TECH/SOFTWARE
Kankee Briefs has several debate tech projects that we are proud to host here. These projects are works in progress and may have some technical issues; please forgive us for any errors.
​​
These include major projects that are highly valuable to read into, and minor projects that may or may not be valuable depending on your debate workflow. If you need clarification on anything below, please email us at karkingkankee@gmail.com
MAJOR PROJECTS
Debate Hotstrings
AutoHotKey allows us to write "hotstrings" and "hotkeys" that will automatically insert text when a key phrase is entered. Typically this is used for minor things like spell check or more quickly filling in emails/phone numbers, but we have added several debate specific add-ons to Windows that are helpful tools both in and out of debate rounds.
​
Kankee Briefs has produced hotstrings to automatically insert debate document formatting, theory answers, and theory arguments via debate hotstings. Whenever you need to make a new document or insert answer to (or make) a theory argument, our debate hotstrings will insert and format it in Verbatim instantly, avoiding the need to find your theory file.
​
Click the button below to download our debate hotstrings executable and source code. Run the executable file before a tournament and you can use hotstrings until you power off your computer.
​
See the explanation in the article linked here for a more in-depth explanation. See tip number 4 entitled "Autohotkey is Your Friend"​
​
Kankee Briefs-Circuit Debater-Haku Collaboration
Our volunteers at Kankee Briefs are collaborating with the web developers at Circuit Debater and the programmers who designed the card search engine Haku to revamp the LD Circuit Debater Wiki.
Our goal is for Circuit Debater to be a one-stop shop for all debate knowledge as opposed to being disaggregated and fragmented across thousands of debaters, hundreds of coaches, and dozens of websites. Everyone has an obligation to give back to the debate community, but not everyone can coach after graduating. Circuit Debater is an outlet so that anyone can contribute their knowledge base from their debate career to the larger debate community.
​
If you have useful knowledge, particularly if you focused on a specific subset of kritik, philosophy, or trick literature that is all too often esoteric and/or non-intuitive, please assist other debaters' learning and make debate broadly more fair.​
​
We are updating Circuit Debater in primarily in three ways:
​
1. Diagrams: The update will include visual mapping of closely related Wiki pages to show connections between similar concepts and allow easier navigation between pages.
For instance, while reading the wiki page on plan inclusive counterplans (PIC), nearby pages related to counterplan competition and the consult counterplan (an example of a plan inclusive counterplan) will be recommended. Similarly, the root concept of counterplan can also be navigated to, which will then link to other types of arguments.
​
​
​
​
​​
​​
​​
​​
​​
2. Literature Review: The update will also include an outline of commonly used cards for certain arguments via the Haku API card database.
For instance, when reviewing a wiki page on utilitarianism, debaters can look at BOTH example cases that presume or argue for utilitarianism AND the most common cards used to justify utilitarianism.
​
3: Updated Wiki Pages: The Kankee Briefs volunteer staff is both editing Circuit Debater and urging other institutions to also contribute. Already Kankee Briefs has copied helpful advice and explanations of arguments from our website onto Circuit Debater. If organizations and debaters set a new norm of updating Circuit Debater whenever new practices or norms emerge, it will serve as an educational resource for everyone, regardless of how successful they are in the debate community.
MINOR PROJECTS
1
Argument Tracker/Calculator
These are two separate Excel spreadsheets to assist block file creation. When scouting arguments read by other debaters, you would list all potential block-worthy arguments in the Argument Tracker to make a to-do list for your block file. Then you can sort the table by "commonality" and "yes/no blocks cut" to better prioritize your time while cutting blocks.
​
If you are unsure of how common an argument is, while scouting, tally the number of times each you find encounter each argument. The Commonality Calculator will rank what arguments you are most likely to encounter again on average.​
​
For further clarification, linked here is an explanatory article.
2
yEd Topic
Flowcharts
To assist file creation, Kankee Briefs is utilizing diagramming software called yEd. This allows us to visually map out topic concepts, common arguments, and any potential connections in-between. To aid debaters' understanding of topic literature, ​Kankee Briefs now has yEd as a visual supplement for what would otherwise be a purely textual topic analysis. These graphs are also editable, so you can use our yEd graphs as a baseplate, adding connections from your own topic research that is useful for you.
​​
For further clarification, linked here is an explanatory article.
​
Below is a download link for the yEd software alongside a Google Drive link where all our yEd flowcharts are stored
3
Topic/File Release Google Calendar
To assist debaters with scheduling, Kankee Briefs has created two shared Google Calendars. The first is the Topic Calendar, which lists the dates each topic is debated and when new topics will be released. This calendar also includes notifications for topic release dates so you are not caught by surprise by new topics.
​
The second is the File Release Calendar. Kankee Briefs has a somewhat odd release schedule. This is due to our practice of releasing our AT File after debates already started. To receive reminders on when new files will be released, add our File Release Calendar to your Google Calendar.
Alternatively, sign up for our email list here so that our files to arrive in your inbox directly.
4
New Season Standardized Folder Template
With exceedingly rare exceptions, most debaters do not enter the debate community to strategize about ideal file explorer folder structure. However, time to prep against your opponents arguments is extremely limited and ought not be wasted by bad organizational skills.​
​
A standardized folder structure sets a debate squad up for success, both during the current debate season and in future seasons for backfiles. Varsity debaters can teach novices where they can consistently find files like briefs or tournament updates.
​
Additionally, numeric labels allow fast file explorer navigation via a keyboard. These improvements may seem marginal, but a substantial portion of your debate career is navigating folders and saving files, so even the smallest improvement matters.
​​
​
​
​
​
For further clarification, linked here is an explanatory article.
5
Debate Terminology Word Logger
Competitive debate has a wide spectrum of lingo and terms of art that all too often are confusing for even the most experienced debater. Arguments in debate cover virtually any topic, no matter how complex. Regardless of how difficult it may be, good debaters learn the lingo, whether it is topic specific or debate specific.
​​
With the Word Logger, whenever you encounter a new term, instead of Googling its definition, press the Word Logger hotkey to add the term to an Excel spreadsheet. Treat the list as your own personal dictionary of words you need to memorize so that you can better debate a topic.
Additionally, these terms can be exported to flashcard apps like Anki or Quizlet, easing your studying of terminology. Debate is more then cutting cards; fundamentally, it is a competitive test of knowledge and the ability to articulate that knowledge, which means you need to know what you're talking about.
​
For further clarification, linked here is an explanatory article.​​​
6
Debate Mouse
Hotkeys
One of the best quality of life improvements for my card cutting was buying a MMO gaming mouse with several side buttons and reprogramming them to the Verbatim function keys. I cannot credit the YouTube video that showcased this idea, but the side buttons massively improved my card cutting rate and my ability to construct speech docs in-round.
​
Below are links the Amazon product page of the mouse I use, a link to download the mouse drivers, and my debate specific mouse profile.
​​
If that brand does not work for Windows 11, look at other reprogrammable MMO mice and follow the general thought process explained above.
​
NOTE: if you can find the original explanatory YouTube video, please email us at karkingkankee@gmail.com and I will update this description to also link to that video
7
Forthcoming
Kankee Briefs is always looking for means of improving the lives of fellow debaters. Check back with this web page in the future to see if we come out with anything new.