Month: November 2013 Page 1 of 3

R&D by Prepd: China’s Air Defense Zone

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On November 29, 2013

In R&D

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l_2Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd, the only software built specifically for extemp. Prepd makes it easy to research, practice, and compete!  Visit www.prepd.in to learn more. Like Prepd on Facebook for special info and contests.

These tweets provide information about China’s air defense zone, which was placed over islands that China and Japan assert control over last weekend.  The move was condemned by Japan’s allies, including the United States.

 

 

 

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Thanksgiving R&D by Prepd: The American Housing Market

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On November 28, 2013

In R&D

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l_2Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd, the only software built specifically for extemp. Prepd makes it easy to research, practice, and compete!  Visit www.prepd.in to learn more. Like Prepd on Facebook for special info and contests.

Today’s tweets provide information about the American housing market.  One of the elements of the 2008 financial crisis, the housing market is undergoing a state of recovery, but some economics warn that its recovery is artificial and unstable.

 

 

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2013 Villiger Tournament: Wartel Thwarts Harrison’s Title Defense; 15 Earn TOC Qualifying Legs

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On November 27, 2013

In National Circuit Results

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Last week’s other Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) qualifying tournament was the 2013 Villiger Tournament held on St. Joseph’s University’s campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The tournament is a staple of the Northeast extemp circuit and has an impressive list of past champions. This year’s tournament had 73 entries in extemporaneous speaking and Josh Wartel of Lake Braddock Secondary School (VA), a finalist at last year’s NFL National Tournament in United States Extemp, thwarted Chase Harrison’s title defense. Wartel defeated Harrison, who competes for Millburn High School (NJ), in the final by four ranks. Third place went to Jasper Primack of Newton South High School (MA). Wartel is the first extemper from Virginia to win the Villiger Tournament since Brennan Morris of Randolph Macon Academy, who won the tournament in 2008.

Villiger had enough extempers in its field to give all extempers that made quarter-finals a qualifying leg to this year’s TOC. Four extempers earned their second qualifying leg and earned a bid to the TOC through category three of the qualifying process. These extempers were Sophia Deng of Millburn High School (NJ), Edric Huang of Stuyvesant High School (NY), Monica Mishra of the Ursuline School (NY), and Ben Tobin of Lake Braddock Secondary School (VA). Eleven other extempers earned their first qualifying leg. The extempers that earned a TOC qualifying leg at Villiger are indicated in italics.

This weekend does not feature any TOC qualifying tournaments because of the Thanksgiving break. The following week features three qualifying tournaments, headlined by the George Mason University Patriot Games Tournament in Fairfax, Virginia, which is the last big national circuit tournament of the first semester. George Mason serves as the final opportunity for extemepers to demonstrate that they are worthy of a bid to the Montgomery Bell Extemp Round Robin. Other TOC tournament that will run opposite George Mason are the George C. Armstrong Heart of Illinois Invitational in Peoria, Illinois and the Princeton Classic in Princeton, New Jersey.

Here are the results of the 2013 Villiger Tournament (Click here for tab sheets)

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Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of November 25th-December 1st, 2013

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On November 27, 2013

In Quiz

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quiz-01Here is this week’s news quiz.  Good luck!

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2013 Glenbrooks: Nellans Gives Des Moines Roosevelt Back-to-Back Glenbrooks Winners; Slater Takes Second

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On November 26, 2013

In National Circuit Results

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glenbrooksLast weekend, 96 extempers converged on Northbrook, Illinois for the annual Glenbrooks Speech and Debate Tournament, which is the largest invitational on the national circuit held by a high school program. The field featured a healthy diversity of geographic talent, which included Wake Forest and Yale champion Miles Saffran of Trinity Preparatory School (FL), this season’s Blue Key U.S. Extemp winner Lily Nellans of Des Moines Roosevelt High School (IA), and winners of Florida Extemp TOC qualifying tournaments Noah Wexler of Nova Senior High School (FL) and Daniel Greene of the University School (FL). Of this group, Nellans was the only one to reach the tournament’s final round and she won the tournament by five ranks over Gabe Slater of Denver East High School (CO). Christopher Jordan of Brophy College Preparatory (AZ), who was a runner-up at last year’s NFL National Tournament in United States Extemp, took third. This is the first time in at least eleven years that the Glenbrooks has been won in back-to-back years by different extempers from the same school. Nellans former teammate, Nathan Leys, won last year’s event. The Glenbrooks has traditionally been seen as a bellwether of the NFL National Tournament in June since four of its last five champions (Stacey Chen-2008, Dylan Slinger-2010, Bill McDonald-2011, and Leys-2012) went on to win national titles. Since 2008 every winner of the Glenbrooks has made the final round in their respective extemp category at NFL.

