2A – Defending the Rebel AllianceAlejandres GannonUC Berkeley

Section 1 - Preparation

Anticipate the 1NC• What does this team usually read• What are common strategies against your

affirmative• What coaches are they speaking to• What do their cards look like• Short politics cards• Multi-colored cards• Un-highlighted cards

• Are they scrambling or “business as usual”

Paperless “Accordions”• Hats, Headers, and Foldies• Alphabetical vs frequency of use• Avoid unnecessary cards• Duplicate where necessary

Role of the 1A during the 1NC• Let the 2A prepare• Backflow the 2AC• Cards from non-core aff files• Thoughts on cp texts

Keep up with the 1NC• Prep during the 1NC as the 1NC is making

arguments• If you fall behind, leave that aside and get caught

up, don’t let a backlog develop• Don’t stand up until you understand every

argument you’re answering• Always flow every single card and analytic

argument on case

Section 2 – The 2AC

Avoid the Upset• Upsets happen when the 2AC doesn’t fully

understand a 1NC argument• Upsets happen when the 2AC doesn’t read

offense

Proper 2AC OrderClassic• Topicality• Case• Counterplans/kritiks• Disadvantages in descending threatAdvanced• Topicality• Case• Counterplans/kritik• DAs in Nike Swoosh order

Internal Clock• Know your time allocation before you give the

order• Call out predictable teams• Do not base it off of 1NC time allocation• Stick with your pre-speech time allocation• Places to save time• Topicality• Case• Bad arguments

Make Your Best Answers First• First arguments on each page should be part of a

winning strategy• Longest and best cards• Establish credibility early with the judge

Offense• Phrase every argument offensively• Make every argument count• Time sucks suck

Counterplans• Make all relevant (winnable) theory arguments• Always perm• Specify solvency deficits• Differentiate each advantage and each mechanism• Quantify each solvency deficit so it can be weighed

against the net-benny• Identify and challenge the net-benefits

Disadvantages• Don’t read two cards that make the same

argument EVER• Differentiate your tags

• Negative block has a 2:1 or 3:1 time ratio based off of the 2AC

Kritiks• Pre-empt 2NC cheating and nonsense• 1NC kritik will never be the 2NR kritik• Leave nothing unchallenged• Defend the house• Don’t forget about your 1AC• Identify and research the theories the 1AC defends/relies

on

Section 3 – The Cross-x

1NC Cross-x• Keep your mouth shut• Anything you want asked, write it down for the 1A

to ask it• Let the 1A make a list of evidence indicts to tell

you during prep or to bring up with you during your speech

Section 4 – The 2AR

Before the 2NR• Start prepping out answers to the best possible

2NR• Write out impact overview using the context of

the debate• 2NR won’t make many new arguments there• Circle the arguments that the 2NR has to answer

to win the debate

Before the 2AR• Start with the 2AR moment• Take a step back and evaluate the big picture• Look over your flow after you’ve written your 2AR

out so you remember what you’re saying• Have the 1A get evidence cards for you• Give the 1A 30-45 seconds at the beginning of

prep to share their thoughts• Have the 1A look over your overview to make it

more efficient

2AR Moment• What is the nexus question• Argument that will decide the debate• Where are you winning• Where are you losing• What argument will decide every other• Tie everything other argument back to the 2AR moment

• Find it early, find it often• First words of the 2AR are first words of RFD

Choose• Go for 3 arguments• Don’t extend every argument you have• Keep track of the 2AR moment and don’t stray too

far from it• Better to win 100% of 3 arguments than 49% of 7

arguments• Apply the arguments you’re soundly winning to

everything else on the flow

Admit defeat• You will not 100% of the arguments in the debate• Making concessions to the negative on arguments

you are losing will gain trust with the judge and give credibility to other claims you are making

Don’t be obsessed with direct response• Keep track of the big picture• Only answer the arguments that matter/are

relevant• Tell the judge why you’re ignoring certain

arguments or why they’re answered elsewhere

New arguments• Beauty of the 2AR• Justify them• Tie them back to 1AR language• 2NR didn’t compare two arguments or explain why a

particular argument was wrong which puts the burden on the 2AR to now make that comparison• Arguments are not new if they are based off of 2NR

mistakes that the 2AR should have the right to capitalize on

Implicate• 2AR is all about saying why your arguments

matter• Choose your strongest point and make it more

important or relevant to the judges decision than your opponents strongest point

• Be confident in your ability and after the debate• Be passionate