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Team Dynamics 4: Member Speeches


This is part of a series on team speaker dynamics. Read the other articles here:

Team Dynamics 1: General Considerations

Team Dynamics 2: Leaders Should Lead

Team Dynamics 3: Opening Speeches


Let’s continue working through the parli round to see which personas work best where.

MGC: The Shield

The MGC defends the government case, suggesting that the entire LOC was a waste of time. 

Remember, the PMC is the Oracle. That means the judge already heard everything she needed to hear. The LOC was pre-refuted. A good member will argue in a way that protects the memory of the PMC, making liberal use of phrases like “as my partner already pointed out …” Members cross-apply arguments and make hay out of drops. Best case, the speech ends with the judge thinking: “If the LO had listened more carefully, he wouldn’t have said any of that.”

The Rogue shines in this speech. He can get away with an irreverent dismissal of opposition arguments, perhaps cracking jokes along the way. He builds good will to protect the government through the opposition block.

In general, rogues are great in defensive roles. A rogue with good time management makes a lethal 1A in policy debate; he can tear through a 13-minute negative block in a way that no other persona can.

MOC: The Anvil

The MOC defends the opposition case, setting up the LOR with the strongest possible options. 

In the first half of the opposition block, the MO isn’t under the same pressure that the MG is. He still wants to offer a strong and thorough refutation, but he’s less concerned about the strategic layer because that will come in the next speech. In this speech, more than any other in the round, getting a logical advantage is a priority. 

Logical advantages have nothing to do with speaking styles and can be achieved equally well by any persona.

The unique challenge of this speech comes as much in the timing as the content. We’re now about two-thirds of the way through the round, and the judge may well be overwhelmed and confused. This is a great opportunity for a Counselor. Slowing down, clarifying, and connecting with the judge will reap big rewards. 

Done well, the MOC will feel like a breath of fresh air in a loud and stuffy debate. A counselor MO will say (in tone, not in words): “I’m so sorry that the government is yelling at you and trying to scare you. Don’t worry. You don’t have to vote for them, and I won’t let them hurt you. Everything is going to be fine.”


In the next article, we’ll explore the final two speeches.


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