prep lecture-debate tournaments

Preparation is not Preparation is not everythingeverythingIt’s the only thing..... It’s the only thing.....

How to prepare for tournaments and How to prepare for tournaments and individual rounds the right wayindividual rounds the right way

Preparation MattersPreparation Matters1. Debate is HARD! Like many other things in 1. Debate is HARD! Like many other things in life...life...

2. Preparation is the key to success in all 2. Preparation is the key to success in all activities.activities.

3. Overcoming a difficult challenge is very 3. Overcoming a difficult challenge is very rewarding. Humans have a deep seeded need rewarding. Humans have a deep seeded need to challenge ourselves.to challenge ourselves.

4. With managed preparation for each 4. With managed preparation for each tournament and each round you will increase tournament and each round you will increase your chance to win and you will debate much your chance to win and you will debate much better. better.

Tournament Prep--Tournament Prep--MacroMacro1. Have a viable plan for the Aff and Neg and 1. Have a viable plan for the Aff and Neg and

work with your debate partner and coaches to work with your debate partner and coaches to plan those strategies. Choose a generic Neg plan those strategies. Choose a generic Neg strat to incorporate into your specific case strat to incorporate into your specific case strategies. strategies.

2. Set a deadline! You should have all new 2. Set a deadline! You should have all new evidence and blocks written (with the exception evidence and blocks written (with the exception of uniq updates for ptx or econ args) finished at of uniq updates for ptx or econ args) finished at least 4 days before the tournament. This is least 4 days before the tournament. This is essential.essential.

3. Practice, practice, practice! Schedule 3. Practice, practice, practice! Schedule practice rounds or speech re-dos with coaches practice rounds or speech re-dos with coaches or teammates. Take some initiative--or even or teammates. Take some initiative--or even do your own drills.do your own drills.

Prep-Micro-The Prep-Micro-The AffirmativeAffirmative1. Update and tweak your Aff--cut updates, search 1. Update and tweak your Aff--cut updates, search

for new advantages and add-on’s, Aff research never for new advantages and add-on’s, Aff research never ends (2AC lead)ends (2AC lead)

2. Say Never Again, vow not to lose to an argument 2. Say Never Again, vow not to lose to an argument twice! Re-wright frontline to arguments you had twice! Re-wright frontline to arguments you had trouble with at your last tournament--this should be trouble with at your last tournament--this should be done when a tournament is over an the arg is fresh done when a tournament is over an the arg is fresh on your mind (work with the 1AR)on your mind (work with the 1AR)

3. Highlight and study Aff blocks for understanding 3. Highlight and study Aff blocks for understanding (both the 2ac and 1ar)--look to make improvements (both the 2ac and 1ar)--look to make improvements to existing Aff blocks or look for holes in your aff ship. to existing Aff blocks or look for holes in your aff ship.

4. Practice with 2AC drills, 1AR drills, and spend time 4. Practice with 2AC drills, 1AR drills, and spend time working on your weaknesses (K’s, ptx, T, whatever)working on your weaknesses (K’s, ptx, T, whatever)

Prep--Micro--The Prep--Micro--The NegativeNegative

1. Specific case research vs generic positions--- 1. Specific case research vs generic positions--- divide your time and maximize your odds. What are divide your time and maximize your odds. What are the most popular affs in the field? What are the 10-15 the most popular affs in the field? What are the 10-15 best teams at the tournament running? Focus your best teams at the tournament running? Focus your work there. (2N Lead)work there. (2N Lead)

2. Analyze where your are strong and where you are 2. Analyze where your are strong and where you are weak and play to those strengths (do you excel at weak and play to those strengths (do you excel at politcs DA’s, K’s, Cp, ect) focus your strategies politcs DA’s, K’s, Cp, ect) focus your strategies around your strengths.around your strengths.

3. Write blocks, and blocks, and blocks for the 3. Write blocks, and blocks, and blocks for the 2NC/1NR---work with coaches and teammates to 2NC/1NR---work with coaches and teammates to predict Aff predict Aff answersanswers

4. Practice running and studying your new 4. Practice running and studying your new strategies and prepare to debate the random strategies and prepare to debate the random aff.aff.

Pre-round Preparation-Pre-round Preparation-FirstFirst

1. Write down the team your debating, sides, 1. Write down the team your debating, sides, judge(s) and room number.judge(s) and room number.

2. Get scouting information from: the case wiki 2. Get scouting information from: the case wiki (NDCA website), judge philosophy wiki (NDCA website), judge philosophy wiki http://judgephilosophies.wikispaces.com/http://judgephilosophies.wikispaces.com/ people people you know they debated recently on the same you know they debated recently on the same side, listen to coach Intel.side, listen to coach Intel.

3. Pre-round disclosure (Aff-plan and 3. Pre-round disclosure (Aff-plan and advantages), Neg past politics args (side advantages), Neg past politics args (side against 2NR disclosure)against 2NR disclosure)

Pre-round Prep-Neg Pre-round Prep-Neg SpecSpec

1. The Strat--Plan your strategy with your 1. The Strat--Plan your strategy with your partner, and coaches. The 2N should have partner, and coaches. The 2N should have decision making power they have to be the decision making power they have to be the closercloser

2. CX Prep--Outline a few CX questions for the 2. CX Prep--Outline a few CX questions for the 1AC1AC

3. Whats the key--figure out the key issue in 3. Whats the key--figure out the key issue in the debate and focus your prep time there to the debate and focus your prep time there to read over, write any blocks you need to make read over, write any blocks you need to make your strategy as specific to the Aff as possible.your strategy as specific to the Aff as possible.

Pre-round Prep-Aff Pre-round Prep-Aff SpecSpec1. Decide your strat--which Aff your running, 1. Decide your strat--which Aff your running,

which advantages, any plan text changes, then which advantages, any plan text changes, then disclose to the Neg (plan text, advantages, disclose to the Neg (plan text, advantages, internal link info if asked)internal link info if asked)

2. Make plans--using intel gathered about the 2. Make plans--using intel gathered about the Neg team strengthen 2AC blocks, talk out likely Neg team strengthen 2AC blocks, talk out likely neg strats and how you will react to them with neg strats and how you will react to them with coaches and/or your partner.coaches and/or your partner.

3. Read over and highlight (if needed) Aff 3. Read over and highlight (if needed) Aff blocks to neg arguments you can predict---blocks to neg arguments you can predict---make sure you have 1-2 2AC add-ons ready to make sure you have 1-2 2AC add-ons ready to go in the 2AC.go in the 2AC.

Inspirational QuotesInspirational Quotes

““Nothing in the world is worth having or worth Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty...” doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty...” --Theodore Roosevelt 26th president of the --Theodore Roosevelt 26th president of the United StatesUnited States

““No pain no gain!” --Jane Fonda exercise guru No pain no gain!” --Jane Fonda exercise guru

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