional sports
- legalization
- law
- regulation
- policy
- anti-doping policy
- drug testing
- coercion
- autonomy
- choice
- freedom
- health risks
- fairness
- fair opportunity
- ethics
- sportsmanship