Second Teams - Strategies

SECOND TEAMS – Alfred Snider, University of Vermont

Prep differently:
§ More arguments
§ Lots of examples, you have time

1st speech by your side
§ Does your stuff fit their model/principle?
§ Do they take your arguments? Which ones are left?
§ Do they preview, if so start prepping.
§ Is their refutation missing something important? If so, you grab it.
§ Missed examples or supports

1st speech by the other side
§ Make your presence felt with PoIs
§ Balance prep & PoI, more for whip
§ Do not give sway extension in PoI

Once you know what they are saying, select and prep your extension
§ Best of unclaimed
§ Might want to bundle
§ Sophisticated argument based on what has come before, new approach
§ Lead the debate in a new direction
§ How to abandon a bad first team
§ Extension often broadens the debate – Oxford example
§ Use untaken examples and supports
§ One extension vs. two
§ Integrating extension and rebuttal
§ Clearly mark when your extension begins

Whip
§ Prep during partner’s speech, planning before it
§ New structure for the debate
§ Weighing the issues
§ Showcase your extension, but do not be blatantly self-serving
§ Prop whip must quickly refute last new argument
§ No new issues, but new arguments and examples OK, but relate them.
§ Intro and conclusion (always, but especially now)