What to bring to your first tournament

Posted by Danny

November 29, 2007

Students trying NFA-LD for the first time may wonder what they should bring with them to their first tournament. Parli is a bit easier since a pad of paper, pens, and maybe a dictionary would probably get you through your first tournament. NFA-LD on the other hand is different. Here is what I suggest bringing with you:

10-13 Pocket Expando file folder to store your evidence
3 Copies of your Affirmative Case.
2-3 Generic Topicality Violations
2-3 Generic Disadvantages
Generic Negative Evidence
Timer
10-12 pens
Flow pad / note paper

We have examples and free downloads of all of the evidence recommendations here
.
Expando File
I feel that NFA-LD timing is setup to discourage the use of many files during the round. Beyond the first two speeches debaters rarely read evidence in the next two speeches. Indeed, I would recommend only reading 3-5 cards in your 2nd speeches and (especially for the negative) spend more time on rebuttal and weighing out the round. Beyond 10-13 files I doubt you’ll need much to survive your first tournament. I feel this is a positive aspect of the event because it reaches a nice balance between the need to research (cut cards/have files) and the need to be persuasive and practice good argumentation, public speaking, and comparative analysis.

Affirmative Cases
Regarding the Affirmative case copies: One for you to read (that can be marked up/highlighted/include notes to yourself (such as “Look up!”), One copy to give to your opponent (a good tip is to print this on colored paper – yellow perhaps – so that you can make sure to get it back at the conclusion of the round) and one copy to give to your coach to hold on to in case you lose your affirmative case during a round.

Topicality/Rule Violation Positions
The topicality violations will help you in any debate round where the affirmative case is way outside the topic and you probably have no disadvantages that link, generic negative evidence that applies, or negative evidence against the case. These help keep NFA-LD down the middle of the topic and fair for everyone.

For this topic I’d recommend having a good definition of Greater Horn of Africa, substantially increase, and of each of the three topic areas (economic development, human rights protection, or public health).

Generic Disadvantages

You’ll want at least one disadvantage that links to any US aid to Greater Horn of Africa. This will give you at least something to argue in every round. The more unique the disadvantage the stronger you’ll be in the round. Remember that the judge is supposed to adjudicate based on a cost-benefit analysis – your Disadvantage is the “cost” the judge uses in judging the round. The African Economy disadvantage works well on almost all cases that increase $$$ to the Greater Horn. It’s not the best DA by any measure but it’s something!

Generic Negative Evidence

On this topic it’s not to hard to find generic arguments on why aid to Africa is bad. There are a few briefs available in the evidence section that talk about how aid leads to corruption, waste, etc. When all else fails you’ll have something to say generically that aid causes problems!

Good luck!

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