The large size of the tournament meant that everyone who made elimination rounds, which began at quarter-finals, earned a qualifying leg to the 2014 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Northwestern University. Four extempers, Thomas Abel of Delbarton High School (NJ), Adam Hamilton of the Bronx High School of Science (NY), Yijia Liang of Upper Arlington High School (OH), and Rohith Kuditipudi of The Harker School (CA), earned their second qualifying leg and qualified for the 2014 TOC.  Three other extempers earned their first qualifying leg.  All extempers who earned a TOC qualfying leg at the Glenbrooks are indicated in italics.

Here are the results of this year’s Glenbrooks Tournament (Click here for tab sheet):

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Common Core Standards

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On November 26, 2013

In Topic Brief, U.S. Extemp

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Last week Secretary of Education Arne Duncan sparked a firestorm over the controversial Common Core State Standards (CCSS), which are aimed at raising education standards nationwide to meet college and career ready targets.  Addressing criticism of the standards, Duncan argued that white, suburban mothers were angry because their children and schools were not as good as they felt they were.  Forces that oppose Common Core standards immediately called for his resignation and he apologized for his comments several days later.  The firestorm over Common Core standards is one of the most interesting domestic issues because it is one issue where far-left and far-right forces find areas of agreement.

This topic brief will explain the formation of the Common Core State Standards and their purpose, explore the hostility found toward the standards from liberal and conservative forces, and discuss issues that could weaken support for the Common Core in the future.

Readers are also encouraged to use the links below and in the related R&D to bolster their files about this topic.

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R&D: Common Core Standards

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On November 26, 2013

In R&D

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Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany today’s premium topic brief on the Common Core standards.

 

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HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of November 25th-December 1st, 2013

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On November 25, 2013

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

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HOTtopics1. Will the Iranian nuclear deal produce a more permanent agreement within six months?
2. How should Japan react to China’s establishment of an air defense zone in the East China Sea?
3. Do global financial regulators need more tools to counter bank runs?
4. Is Russia increasing its influence in the Middle East?
5. Will growing protests lead to the fall of Yingluck Shinawatra’s government?
6. Is it in Egypt’s best interest to have good relations with Turkey?
7. Does Chile need a new constitution?
8. Is China facing a growing jihadist threat?
9. How can the international community weaken Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army?
10. Will Brazil be ready to host the Summer Olympics?

Extemp Central wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and a great beginning to the holiday season.

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of November 25th-December 1st, 2013

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On November 25, 2013

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

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HOTtopics1. What is the state of the American housing market?
2. Is President Obama too loyal to members of his cabinet?
3. Has ethanol lost its political clout?
4. Will the “John Doe” investigation hurt Scott Walker’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign?
5. Should the United States pass more regulations against genetically modified foods?
6. Will the use of the “nuclear option” for executive branch nominations and judicial appointments improve the performance of the U.S. Senate?
7. Is immigration reform dead until after the 2014 elections?
8. What should local governments do to deter the “knockout game”?
9. How will the Iranian nuclear deal impact America’s relationship with Saudi Arabia?
10. Is NBC making a poor decision in getting rid of Jay Leno?

2013 Glenbrooks: Semi-Final Postings Are Up!

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On November 24, 2013

In National Circuit News

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glenbrooksCourtesy of Bill Thompson, here are the semi-final pairings at this year’s Glenbrooks.  The quarter-finals are also included in the post below.  Congratulations to all extempers who made the semi-final round and due to the size of the field all extempers who made the quarter-final round earned qualifying legs for the 2014 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC).

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2013 Glenbrooks: Round 1, Round 2, and Round 3 Pairings

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On November 23, 2013

In National Circuit News

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glenbrooksCourtesy of Bill Thompson of LaRue County High School (KY), here are pictures of the round one, round two, and round three pairings at this week’s Glenbrooks tournament.  Click on the “continue reading” button below to look at the pairing sheets.

We hope to provide more updates as the tournament moves along.

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R&D by Prepd: Universal Preschool

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On November 22, 2013

In R&D

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Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd, the only software built specifically for extemp. Prepd makes it easy to research, practice, and compete!  These tweets provide resources on the idea of universal preschool education, an initiative that President Obama has supported.

Visit www.prepd.in to learn more. Like Prepd on Facebook for special info and contests.

 

 

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R&D: Pervez Musharraf

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On November 21, 2013

In R&D

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Today’s R&D covers former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who governed between 2001-2008 and will stand trial for treason.  His treason trial will be the first in Pakistani history.  Musharraf was a staunch ally of the United States in the war on terrorism.

 

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Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of November 18th-24th, 2013

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On November 20, 2013

In Quiz

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quiz-01Here is this week’s new quiz.  How well did you follow the events of the last week?

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Strategy: Transition Tips and Tricks

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On November 20, 2013

In Strategy

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by Logan Scisco

Transitions are an important element in an extemporaneous speech.  They serve as the glue to unite the different elements of your structure.  Without transitions, you cannot easily move from your introduction, between your points, or to your conclusion.  You would also struggle in getting the audience to follow your internal structure.  While it is possible to resort to generic transitions like “First….” and “Second…”, this topic brief will discuss ways that you can make your transitions unique and meaningful.

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