1. How to be negative
Gabi Yamout

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

3. 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

4. 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

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

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

7. What are your options? Disadvantages Counterplans Critiques Topicality
Impact turns

8. 2NR #1: Disadvantage and Case
What is this?
Defends the status quo
Make sure you have sufficient defense on the case
Choosing between DAs

9. 2NR #2: CP and Net Benefit
What is this?
Why choose this?

10. 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

11. 2NR #4: Critique and Case
What is this?
Framing issues are important

12. 2NR #5: Topicality What is this? Why choose this?
Make sure it is viable in the block – strategic option to extend in the block

13. 2NR #6: Impact Turns What is this?
Make sure to have defense on the other impacts
Can also be combined with counterplans

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

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