Nats Advice from Damien alum

[Nate Wong]

Below is an email from Trevor Chenoweth regarding Nationals & his experience. He was my year in high school and debated with Andres Gannon at Damien. That year they were TOC semi-finalists as well as finishing in the top 8 at Nats, where I believe they were both top 14 speakers. I believe all of his advice (except for maybe the part about the detailed plan) is extremely helpful for Nats. The notes on perception, speed, and reasonable args are all spot on for Nats.

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from Trevor

I hope this isn't too late but yes there were some things I found particularly helpful.

First, your advice about creating a perception that one is in control of the round as well as the arguments. By this I mean maintaining a calm, collected ethos, and not allowing the other team to make one exasperated.

Second, maintaining at least the perception that one's arguments are reasonable. This one might as well be translated into: only read arguments that are very very reasonable and clearly possible.

Third, the plan needs to be much more specific and detailed than it normally might be in a faster debate. We probably could've followed this advice better...

Something that we found useful at least at NFLs in June was keeping it as a rule that we would always speak slower than the other team in front of judges more comfortable with slow debate. Not only was this an insurance policy if we found that the judge expected a slower debate, but many times I think it also resulted in the perception that we were simply more calm and in control of the proceedings.

Again, thanks very much for your help. I also appreciate your message you sent after NFLs. It was truly one of the nicest things anyone has every said to me in debate. I can't really form words to express my feelings about that kind message.

-Trevor

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Nate Wong

USC '12, B.A. International Relations

Legal Clerk at Wolf, Rifkin, Shapiro, Schulman, & Rabkin, LLP