Month: February 2014 Page 2 of 3

R&D from Prepd: UAW Defeat in Chattanooga

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On February 20, 2014

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.

This R&D provides articles on the United Auto Workers (UAW) recent failure to unionize a Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The UAW has been looking to unionize more automotive plants in the South, which have resisted unionization attempts for decades.

 

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2014 University of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic: Fitzgibbon Keeps the Title in Pennsylvania

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On February 19, 2014

In National Circuit Results

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Connor Fitzgibbon of Unionville Area High School (PA) defeated Sejal Waghray of Ridge High School (NJ) by one rank to win this year’s University of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic, which was held last weekend in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fitzgibbon lost the final round to Waghray, but the cumulative nature of the tournament helped him hold on and prevail sixteen ranks to seventeen. Waghray’s teammate, Cameron Montag, took third. Fitzgibbon’s victory gives Pennsylvania extempers back-to-back victories at their home tournament. In last year’s event, James DeMarshall of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School (PA) ended a seven year stretch where out-of-state extempers won the tournament.

The tournament attracted twenty-five entries and broke to semi-finals. The competitors that made the final round earned a qualifying leg to this year’s Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Northwestern University. Two extempers – Waghray and Montag – completed their TOC at-large qualification. One extemper, Amber Yang of Trinity Preparatory School (FL), earned their first qualifying leg.

Here are the results of the 2014 University of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic (Click here for tab sheet):

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2014 Alief Taylor High School Tournament: Singh and Brotzen-Smith Win Titles at the Last Texas TOC Qualifier of the Season; Thanki Qualifies

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On February 19, 2014

In Local Results

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Numbers were down for this year’s Alief Taylor High School Tournament, a 2014 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) qualifier, after the tournament was rescheduled from its usual January date. Shretika Singh of Seven Lakes High School (TX) defeated Junyuan Tan of Alief Kerr High School (TX) and seventeen other competitors to win International Extemp. In United States Extemp, Franz Brotzen-Smith of Lamar High School (TX) defeated Princewell Imouokhome of Seven Lakes High School and twelve other competitors to win the title.

Alief Taylor was the last in-state TOC qualifying opportunity, aside from the Texas Forensic Association (TFA) State Tournament, for Texas extempers. Pranav Thanki of Seven Lakes High School was the only extemper to finish their at-large qualification at the tournament. Eight other extempers earned their first TOC qualifying leg and are indicated in italics in the results listing.

Here are the results of the 2014 Alief Taylor High School Tournament:

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Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of February 17th-23rd, 2014

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On February 19, 2014

In Quiz

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

To access a list of all our old quizzes, click here.

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Japanese Foreign Relations with China & South Korea (2014)

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On February 18, 2014

In International Extemp, Topic Brief

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East Asia is gradually becoming one of the world’s flash points for future conflict.  China is extending its territorial claims into the Straits of Taiwan and the South China Sea, North Korea has nuclear capabilities and threatens its neighbors, Japan is flirting with the idea of scrapping elements of its pacifist constitution and providing for its own defense, China continues to claim that Taiwan is part of its territory, and America’s allies in the region are skittish about whether the United States will truly come to their aid in a time of crisis.  Since World War II, the United States has built its defense network in East Asia on the back of close relations between Japan and South Korea and although this defense network was meant to oppose the Soviet Union during the Cold War, it is now becoming a system to contain the rise of communist China.  However, United States foreign policy in the region could unravel based on the steps that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who came to power in December 2012, decides to take.  Aggressive moves by Japan could produce a war that America has to commit forces to in the near future and its strained ties with South Korea over historical issues could complicate a strong American response to China and North Korea.

This topic brief will provide an explanation of Japanese foreign relations with China and South Korea.  It will discuss Japan’s relationship with both nations and then provide an explanation for how to handle questions related to whether a war in East Asia is becoming unavoidable.  The analysis contained in this brief can help international and United States extempers best grapple with questions about Japanese foreign policy and understand what motivates the power players in East Asia.

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: Japanese Foreign Relations with China & South Korea (2014)

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On February 18, 2014

In R&D

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Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany today’s premium topic brief on Japanese foreign relations with China and South Korea (2014).

