Final Tips on Evidence

Be the expert on your own evidence. No matter how many binders or tubs or rolling suitcases of evidence you drag into a round, your evidence is only as good as your effective use of it. You must know what cards you have and have the cards well organized for easy access in round. It’s not about finding about the most and best evidence, it’s about focusing your evidence and your research energy.

Don’t add too much evidence to your case or file right before the tournament. You most likely will not remember half of it. Work on an in depth knowledge of fewer quality sources rather than having many less understood sources.

Always do additional research in between tournaments with the same topic. Never be satisfied with the evidence you have. Fill in holes in your case, your rebuttals, and find new ways to make your arguments.

If the evidence is too dense for you to understand, it’s too dense for the judge to understand. Period.

Develop a web of evidence that knits your case together. Never rely on one piece of evidence to win an argument.

Don’t look for the perfect piece of evidence – look for evidence that supports your case but accept that evidence will be debatable. There is no perfect evidence. There is no perfect evidence. Keep telling yourself this until you actually begin to believe it – the sooner the better.