Preparation time, or “prep time”, is a critical component of competitive debate. It refers to a set amount of time that each team is allotted to use between speeches to prepare their upcoming arguments, review their notes, consult evidence, and strategize with their partner. Effective use of prep time is an important skill for debaters to master.
In Public Forum debate, each two-person team has a total of 2 minutes of prep time to use as they see fit over the course of the entire debate round. This is a combined total for the team, not per speaker. So, if one speaker on the team uses 1 minute before their speech, their partner will only have 1 minute remaining to use later in the round. Deciding when and how to allocate this limited prep time is a key strategic consideration.
Constructive speeches are pre-written, so prep time should not be used before delivering a constructive speech.
After the constructive speeches, it is generally advisable not to use prep time, if possible, for Rebuttals. Ideally, debaters should come into the round prepared and not need to use prep time this early. If debaters are prepared with Rebuttal blogs, they should not have to use prep time.
This said, if debaters are unprepared for an argument made in constructive speeches, they should take some time to come up with responses. If they don’t the other team will win this argument.
Following the rebuttal speeches, debaters will often use some prep time for Summary but should try to be judicious with it to ensure they preserve enough time for the critical final speeches. Debaters may want to consult their flows, evidence, or confer with their partner during prep before a rebuttal speech to crystallize their key refutations. for the Summary But they should aim to keep it brief and focused.
The summary and final focus speeches are where debaters will usually want to use the bulk of their prep time. These speeches require debaters to narrow down the key arguments they are winning, strategically frame the debate, and persuade the judge why they should vote for their side. Crafting a compelling narrative and isolating the most important issues requires careful thought and preparation. Spending a full minute (or more if any remains) before these speeches to synthesize the round and clarify the path to victory is often a wise investment.
In addition to allocating prep time thoughtfully, there are a few other key tips for maximizing its utility:
– Focus prep on generating the arguments you need to win, not just responding to everything.
– Have a clear, unified strategy with your partner going into prep.
– Avoid wasting prep on tasks that could be done before the round, like finding evidence.
In the end, the team that is most efficient and strategic with their prep time usage will often have an advantage. By thinking carefully about when and how to deploy their precious prep minutes, debaters can elevate the quality of their arguments and give themselves the best chance at victory. Mastering prep time allocation and usage is a critical skill in competitive debate.