That’s a good question, and I’m glad you asked. This is where I post debate tips, especially focused on getting better at speaking so you can win that 1st place speaker award. Admit it, if you’ve been doing debate for a couple of years, it’s probably your life. Why not make your life better by […]

If you get nothing else from this website, get this: be positively memorable. Everything I will eventually say can be directly linked back to being positively memorable. The reason I made this website is because I believe there is no one source for tips that make you memorable. I want to change that. Don’t expect to see […]

Golfer Jack Nicklaus said that he never hit a shot, even during practice, without visualizing it first. He won 18 major championships. For decades, professional athletes have considered visualization an essential tool, often spending hours visualizing their victory. Public speakers can use this same technique to improve their speaking. “So you’re saying that by daydreaming […]

This post is mostly for novice/intermediate debaters. Click here to skip to a more advanced part.  There was a group of people in the late 1800s who believed that crowds could be manipulated by a very specific set of gestures. The “elocutionists”, as they were called, had books that they would study carefully, full of specific formulas […]

In 2010, a Geometry teacher at Corner High School in Warrior, Alabama was interrogated by the Secret Service for discussing shooting the President as an analogy while teaching about angles. The teacher explained that if he was standing at one point, he could hit the President by shooting at a certain angle. Although this teacher […]

  One of the best ways to be memorable is to have a permanent record of the great things you said in the judge’s hands. Not only are you trying to persuade the judge, you’re trying to get their notes to look like yours. I’ll keep it simple: here’s how to get your judge to […]

  I used to find it frustrating when I knew in my head why the other team was wrong, but the judge just didn’t seem to get it. I’d complain to myself about the ballot afterwards, wondering how I could win that round next time. One day, I was venting to a friend about how […]

  Imagine if someone would refuse to talk to you unless they had notes and something to put in between you during the conversation. That person would be considered rather odd. Yet, so many debaters do the exact same thing: hide behind their notes and a lectern. Now before I infuriate a bunch of people, […]

  In this 2AC I’m just going to be going down the flow addressing neg’s contentions and doing some impact calculus, showing you why their links and brinks are weak, and refuting their two solvency and inherency points. But first, I’m going to clean my mouth out with soap because that was really awful. No one […]

  They say first impressions are solidified within 5 seconds of interacting with someone. In the same way, the judge’s first impression of what you are as a speaker is solidified after a few seconds of your first speech. They will have an impression of you before that, don’t get me wrong, but the judge […]

    For sale: baby shoes, never worn. Sometimes a story told in six words can be more powerful than a speech. The concise power of the above sentence can send chills through your spine. If it had been longer, describing more of the story, it probably would have been less impactful. Although I can’t match the […]

Debate is often considered a rather nerdy activity. That’s true. Debate can also have insane intellectual and social benefits. That’s also true. If you’re a debater, don’t worry about the social stigma that comes with doing debate. While some people might smirk at the thought, you’ll be reaping the benefits for years afterward, much longer […]

  It is common advice in the speaking realm to crack a joke to start off your speech. While this can be true to a certain extent, it has grown to a point where it sounds like a template. But I do advise you to crack jokes in your speeches. In fact, if you look […]

  One of the first challenges for a novice is to fill up all the time in their speech. They are drilled and pushed to get to that 8 or 5 minute time limit and fill up their speeches. And rightly so! The only problem with this approach, a problem that I hope to remedy in […]

It is with great pleasure that I post this interview for y’all to hear. Susan Weinschenk, also known as “The Brain Lady”, has a Ph.D. in Psychology and has over 30 years of experience in the field. She is passionate about figuring out how people tick, and how to persuade and encourage people. Her clients […]

  I always cringe when I hear it. The sound of a debater trying to ask the “judging philosophy” question. It seems that almost every debater I’ve come across has managed to make the question confusing and robotic. So, let’s talk about how to ask for and use the judging philosophy. What not to do […]

One of the easiest ways to disarm your opponent and get the judge on your side is to compliment the other team. How and why Depending on what you choose to compliment, you can get several benefits. 1. The judge will probably like you This is pretty obvious, but judges like nice people. Not fake […]

In pretty much any speaker position, you have some “downtime”. A time when you might as well twiddle your thumbs, because you don’t necessarily have to prepare a speech. It might feel good to twiddle your thumbs, but here are some ideas of better uses of that precious downtime. Potential uses for downtime Instead of […]

  If you’ve debated long enough, you’ve probably heard the catchphrase “repetition is not refutation!” thrown around casually by debaters. It seems to be their go-to response to arguments they don’t know what to do with. Even though the phrase is often misused, it is even more frequently and unfortunately true—too many people get in […]

When you need to make a point stand out in a judge’s mind, it’s time to pull out all stops and give them the best you have. One technique I seldom see used is positioning in order to emphasize key points. How it’s done Before I begin, this is not to be overused. Someone who […]

