 If you can convince the judge that passing your affirmative plan is a good idea, you will win the debate. Essentially, you need to prove that the affirmative is better than the status quo (current system).  To do this, you need to prove that the advantages of the aff plan are larger than the disadvantages.

 Both partners should practice reading the 1AC. It will make you a more fluid speaker and will help you to learn the details of your proposal. You will need to know it well to defend against counter arguments and to look competent in cross-ex.  The 1A should be particularly clear and fluid with the 1AC. Make sure that you do not mispronounce words (which can hurt your credibility). Your goal is to create an excellent first impression.  Both partners should create “pre-flows” of the 1AC. Let’s make a set now.

 The 1AC should be carefully highlighted.  Only highlight is you plan to read less than the underlined portions of the card.  Highlight to save time but do not lose essential arguments made in the cards.  How do you decide what is important? It is a judgment call. What arguments might you use in later speeches.  Let’s do this now.

 The good news is that aff team can expect most of what the negative will argue. You know your aff well, you can look at the DAs they can run against you, and you can look at the case arguments they can run against you.  The bad news is that you must cover every single negative argument. This means that both partners must carefully flow the 1NC. If you miss a negative argument, you will not respond to it and they will automatically win that point.  Only jot down arguments that you plan to make on your flow. NEVER write out arguments long hand. It will set you up for poor flowing that will cost you the debate if the other team is any good.

 Look over all of the DAs that they could run against you. Prepare a list of 6-10 answers that you plan to make against those DAs.  Variety and offense will be the keys to winning.  Integrate both evidence and analytical arguments into your prepared answers.

 Common types of aff answers to DAs (pick and chose what looks good based on the situation)—all MUST have explanation:  No link (the plan does not cause the DA)  The link is non-unique (other things should have caused the link)  The impact is non-unique (other things should have already caused the impact)  No internal link (the DA makes a logical leap that does not make sense)  Link turn (the opposite of the link is true—the affirmative prevents the DA from happening)  Impact turn (their impact is actually a good thing—FYI do not impact and link turn in the same debate)  No impact (they exaggerate the impact)  Aff case solves the impact (our proposal is key to preventing the DA impact)

 Let’s pick one of the DA’s and write out a list of answers that you think that you should make. Pick cards and make analytical arguments. Each person will read at least one argument out loud and we will compile the best ones for the whole group to use.  Do this on your own vs. each DA and you will be extremely well prepared.

 You should also prepare answers against case arguments that they can read against you.  You should particularly be ready to answer the arguments they make in the frontlines.  Be smart about spending more time on better arguments and try to quickly get through arguments that are nit- picky/unimportant.  If two similar arguments are made in a row, you can say “group the __ and __ arguments” and then respond to both at once.  If two similar arguments are made that are not next to each other, answer them the first time and then say “Cross-apply my answers to the number ___” the second time.  Read new cards if you need to but you should first consider if you have a card in the 1AC that answers the argument. If so, say “extend the ___ evidence from the 1AC. It argues that….”

 Rebuttals are NOT a time for summarizing. They are an opportunity to win key arguments. Focus on substantive issues.  Both partners need to carefully flow the negative block.  All 1AR arguments need to be written down on your flow, not pre-written or written long hand.

 What makes the 1AR different from the 2AC?  The 1AR can no longer make new arguments (unless they are in response to NEW arguments made in the block).  Your goal is to build on the 2AC arguments.  Choose 2AC arguments that you are ahead on. You do not have to extend every 2AC point but you must have arguments that can win the debate on every negative position.  You ARE allowed to read cards in the 1AR but ONLY if they build on 2AC arguments or if they are in response to NEW block arguments.

 Both partners must carefully flow the 2NR. The 2AR cannot be prepared ahead of time. The focus of your speech is to RESPOND to SPECIFIC arguments made by the 2NR. This makes a good flow of the 2NR essential.  Remember that your overall mission is to prove that the advantages of the affirmative case are larger than any disadvantages. This involves simple logic. For example, if the affirmative proposal is expensive but saves the world from eco-system collapse due to global warming, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

 The 2AR should begin with the following line… “The advantages of the affirmative proposal outweigh the disadvantages because….” Then give the judge a brief overview of why you win. :30 is a good maximum length.  Then, move on to focusing on specific arguments made by the 2NR.