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. […]
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. […]
Stop at the nod
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 […]
Connect with your judge
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 […]
Be professional
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. […]
Emphasis by positioning
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 […]
Exaggerate your motions
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 […]