Tips for Success: Originality

Making creative, original arguments may be most important for the qualifying essay portion of the contest. From the perspective of a judge, how are you going to get noticed? This judge has read a dozen essays on the same topic, so what can you write about that no one else has thought of?

Originality may also factor in your decision to submit either an Affirmative or Negative qualifying essay. If you think most teams are going to submit an Affirmative essay, writing a creative Negative essay may help your team stand out.