This document provides an overview of the order and structure of a debate. It explains that debates have four participants (1A, 1N, 2A, 2N) who each give a constructive speech and rebuttal speech. The affirmative team argues a plan is a good idea, while the negative argues the plan is bad or does not fit the resolution. Each speech has a set time limit and role. The document outlines the purpose and order of speeches, including what arguments should be made in each constructive and rebuttal. It provides guidance for novice debaters on preparing speeches, using prep time, and basic cross-examination strategies.

1. WELCOME TO DEBATE!
Series II: ORDER AND PURPOSE OF THE
SPEECHES
Show by Jenny Heidt
Style: Kohanim

2. AFFIRMATIVE VS NEGATIVE
job of the affirmative is
The
to prove that their proposal
(which must fit under the
resolution) is a good idea.

3. AFFIRMATIVE VS NEGATIVE
The job of the negative is to
prove that the affirmative
proposal is either a bad idea
or does not fit under the
resolution.

4. AFFIRMATIVE VS NEGATIVE

5. AFFIRMATIVE VS NEGATIVE

The judge votes for whichever team
does a better job of proving their
point.

6. AFFIRMATIVE VS NEGATIVE
Each team gets a set amount of time to prove

their point (they must also speak in a set order).

7. AFFIRMATIVE VS NEGATIVE
This will be a little confusing at first but will go

smoothly after your first tournament. For the first
one, take the NOVICE HANDOUT with you to
help you keep track! 

8. AFFIRMATIVE VS NEGATIVE
Also, keep in mind that the novice packet provides
an excellent initial limit on the number of
arguments a team can make.
Learn the packet well enough and not much will
surprise you at the first tournament.

9. 1A, 1N, 2A, 2N
There are four participants in the debate. Each
person gives one constructive speech, one
rebuttal speech, asks questions once and
answers questions
once.

10. 1A, 1N, 2A, 2N
Each person has a role in

the debate. They can be
the 1A, 2A, 1N, or 2N.
(First affirmative speaker, Second
affirmative speaker, First negative
speaker, Second negative speaker).

11. MAP OF THE ROUND
1AC (first affirmative constructive)—8 min

1A stays standing, CX by 2N—3 min

1NC (first negative constructive)—8 min

1N stays standing, CX by 1A—3 min

2AC (second affirmative constructive)—8 min

2A stays standing, CX by 1N—3 min

2NC (second negative constructive)—8 min

2N stays standing, CX by 2A—3 min

1NR (first negative rebuttal)—5 min

1AR (first affirmative rebuttal)—5 min

2NR (second negative rebuttal)—5 min

2AR (second affirmative rebuttal)—5 min


12. CONSTRUCTIVES & REBUTTALS
A constructive is one of the first four
speeches. In these
speeches, debaters initiate the key
arguments that they plan to make.

13. CONSTRUCTIVES & REBUTTALS
There is a big difference between the first two and last two

constructives.
The first two speeches (1AC, 1NC) mostly consist of

reading pre-written material and the last two constructives
(2AC, 2NC) are written on the spot to counter arguments
made by your opponent.

14. CONSTRUCTIVES & REBUTTALS
We’re right
because…
A rebuttal is one of the last four speeches.

In these speeches, debaters refute points made by the

other side and use logic and evidence comparisons to
prove that their core arguments are correct.

15. MAP OF THE ROUND (COLOR CODED BY PERSON)
1AC (first affirmative constructive)—8 min

1A stays standing, CX by 2N—3 min

1NC (first negative constructive)—8 min

1N stays standing, CX by 1A—3 min

2AC (second affirmative constructive)—8 min

2A stays standing, CX by 1N—3 min

2NC (second negative constructive)—8 min

2N stays standing, CX by 2A—3 min

1NR (first negative rebuttal)—5 min

1AR (first affirmative rebuttal)—5 min

2NR (second negative rebuttal)—5 min

2AR (second affirmative rebuttal)—5 min


16. ACTIVITY
 Activity… I give the four participants name tags
that say 1A, 1N, 2A, 2N and have them go
through the process of just standing up and
announcing what speech they are giving. I have
the partners sit together.
 For this first time, I do not have them actually say
anything besides the aff “I support the resolution
and my plan is a great idea” and the neg “I think
that the resolution is a bad idea and the plan
stinks!” I would skip CX for now.

