I. Convince and persuade, do not argue and affirm. You are in the business of persuasion, not just logic. You job is to convince. It is NOT to have the best arguments OR the most logical case; it is to PERSUADE the judge that you have the best arguments and the most logical case.

II. Always know what your role is in the debate and in your team. For example: you are defining the motion so we all know what the debate is about.

III. Debate the arguments that occur in the debate, not what you think the arguments should be. Don’t act as if what others say doesn’t matter to you.

IV. Always ask if your arguments answer the question ‘Why?’. If they do not, they are not arguments.

V. Do not rush your arguments. Arguments are like empty guns. They need a trigger (compelling explanation) and they need bullets (evidence). If you do not have these three elements, you might as well point your finger at the opposing team and say “bang bang” instead of speaking.

• (note: The order for explanation, argument, and evidence will sometimes vary, but all three elements must be present.)

VI. Always remember that evidence is an illustration of how your argument works in the real world. It is no more, no less.

VII Do not distort the opposing team’s argument in your rebuttal. Take the argument at its strongest point and demonstrate that it is still inadequate. Distortion is a temptation many debaters give in to and it usually leads to mockery or some other cheap, unprofessional take down of an argument. It can win points with the audience but rarely with the judges.

VIII. Always think twice about your questions BEFORE you ask them, and your comebacks BEFORE you deliver them. Many are the debater who has leapt to their feet with a killer question or comeback and uttered complete gibberish in place of a direct hit.

IX. DO NOT accept a point of information if you are lost and have no idea what you are talking about. Sadly, you will occasionally lose your way because we are human and debating is hard but do not cross the line that separates a human being from a foolish human being by taking a point of information at this time.

• (note: Do accept AT LEAST ONE POI. Refusing all of them makes your case look very weak. In other words, if you’ve blown it and you have to look foolish, then do it only once. Equally, do not accept every POI. This allows other teams to harass you and makes you look like you lack authority).

X. Never knife the team on your side of the debate. You ALWAYS ostensibly support government if you are government and opposition if you are opposition. You must beat these teams on the merits of your arguments compared to theirs.