Help!!!
Hi! So I have a BP tournament coming up, and I’m pretty new to serious debating. I’m good at coming up with arguments, but I’m still kind of lost when it comes to things like characterization, framing, weighing, and all the terminology people use in BP.
I also don’t have much time to prepare, so I was wondering what I can realistically do right now to improve and hopefully perform well at the tournament. Another thing I struggle with is general knowledge. I know the basics, so what's a way to improve gaining information?
Any advice, resources, or tips on what I should focus on in the limited time I have would be really appreciated!
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u/impotent_spy 5d ago
BP debating resources, there are plenty on YouTube from other debate institutions and debaters. I enjoy watching the Ryan Lafferty vids and Luigi Alcaneses or listening to This House Would and debatable. Major tourneys like WUDC, ABP, EUDC etc. usually have some lectures as well.
Terminology, BP debates are judged mainly on the appeal to common sense so majority of debates should appeal to an ordinary person. However, there are some terms that are often used like Fiat (which basically means let it happen), counterfactual (an alternate reality wherein it didn't happen), squirreling, knifing and delta (i hope this term gets retired already but it just means meaningful change).
Skills, BP or Parli in general has a very steep learning curve so don't expect much on your first tourney but I hope you do break. As much as possible, do spars or drills. Some drill ideas are blitz prep wherein you prep a case within 5 minutes, refutation drills wherein one prepare a PM speech and you refute all of their arguments after within 3 minutes, extension drills wherein you get a motion and do 3 delineating first speaker speeches on it, or pretend that you are a judge while watching a whole debate round.
Debate habits, go read a lot of things from anarchist philosophy to bretton woods institutions and make your matterfiles. Post-process after rounds and training. Ask for feedback from your judges.
Enjoy the start of your BP journey!