Month: January 2015 Page 2 of 4

R&D from Prepd: The Supreme Court

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On January 22, 2015

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 on pending cases and recent decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court.  The Court will hear oral arguments in the spring about the legalization of gay marriage in all fifty states and is set to rule whether the federal government can provide subsidies to those who purchase health insurance on the federal-run insurance exchange. It is also set to rule on whether federal housing subsidies promote racial segregation.

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2015 Cavalier Invitational: Sunkara Takes Straight 1’s; Cary Academy Extempers Round Out the Top Three

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On January 21, 2015

In Local Results

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Durham Academy in Durham, North Carolina hosted its first-ever Cavalier Invitational last weekend. Samhitha Sunkara of Ardrey Kell High School (NC) became the tournament’s first champion, soundly defeating the other six competitors in the final round. Sunkara went straight one’s in the tournament final among all five judges, which gave her a nine rank victory.

Cary Academy extempers rounded out the top three, with Bharat Modi finishing second and Divya Vijayakumar finishing third.

The only non-North Carolina extemper in the final round, