Steven Elliott competed for Lakeville North High School for four years. He was an NCFL Extemp Finalist in 2008, a three time Minnesota state finalist, the champion of the Glenbrooks in 2009, and placed 4th in International Extemp at last year’s National Tournament. He was also a participant in the 2010 MBA round-robin. Steven attends American University in Washington, DC where he is majoring in International Studies.
The Glenbrooks is one of the most competitive national circuit tournaments of the year, and was always one of my personal favorites. During my senior year, I discovered that the tournament also has a few…rather odd features that are worth addressing, as they affect one’s strategy going into the event. Without further adieu, here are some of the more unique things you’ll face at the Glenbrooks:
1. The questions. They’re mixed. They’re not all that different than most you’d encounter at any other tournament, but there is something about them (especially as the rounds progress) that just seemed different. For a lack of a better way to describe them, many of the questions at the Glenbrooks are specific…but not. What I mean is, the questions never ask you about very specific events, people (besides some standard international leaders you should know about), or obscure nations (no Cameroon questions), but do focus on issues that you may not have previously considered/dealt with. For example, I drew questions that focused on the Japanese Space Program, the German green car industry, Chavez’s popularity in Columbia, and the GOP in California. However, the way these questions were phrased was always extremely broad, (think, “What does the future hold for…”) allowing you to tailor your answer around pretty much whatever you want. That said, many of the questions are very standard. It’s a mixed bag—or envelope.
2. The cut. It’s sometimes very shocking who does, and doesn’t make Quarterfinals at the Glenbrooks. It’s a difficult break, and sometimes people get screwed along the way. If I learned anything during my Extemp career, it was that you can never predict how your round went with any accuracy, and this is especially true at the Glenbrooks. If you have a rough round, you never know how you did. Don’t try and gauge it. The judging at this tournament is very unpredictable, moreso than any other tournament I attended, with the exception of NFLs. Just try to be fluent, make sure you answer the question beyond any doubt, and attempt (if you can) to craft a clever/memorable intro. That said.
3. If you can avoid it, never answer an overtly political question. If a question focuses on what the GOP should do now that they’re in power, or how the Dems can rebound, avoid it like the plague at the Glenbrooks. This is especially true because the midterms have just happened, and we live in a very politically polarized country. I discovered that the judges at the Glenbrooks (at least last year) were very hard on those of us who attempted to analyze the world of party politics.
4. The prep room. It’s hard to find. It’s kind of a hike to get there. It will become your home if you do well. I recommend prepping within view of a window. There’s no reason why…I just always liked looking out windows…
Good luck. Remember to breathe. Know that interpers lurk just around the corner, and that the food is pretty bad (but they do have good smoothies, if I remember correctly). Use your last week of prep to immerse yourself in international sources. Be up to date on what’s going on in the US. Get a good pump up song, though steer clear of Miley Cyrus (trust me). Most of all, learn, and have fun. Enjoy your time in Chicago!
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