Introduction to Replies by Gemma Buckley

Reply Speeches

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Basics
• 3-4 minute speech at the end of the
debate.
• Happen in reverse order (neg then aff).
• Delivered by either your 1st or 2nd
speaker.
• Summary of the debate and why your
team won.
• Reflective (past tense), sound objective.

Aim of replies
• Not like any other speech in a debate.
• About why your side won, not why your
side is right (subtle difference).
• Biased adjudication.
• Changes depending on the debate:
sometimes to win back a debate,
sometimes to hold the lead, sometimes
to minimise margin.

Cont.
• Refocus the debate/re-characterize the
clash and issues
• Add focus to the debate


Method
• ONLY HAVE 3-4 mins so structure is vital.
– Don’t give too much depth to arguments.
– Minimal intro
• Like anything, no right or wrong way, just less
good ways.
• Usually have 2 themes, questions or areas of
clash. (You will run out of time for 3)
• Don’t just reuse your 3rd speaker’s themes.


Matter
• Depends on the debate: See types of replies
• Usually use it to either
– Win back lost issues
– Increase importance of won issues
• Look for things that are clear fails from
opposition
– Contradictions/case shifts
– Lack of responses or missing analyis


Manner
• Very calm, very reflective.
• Remember, the debate is over, you are
just telling us why you are better than
them... Keep the claws away.
• Use past tense.
• Calm does not mean inaudible or boring


Neg Block
• The negative team gets 12 uninterrupted minutes...
– Negative teams should use this carefully.
• Don’t summarise in 3rd neg... It’s a waste.
• Smash key issues at 3rd, win things back, push
winning points harder, then reply them good.
– Affirmative teams should prepare for this.
• Summary in 3rd aff is really important now.
• Don’t respond to 3rd neg or neg reply, but be
cautious of what issues that have won back.


Yours or theirs?
• Focus on your case when:
– You are in the winning position
– When you had a strong positive case, but
weak rebuttal of opp (nothing you can do
about it now)
– When they had strong rebuttal and you
need to remind the judge what your case
looked like before it fell apart
– Usually when you are Aff

Cont.
• Focus on their case when:
– When your positive case was crap, or less
important
– When you had strong rebuttal and they
failed to rebuild/respond
– When the opposition made bad tactical
errors (were inconsistent, case
shifts/slides, liberal with concessions)
– Usually when you are Neg

Basic Reply
• Gives a clear summary of the debate
• Has two themes: principle and practical
• Works for most debates, but especially
when you feel you are winning
• These are a safe option
• You should all start here


Narrative Reply
• Takes you on a journey in the world
where the policy is implemented.
Chronological order: before (problem,
principles), during (practical stuff), after
(long-term benefits/harms)
• Best done from the Aff, where the focus
is your own case, and why you were
successful at proving it.

Cont.
• Most effective in model heavy debates, which
have become a messy fight about practicality
(implementation and outcomes)
• Good to reintroduce the bigger picture
discussion when the debates has been
focused on niggly issues


Narrow Reply
• Most replies attempt to cover whole
debate
• Sometimes it can be tactical to focus on
minor issues or smaller parts of the
debate


Cont.
• Should be used when: you feel your
team has won the biggest issue, and
you want to minimise the significance of
all other issues
• Or when your opposition has made a
key tactical error which you want to
exploit


Cont.
• You would usually employ when you
feel the debate is weighted against you,
or you feel you are losing in the reply.


Broad Replies
• Attempt to summarise the entire debate
• Usually becomes a list of arguments
you have won
• Score lots of hits on arguments you lost
• Should be used when you feel you have
won lots of minor issues, but perhaps
are losing the core issue


Things not to do
• Say “we won because...”
• Rebut or add New Material
• Get uppity
• Repeat 3rd speaker
• “they said, we said”
• Falsify arguments/responses
• Claim there was no response

Judging?
• You can award a debate based on reply
• It can certainly affect the margin
• You can use the range (Ave: 37.5,
Range: 34 – 41)
• Be skeptical, check for factual accuracy
• One place where judge can enter
debate – was the reply accurate?


Cont.
• Reply is a part of the case, it
contributes or detracts from overall
persuasiveness of the case
• A winning reply will change your
perception of the overall
persuasiveness of the case


Introduction to Replies by Gemma Buckley

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