At the Whitman Classic, we provided one minute of preparation time before the LOC, MG, MO, and PMR.
We did a Survey to see how people felt about this. Not a huge response rate but here’s what those survey responses said:
|
|
|
Novice Debater |
Junior Debater |
Senior Debater |
Policy Debater |
Coach |
Judge |
Top 100 NPTE Parli Debater |
|
Before |
Great |
7 |
1 |
9 |
|
1 |
|
5 |
|
Okay |
|
|
3 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
Neutral |
1 |
|
7 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
Not so Good |
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
Bad |
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
After |
Great |
7 |
|
10 |
|
3 |
1 |
5 |
|
Okay |
|
1 |
5 |
|
3 |
1 |
|
|
|
Neutral |
1 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Not so Good |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bad |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Generally, this preparation time is liked.
It appears to be particularly like by Novice debaters (they commented repeatedly on how it gave them time to get their arguments together and not feel so frightened) and by top 100 NPTE ranked parli debaters. Others were generally pretty good with this preparation time but a lot more neutrals appeared in response to its use.