policy debate--the 2AR is a critical speech that tends to be a little different every round. This lecture is designed to explain what you should emphasize in the 2AR in certain situations (based on the neg 2NR choices).

1. The 2AR-Advanced
Lecture
Situational Debating

2. 2AR-Situational
Debating
The 2AR--not simple--more complicated than
you think
2AR’s should have a different focus given the
situation of the round. Meaning the 2NR
dictates how the 2AR should be prioritized.
This means the 2AR must not only be an expert
in the Aff but have proficient understanding of
virtually all negative arguments.
If that sounds hard, good because it is. 2AR’s
must plan for answering many “debate
situations”

3. 2AR must prepare for...
The topicality 2NR
The case debate/1DA 2NR
The DA (1 or 2) only 2NR
The case debate/turn only 2NR
The CP/DA 2NR
The CP only 2NR
The K only 2NR
The K/case 2NR
Any mixture that includes a lot more stuff than these is
easy to answer because it will be unlikely the 2NR covers
well

4. 2AR your best offense (arg attacking Neg
for T
Identify
interp) and defense (arg defending Aff interp)
and focus your overview there, then focus on
the distinction between the interps and impact
the difference.
Extend and defend your interp and key reasons
its better for debate. Use case-lists to make
your interp look good and theirs look bad.
On the line line be meticulous and answer every
thing the neg extended if you answered it in
your overview say that on the line by line. Don’t
forget to extend your Aff--when you win T the
judge still needs a reason

5. 2AR for case/DA least one impact
Prioritize the case--You must win at
to your Aff and not a small risk but a substantial risk 2
or more impacts are preferable and you must do
impact analysis so “even if” you lose the DA your case
outweighs the DA impacts. Impact interaction is key,
and some sacrifices must be made.
On the DA--Focus on offense first (non-uniq and link
or impact turns), impact and internal link defense
should be emphasized, debaters don’t typically do
this.
How do you split your time on Offense vs Defense, its
all about how good your offense is and how they
have let you spin the evidence (know if you judge is a
card reader or not)--gut check for the 2AR on this
issue is key.

6. 2AR for 1 or 2 DAs impacts!
Case impacts, case impacts, case
You must prove why the Aff impacts are more
important than the neg impacts (time frame,
magnitude, probability). They have no defense
on your impacts so get the full weight out of
those cards [re-read them before the 2AR to
remind you all the different impacts you have].
Defense on the DA impacts and internal-links is
key. They are likely making a DA turns case arg
spend significant time answering this it may be
more important than your offense on the DA in
the end.
Offense--go for your turns, draw distinctions

7. 2AR for case
Well this is a terrible situation for
debate/turnsgoodyou. Its likely theyare
have specific case debate,
impact turns, or
using some crazy impact turn like wipeout or Malthus.
Extend defense to some of your impacts and
collapse to one or two impacts you want to try and
win. This choice will likely determine if you can win the
round.
Look closely at their evidence if its case specific it will
likely not be as good as they represent.
Don’t get rattled if its something strange, think and
make logical answers. Claw out impacts that ought
weigh their turns. Explain well b/c judges hat deciding
these debates.

8. 2AR for CP/DA the CP does not
You must focus on proving how
solve the case [either fully or specific
advantages/impact] and the offense on the DA--this
should be the priority of this 2AR
Draw distinctions between how the CP solves and
how the Aff solves these distinctions you should spin
in the Aff’s favor and it is the key to winning this
debate--independent CP turns are good also and
sometimes necessary
Standard 2AR for the DA--offense then defense and if
you have a legit argument that the DA links to the Cp
that should be a major focus, remember in the end
you must prove you access impacts CP does not and
win a risk of turns on the DA

9. 2AR to CP only
This will only happen if you are debating a process
counterplan like consult most likely (it could happen
with privatization and lots of net-benefits but rare)
Theory! Hopefully the 1AR did a good job on one of
the many theory args you can run against process
counterplans don’t make it the whole 2AR unless
your forced
Turns against the CP should be the main focus,
spend some time trying to generate a t/f impact
distinction with the Aff vs. CP but only if that fits your
advantage it most likely wont. Pick 2 offensive turns
to go for and really impact those out. Remember
judges don’t like these CPs so thats on your side.

10. 2AR to the K only
The case impacts vs the alternative is what usually
decides these debates. You need to 1st win that you get
access to your case impacts and the judge should
evaluate those vs the K impacts--then you need to push
hard against the Alt of the K [it cant solve your aff, various
turns at least 2]. Don't be afraid to call them out the Alt
making no sense.
The other strategy is if you are impact turning the K [cap
good against a cap bad K] you can afford to focus less
on the Alt and more on your impact turns.
REMEMBER framing of the impact debate is key, and
only push for a perm if you are clearly winning the perm
or your Aff is set up to easily perm most K’s if so the
debate can be focused there. Don't forget small theory
args--a K debater kryptonite in many a debate.

11. 2AR for K and Case
Defend the case 1st! Its your #1 priority. If you lose
your case impacts you have virtually no chance
against a decent K. This should be first on the line by
line especially if case impacts will be one of your
primary answers against the K. Read the case cards
they use and hopefully you can explain why your
answers are better and remember if those case
cards link to the status quo they are non-unique turns
make sure you stress that with the judge the Aff only
has a chance to make the world bette if the turns are
non-unique.
Same thing as the K only round after the case
debate.

12. Final 2AR tips all the relevant flows
1. When prepping look at
at the same time and look for interconnection
you can use to your advantage.
2. Look for the escape hatch. Most 2NR’s will
leave some holes in their speech use those
mistakes to generate access to impacts or
theory args to win.
3. Its not a new argument its just impact
analysis.
4. Theory can be a way out
5. Point out the biggest 2NR mistake at the top
of the 2AR---ethos is key!