17. WHEN DO YOU WRITE SPEECHES?
 Each team is given prep time to use how
they like. Most judges give each side 8 or
10 minutes. Share the time well with your
partner.

18. WHEN DO YOU WRITE SPEECHES?
TRY VERY HARD TO ONLY
USE PREP TIME DURING
REBUTTALS!

19. WHEN DO YOU WRITE SPEECHES?
ow can 8 or 10 minutes be enough?
Quite a bit of debate work is done ahead of
time. During the round, you will need to
think of logical points on the spot and put
your arguments in order but all of that is
facilitated by work done before the

20. WHEN DO YOU WRITE SPEECHES?
 Research is done before
tournaments.
 The 1AC and major
components of the 1NC
are pre-written.
 You can write out
anything that you like. If
you hear an new
argument, write answers
to it so that you do not
need prep next time!

21. WHEN DO YOU WRITE SPEECHES?
filing means that
Careful
you can find what you
need quickly.

22. WHEN DO YOU WRITE SPEECHES?
Most importantly, all debaters take extensive

notes during speeches. This is called
flowing. Taking careful notes is absolutely
essential to be able to respond to arguments
made by the other side (and to remember
what you said earlier in the debate).

23. WHEN DO YOU WRITE SPEECHES?
how to structure these
Learning
notes will give you an automatic
way to organize your speeches.
MAKES FLOWING THIS
EASIER FOR
EVERYONE

24. will talk more about that
We
later.

25. 1AC (FIRST AFFIRMATIVE CONSTRUCTIVE)
speech of the debate.
First
TALK FAST!!

26. affirmative team lays
The
out their proposal and why
they think that their
proposal would have
advantages over the current
system.

27. INHERENCY
Inherency (factual
description of the current
situation—points to laws
responsible for current
problems)

28. SIGNIFICANT HARMS
(outlines
Harms
problems with the
current situation)

29. PLAN
 Plan (short statement of what the affirmative
team plans to do about the problems they
outlined)
 Needs to start with the Resolved.
 Resolved: The United States federal
government should substantially increase
social services for persons living in poverty in
the United States.

30. PLAN
LET’S SAY IT
TOGETHER!!

31. SOLVENCY
Solvency (reasons why
the affirmative plan will
solve the problems they
outlined)

32. 1NC (FIRST NEGATIVE CONSTRUCTIVE)
The negative responds to the 1AC.

After you graduate from novice, there will be a large

number of arguments that you can use on the negative.
For now, you need to pick out arguments from the

packet.

33. 1NC (FIRST NEGATIVE CONSTRUCTIVE)
basic strategy is to
Your
demonstrate that the problems
caused by the affirmative plan
(disadvantages) are more
substantial than the benefits of
the plan (advantages).

34. 1NC (FIRST NEGATIVE CONSTRUCTIVE)
 To do this, you need to both respond
to the affirmative case

35. 1NC (FIRST NEGATIVE CONSTRUCTIVE)
and demonstrate that it would cause

substantial problems.

36. 2AC (SECOND AFFIRMATIVE CONSTRUCTIVE)
The main goal of the 2AC is to respond to all of the
arguments made in the 1NC.
The 2AC needs to go point by point and respond to
each of the case arguments.
The 2AC also needs to go to each off case
argument, group the position, and respond to the
argument.

37. 2AC (SECOND AFFIRMATIVE CONSTRUCTIVE)
Most of the 2AC is original but you can write out

arguments that you would like to use ahead of time.
Look at each DA in the packet and pick out arguments

that you would like to make in response.

38. 2AC (SECOND AFFIRMATIVE CONSTRUCTIVE)
Remember that you made arguments in the 1AC that will

be applicable. Extend any 1AC arguments that will help
you beat negative positions—there is no sense reading
cards that repeat earlier ones.

39. 2NC (2ND NEGATIVE
CONSTRUCTIVE )
1NR (1ST NEGATIVE
REBUTTAL )
 These two speeches are the only ones
given by the same side back-to-back. It
is nicknamed the “negative block.”

40. 2NC (SECOND NEGATIVE CONSTRUCTIVE) &
1NR (FIRST NEGATIVE REBUTTAL)
Your job is to respond to each argument made

by the 2AC on the positions that you plan to
extend.

