WELCOME TO

DEBATE!
Negative Basics

NEGATIVE BASICS

If you can convince the judge that

passing the affirmative plan is a bad
idea, you will win the debate.
Essentially, you need to prove that the
status quo is better than the
affirmative plan.
To do this, you need to prove that the
disadvantages of the aff plan are larger
than the advantages.

HOW TO PREPARE THE 1NC

You know that there are only a limited

number of possible cases that can be read by
the affirmative teams. You should familiarize
yourself with all of the 1ACs so that none of
your debates take you by surprise.
Against each case, you need to think about a
winning strategy:

At least one DA that links to the affirmative

Defense on the case that is adequate to reduce
the aff case to a small enough size that the DA is
able to outweighyou should look at cards in the
packet and also brainstorm logical arguments

HOW TO PREPARE THE 1NC

Lets look at one of the cases in the

packet. What DA do you think is best?

Make sure that it links

Think about whether it turns the case
(always a bonus)
Think about whether the impact is large
enough to outweigh the case

HOW TO PREPARE THE 1NC

With the same case, can you think of any logical

arguments that you might use to attack the
harms or solvency? A few questions that might
help you think of common arguments:

Is the solvency substantial enough to overcome the

harms outlined in the 1AC?
Would there be any obstacles in getting from the plan
to the solvency?
Are the harms exaggerated?
Is any of the evidence outdated, unqualified, or mistagged?
Advanced do any of the cards in the 1AC help you to
set up one of your DAs?

HOW TO PREPARE THE 1NC

You should also think about how quickly the 1N can

speak. Keep in mind that you need a minimum of
one DA + case. If the 1N is faster, you might add
more case defense or a second DA.
You know that you need to be prepped against each
case so you should practice the 1NCs and figure out
how to pack in as many arguments as possible
without running out of time. Practice with a timer!
The 2N should also practice reading the 1NCs so that
they learn about the strategy and to work on fluency.
Make sure that you are not mispronouncing any
words (that hurts your credibility).

HOW TO PREPARE THE 2NC/1NR

The goal of the 2NC/1NR (negative

block) is to win arguments that you
began in the 1NC.
You should NOT read new positions in
the block. It is not cheating or anything
but you are simply more likely to win if
you have more deeply developed
positions.
Both partners need to carefully flow the
2AC. It is essential that you get down
every 2AC argument because if you

HOW TO PREPARE THE 2NC/1NR

The 2NC and the 1NR should go point by point

through the 2AC and respond to EACH point.
Use both evidence and analysis. If the 2AC
made a really good argument, focus on it more.
If they made a nit-picky or irrelevant argument,
say why it does not matter and move on.
The 2NC and 1NR should NOT cover the same
positions. You can switch this up depending on
the specific situation but a good basic division
is:

2NC builds on case arguments

1NR builds on the DAs

HOW TO PREPARE THE 2NC/1NR

The person extending the DA needs to keep

in mind that the ultimate goal is to argue that
the risk of the DA outweighs the risk of the
case impact. Risk = magnitude x probability.
To further this goal, you should begin your
coverage of the DA with an overview that
gives the judge reasons why the DA
outweighs the case.
It is also very helpful if you can make
arguments about why the DA turns the case
in the overview as well.

HOW TO PREPARE THE 2NR

The 2NR needs to begin with the following line, The

risk of the DA outweighs the risk of the case
because .
Then, proceed to cover every point made by the 1AR
on the arguments that you plan to extend.
You do not need to advance every argument that you
started in the 1NC. Your goal is to create a winning
package (win all of a DA and win enough defense on
the case that the risk of the DA outweighs the case).
Lets write an overview that argues that the DA you
selected earlier outweighs the case. Use your risk
assessment vocabulary from an earlier unit.