Speaking+Skills

=Speaking Rules / Guidelines= toc

Flow speak
1. Every argument, carded or analytic, should have a good tag – relatively short, important words first, etc If a short tag is a problem, do the best you can and add a second (or more for K goo) explanatory sentence. Analytic arguments should have a tag and explanation, just like a carded argument has a tag and card.

2. Give off-case arguments a name. (T – curtail, Politics DA, Cap K, Courts CP) Don't just start with subpoints. To transition between pages: pause, say loudly and slowly "(now) on" and the name of the argument, and pause again.

3. Pause and breathe before and after each tag (before the cite). Do not pause between the cite and the card

4. Tags should be read louder and at half to three-quarters speed.

Speed
5. Start at half speed and build up to full speed over about 15-20 seconds.

6. Cites and cards can be read at full speed if necessary – but you should emphasize important words and be sure to enunciate. Read the card content with normal inflection.

7. Everything else – explanation, analytics, plans, counterplans etc should be read at no more than three-quarter speed

8. If clarity is a problem, over enunciate and get louder.

9. Do not speak in the rhythm of body movement. Standing still is usually best.

10. As an experiment, time yourself for a few minutes going as fast as you can. Then read the same stuff at what feels like about three-quarters speed. You'll be surprised at how little more time it takes you. This is especially true if the "fast as you can" includes disfluencies and double breathing

Breathing
11. Remember to breathe before and after tags

12. Do not double breathe – it slows you down, especially because it is so much less efficient that it forces you to breathe more often. Better to stop and breathe. That may seems like a long time, but it's not.

13. If you need to breathe in a card, do so at a punctuation mark

Volume / Audibility
14. Remember to be louder and slower on the tags

15. Be LOUD – that forces you to enunciate

16. Do not get quiet on the content of cards

17. Get as close as comfortable to the judge as you can.

18. Make sure that there is nothing (like a computer screen) between your mouth and the judge. Lower the computer screen, stand at a slight angle, etc.

19. Think about these things ALL the way through your speech.

20. Remember bad debaters just try to go fast (and usually aren't because of double breathing and disfluencies); good debaters try to be clear so that the superiority of their arguments is understood.