41. 2NC (SECOND NEGATIVE CONSTRUCTIVE) &
1NR (FIRST NEGATIVE REBUTTAL)
Your goal is to continue to defend a winning

package
(such as a DA and case defense, so that you can
argue that the DA outweighs the case in the

42. 2NC (SECOND NEGATIVE CONSTRUCTIVE) &
1NR (FIRST NEGATIVE REBUTTAL)
 The2NC and 1NR should divide up
flows and decide what each person will
extend.
How do you make the decision?

43. 2NC (SECOND NEGATIVE CONSTRUCTIVE) &
1NR (FIRST NEGATIVE REBUTTAL)
 After
the 2AC but before CX (so that the 2N uses
CX as productive prep time), the negative team
should take a moment of prep to discuss who will
extend which argument.

44. 2NC (SECOND NEGATIVE CONSTRUCTIVE) &
1NR (FIRST NEGATIVE REBUTTAL)
 Keep in mind that the 1NR has less time to speak
but more time to prepare—it is often wise to give
them the argument that will be the most prep
intensive.

45. 1AR (FIRST AFFIRMATIVE REBUTTAL)
The 1AR builds on 2AC arguments + can make

new answers to anything new brought up in
the negative block.

46. 1AR (FIRST AFFIRMATIVE REBUTTAL)
The 1AR does not have to extend every 2AC

argument--there simply will not be time!
 Instead, focus on arguments that you are both
ahead on and that will win you the debate.
 For instance, winning that the affirmative does
not link (will not cause) the disadvantage is
much more important than winning a nit-picky
point.

47. 2NR (SECOND NEGATIVE REBUTTAL)
The goal of the 2NR is to extend a winning

package. If you prove that the aff plan is, on
balance, a bad idea, then the judge will vote
negative.

48. 2NR (SECOND NEGATIVE REBUTTAL)
You should begin with this overview that

explains why the impact of the DA outweighs
the case.

49. 2NR (SECOND NEGATIVE REBUTTAL)
REMEMBER! When
you extend you
have to say HOW it
outweighs
Refute every 1AR argument made on the DA

and case arguments that you wish to extend.
 This is where you point out dropped arguments
and how you answered the aff’s case.

50. 2AR (SECOND AFFIRMATIVE REBUTTAL)
The goal of the 2AR is to extend a winning

package. If you prove that the aff plan is, on
balance, a good idea, then the judge will vote
negative.

51. 2AR (SECOND AFFIRMATIVE REBUTTAL)
You should begin with an overview that explains

why the impact of the case outweighs the DA.

52. 2AR (SECOND AFFIRMATIVE REBUTTAL)
Build on previously made affirmative arguments.

You do not need to win every point but you do
need to a) win arguments that defeat the DA, and
b) prove that your case is a good idea.

53. ACTIVITY
In the mean time, can we have four more volunteers to

give each speech?
1AC: Make a statement about why the federal government

should provide health care to persons living in poverty.
1NC: Refute the point made by the 1AC and make an

additional point about why the plan is too expensive.
2AC: Defend the point made in the 1AC and answer the

expense argument made by the 1NC.
2NC: Continue the attack on the 1AC.

1NR: Continue supporting your additional point about why the

plan is too expensive.
1AR: Respond to the previous two negative speeches.

2NR: State why your arguments are more correct than theirs

and why the judge should vote for you (and avoid spending
too much money).
2AR: State why your arguments are more correct than theirs

and why the judge should vote for you (and help the poor even
if it is expensive).

54. WHAT ABOUT CROSS-EXAMINATION?
For your first tournament, preparing for cross-

examination is your lowest priority. Debates are
won or lost during the speeches. Cross-
examination is important and we will work on it
later, but for now, just think about your speeches.

55. WHAT ABOUT CROSS-EXAMINATION?
Make up cross-examination questions on the spot.

If you get totally stuck, you can always ask the
other side to clarify their arguments. It might not
be an exciting exchange but it will fill the 3 minutes
while your partner is preparing to give a speech.

56. INFORMATION OVERLOAD?!
Imagine having someone describe a football

game to you if you had never seen a ball or the
field, let alone an actual game.

57. INFORMATION OVERLOAD?!
That is a little what it is like to have a debate

described to you.

58. INFORMATION OVERLOAD?!
The best way to learn is by actually doing it.

Attend as many tournaments as possible, as
soon an possible. Novices learn a TON from
participating.