May 2010 - Page 3 of 3 - Extemp Central

The first day of competition at the Extemp TOC has concluded. There were a few drops, which reduced the field to 67 competitors. Quarter-finals is scheduled to go off tomorrow at 8 a.m., with an announcement of the 24 quarter-final participants scheduled at 7:30 a.m. Unfortunately, Northwestern University wasn’t very accomodating with their wireless passwords for guests across the entire campus so the live updates we had planned will likely not be able to take place. If anything changes, Extemp Central will let you know but results will be posted around 2 or 3 in the morning on Monday.

Some of the notable people competing in this year’s TOC include: Nabeel Zewail, Oscar Wang, Nathaniel Donahue, Mirza Germovic, Shaan Heng-Devan, Haydn Forrest, Audrey Denis, Emily Martin, Amelia Martin, and Kat Leung. There are others in the field, but these were some that were spotted at registration/early this morning.

Live from the Extemp TOC: Tournament Registration is Finalized

By geniao44446

On May 14, 2010

In Extemp TOC, National Circuit News

Registration for the Extemp TOC concluded several hours ago and Extemp Central can provide some information about this year’s eighth annual Extemp Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Northwestern University. This year’s tournament has 69 competitors, which is twenty more than last year’s competition. Tournament directors are attributing this to increased Texas participation in this year’s field and the lack of swine flu scares. The expanded field will allow the tournament to break to quarter-finals on Sunday. Also, unlike last year’s competition, all rounds will be held at Northwestern’s campus tomorrow and Sunday.

For those unfamiliar with the TOC, the tournament has six preliminary rounds of competition. Each round has two judges and competitors have their lowest prelim rank dropped. The first four preliminary rounds are preset and the last two are power matched. In elimination rounds, the tournament utilizes five judge panels (seven for finals) and open cross-examination. For competitors who do not make elimination rounds, there is a supplemental impromptu competition that they can enter.

Extemp Central News Quiz Answers for May 10th-14th, 2010

By geniao44446

On May 14, 2010

In Quiz

Here are the answers for this week’s news quiz. Make sure to check back late tonight for coverage from the Extemp TOC!

Massive R&D for the Extemp TOC

By geniao44446

On May 13, 2010

In R&D

With two days remaining until the Extemp TOC gets underway at Northwestern University, Extemp Central provides this long R&D with articles for extempers going to the tournament. Check in late tomorrow evening for initial coverage of the Extemp TOC. After registration, we should be able to provide numbers, names, etc. of those competing.

Rogue Thai general who aided ‘red shirts’ is shot in the head from the Los Angeles Times

Will David Cameron hit it off with Obama more than Brown did? from the Christian Science Monitor

BP’s Hayward Says Company Could Have Done More Disaster Preparation from the Wall Street Journal

Does Deep Sea Drilling Have a Future? from Der Spiegel

Afghans’ Distrust Threatens U.S. War Strategy from the New York Times

There are more articles after the jump.

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of May 11th-17th, 2010

By geniao44446

On May 12, 2010

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Should Congress tax oil companies to pay for the Gulf oil spill?
2. Will Charlie Crist be Florida’s next senator?
3. Should the U.S. rethink the use of drones in Pakistan?
4. Is Obama interfering too much in the Greek debt crisis?
5. Are furloughs of state workers illegal?
6. Was Kagan a shrewd Supreme Court choice?
7. Can the tea party sustain its momentum through election day?
8. Should Obama campaign for Specter?
9. Does an audit of the Federal Reserve significantly violate its independence?
10. Now that David Cameron is prime minister, will America’s relationship with Britain improve?

Note: I’m sorry about the delays in the posting of some information over the last week. This week has been finals week @ WKU so my attention has been taken up by that. This Thursday will feature the return of R&D for Extemp TOC topic areas.

Help a Team Get to NFL Nats via GiveYouthaVoice.org

By Logan Scisco

On May 11, 2010

In NSDA News

Help a team get to nationals!

Each year, more than 900 schools qualify to compete in the largest academic competition in the world – the NFL National Speech and Debate Tournament. This is quite an achievement, whether a team qualifies for the first time or the fiftieth.

Because of the difficult economic climate, many of our teams will face challenges fundraising for transportation, lodging, and other associated costs with this honor. For this reason, the NFL has created a secure portal, http://www.GiveYouthaVoice.org, to help our schools fundraise for the national tournament. Our goal is to help coaches raise money from the entire NFL community and draw from a national pool of support.

Can you help a team get to nationals? Visit http://www.GiveYouthaVoice.org and connect with a program that needs your support.

(via The National Forensic League)

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of May 11th-17th, 2010

By geniao44446

On May 11, 2010

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Who will be the next British prime minister?
2. Is Honduras’s Truth Commission legitimate?
3. Why are Bolivia’s unions turning against Evo Morales?
4. How can China convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear program?
5. Is Pakistan doing enough to root out terrorism within its borders?
6. Will new corrupt allegations lead to the collapse of Berlusconi’s government?
7. Should the Liberal Democrats align themselves with Labour or the Conservatives?
8. Does Syria or Iran pose a bigger immediate threat to Israel?
9. Did Nigeria handle the Yar’Adua fiasco effectively?
10. Will the violence in Greece prevent other European nations from tackling their fiscal problems?

Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of May 10th-14th, 2010 (Short Answer Version)

By geniao44446

On May 11, 2010

In Quiz

Here is your short answer Extemp Central news quiz for this week. Good luck!

Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of May 10th-14th, 2010 (Multiple Choice Version)

By geniao44446

On May 11, 2010

In Quiz

Here is your Extemp Central multiple choice news quiz for this week. Pick well and good luck!

Extemp Central News Quiz Answers for the Week of May 3rd-7th, 2010

By geniao44446

On May 8, 2010

In Quiz

Here are the answers for this week’s Extemp Central news quiz. Check back next week for a new quiz, new questions, and live updates from the Extemp Tournament of Champions at Northwestern University.

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of May 4th-10th, 2010

By geniao44446

On May 5, 2010

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Will Merkel’s decision to prop up Greece severely damage her political standing in Germany?
2. Does the formation of a governing coalition of Shia parties in Iraq undermine attempts to reconcile with the nation’s Sunni minority?
3. Will Spain’s decision to speed up banking reform prevent a Greek-style meltdown?
4. How much will Yukio Hatoyama’s flip flop on getting the U.S. out of Okinawa cost him politically?
5. Will the interim Kyrgyzstan government force the U.S. military out of the country?
6. Is South Africa prepared to host the World Cup?
7. Why has Iran agreed to make Brazil the mediator for a deal on providing it with nuclear fuel?
8. Should China do more to push North Korea towards economic reforms?
9. How can Israel be convinced to scrap its atomic weapons?
10. If the Conservatives get a disappointing election result is David Cameron gone?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of May 4th-10th, 2010

By geniao44446

On May 4, 2010

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Will the declaration of the size of the U.S. nuclear arsensal place more international pressure on Iran?
2. Is Chris Christie’s decision to replace John E. Wallace Jr. on the New Jersey Supreme Court a blow to judicial independence?
3. Does the U.S. need to find a more cost effective way to do the census?
4. How would the imposition of the “Oz law” impact future elections?
5. Will the Gulf oil spill be Obama’s Katrina?
6. Should there be a national prescription drug monitoring program?
7. How will the planned merger between United and Continental impact the airline industry?
8. Should a bailout fund exist within the financial reform bill?
9. Will boycotts of Arizona force the state to change its law targeting illegal immigration?
10. What impact will the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico have on the U.S. economy?