Compare Both Sides
Winning your own argument is not enough. You also need to show why it matters more than the best thing the other side has won.
Compare magnitude
Which effect is larger?
Do not use size alone if the large effect is very unlikely.
Compare likelihood
Which outcome is more probable?
A smaller but near-certain benefit may beat a huge speculative one.
Compare timing and duration
Which effect happens sooner?
Which lasts longer?
Compare reversibility
Which harm can be fixed later and which cannot?
Hard-to-reverse harms may deserve extra weight.
Example
“Their benefit is immediate but modest. Ours affects fewer people at first, but the improvement lasts for years and is much harder to reverse once lost.”
Common mistake
Saying “our impact is bigger” without giving the audience a standard for comparison.
Try this
Take the best argument from each side and compare them on size, likelihood, timing, duration, and reversibility.
Keep in mind
Debates are decided by comparison.
Practice this skill
Use it in a real debate and see how well it holds up when you have to respond to an opponent.