Month: November 2014 Page 2 of 3

R&D: The China-U.S. Climate Deal

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On November 18, 2014

In R&D

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Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany today’s premium topic brief on the China-U.S. climate deal.

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

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On November 17, 2014

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

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HOTtopics1. Is the balance of power in the Pacific shifting?
2. Why have efforts to eradicate Afghanistan’s opium crop failed?
3. Will an investigation into Petrobras overshadow Dilma Rousseff’s second term?
4. Should the Labour Party oust Ed Miliband?
5. Is Russia undermining the Iranian nuclear talks?
6. Was China the biggest winner of APEC’s recent summit?
7. Can Afghanistan and Pakistan jointly fight terrorism?
8. Is the G20 an effective international institution?
9. Should the Ugandan government cease backing anti-gay legislation?
10. Will the China-U.S. climate accord force other developing nations to set emissions targets?

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

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On November 17, 2014

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

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HOTtopics1. Can Elizabeth Warren’s presence in the Democratic Senate leadership help the party’s fortunes in 2016?
2. Will the U.S. meet the carbon targets required by its recent climate accord with China?
3. Do Democrats have a weak presidential bench?
4. Can approval of the Keystone XL pipeline save Mary Landrieu’s Senate seat?
5. Should Democrats ditch Nancy Pelosi?
6. Does King v. Burwell have the potential to destroy the Affordable Care Act?
7. Can a new Iraqi surge defeat ISIS?
8. Should the U.S. give lethal weapons to the Nigerian military to combat Boko Haram?
9. Can “sin taxes” solve state budgetary woes?
10. Should Joe Manchin switch parties?

R&D from Prepd: Weekly Roundup for the Week of November 10th-16th, 2014

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On November 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.

Here is our weekly survey of news stories to round out the week of November 10th-16th, 2014.

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R&D from Prepd: The War on Meth

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On November 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 covers the nation’s war on methamphetamines.  Law enforcement is reporting that meth lab seizures are on the decline and stricter state laws on the purchase of ingredients that make meth have proven effective.  However, Mexican drug cartels are stepping into the void and could undermine recent gains.  According to the Associated Press, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) seized more than 11,000 meth labs last year.

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

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On November 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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R&D from Prepd: Jordan

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On November 12, 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 covers Jordan, a Middle East ally of the United States and one of only two Middle Eastern nations to have a peace treaty with Israel.  While other Middle Eastern nations have been rocked by the Arab Spring and significant sectarian unrest, Jordan has remained a pillar of stability.  However, analysts wonder if the Syrian Civil War and the growth of the Islamic State will soon pose a threat to King Abdullah II’s government. Also, Jordan has been very critical of the Israeli government in light of recent disputes over religious sites in Jerusalem.

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2014 Midterm Elections Recap

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On November 11, 2014

In Topic Brief, U.S. Extemp

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To say that this year’s midterm elections were a disaster for President Obama and the Democratic Party would be an understatement.  Undecided voters broke for the Republican Party in droves, enabling it to capture the Senate for the first time since 2006, increase its House majority to near historic levels, and preserve control of governor’s mansions across the country.  For the next two years, the Republicans and President Obama will be engaged in a Cold War-style faceoff on Capitol Hill, with each side trying to position the other as obstructionist ahead of the 2016 presidential election.  Since the new Congress will not be seated until January, extempers can expect to draw questions about the lessons each party can learn from the midterms and how President Obama should respond to the results.

This topic brief will breakdown the results of the midterm elections, discuss the chances of bipartisan cooperation over the next two years, and analyze how the 2016 presidential campaign may or may not be affected by this year’s midterms.

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: 2014 Midterm Elections Recap

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On November 11, 2014

In R&D

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Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany today’s premium topic brief on the 2014 midterm elections.

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HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of November 10th-16th, 2014

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On November 10, 2014

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

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HOTtopics1. Is bipartisan cooperation possible between President Obama and a Republican Congress?
2. Will Loretta Lynch face a difficult Senate confirmation fight?
3. Should Republicans give Rick Snyder a look for 2016?
4. How candid should Navy SEALs be about their combat operations?
5. Should Congress extend unemployment benefits?
6. Is law enforcement winning the fight against meth?
7. How can Mary Landrieu win the Louisiana Senate runoff?
8. Should the Oakland Raiders move to San Antonio?
9. Who ran the best campaign of the 2014 midterms?
10. Should President Obama shelve executive action on immigration?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of November 10th-16th, 2014

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On November 10, 2014

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

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HOTtopics1. Is the world on the brink of a new Cold War?
2. Should Saudi Arabia relax its ban on women drivers?
3. What role should Iran play in the campaign against ISIS?
4. Can the threat of sanctions end the violence in South Sudan?
5. Is the EU out of touch?
6. Does South Korea need constitutional reform?
7. Are the Ayotzinapa disappearances doing significant damage to Enrique Nieto’s political standing?
8. Is Jordan a ticking time bomb?
9. Why is Nawaz Sharif failing to improve Pakistan’s relations with India?
10. Is Russia winning the struggle for Ukraine?

