Tournament Time!Tournament Time!

Hawk DebateHawk Debate

What is your image?What is your image? The ancient Greek Aristotle wrote in his The ancient Greek Aristotle wrote in his Ars Ars

RhetoricaRhetorica of the value of Ethos. Ethos is the of the value of Ethos. Ethos is the origin of our word origin of our word ““ethicsethics”” and refers to the and refers to the credibility of an orator. Many things credibility of an orator. Many things contribute to the credibility of a speaker: contribute to the credibility of a speaker: gestures, eye contact, personal experiences, gestures, eye contact, personal experiences, tone of voice; but for new debaters the tone of voice; but for new debaters the fastest way to attain fastest way to attain ““ethosethos”” is by studying is by studying the conventions of competitive debate – the the conventions of competitive debate – the clothing, the speaking style, the methods of clothing, the speaking style, the methods of organization and dozens of other organization and dozens of other conventions unique to this culture.conventions unique to this culture.

The Culture of DebateThe Culture of Debate

The culture of competitive high The culture of competitive high school debate is heavily influenced school debate is heavily influenced by the cultures of Law, Politics, by the cultures of Law, Politics, Academia and others. Increasingly it Academia and others. Increasingly it is influenced by technology. If you is influenced by technology. If you make yourself a student of this make yourself a student of this culture you can use the knowledge culture you can use the knowledge you have to become a successful you have to become a successful competitor. competitor.

Caution!Caution!

As you become a student of this culture, As you become a student of this culture, be careful about whom you choose to be careful about whom you choose to model. Make the distinction between model. Make the distinction between what is what is ““coolcool”” and what is successful. and what is successful. Make the choice between what is Make the choice between what is efficient and what is unethical. efficient and what is unethical. Remember to use the lens of an Remember to use the lens of an experienced debate judge; what might experienced debate judge; what might seem seem ““coolcool”” at school or at the mall may at school or at the mall may seem ridiculously ignorant at a debate seem ridiculously ignorant at a debate tournament (and vice versa.)tournament (and vice versa.)

The Power SuitThe Power Suit

These are the most politically powerful men in the world – That they are all wearing the “power suit” is no coincidence!

Dressing for CompetitionDressing for Competition

The NationalChampions know theValue of the power suitToo.

2005 National Champions2005 National Champions

What does your tie say about What does your tie say about you?you?

Dressed for success?Dressed for success?

If this guy can wear a tie . . .If this guy can wear a tie . . .

One of these doesnOne of these doesn’’t match. t match. . .. .

At tournaments, the people still wearing their suits are Winners – they are still competing in semi-finals or finals.The kids who change into their clothes for the bus ride Home haven’t won much and don’t expect to receive anyAwards on stage.

Ladies, do you have the Ladies, do you have the look?look?

All business.All business.

Suits You.Suits You.

TheyThey’’re not just patriotic, re not just patriotic, theythey’’re at Nationals.re at Nationals.

The Good NewsThe Good News

You do not need a wardrobe of dozens of You do not need a wardrobe of dozens of suits and ties. Most debaters have one nice suits and ties. Most debaters have one nice suit for competition and just change out the suit for competition and just change out the shirt or tie for the next day. You will see shirt or tie for the next day. You will see different judges every hour, they will not different judges every hour, they will not ““keep trackkeep track”” of what color shirt you have on of what color shirt you have on – they will just want to see that you are – they will just want to see that you are appropriately dressed for the hour that you appropriately dressed for the hour that you are competing in front of them. are competing in front of them.

Shop around – nice suits are usually Shop around – nice suits are usually available on sale for a reasonable price.available on sale for a reasonable price.

Tempus Fugit!Tempus Fugit!Get a timer – buy one or ask your coach for a loaner. Debaters who are serious about winning are prepared with the right tools.

*take the timer with you to the podium, so your judge canflow instead of calling outtime

*time your own and your opponents’prep to promote accuracy and honesty

*budget your time within a speech so you don’t drop arguments

*budget your prep so you save mostof it for the 1AR (or other)

*time your own extemp draw timeso you can practice your speech time

*label your timer with your name and school name, keep up with it

Be on Time: An Important 1st Impression

Watch your schedule and the postings of times at the tournament.

Set your alarm carefully.

Get a buddy to give you a wake up call.

In hotel: set alarm AND get a wake up call from the front desk.

FLOW!!!

Don’t stop if you miss something. Pre-flow what you will say in response!

Inexperienced debaters say, “I don’t need to flow. I just can’t write that fast. I can’t think that way. I can remember it all. I tried to flow but then I stopped.” Strangely enough, at state and nationals, everyone flows. In varsity division, “they weren’t even flowing” is a synonym for an easy win. Even if you are not great at flowing, you do not want to reveal this to your opponents. Flow, and fill in your gaps as best you can. It is a sign that you will win.

I’m sure glad I have two colors of ink to

flow.

I’m using blue paper so my flow

won’t get lost among the

evidence on the table.

Timer

Water

What to BringWhat to Bring

Meal money for snack bar food or a team Meal money for snack bar food or a team meal on the way to the tournamentmeal on the way to the tournament

Several colored pens for flowing and flow Several colored pens for flowing and flow paper for 6-8 rounds of debate (about paper for 6-8 rounds of debate (about 50+ pages of paper)50+ pages of paper)

Your laptop, power cord and flashdriveYour laptop, power cord and flashdrive Water bottle and a snack in case you Water bottle and a snack in case you

don’t have time to eat between rounds.don’t have time to eat between rounds. Phone & charger, timerPhone & charger, timer

Call Home!Call Home! You can be disqualified at some You can be disqualified at some

tournaments for ringing cell tournaments for ringing cell phone (and its inconsiderate of phone (and its inconsiderate of other participants.)other participants.)

Tell your parents that you will Tell your parents that you will need to turn off the phone, and need to turn off the phone, and call them when the tournament call them when the tournament is over.is over.

Call your parents when the bus Call your parents when the bus is on its way, so they can pick is on its way, so they can pick you up quickly and your you up quickly and your exhausted coaches can get exhausted coaches can get some sleep.some sleep.

Remind your teammates to turn Remind your teammates to turn off phones during competition.off phones during competition.

Awards CeremonyAwards Ceremony Wear your professional attire to receive Wear your professional attire to receive

your award on stage.your award on stage. Be a gracious winner. Smile. Applaud for Be a gracious winner. Smile. Applaud for

others. Congratulate your opponents.others. Congratulate your opponents. Tradition holds that a standing ovation is Tradition holds that a standing ovation is

given for each 1given for each 1stst Place, State Qualifier at Place, State Qualifier at TFA Tournaments.TFA Tournaments.

Applaud for each award and represent our Applaud for each award and represent our school by sitting together.school by sitting together.

Shake with your right hand, accept trophy Shake with your right hand, accept trophy with your left.with your left.

Your MissionYour Mission As you begin your competitive career watch As you begin your competitive career watch

the winners. Observe final rounds whenever the winners. Observe final rounds whenever you can and watch everything – how they you can and watch everything – how they speak, how they organize, how they interact speak, how they organize, how they interact with judges. Do be critical as you observe with judges. Do be critical as you observe and weigh any practice with your own sense and weigh any practice with your own sense of decorum and balance what you see with of decorum and balance what you see with your coachyour coach’’s advice. Watch other winners in s advice. Watch other winners in fields unrelated to debate – winning golfers, fields unrelated to debate – winning golfers, winning politicians, winning generals. winning politicians, winning generals. Extrapolate what you learn to inform your Extrapolate what you learn to inform your debate career.debate career.