Advanced Strategy Tips

ADVANCED STRATEGY

Compiled by Alfred Snider

Thanks to Stephen Boyle, Gavin Ilsley and many others

There is no silver bullet.

Some you want to do often, some rarely, some only in emergencies.

Anything can be overdone.

Points of information tactics: essential realm for establishing your personality and character.

Giving

How can I get accepted? In transitions, quiet partner can get taken, make eye contact with the speaker, takes the less famous partner (stand up at same time).

Presence in the debate: Stand up quietly when others are boisterous, stand when the other team stands, block back half with your body if you can, back half stay in line of sight, give your point without making your argument clear, do not always say the same thing when you rise (rotating is good), changing inflection when you offer a point (sound unhappy with what they are saying, Okay different ways) same as flagging but you get away with it (but not over and over again), do not act up too much when they decline, if they say “no thank you” you should stand up more to disrupt their speech, stand up every 30-40 seconds, stand if they have not taken one and get deep into the speech, if they say not taking any more ignore them but do not barrack.

Avoid: flagging a point of information, do not barrack.

Content: If they spend too much time on an argument send them back into it, give points that are not about what they are talking about (“This is defeated by our argument you have not answered that,” attack premises of the case (thematic refutation), interject with interesting words (“others will say…”), contrast their style (fast vs. slow, slow vs. fast), second team should not give away extension, if they give it away and you are first team steal it if it is good, ask leading questions (either answer helps you), point out a contradiction (not call it knife) but only if it is a serious one.

Taking

Never say “not taking any more,” take points during breaks in arguments, if refuting argument of a person rising tell them you have disproven and sit them down, if they barrack let them stand for a while (you are in control), never leave them standing for more than 40 seconds, but if they speak next let them stand because they cannot prep but be cautious on this, make sure you seem in control of the debate and the floor, if they barrack don’t get mad but smile, sit them down with an arm gesture, take their points quickly if they lack experience, take them right at one minute (they will be surprised), take points from second half if you are on the first half (engage with them), do not close out a whole team but take at least one from the team trying to shut out but do it early.

Behavior when not speaking

Communicate with partner when they are stupid or misrepresenting (not to the judge), watch judges for signals (but do not stare), watch for judge nods agreement or shakes head disagreement, watch for mistaking (clever, good point) nod with (you said that already) nod; walking into room with a smile, say hello to other teams, show confidence, always indicate positive results of speech (approve of what partner did), avoid bad signals during partner speech (speed up, etc.).

Front half specifics

Prioritize which arguments go in which speech, put argument judge expects first, group arguments together (if related) to matter grab, second speech argument might be more sophisticated and need a bit more explanation, avoid a hanging case (should stand on its own in first speech), lead off with an argument of theirs that is very damaging and highlight it, try and shut out second half by taking all the BEST arguments but do not try to take all arguments, have a lot of examples in the front half so you get credit for that.

Back half specifics

If they missed a good example develop it in some depth, differentiate yourself from the first half meta explanation of why you are extending in the way you are (they covered X, so now let’s consider Y; or, “this was introduced but could do with more explanation,” avoid knifing but if you absolutely must (what they said is stupid so you need to not endorse it) but you can revert to principle, if they have no real model talk about how the policy would work based on current trends (this is what policymakers would do, not offering a new model), make sure to emphasize your extension in your whip speech (“my partner said”), or claim that your partner escaped an argument made by the first team, complement first team and then say why your extension is more important.

Target teams and judges

Become aware of judges from other regions. Australian judge with weak panelists will make the decision, Australian like real world; UK judges like principle arguments a bit better, but be careful and do not rely on it too much by avoiding counter arguments that are clever. Remember what judges told you earlier, give them what they want.

Become aware of the “go to” arguments of other teams. If you are on top of them, take it. If you are opposite them, pre-empt their arguments (“You might hear this argument, but it is false because…”