Effectively Using Prep Time

What Is Prep Time?

Each team is assigned three minutes of total prep time.
- The three minutes do not have to be taken all at once.
- If the other team requests prep time, you can also use that time to prepare.
Prep time can be used for CPR:
- Consult with your partner.
- Prepare for unscripted speeches.
- Review evidence from your opponent’s arguments.

The prep time stopwatch does not start until the team has received the requested evidence.
Why would you want to ask to see evidence?
- If a statistic sounds too good to be true.
  - Evidence could be unintentionally misconstrued.
  - This could be a new study that is critical to the debate topic.
- If a piece of evidence was unclear or new.
  - Get clarification right from the primary source.
  - Write down the author and year if a new piece of evidence could be useful.
- What happens if you opponents cannot produce a requested piece of evidence?
  - All evidence must be properly cited BEFORE the debate round begins.
  - Therefore, if a team cannot produce a piece of evidence, it is customary that they drop that impact or statistic from the round and ask the judge not to consider it.

When speaking second (Con)
- After the Pro side constructive speech
  - You can prepare your rebuttal.
  - The Pro team has not heard your arguments yet and won’t be able to effectively use this time.
- Before the Con Final Focus
  - The Pro team has given all their speeches already, so they cannot prepare anything.
When speaking first (Pro)
- Before the Pro Summary
  - This speech is critical to respond to the Con team’s refutations.
Effective for both speaking first or second (Pro & Con)
- Before a Crossfire
  - If there is an essential question to be asked, this is the time to tell your partner.
- Before the Rebuttal
  - The rebuttal is the longest unscripted speech, so it is a great idea to plan out responses.