The A’s, B’s, and C’s of Substructure – Part 1

Substructing can be a daunting concept. But it is truly as easy as “A-B-C”.

In this article, we’ll review the skeleton of the substructure and then go into the inner workings of each claim. This article will be part of a series where we look at substructures and how they apply to certain questions.

As a refresher, an extemp speech is organized like a five-paragraph essay with an introduction, three main points, and a conclusion. The speech should be 7 minutes, and you can plan like the 30-second grace period doesn’t exist. The introduction and each main point should be about 1 minute and 30 seconds, with the conclusion being around 1 minute. 

As Bradley Wascher states, we use structure to do the following:

1. Answer the question
2. Make sense
3. Have fun

Claims are basic declarative statements to be proven, which are often broad and falsifiable. Warrants are specific details that support and demonstrate the claim; this is where the sourced evidence goes. And substructure is the strategic process of stacking multiple claims and warrants on top of each other.

Substructure refers to the way an extemper organizes their arguments and points. A previous Extemper’s Bible article describes substructure in the following prompts:

• The way you design your three points to answer the question

• The introduction of new information in an easy and understandable way 
• The demonstration of your knowledge of a topic and how it relates to the question

Each type of question will have its own, unique, type of substructure, which we’ll cover in a future article. There also isn’t a “right” or “wrong” substructure for a question, but you can determine a well-fitting structure based on the type of question by understanding the basics: the A’s, B’s, and C’s. 

In each of the three points under the speech’s overarching thesis, the A, B, and C sub-claims serve as the “skeleton” of that point. The A and B sub-claims work together to support the point. The C sub-claim will serve as the tie between the question, thesis, and point. Here’s a deeper dive, as explained in that same article:  

“A” sub-claim: Establishing the status quo

• What was, or is actively, happening? 
• What background is needed to understand the point?
• What event/place/person/idea is essential to this argument?

“B” sub-claim: The change that is happening/is not happening/will or won’t happen

• What recent event/information changed the status quo that helps me answer my question?
• What piece of current information helps develop the previously-introduced explanation or theory and helps me answer my question?

“C” sub-claim: Explains the impact of your claim, and an effective link between the point and thesis. This is a great opportunity to add a “power line”, which uses certain rhetoric to end the point on a strong and conclusive note.

Here is an example of such structure, highlighted in the speech of Kyle Letterer, the 2023 USX Champion, courtesy of the NSDA. 

Question: What sector of the US economy has the best potential for near-term growth?

Answer: The green energy industry

Point 1: Competition with China

A: China is increasing its investments in green energy

B: Biden is increasing the US’s role in new environmental investments

C: Therefore, the green energy sector has the best potential for near-term growth

Both the A and the B sub-claims are short and possibly broad statements. They both should have sourced warrants that provide logical reasoning for your point and a clear impact to establish the importance of the warrant. The typical warrant structure is as follows, but will likely be altered in a way that fits your point.

1. The HOW warrant
   1. A statistic, number, proper noun, name, story, or anecdote
2. The 1st WHY warrant – explanatory
   1. Follows the general format of “this is because…”
3. The 2nd WHY warrant – importance
   1. Follows the general format of “this is important because…”

Example – Kyle’s Speech, cont.

Point 1: Competition with China

“B” sub-claim: Biden is increasing the US’s role in new environmental investments

HOW: CNBC – Biden has passed the Inflation Reduction Act

WHY (reasoning): Provides over $11 billion of government subsidies in green energy and the environment

WHY (importance): Governmental investments are also driving private investment, which led to a $95 billion increase in private sector investment in green energy since 2021

And so, that’s the ABCs of substructure. Of course, each speech will have its unique twist to its structure. You can expect to see a more detailed analysis of the types of substructure, such as problem-solution, in a future substructure article.