The Atlanta Urban Debate League is committed to providing excellent debate education programs, services, and opportunities to diverse students, educators, and members of the community!
Congratulations! Moving up to Junior Varsity from the Novice division is quite the accomplishment, so pat yourself on the back. There are some key differences between the two divisions, from the kinds of people you’ll be getting judged by to the amount of evidence you’ll have to work with. You’ll also be up against tougher competition.
You’ll get more arguments than in Novice, which may be additional advantages to the affirmative plan, disadvantages, counterplans, or kritiks. You may even receive a second affirmative!
You’ll get some more experienced judges in Junior Varsity. The newest judges get assigned to Novice debate, so you’re more likely to have an experienced judge, a coach, or a former debater in this division.
You’ll need to start flowing on multiple sheets of paper to keep all the arguments in the debate organized. This will help you give overviews and do line-by-line refutation.
Debates still follow the same speech order and last for the same amount of time.
You’ll still have to debate four rounds – two affirmative, and two negative – at each debate tournament.
You’ll still use the evidence packet and all the arguments from Novice will still be available.