First Prop. Sorry, it has to be done

1. First Prop. Sorry, it has to be done A few tips on everyone’s favourite position.

2. Patronising stuff you will already know Two main types of debate: policy and analysis. In an analysis debate, there is no need to specify a mechanism (unless it is THBT X Country Should...)etc 1st Prop’s job is to define what the sides will be arguing about, and to start arguing about it. It’s a bad idea to ‘prop the status quo’ – normally the point of a debate is to change things.

3. Definition Tips You should be thinking about the mechanism as soon as you’ve got the main principle of your argument – what needs to be done to make sure you’re doing what you want to do; are there any pitfalls you can avoid? Think of first opp’s obvious responses, and mech for mitigation: e.g. In situations where you may face coercion arguments against you, mech in information provision and counselling to ensure the most informed choice possible.

4. Actors “This House” is not always the British government. When an actor in International Relations debates, often bear in mind that RealPolitik plays more of a part than what’s good for everyone. When making arguments about helping people, the source of those moral duties should be explained. Analysis motions have no actors, but may still need mechs, criteria for success etc. Different actors have different interests, often debates come down to what the interests of the actor e.g. ‘the feminist movement’ is. Make a claim on this if it is not obvious and could become a clash.

5. In Prep Work out your problem and your mechanism/definition etc. Then start prepping constructive arguments. Give the important points to your 1st Speaker. Make sure they have enough to fill their speech. Your 2nd Speaker can then make his/her speech on rebuttal, stuff that the 1st Speaker said badly, and new less important material. 2nd Speaker will have not much to do in the final 4/5 mins or so – they should prep pretending they’re 1st Opp. This helps you work out if you need to add to your mech, and gives you more time to prepare obvious responses.

6. In Prep Try as hard as possible to starve 2nd Prop of arguments. Often what happens to 1st Prop teams is they get forgotten, and a good 2nd Prop takes over. Try to work out what the holes in your case are, and have a way to combat the way that opposition will inevitably attack them. However, don’t ‘prebut’ – opposition may not make those arguments, so don’t go giving them ideas.

7. POIs in 1st Prop Your main weakness as 1st Prop is an inability to engage with arguments further down the table As a consequence, speakers in 1stProp should endeavour as much as possible to take points of information from closing opposition This gives you time to get at more of the opposition case. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, in 2nd half training we will be telling you not to hand out your case in a POI, so this won’t work against good 2nd half teams.

8. POIs in 1st Prop Often early on a 1st Prop 1st Speaker’s speech, he/she may be given a ‘Point of Clarification’, advertised by ‘Clarification, sir?’ or ‘Point of Clarification?’ etc. You should take this point, always. It means ‘I don’t understand your definition/want a bit more info on your mechanism’ and it leads to a messy debate if unanswered. As well as taking POIs, give a lot out as well, so your contribution to the debate isn’t forgotten by the end.

9. After your speeches The debate is not over. Prep POIs Do not: POI in anger POI a tiny bit of the debate that really doesn’t matter. POI arguments made by 2nd prop Do: Think of a justification of why you’re winning, and POI it (this is essentially explaining why your arguments have beaten the opp bench.)