Interactive Blog Game: Don't Fear the Clock! All debates can be stressful, but cross-examination ones, where we most often using timers, are typically the most fear-inducing. The competition feels more dramatic anyway, but as soon as that timer starts people often get tongue-tied and don't know where to begin or how they can possibly fit all that they need to say into such a small window of time - or at least, what feels like a small window of time. Often debaters find themselves rushing to say everything they want to say, and then they end up having time left over and having to click off the mic early! There's absolutely nothing wrong with clicking off early if you've really said all you want to say, but if you rushed, tripping and tumbling over everything in fear of the clock, you're allowing the pressure to take you over, and this not only makes you feel bad, but harms your argument by limiting it. An awesome thing you can do if you have prep time beforehand is to practice your speed. Even if you don't know what your time limit will be on the day of the debate, you can at least get an idea for the speed of a normal, authoritative voice. You can record yourself reading your speech and think how it could be made better, and what pace sounds good to you and for you. Secondly, during the actual debate be sure to watch the time as you go. Don't stare at the timer religiously and miss out on key parts of your notes/speech, but keep an eye on the clock so you aren't surprised. This is so important to controlling your speed. If you watch as you go, you should be able to predict how long you can afford to concentrate on the important parts, and what pace you need to go out to make everything sound even and not too fast or slow. Superspeed may seem like a great idea at the time when everything is counting down, but if your audience can't understand a word you are saying, there is absolutely no point in trying to fit in all those extra words. One other thing that I also personally find helpful is having "option bits" - extra sentences, or even paragraphs, written down just in case I do have enough time to speak them. Sometimes you don't have extra allowance, so you should say all your main stuff first, but if you suddenly look at the timer and find yourself with an extra minute, those extra options are fantastic ways of propelling yourself forward and really using the time to your advantage. Even if you don't have time beforehand to write down another full speech "just in case", writing down topic ideas or quick research notes you can read at a glance give you starting points and extra ammunition. At the very least you can often use these options for rebuttals and during questions if they help your case. The final main tip is: don't freak out about it! Panicking during debates is never really a good idea anyway, but especially over something like time. You don't want dead air and you don't want to be cut off, but you know what? In the end, it's ok. The more you worry about it the more chance you will go too quickly or too slowly just as you were afraid of. Keep an eye on the clock for sure, but concentrate on what's most important: doing your best. Here's how it's going to work: Below this introduction I'm going to post some special questions and activities for you to work on. After you've read the challenges you'll have to post your answers in the comments. Submissions will end at 7pm (so no posts after that will count) and the first person to get all of them right will get to have three fun facts shared about them at the next meeting and on the blog, and they will get an extra vote to say who won our next debate. All players will be mentioned at the meeting! Finally, if you've skipped the introduction I suggest reading it because there will be a few questions about it on the quiz! Good luck debaters, and havvvveeee fun! On your marks, get set, go! TEXT VERSION OF QUESTIONS:
1.What was the final main tip? 2.What is one other thing that I personally find helpful? 3.If you watch as you go, you should be able to what? 4.What is an awesome thing you can do if you have prep time beforehand? 5.Is there anything wrong with clicking off the mic early during a timed debate? Yes or no? 6.In the beginning of the introduction I referred to a small _____ of time – fill in the blank! 7.In the end of the introduction I said you don’t want ____ air and you don’t want to be cut off. Fill in the blank. 8.You should “keep an eye on the clock for sure, but…” What was the rest of that quote? 9.This answer is subjective and essentially there is no wrong one. What do you personally like or want to try to do to stay on a good time during a timed debate or speech? 10.At the very least you can often use options for what if they help your case?
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