Preparing Students for Competitions

Now that we have hosted our annual invitational tournament, it is time for us to focus on going to competitions. To that end, here are some items that voth varsity and novice students should be doing to help prepare themselves for tournament competitions.


NOVICES

1. Read, read, read, read, read, and REREAD evidence materials. Novices (and varsity) can never read too much information, or reread too many times. Vocabulary is sometimes tricky, and only by reading, rereading, and looking up words in dictionaries and applying those definitions to the reading context will students begin to understand their topics.

Evidence materials for novices can be found at the following link (click on "case negatives"):
http://www.debatecoaches.org/page/open-evidence-project

2. Locate their affirmative case packet. Students will receive their very rough drafts of affirmative policy cases in class on Monday (the ones they turned in); however, students should be familiar with not only their case evidence and arguments, but also extension arguments and answers to potential negative arguments against the case. Locating an appropriate affirmative case packet (i.e. high speed rail - if that's the affirmative case they are using) and reading, reading, and rereading the material can only help them understand their case topic better.

Affirmative case packets can be found by visiting the link above and clicking on "affirmatives."


VARSITY

1. Don't forget that a Tournament Preparation Cover Sheet must be turned in BEFORE THE TOURNEY DATE in order to receive full round-by-round points. Going to tournaments prepared with cases, speeches, scripts, etc., is absolutely essential.

2. In class debates and performances will occur the week of Oct 22-25. Be prepared for these activities when you come to class. If a full debate cannot happen inside class time, be prepared for case readings, negative strategy readings, cross-examinations, speech presentations, interpretation performances, etc. Your rehearsal grade next week will be determined by preparedness and delivery/communication of your information.