Comments for Victory Briefs http://victorybriefs.com Analysis | Evidence | Arguments. Thu, 10 May 2012 16:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on A Summer Debate Calendar by Stephen Babb by Stephen Babb http://victorybriefs.com/2012/05/a-summer-debate-calendar-by-stephen-babb/comment-page-1/#comment-3165 Stephen Babb Thu, 10 May 2012 16:06:00 +0000 http://victorybriefs.com/?p=18873#comment-3165 Lawrence, I think a lot of people find themselves in situations very similar to what you're describing. Local and national circuits alike have their own kinds of baggage, along with their unique benefits. I think having the chance to experience both to some degree is certainly ideal, at least whenever possible. In terms of fitting your style to more or less incorporate the best of both worlds, I think attending a broader array of tournaments and going to camp are your best bets. That can be easier said than done depending on how your team works, what your schedule looks like and all the other logistics involved. I think it also helps to watch rounds online (e.g. rounds from TOC)... especially if you really spend time studying what's happening in those rounds. Feel free to shoot me an email, and I'd be more than happy to talk to you some more about this. You can reach me at babb@victorybriefs.com. Lawrence, I think a lot of people find themselves in situations very similar to what you’re describing. Local and national circuits alike have their own kinds of baggage, along with their unique benefits. I think having the chance to experience both to some degree is certainly ideal, at least whenever possible.

In terms of fitting your style to more or less incorporate the best of both worlds, I think attending a broader array of tournaments and going to camp are your best bets. That can be easier said than done depending on how your team works, what your schedule looks like and all the other logistics involved. I think it also helps to watch rounds online (e.g. rounds from TOC)… especially if you really spend time studying what’s happening in those rounds.

Feel free to shoot me an email, and I’d be more than happy to talk to you some more about this. You can reach me at babb@victorybriefs.com.

]]> Comment on A Summer Debate Calendar by Stephen Babb by Lawrence Zhou http://victorybriefs.com/2012/05/a-summer-debate-calendar-by-stephen-babb/comment-page-1/#comment-3163 Lawrence Zhou Sun, 06 May 2012 21:34:00 +0000 http://victorybriefs.com/?p=18873#comment-3163 I am a debater from Oklahoma, meaning more classical and a limited amount of styles which I debate against. I follow this page constantly, always checking and looking for new tips and tricks that could help. The issue is that I don't like the standard National Curcuit style for issues that you yourself point out (ie arguments with no impact, and focus on argumentation at the expense of communication), but at the same time, our classical style also has issues (ie lack contention level debate, lack of topical debate and being too focused on "who's running Locke better"). I would like to learn about the styles that get bids to the TOC because it encourages better argumentation and allows me to combat people who like to run kritiques, disads, plans, etc, but it is difficult to attend bid tournaments, out-of-state tournaments (other than Nationals), or out-of-state camps. What is your suggestion for an inexpierenced debater who wants the remain classical in the sense that he wants to focus on the framework and prioritize good communication of arguments over argumentation itself, but at the same time, move towards a style that doesn't lose focus on topic specific arguments, good warrants, and contention-level debates? Are there good websites or books that you suggest or would you suggest actually trying to attend national level tournaments and out-of-state camps? (By the way, big fan of yours.) I am a debater from Oklahoma, meaning more classical and a limited amount of styles which I debate against. I follow this page constantly, always checking and looking for new tips and tricks that could help. The issue is that I don’t like the standard National Curcuit style for issues that you yourself point out (ie arguments with no impact, and focus on argumentation at the expense of communication), but at the same time, our classical style also has issues (ie lack contention level debate, lack of topical debate and being too focused on “who’s running Locke better”). I would like to learn about the styles that get bids to the TOC because it encourages better argumentation and allows me to combat people who like to run kritiques, disads, plans, etc, but it is difficult to attend bid tournaments, out-of-state tournaments (other than Nationals), or out-of-state camps. What is your suggestion for an inexpierenced debater who wants the remain classical in the sense that he wants to focus on the framework and prioritize good communication of arguments over argumentation itself, but at the same time, move towards a style that doesn’t lose focus on topic specific arguments, good warrants, and contention-level debates? Are there good websites or books that you suggest or would you suggest actually trying to attend national level tournaments and out-of-state camps? (By the way, big fan of yours.)

]]> Comment on What Position Will Win the TOC? by Rebar Niemi http://victorybriefs.com/2012/02/what-position-will-win-the-toc/comment-page-1/#comment-3162 Rebar Niemi Wed, 02 May 2012 18:40:00 +0000 http://victorybriefs.com/?p=18564#comment-3162 in response to native americans plan with no specific solvency advocate. in response to native americans plan with no specific solvency advocate.

]]> Comment on What Position Will Win the TOC? by Rebar Niemi http://victorybriefs.com/2012/02/what-position-will-win-the-toc/comment-page-1/#comment-3161 Rebar Niemi Wed, 02 May 2012 18:39:00 +0000 http://victorybriefs.com/?p=18564#comment-3161 ummm stand your ground da with no topic link? ummm stand your ground da with no topic link?

