This is a guest post by Isaiah McPeak of Ethos Debate. I’ve been coaching debate since 2003. Tactics and strategies have come in and out of style. Giovanni asked me to identify some tactics that are underused right now but should be used more often. Here’s what I came up with! Hope it helps 🙂 […]
Cross-Examination: Drawing a line
There are plenty of benefits of being the Negative team. One of these benefits is that you have a lot less to prove. The other benefit is that you don’t necessarily have to take a fierce stand on anything until the Affirmative team has. When the Affirmative team proposes their plan, they are taking a […]
Cross-Examination: Cunning argument rephrase
What do you do once you have nailed down the opponent’s argument, and you want to make it look bad in cross-examination? Obviously, asking your opponent if their argument is wrong (given certain facts you’ve established) is a disastrous plan. But is there a way to get your opponent to admit to their argument being […]
Cross-Examination: Asking for the warrant
Many debaters are only prepared for some basic questions they’re used to, and haven’t really given their arguments much thought. If you can expose this to the judge, you’ll leave yourself in a position of credibility. I’m going to teach you a type of question which can cut right through the act and straight to […]
Don’t be a weasel
I’ll get right to the point. By “don’t be a weasel”, I mean don’t be one of those debaters who is constantly looking for a way out of things. I also mean: don’t seem like one of those debaters, because it reduces the judge’s trust in you. Principles Avoid using the word “well” too much. […]
Cross-Examination: Using first names
Sometimes your opponent is simply being unreasonable in cross-examination. Often times, everyone knows he/she’s being unreasonable. One of the ways to make them snap to their senses is to use their first name. I’ll provide a few examples of how using first names can project your confidence and control over the round. Examples Setting the stage: […]
Cross-Examination: Question bluff
All credit goes to Simon Sefzik for coming up with this Cross-Examination tip. The question bluff is a way of getting the other team to impact your arguments for you. Here’s an example: Situation: Affirmative mandate unintentionally alienates, say, Iran. It’s in an effort to get Iran to stop their nuclear program, and their plan is […]
Cross-Examination: Don’t Waste Time
Cross-Examination is the smallest portion of the round, but can be one of the best ways to show the judge you know your stuff. For that reason, it’s important to capitalize the most you can on that time. Here are a few tips for using your time wisely in Cross-Examination. 1. Change your introduction to […]
Cross-Examination: Chance to Rephrase
Have you ever been in a round where the opposing team made a completely inaccurate statement, and you can prove it’s inaccurate? While many people would simply get up in the next speech and start refuting the statement, this can cause problems. What if the other team denies ever having said it? Cross-examination can be […]
Get a 5 in evidence
Evidence is undeniably one of the most important parts of Team Policy debate. I care about it particularly because a good evidence battle can win you a round, and because there’s an entire category of speaker points dedicated to evidence. Here are a few tips for getting a perfect 5 in the evidence category. 1. Vocal […]