 

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HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of February 17th-23rd, 2014

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On February 17, 2014

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

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HOTtopics1. Can Canada successfully balance its budget before 2015?
2. How can Cyprus be reunified?
3. Should African aid agencies adopt “results-oriented” agendas?
4. Are Turkish aspirations of joining the EU dead?
5. Will Lebanon’s new cabinet provide the nation with some much needed stability?
6. Why are the Syrian peace talks going nowhere?
7. How can Japan repair its diplomatic relationship with South Korea?
8. What impact will Moktada al-Sadr’s retirement have on Iraqi politics?
9. Is the Ukrainian protest movement collapsing?
10. Can diplomatic pressure force African nations to not enact anti-gay legislation?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of February 17th-23rd, 2014

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On February 17, 2014

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

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HOTtopics1. How can the UAW unionize more auto plants in the South?
2. Does the Ninth Circuit’s recent ruling on concealed firearms signal the beginning of the end of the American gun control movement?
3. Would the unionization of college football players harm athletes that compete in less publicized intercollegiate sports?
4. How can the United States federal government improve math and science education?
5. Should Internet freedom occupy a more prominent place in American foreign policy?
6. Will John Kasich win re-election this November?
7. Was the passage of a clean debt ceiling bill a significant political victory for President Obama?
8. Has the “war on tobacco” succeeded?
9. Are Rand Paul’s attacks on Bill Clinton working?
10. Will the legalization of gay marriage in more states help or hinder conservative candidates in the 2014 midterms?

R&D from Prepd: The “Right to Die” Movement

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On February 14, 2014

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.

This R&D gives resources to extempers on the “right to die” movement in the United States.  Also referred to as “death with dignity,” “aid in dying,” and “assisted suicide,” the practice is set to become the next controversial social issue with advocates pushing for more states to legalize the practice (and as a result, extempers need to be prepared to speak on it in a domestic social or constitutional issues round).  Four U.S. states have legalized the practice and a district court decision last month in New Mexico said that doctors in that state can help terminally ill patients end their lives.  Litigation is also pending in other states. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1997 in Washington v. Glucksberg and Vacco v. Quill that the U.S. Constitution does not give an individual the right to assisted suicide.  However, states can allow for the practice, or ban it, if they choose to do so without federal interference.

 

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R&D from Prepd: Bosnian Riots

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On February 13, 2014

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.

This R&D provides resources about rioting in Bosnia, which has been caused by high levels of government corruption and a 40% national unemployment rate. The violence is the worst that Bosnia has seen in two decades. The unrest has caused the sitting Bosnian government to propose snap elections.

 

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Strategy: How to Answer Presidential Election Questions

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On February 12, 2014

In Strategy

by Logan Scisco

Receiving questions about the next presidential election is a usual occurrence in extemporaneous speaking.  In fact, these questions appear weeks after the last presidential election is finished.  This season you may have seen questions that ask you who the Democratic or Republican presidential nominee will be in 2016 or whether certain political figures like Rand Paul, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, or Paul Ryan are viable presidential candidates.  You may have also run into a question about whether Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic presidential candidate and if she can win.

Since these questions appear regularly in extemporaneous speaking, you must have a strategy for breaking them down and effectively answering them.  This strategy piece will provide tips on how to answer two different types of presidential election questions:  the “viable” candidate question and the “can (insert candidate) win the presidency in (insert year)?” question.

As a side note, for each type of question you need to make sure to compare the candidate you have received a question about to other people that are running!  Extempers often fail to do this, but if you get a question about whether Rand Paul is a viable presidential candidate, you need to make sure to compare his chances of winning versus other candidates that will seek the Republican presidential nomination.  It is also important to use historical parallels with these types of questions.  Compare a candidate’s campaign to past campaigns that succeeded or failed and you will score points with your audience.

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Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of February 10th-16th, 2014

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On February 12, 2014

In Quiz

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

To access a list of all our old quizzes, click here.

