Second Affirmative Rebuttal (2AR)

The Second Affirmative Rebuttal, or 2AR, is 3 minutes long. It is the final speech of the debate.

Here, the 2AR must reply to the 2NR and summarize the round.

Tips

First, don’t treat it merely as a shorter version of the 1AR. The 1AR is a mad dash to cover the 1NC, but the 2AR has a different job – collapsing and summarizing the round. The 2AR needs to make sure it’s spending some time summarizing the round and crystallizing. When choosing what to go for, choose based on the strength of the original argument and how the 2NR handled it.

Second, don’t try to match the 2NR argument-for-argument. The Neg’s job is to make the round bigger, while the Aff wants to make it smaller. Go for a couple of core arguments that you explain and weigh properly.

Third, strike a balance on new arguments. The 2AR is not allowed to be completely new, since it is a final rebuttal. However, this doesn’t mean that the 2AR cannot spin arguments or make new extrapolations. The way to justify this quasi-newness is to frame it as a reaction to the 2NR, since the 2AR is, of course, allowed to answer the 2AR.

Fourth, go for only one core ballot story. Just as the 2NR shouldn’t extend several offensive routes to the ballot and should collapse, the 2AR deals with a similar situation. The Aff will likely not have time to go for multiple reasons to vote for them in the 2AR. Instead, it is prudent for the Aff to choose their battles and go for a few core arguments.