VBI Curriculum - Victory Briefs Institute

The VBI Curriculum

A comprehensive, personalized approach to debate education designed to help every student reach their competitive and intellectual potential

Core Skill Instruction

Master the fundamentals

Curated Instruction

Explore specialized interests

Individualized Instruction

One-on-one & small group learning

Dynamic Instruction

Diverse learning contexts

"The way the camp itself was structured was what really put it ahead of any other. The lab leaders, lectures, modules, and the housing all culminated into something so enjoyable and yet so beneficial. I personally believe this camp will be key to debate success in any debater's future."

Mentorship

"I really liked VBI because of the mentorship program; it was really awesome to meet with my mentor and mentor team everyday to check it. It was really nice to have someone rooting for you other than your lab leaders who are always willing to help. It is something really special about VBI."

At the start of camp, every student at VBI is assigned a faculty mentor based on their interests and goals. Students meet with their mentor every day to discuss their progress throughout camp. The mentor program provides continuous feedback and oversight of each student's personal curriculum.

Other camps provide mentors, if at all, only to the most experienced students or to some other subset of students. At VBI, every student has a mentor.

In addition to one-on-one meetings with their mentor, students also meet with their mentor as a group to debrief at the end of each day. Mentor teams are comprised of three or four students from different levels of experience, simulating an actual team experience. The mentor acts as the students' coach throughout camp—helping each student directly while also helping students to help each other.

VBI Mentorship

"My mentor was absolutely incredible. He debated in a way that was really interesting to me and that I really wanted to learn more about, so it was a really good fit. He was very enthusiastic and available and was willing to adapt as much as possible to do exactly what I wanted to do."

Lab

"VBI's lab leaders are the best in the nation."

Every student at VBI is placed in a lab based on their skill, experience, and personal interests. Lab acts as a student's home base, where they focus on developing core debate skills, mastering the practical application of technical concepts, and strategizing about scenarios they are likely to face during the year.

Students spend more time in lab than anywhere else, and as a result a debater's closest friends—both during camp and beyond—are often their labmates.

  • Multiple small labs of approximately 8-12 students at Novice, Varsity, Advanced Varsity, and Top Lab levels
  • Labs specializing in national circuit and various local circuits
  • Countless hours spent by Curriculum Directors placing students with ideal peers and instructors
  • Every lab taught by coaches and former competitors with proven success records
VBI Lab

"I came to VBI to get better at debate and that certainly happened. Instructors are widely available for drills, lectures are engaging and varied, and lab is an excellent anchor to your personal growth. This camp has helped me grow by leaps and bounds."

Modules

With hundreds of elective offerings, VBI allows you to design your own curriculum tailored to your unique goals and interests, under the guidance of our faculty.

VBI offers hundreds of module choices throughout the summer, with topics ranging from academic fields (economics, international relations, Kantian ethics, political philosophy) to skills workshops (research, flowing, crystallizing, weighing) and formats ranging from lecture and discussion seminar to drills and other exercises.

100+
Module Options
20+
Academic Fields
100%
Expert Instruction
VBI Modules

"VBI is one of the few places where everyone on the staff cares about making you better at debate. There's such a wide variety of staff members that know about all forms of arguments. It's really easy to individualize your own curriculum."

Socrates Hours

"I thought that VBI would be super stressful and that I would be struggling to keep up with other people in my lab, but having access to the whole staff, especially during Socrates Hours, helped me confront my weaknesses and seek to better them."

A student favorite for the past decade, Socrates Hours provide another opportunity for students to create their own VBI experience. This is our more spontaneous, informal alternative to the rigid practice of office hours.

During Socrates Hours, the VBI staff is available to answer questions, give feedback on drills, review modules, or just talk about debate. Some chats during Socrates Hours even turn into impromptu lectures.

At Socrates Hours, students can work with any VBI instructor, and most students get help from multiple instructors during any given session. Many instructors also permit, but do not require, appointments to meet at Socrates Hours.

VBI Socrates Hours

"During Socrates, all of the instructors were very helpful and answered my questions!"

Practice Rounds

"VBI makes it really clear that it isn't about how good you were, but how good you're getting. The community here never lets you forget that you're always making progress, and makes a camp that lets you have fun while improving at debate."

Lectures and drills only go so far; the best way to learn is by doing. Students participate in at least ten practice rounds throughout camp.

  • Practice rounds paired against others at similar skill level
  • In-depth post-round comments after every debate focused on concrete improvement steps
  • Written feedback sent to lab leaders and mentors to tailor future lessons
  • Qualified critics who understand how to help students reach the next level

During the season, debaters are often frustrated by incomplete judge feedback. At VBI, students receive comprehensive feedback that actually helps them improve, not just guesswork about what went wrong.

VBI Practice Rounds

"After a practice round where we tried out something we'd never done before, our instructor walked us through how we could improve for hours."

Demo Debates

In addition to their own rounds, throughout camp students observe debates between some of the best debaters in the country. Some demo debates are between staff and are moderated by senior instructors; others are between high-level students and are optional to observe.

For many students, watching another debater properly apply a concept or strategy in real debate is all they need for it to "click." Demo debates provide these crucial learning moments.

Demo debates are often used as examples for lab or mentor assignments. Attentive observation involves careful flowing, thinking about both sides' arguments and strategic choices, and simulating the round afterwards via drills in lab.

This pedagogical approach—combining direct participation with strategic observation—creates a comprehensive learning experience that accelerates growth and deepens understanding.

VBI Demo Debates

"The demo debates are super interesting experience and it's actually really helpful because I can apply what I learn to my own debating."

Ready to Experience VBI?

Join hundreds of debaters who have transformed their skills and achieved their competitive goals through our comprehensive curriculum.

Register for VBI 2026