Victory Briefs
Three Ways to Make the Most of Debate Camp by Adam Torson
Many of you will be attending a summer debate institute, and just about everyone will be a better debater for the experience. But, some people undeniably get more out of camp than others, simply because of the attitude and approach they bring with them. Here are three tips to help you make the most of your camp experience.
Three Tips for Competing at NFL Nationals by Adam Torson
It’s that time of year when debaters from across the NFL world prepare rigorously (more or less) and make their way to NFL Nationals, this year held in Indianapolis. While Nationals is always a fun time, you’re also there to compete, and the tournament is substantially different than most of the tournaments you’ve attended. With that in mind, here are three things you can do to improve your chances of having competitive success at Nationals.
The Risk of Affirmative Overstretch by Stephen Babb
It’s impossible not to understand the temptation for Affirmative debaters to crowd the 1AC with as much stuff as possible. And yes, there’s good reason to maximize the value of those precious six minutes.
But that’s where people start to disagree—what exactly should we be stuffing that 1AC with?
The trend of late has looked a lot like a Jackson Pollock drip painting—a lot of splatter with no rhyme or reason—we’ll call it “overstretch.” Read more →
Why Local Tournaments Matter by Stephen Babb
I distinctly remember reaching a point in high school at which attending local tournaments came to feel like more of a burden than opportunity. To be sure, my sentiment was and is shared by a number of students and coaches alike.
Reasons to feel this way abound, of course. The judging at local tournaments is typically inconsistent at best. The competition may be less of a challenge when compared to national invitationals. And it should go without saying that traveling across town is rarely as exhilarating as packing one’s bags for New York, Los Angeles or Chicago.
These instincts aren’t wrong—they’re just incomplete. They fail to acknowledge the unique advantages of debating locally, benefits that affect both students individually and our broader community. First and foremost, these tournaments are opportunities to build rapport with other teams, coaches and judges that you can actually interact with face-to-face on a regular basis. Given the extent to which debate has thrived as a virtual online community, it’s easy to forget it can thrive in real communities as well. There’s no limit to the kind of good these relationships can do for you, both in terms of debate and in terms of life. Read more →
Debate and the Virtue of Humility by Adam Torson
It’s hard for people who haven’t experienced it first hand to understand the transformative potential of participation in debate. We aspire to teach rigorous and critical thinking during a time when students are experiencing rapid cognitive development, both in terms of intellect and personality. This is a tremendous opportunity, but also a tremendous responsibility. I firmly believe that debate can play a major role in shaping a student’s self-identity. But, the lessons we learn in the activity don’t stop when the timer goes off. That means that everyone who participates in the community has a responsibility to think about what we want the debate experience to be. What follows is an attempt to address part of that question.