]]> Comment on What Position Will Win the TOC? by anon94 http://victorybriefs.com/2012/02/what-position-will-win-the-toc/comment-page-1/#comment-3160 anon94 Tue, 01 May 2012 23:29:00 +0000 http://victorybriefs.com/?p=18564#comment-3160 which one was it? which one was it?

]]> Comment on The Risk of Affirmative Overstretch by Stephen Babb by Adam Torson http://victorybriefs.com/2012/04/the-risk-of-affirmative-overstretch-by-stephen-babb/comment-page-1/#comment-3155 Adam Torson Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:45:00 +0000 http://victorybriefs.com/?p=18868#comment-3155 Totally agree - so much of the time the Aff spreads itself. The other problem with overstretched 1ACs is that it just takes time to extend things - even if the time needed to get out that claim/warrant/impact isn't substantial on any given argument, they add up when you have to extend like 6 arguments instead of 3, and every second of the 1AR is precious. Totally agree – so much of the time the Aff spreads itself. The other problem with overstretched 1ACs is that it just takes time to extend things – even if the time needed to get out that claim/warrant/impact isn’t substantial on any given argument, they add up when you have to extend like 6 arguments instead of 3, and every second of the 1AR is precious.

]]> Comment on Debate and the Virtue of Humility by Adam Torson by Jake Nebel http://victorybriefs.com/2012/04/debate-and-the-virtue-of-humility-by-adam-torson/comment-page-1/#comment-3153 Jake Nebel Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:55:00 +0000 http://victorybriefs.com/?p=18850#comment-3153 Agreed Agreed

]]> Comment on Why Local Tournaments Matter by Stephen Babb by Lance Allen http://victorybriefs.com/2012/04/why-local-tournaments-matter-by-stephen-babb/comment-page-1/#comment-3151 Lance Allen Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:45:00 +0000 http://victorybriefs.com/?p=18855#comment-3151 I agree. Tell the coaches too! There are some places that just have no local tournaments, because the teams in the area have all opted to head to national tournaments. It makes it hard for the university in the area to do any recruiting. Many Seniors have no idea we have a team because they have spent their entire career debating in different states. I agree. Tell the coaches too! There are some places that just have no local tournaments, because the teams in the area have all opted to head to national tournaments. It makes it hard for the university in the area to do any recruiting. Many Seniors have no idea we have a team because they have spent their entire career debating in different states.

]]> Comment on Why Local Tournaments Matter by Stephen Babb by Al Hiland http://victorybriefs.com/2012/04/why-local-tournaments-matter-by-stephen-babb/comment-page-1/#comment-3149 Al Hiland Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:50:00 +0000 http://victorybriefs.com/?p=18855#comment-3149 I also think this comment needs to go to coaches as well as debaters. I have noticed a tendency for high school coaches to prioritize national travel to the exclusion of local tournaments. While there are some good reasons for this, limited resources, prestige, etc., it has the result of limiting possibilities. When I was coaching in Iowa in a program that was unable to afford national travel we often had difficulty finding places to compete. The lack of attendance at a number of tournaments due to the preference for national travel had caused many locals to die on the vine. Where possible I think coaches need to make it a priority to support locals with attendance to help keep these tournaments (and the teams they support) alive. I also think this comment needs to go to coaches as well as debaters. I have noticed a tendency for high school coaches to prioritize national travel to the exclusion of local tournaments. While there are some good reasons for this, limited resources, prestige, etc., it has the result of limiting possibilities. When I was coaching in Iowa in a program that was unable to afford national travel we often had difficulty finding places to compete. The lack of attendance at a number of tournaments due to the preference for national travel had caused many locals to die on the vine. Where possible I think coaches need to make it a priority to support locals with attendance to help keep these tournaments (and the teams they support) alive.

]]> Comment on Why Local Tournaments Matter by Stephen Babb by Adam Torson http://victorybriefs.com/2012/04/why-local-tournaments-matter-by-stephen-babb/comment-page-1/#comment-3147 Adam Torson Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:45:00 +0000 http://victorybriefs.com/?p=18855#comment-3147 Another advantage to devoting some time to debating locally is that you are forced to explain what the technical concepts you employ actually mean. "The Alt to the kritik is the counterplan, so when I perm the counterplan the kritik just becomes a non-unique disad." To a lot of really smart people that sentence is non-sense. Sometimes having to explain the meanings of technical concepts more fully improves your own understanding so as to make those concepts easier to apply in non-debate settings. Another advantage to devoting some time to debating locally is that you are forced to explain what the technical concepts you employ actually mean. “The Alt to the kritik is the counterplan, so when I perm the counterplan the kritik just becomes a non-unique disad.” To a lot of really smart people that sentence is non-sense. Sometimes having to explain the meanings of technical concepts more fully improves your own understanding so as to make those concepts easier to apply in non-debate settings.

]]>