#politicaldebate

Sat through this public speaking comp last week and couldn't stop thinking about the split in tactics.. Like literally half the speakers had index cards taped to their wrists while the other half just winged it??? The judges kept saying 'adaptability is key' but the card-people had such tight messaging... Hmm. One guy with a 500yr-old teleprompter setup (yea that's a thing) nailed every stat about healthcare costs... But the girl who just...chatted? Her energy got the crowd on her side... So why does formal training always stress structure if loose delivery makes better connections?? I'm prepping for my own event next month and now I'm confused... Any debaters here have strong opinions?