Being an adjudicator for the CSDA,
1/ engage the other team, there is nothing worse than not hearing a debate and rather two teams doing two speeches.
2/ if you are affirmative, you have right of way, as negative, it is your job to convince us otherwise, at the same time, affirmative has the right to first definition, and unless its not refuted properly, it WILL remain for the remainder of the debate. As negative, you must offer a reason as to why you want to change the definition.
3/ debate as 51% not 100%. Debating extremes is one way to fail number 1, but say, "even if we take the oppositions case to be true, x is contradictory" somewhere along those lines, you want to show that the opposition is wrong, based upon their own arguments.
4/ dont read, it is the most annoying thing ever. learn and practice, in front of a mirror or otherwise, how to use points and not write out a full speech.
5/ go for the trunk, that is, dont pick off the examples, rather go for the main argument.
hope that helped