2014 Florida Blue Key: Wexler Wins Split IX Final Round; Graham Dominates USX and Secures First National Points Race Win of the Season

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On November 7, 2014

In National Circuit Results

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Last weekend the fifth tournament in the National Points Race, the Florida Blue Key, took place on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville. The tournament allows extempers to compete in International and United States Extemporaneous Speaking and just like last year’s edition, where Miles Saffran and Lily Nellans traded wins, different extempers won each category.

In International Extemp, Noah Wexler of Nova Senior High School (FL), who finished second to Jasper Primack at the New York City Invitational this season, edged out Justin Graham of Trinity Preparatory School (FL) and Wake Forest winner Yijia Liang of Upper Arlington High School (OH) by one rank. Josh Wartel of Lake Braddock Secondary School (VA) took two first place ranks in the final, more than any other extemper, but two fifth place ranks caused him to finish in fourth place.

In the United States Extemp portion of the tournament Graham demolished the competition, capturing four of the five available first place ranks in the final round to beat Eitan Sapiro-Gheiler of Durham Academy (NC) by eight ranks.  This was Graham’s third win at a TOC qualifying tournament this season as he won both halves of the Crestian Tradition three weeks ago.  Jacob Levenson of Nova Senior High School, the only extemper other to Graham to make the final round of both extemp categories at the tournament, took third place.

Extempers had their finishes in each extemp category combined to determine the allocation of National Points Race points. Graham’s win in USX and his runner-up finish in IX made him the best extemper at the Blue Key. He will receive forty National Points Race points and be credited with a victory. Levenson’s finishes allowed him to receive second place points, and Wexler will receive third place points.

The extempers who reached the semi-finals and beyond in each category earned a qualifying leg for the 2015 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Northwestern University. Six extempers – Andrew Langford of Lake Highland Preparatory School (FL), Connor Leech of Durham Academy, Levenson, Adele Stock and Wexler of Nova Senior, and Thomas Rollins of the Potomac School (VA) – finalized their at-large TOC qualifications at the tournament. Three other extempers earned their first qualifying leg. All extempers that earned a TOC qualification leg are indicated in italics below.

Furthermore, all of the finalists in either extemp category earned an automatic qualification to the University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions (TOC) in April.

Here are the results of the 2014 Florida Blue Key (Click here for tab sheet):

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R&D from Prepd: Weekly Roundup for the Week of November 3rd-9th, 2014

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On November 7, 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.

Here is our weekly survey of news stories to round out the week of November 3rd-9th, 2014.

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R&D from Prepd: Political Unrest in Burkina Faso

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On November 6, 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 covers political unrest in Burkina Faso.  Last Friday, President Blaise Compaore was forced to resign due to protests against his attempt to amend the constitution and run for another term in 2016.  The country’s military has assumed control of the country and the African Union (AU) has given them two weeks to hand power to a civilian government.  If military refuse to comply, the AU could pursue sanctions.

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October 2014 TOC Texas Swing: Lamar Consolidated, Plano Senior, and Saint Mary’s Hall Host Three TOC Competitions; Fifteen Competitors Earn First TOC Leg

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On November 5, 2014

In Local Results

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tocTwo weeks ago, three Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champion (TOC) qualifying tournaments took place across the state of Texas. Lamar Consolidated, Plano West Senior High School, and St. Mary’s Hall hosted competitons in International and United States Extemp and the top three placing extempers in each category earned a TOC leg.

At Lamar Consolidated, Seven Lakes High School (TX) swept the extemp categories as Smriti Ahuja won a two rank victory over teammate Simbai Mutandiro in International Extemp, and Shreetika Singh went straight 1’s in finals to win United States Extemp over teammate Xixi Wang. Six extempers earned TOC legs through the Lamar Consolidated High School Tournament and they are indicated in italics in the results listing.

At the Plano West Hungry Like the Wolves Classic, Abhinav Sridharan of Plano Senior High School (TX) won International Extemp by one rank over Davis Larkin of the Parish Episcopal School (TX). The victory is Sridharan’s second in a TOC qualifying tournament this season, as he won the International Extemp competition at the St. Mark’s Heart of Texas Invitational the week prior to his appearance at Plano West. In United States Extemp, Katherine Hu of Jasper High School (TX) won a two rank victory over Sankalp Singh of Plano Senior High School. Four competitors earned their first TOC leg at the competition and they are indicated in italics below.

The largest of the three tournaments took place at St. Mary’s Hall in San Antonio, Texas. Fifty-eight competitors entered International Extemp, where Nader Syed of Claudia Taylor “Lady Bird” High School (TX) took the title by going straight 1’s in the final round. Kenneth Logan Williams of Robert E. Lee High School finished second. Syed secures his TOC qualification as he earns his second leg to go with the one he earned at St. Mark’s. Seventy-eight competitors entered United States Extemp and Rachel Evans of Salado High School (TX) won the championship by one rank over Jami Tanner of Klein High School (TX). Five competitors earned their first TOC leg at the tournament and are indicated in italics in the Saint Mary’s Hall results listing.

Here are the results of the October TOC Texas Swing:

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