Top 10 final tips

One.

Before the round, read through the entire team’s case and not just your own speech because you need to be clear on your team’s stance and direction to avoid contradictions

Two.

Do not be over-reliant on your rebuttal sheet. Listen carefully to the opponents &  their specific line of reasoning to decide what the relevant responses are (be it by extracting from the rebuttal sheet or thinking of new ones on the spot)

Three.

Time management – have discipline: know when to move on. If you are tasked to push 2 arguments, you have to make sure you cover them and fulfil your role!

1. If you are running out of time, drop points that do not provide new material eg examples and statistics.

2. Before the round, highlight points that you definitely need to say – on the floor, if you run out of time, say the highlighted parts and pass the rest to your next speaker to extend. This is to prevent judges from discreting your material for coming out too late

Four.

If you don’t know how to deal with a POI, respond confidently, “I’ll deal with this later,” After your speech, write the POI down and a rebuttal for your next speaker. @next speaker, you have to try to integrate this into your speech

Five.

What if you don’t understand the POI? Well, chances are – if you don’t understand the POI, the judges probably don’t know either. Just respond confidently, “I don’t understand your POI. I don’t see how it’s relevant.”

Six.

Communicate with your teammates and help each other (this applies to reserves as well)

1. E.g. identify and discuss what’s the most dangerous argument by the opponent that you and your subsequent stickers have to deal with

2. What’s something that needs to be pushed harder?

3. What are some things you realised you have missed after your speech → integrate it into your subsequent speakers’ speeches.

Seven.

Signposting! As you move from one part of your speech to the next, signpost!! E.g. “Before I move on to my substantive, I have a few rebuttals for the house”. Afterwards, “Now that I have taken down their case, I’ll be moving on to my argument.”

Eight.

Drink a sip of water before you start. This helps to calm you down and is really good for your throat.

Nine.

Maintain contact! If it’s too scary to look at the judge straight in the eye, you can look at the gap between the 2 judges :)

Ten.

Slow down and remember to breathe.

Good Luck!