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2014 Stanford National Invitational: Eggleston and Liao Win Their First TOC Qualifier Titles of the Season; Monte Vista Captures Three of the Tournament’s Four Extemp Titles

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On February 11, 2014

In National Circuit Results

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Stanford University in Palo Alto, California played host to the only 2014 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) qualifying tournament last weekend when it held its twenty-eighth annual Stanford National Invitational. The tournament allowed extempers to double-enter in International and United States Extemp. International Extemp attracted forty-four competitors and Derek Eggleston of Archbishop Mitty High School (CA) won the cumulative tournament by two ranks over Mihir Tulpule of Saint Francis High School (CA). This was Eggleston’s first appearance in a TOC qualifier final this season. In United States Extemp, which featured fifty-nine competitors, Charlie Liao of Monte Vista High School (CA) staged a dramatic comeback by besting teammate Brian Yu by six ranks in the tournament final to win by one, nineteen cumulative ranks to twenty.

The tournament also featured a novice division for International and United States Extemp, both of which were won by Dean Swennumson of Monte Vista. Swennumson beat teammate Kevin Luo in both categories, winning International Extemp by three ranks and United States Extemp by five ranks. The novice categories are not eligible for TOC qualification.

Each varsity category broke to semi-finals and there were enough entries to award TOC qualifying legs to every competitor that reached elimination rounds. Six extempers – Eric Hagen of Lake Highland Preparatory (FL), Ann-Kathrin Merz, Anoeil Odisho and Andrew Zou of Leland High School (CA), Bryan Wang of Miramonte High School (CA), and Jimmy Xiao of Saratoga High School (CA) – earned their second TOC qualifying legs and have now qualified to the 2014 Extemp TOC. A seventh extemper – Ryan Olson of Monte Vista – took advantage of Stanford’s double-entry policy and earned both of his qualifying legs to add his name to the list of those who have made the TOC field. Nine other extempers earned their first TOC qualifying legs. All competitors that earned a TOC qualifying leg are indicated in italics in the results listing.

There are two more weeks on the TOC’s at-large tournament schedule and next week features three qualifying tournaments: The Harvard National High School Invitational in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the 2014 California Invitational in Berkeley, California, and the Alief Taylor High School Tournament in Houston, Texas. All three tournaments should attract large fields and Harvard will offer the most TOC qualification opportunities since it typically breaks to an octo-final round. Harvard is the biggest national circuit invitational of the year and is as close to an NFL warmup tournament that you can find. The California Invitational also attracts most of the big California schools and offers an insight into which competitors will be factors at the California state tournament in April and national tournaments in May and June.

Additionally, Alaska will hold its state championship tournament next week from February 13th-15th. Per TOC qualification rules, all competitors who make the final round of their state championship tournament prior to early April automatically qualify for this year’s TOC.

Here are the results of the 2014 Stanford National Invitational (Click here for tab sheet):

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Immigration Reform (2014)

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On February 11, 2014

In Topic Brief, U.S. Extemp

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For the last three decades, U.S. policymakers have grappled with the problem of illegal immigration, whereby immigrants from all parts of the world (not just Mexico) come to the United States and live and work without securing legal documents that allow them to do so.  In 1986, the United States thought it could solve the problem with an amnesty package, but the number of illegal immigrants has increased since that time and it is estimated today that there are 11-12 million illegal (also called “undocumented” by immigration groups and their allies) immigrants in the U.S. today. In fact, studies have shown that since the 1990s, illegal immigration in the United States has largely outpaced legal immigration. Deporting all of these people would be taxing for the federal government and be a public relations nightmare.  As a result, the federal government is caught in a tough position of how to deal with these 11-12 million people while ensuring that future waves of unlawful immigration do not happen again.  In 2012, President Barack Obama promised action on immigration reform to address this issue and although the Senate passed a bipartisan immigration reform bill last June, the Republican dominated House has yet to do the same and has refused to take up the Senate bill.  Due to the growing Latino population in the United States (although again, I would caution extempers that illegal immigration is not exclusively a Latino issue), immigration reform is likely to be a hot button political and social issue for quite some time and extempers need to have a firm grasp on the legislative history and possibilities of reform to answer questions about this subject.

This topic brief will provide a history of immigration reform in the United States, discuss various proposals for immigration reform at the present time, and then analyze the possibilities of an immigration reform package being secured before the 2014 midterms or before the 2016 presidential election.  This brief will center more on Latino illegal immigration due to the large amount of news coverage about the issue.

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: Immigration Reform (2014)

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On February 11, 2014

In R&D

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Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany today’s premium topic brief on immigration reform (2014).

 

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