How to be negative Gabi Yamout

What does it mean to be negative? Negate the resolution Disprove the affirmative

Benefits of Being Negative Get multiple options Get to choose the direction of the debate Gets the negative block Presumption Judges tend to lean negative on theoretical issues

Disadvantages of Being Negative 2NR is the hardest speech Can’t win on theory Literature can be aff-biased Have to be prepared for many affirmatives

Offense and Defense Offense: reasons you win Defense: reasons they don’t win You want to win a combination of both

Debating the Case Start big and collapse Put defense on different levels of the advantage Think about the logical reasons the advantages are stupid

What are your options? Disadvantages Counterplans Critiques Topicality Impact turns

2NR #1: Disadvantage and Case What is this? Defends the status quo Make sure you have sufficient defense on the case Choosing between DAs

2NR #2: CP and Net Benefit What is this? Why choose this?

2NR #3: CP, DA, and Case Why choose this? Case arguments will shield the weaknesses of the CP The CP shouldn’t be overly complex

2NR #4: Critique and Case What is this? Framing issues are important

2NR #5: Topicality What is this? Why choose this? Make sure it is viable in the block – strategic option to extend in the block

2NR #6: Impact Turns What is this? Make sure to have defense on the other impacts Can also be combined with counterplans

Preparing to Be Negative Think about what affs you might encounter Have a broad range of generics Write blocks 1NC 2NC/1NR

Constructing a 1NC Have enough options but don’t stretch yourself too thin Don’t contradict yourself Don’t read things you wouldn’t be willing to go for in the end of the debate Put trickier arguments later in the 1NC

The Negative Block Questions to ask What is our best strategy? What has the 2AC messed up? How can we allocate time most effectively? Anything we can’t kick? Theoretical vulnerabilities? 2NC v 1NR 2NC cx

Choosing your 2NR Collapse in the block Assess your options – the best choice isn’t always the easiest one Make sure you include offense and defense Choose ONE option Depth over breadth Offense first

The Education Topic States CP Spending DA Federalism DA Topicality? How broad will the topic be?