Debating Disadvantages

							The 2nr: The Hardest
Speech in Debate
What are you, 2NR?
 The last negative
speech in a debate

   The speech happens
    after the 1ar, and before the 2ar

   It is the negative’s last
    chance to answer arguments,
    and to make an impression
    on the judge
Why is the 2nr the Hardest
Speech in Debate?
   Caught between a rock and a hard
    place
   The 1ar is really
    fast
   The 2ar is really
    eloquent
The Dilemma

   Go too slow, you won’t
    answer all of the 1ar’s
    arguments

   Go too fast, and you
    can’t match the
    eloquence of the 2ar
Jobs of the 2nr
   Summarize the negative positions

  Thoroughly answer the
line-by-line

   Be Eloquent

   Make choices        STEM: Not just
                        for plants anymore…
2nr worldviews

   Theory 1: The 1ar “in reverse”
    – Go really fast
    – Keep a bunch alive
    – Don’t give the 2ar a
      chance to breathe

                        Spew em down….
Theory 1?
   Problems with Theory 1:
    – It makes the debate a mess
    – It makes the judge opt affirmative
    – It denies you eloquence




       –Actual picture of Seth & Lloyd’s dorm room
Make the Debate Small

   Theory 2: Make the debate small
   The way to cover the
    1ar and match the
    2ar’s eloquence is to
    pick fewer positions.
              Best 2nr’s

   The best 2nr’s:
   Pick Issues
   Explain previous
    evidence
   They kick positions
    they can’t win
   They make the debate
    like a funnel
Tips of the Trade

   1) Save at least half
    your prep time
   2) Have an overview:
    three reasons why you
    win
   3) Think about the      Save it up!
    “big picture” first
Tips of the Trade
   4) Don’t read new
    evidence
   5) Make the debate
    SMALL
   6) You are not
    winning everything.
    EVER.
                          What are you
                          ACTUALLY
                          winning?
Tips of the Trade
   7) Don’t be afraid
    to group arguments.

   8) Talk about why
    your arguments
    interact with the case
                             It turns your
                             case, I swear!
Tips of the Trade
   9) Start with your
    offense, end
    with defense
   10) Learn to think
    like a 2ar: how
    would you get
    out of this trap? Then
    shut down their
    escape hatch.

                             Don’t let them
                             weasel out
Kicking Disads Drill

   Kicking a disad: It means you are
    choosing not to go for an argument
   You must eliminate their offense
ICE ICE BABY
   Steps: ICE
    – 1) Identify that you
    are “kicking” the
    disadvantage
    – 2) Concede affirmative
    – arguments that allow you
      to get out of the disad
    – 3) Explain how these
    – arguments take out the     Dan Bagwell’s
    affirmative turns            role model