They say curiosity killed the cat. Thankfully, your judge isn’t a cat. So curiosity won’t kill them. Isn’t that nice? If you’re able to keep your judge curious about what you’re going to say next, you will keep them engaged. Everyone knows an engaging speaker is a good one. That’s why so many professional speakers […]

It’s probably happened to you before. The judge walks in while all the debaters are chatting boisterously, and suddenly everyone stops and pretend nothing was happening. It’s awkward. Really awkward. But even though it happens pretty often, lots of people continue to make the same exact mistake. So I felt the need to address this. […]

I’ve spent a lot of time talking about various speaking tips, and there’s plenty more where that came from. But I think it’s time to take a step back and consider how to apply this information. If I had to guess, I’d say 15% of people who read this website actively try to apply the […]

Here’s a cool phrase you can use in order to address any concerns that the judge has. I often used this phrase when I already knew what the judge’s objection would likely be. For example, “The result of all this is nuclear war. Now I know what you might be thinking—is that really likely? Surprisingly, […]

Despite the fact that debate is not a violent activity, there are ways to set up traps that could have very violent effects on your opponents. We call those traps spikes. Spikes are amazing. I even spiked my hair for debate! Using spikes First, you’re going to need hair gel. Ha, just kidding. A “spike” […]

This is going to be a short post. That does not undermine its importance. The message I have today. Is. Important. For the love of all that debaters hold dear, get rid of the debater voice! Here is what I mean.   After listening to the sound clip, you may be wondering what specifically makes […]

Most of you have already had your first tournament of the year at this point. You are either the triumphant team coming home after doing work in the outrounds, or you’re questioning the very purpose of subjecting yourself to debate. Been there, done that. It’s time to use this experience to boost yourself up for […]

I noticed that some debaters seem to be saying a lot of words, but not a lot of sentences. And if you were to really concentrate on what they’re saying, you’d see there’s no connection between one sentence and the next one. If you’re unsure what I mean by this, here’s an insanely perfect example. […]

Dropping arguments has always been considered a taboo in debate. Your opponent stands up and approaches the lectern, sweating heavily. “But Judge”, he spits, “they dropped arguments 1, 2, and 3 a, b, c, and d! These arguments flow affirmative because silence is consent!” Unfortunately for Mr. Sweaty Debater, dropping arguments is not bad 100% of […]

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 […]

  The style of speaking that I advocate on this website is very conversational and personal. It avoids aloofness, it prioritizes making sure your judge likes you and understands exactly what you’re saying. One of the keys to pulling off this style is actually connecting with your judge. You not only want the judge to […]

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 […]

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 […]

Note: this will be a lengthy post, but I strongly encourage you to read every word. It’s about time we have a serious talk about debate ethics. Disclaimer: This is not meant to put down or defame anyone, so for that reason I will include no examples (except for one about me getting adjudicated). Let’s […]

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 […]

So, I’ve written a lot about how to get better at speaking. But how do you apply all of this? Many of those (so far 35) posts have multiple tips under them! How do you sort between what is useful to you personally, and what is stuff you already know? I try to help by providing […]

This is a guest post from multi-tournament champion and national level debater Simon Sefzik. Time to have an honest discussion. Most debaters learn some great tips, and have some of the right ideas. BUT ALAS! They aren’t applying that knowledge to their debating. We often assume that what we learn will be automatically synced in […]

Do you want to know how to get more words in your speech while still winning each argument? Stop at the nod. All you have to do is wait for the judge to agree with your point, then move forward. Don’t beat the dead horse! Benefits: Saves time Avoids exasperating the judge Allows you to […]

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: […]

On October 7, 1984, Ronald Reagan obliterated the main opposition to his presidency. Rumors had been circulating that he was too old for the job, and that he was getting Alzheimer’s. During a debate with his opponent, Walter Mondale, he quipped “I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going […]

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. […]

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 […]

How do you beat a case that seems to be backed up completely by a value that the judge can’t disagree with? How do you defeat a case if it’s trying to reduce terrorism and you seem to be supporting terrorism with your position? I’m going to give you a quick crash course in taking […]

It’s been said that you like yourself just fine until you see a video of yourself speaking. It’s true—watching yourself speak can be an extremely embarrassing experience. But the fact that it’s embarrassing should not stop you from using this technique in order to refine your speaking. Why use video to practice As I talked […]

The last negative rebuttal is the most important negative speech of the round. While you can’t bring up new arguments or evidence, you can certainly bring back a losing round and win. Because this speech is so important, let’s talk about how you can best prepare yourself for it. Note: Some of the best preparation […]

If you haven’t already read preparing for the 2NR, please read that first. I will be skipping several repeated concepts. The last affirmative speech is the most important speech in the round, arguably. It’s the last thing the judge hears. With this power, of course, comes the responsibility to avoid saying things that are untrue. […]

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 […]

Well, that was certainly interesting. Doing the webinar with power flickering on and off due to severe wind, I mean. I’m also referring to switching last second to using a friend’s laptop to do the webinar, since it wouldn’t shut off every time the power did. It was also interesting for the audience, since there […]

By now, you’ve probably read several of my articles, watched some of my videos, and benefited from some of the free resources available here. (Check here if you haven’t seen the free resources). I’d like to get your opinion on what Potent Speaking has done so far, and get some feedback as to which direction […]

In the interest of sharing what will be improving in the near future, I thought it’d be great if you got to see an overview of the survey results. Before we jump into the data, I wanted to share this nice comment from one of the respondents. If you left a comment with a wish, […]

You’ll often run into situations in debate where you need a basic grasp of statistics and willingness to do the math in order to argue effectively. As a result, here’s a quick overview of statistics and some helpful thoughts on doing the math. In debate, you’ll often come across inferential statistics. Inferential statistics is using […]

Note: This post is mostly better suited for novice to intermediate debaters. Hitting a case on negative when you have nothing is probably the scariest thing that can happen in debate. Probably the best way to approach this subject is to give you a series of questions to go through in your head which will […]

When you’ve been running your affirmative case for a while, you have a pretty good mastery of all the possible arguments that may be run against your case. (Although you may be occasionally surprised by the… creative… arguments people come up with from time to time). There are some arguments, however, that always seem to […]

For more articles on organization, check out this list: http://debate.potentspeaking.com/category/organization/ Organization is important for these reasons: 1. It helps the judge to understand your arguments and how they tie in with the opposing team’s arguments. 2. It improves the judge’s flow, meaning when they review the round afterwards your speeches will stick out. 3. It helps […]

An ideal situation in debate is when the judge looks to you for a standard by which to rank the other team. If you can establish a line for the judge to choose who won, and set it so that you’re the clear winner, the round is in your hands. This post will teach you […]

Sometimes, arguments in a debate round are like fireworks on the fourth of July. Everyone’s lighting off their little bottle rockets, roman candles, and maybe even some small mortars. None of these fireworks are really memorable, they only become memorable if they hit someone or if something important happens around one. But sometimes there’s an […]

One of the best ways to be a better speaker, besides practicing, is to watch other good speakers. Debaters that started out by timing others and observing how they speak generally have an easier time when they begin debating. Some of the best speakers I know enjoy watching presidential candidates give speeches, or finding other […]

Note: Although this post is addressed to the reader, it is as much as post for me as for the reader.  At this point, I’ve written over 50 posts with useful tips for improving your debate speaking. But in all this, I haven’t written about the ultimate reason we (NCFCA/Stoa debaters) do what we do. Christmas has come […]

Part of your preparation for important negative strategies or for your affirmative case should be coming up with one or two memorable catchphrases. A catchphrase is a word or expression that is used repeatedly and conveniently to represent or characterize a person, group, idea, or point of view. Let’s look at what makes a good […]

Credit goes to Samuel Sefzik (several time tournament champion and high-placing debater at Nationals) for the second and third idea. Confident body language sometimes boils down to small details in how you act in a debate round. Some of the things you don’t even pay attention to while debating can affect the judge’s perception of your […]

It is a common cliche that it is impossible to over-prepared. I can see an argument for it, but do not be deceived into believing that all forms of preparation are good. It is possible to prepare with the wrong goal in mind, resulting in a disastrous round. The kid in the picture is probably […]

Credit for the idea of this phrase goes to Samuel Sefzik. It’s easy for your audience to get overwhelmed in a debate speech. There are a lot of points and plenty of logic floating around in any given debate round. Getting your audience to remember and care about all of your points is usually impossible (unless […]

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 […]

Every once in a while, it’s good to be reminded just how much persuasion lies in the delivery of a speech. That is, after all, the point of this website. A good speaker can talk about any topic and make it interesting to the audience. The effective use of vocal tonality, humor, pacing, and hundreds […]

Winning Affirmative debate rounds is an essential part of your tournament strategy. If you routinely lose an Affirmative round, that’s a big red flag. You should be able to win all your preliminary Affirmative rounds, leaving you with just one Negative round you need to win in order to get to outrounds. One of the […]

Book gleaning is a series of posts that highlight specific books and what we can take from them to apply to public speaking. In this post, we’ll be discussing the book Made to Stick, by Chip and Dan Heath. Why do some ideas thrive while others die? And how do we improve the chances of […]

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 🙂 […]

When I first joined the NCFCA, I was overwhelmed by all the things I had to learn. Depending on how long it has been since you were a novice, you may have forgotten what it was like to learn all the terminology and ways of doing things. Wait, so what is the difference between Inherency […]

If you know anything about fallacies, you’ve probably heard of false equivalence. This fallacy occurs frequently in casual arguments and formal debates. False equivalence is when you compare two unlike things to make a point. While usually you want to avoid fallacies, let me explain why this one might actually be a useful tool. Let’s […]