Moot Court: Professionalism

Let’s explore what judges are looking for in a Moot Court competitor.

Moot CourtDrew MagnessDecember 9, 2019Moot CourtComment

Moot Court: Beginning the Journey

Many students don’t even know where to begin.

Moot CourtDrew MagnessDecember 2, 2019Moot Court, ResearchComment

Special Delivery Part 5: Picking a Specialization

Remember: all specialized skills come with tradeoffs.

PersuasionJoseph AbellNovember 30, 2019persuasion, debate, speech, listen, specialization, strategy, likability, persona diamondComment

Impromptu Speaking Topics | November 2019

Impromptu speaking should be at the center of any student’s practice routine.

Speech, Speech EventsDrew MagnessNovember 28, 2019Practice topics, ImpromptuComment

Free Case: The Marketplace of Ideas

Stoa LDers are debating the following resolution: “Culture ought to value assimilation over multiculturalism.”

Case WritingJoseph AbellNovember 25, 2019ld, ncfca, stoa, debate, culture, multiculturalism, assimilation, cultural, resolution, free, case, topic, value, ace peak Comment

Special Delivery Part 4: Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses

Let’s talk about how to use your last tournament as a diagnostic.

PersuasionJoseph AbellNovember 22, 2019persuasion, ncfca, debate, stoa, likability, strategy, comments, judge, feedback, ballots, progressComment

Practice Debate Resolutions | November 2019

Check out our vault and generator for hundreds more practice resolutions!

ResolutionsDrew MagnessNovember 20, 2019Resolution, Resolution list, resolutions, PracticeComment

Picking the Right Story: HI and DI

Last time, we addressed four questions you should ask when selecting an interp piece across all categories.

SpeechLeah BuslerNovember 18, 2019stoa, ncfca, debate, interp, speech, leah, busler, coachComment

(NSDA LD) How to Disguise a Policy Case as a Value Case in 5 Steps

Previously, we discussed the biggest issue facing NSDA LD right now: policy resolutions with judges who expect value vases.

Case WritingJoseph AbellNovember 16, 2019nsda, ld, strategy, debate, debate resolution, fossil fuels Comments

Free Case: End Fossil Fuel Subsidies

This case works for both NCFCA and NSDA resolutions.

Case WritingJoseph AbellNovember 14, 2019nsda, ld, fossil fuels, debate, ncfca, stoa, tp, team policy, case, free, energy policy, substantial reformComment

The Biggest Problem Facing NSDA LD Right Now

Later this week, we’re releasing a case for NSDA LDers.

TheoryJoseph AbellNovember 11, 2019nsda, topic, resolution, ld, theory, fossil fuels, subsidy, subsidies, policyComment

Special Delivery Part 3: The Four Core Delivery Skills

Each area has tradeoffs with the other three.

PersuasionJoseph AbellNovember 8, 2019stoa, ncfca, ld, tp, nsda, persona diamond, persuasionComment

Stoa 2019-20 TP: Defining Finance Policy (Part 2)

In the last post, we uncovered the problems with typical interpretations of finance policy.

PolicyDrew MagnessNovember 6, 2019Stoa, Stoa TP, Finance, Finance PolicyComment

The Single Easiest Way to Make a Witness Cooperate

Most examiners fill cross-examination with pleasantries, filler sentences, and unnecessary fluff.

Cross ExaminationJoseph AbellNovember 4, 2019stoa, ncfca, nsda, cross ex, strategyComment

Special Delivery Part 2: Specialized Skills

With enough training, study, and practice, a debater naturally grows into the second level: specialized skills.

PersuasionJoseph AbellNovember 1, 2019stoa, ncfca, debate, res, persuasion, strategy, likabilityComment

Stoa 2019-20 TP: Defining Finance Policy (Part 1)

Two of the terms are easy to define. The third one is hard.

Policy, ResearchDrew MagnessOctober 30, 2019Definitions, Stoa, Stoa TP, Finance POlicy Comments

Using Awkwardness to Handle Squirmy Witnesses

Learn how to handle the most dreaded witness of all.

Cross ExaminationJoseph AbellOctober 28, 2019CX, NSDA, NCFCA, Stoa, debate, question, examiner, witness, cross ex, cross examination, crossfire, strategyComment

(Reader Question) Special Delivery Part 1: Universal Skills

Welcome to the first installment of an 8-part series on likability.

PersuasionJoseph AbellOctober 25, 2019stoa, ncfca, debate, case, delivery, likability, persuasion, reader questionComment

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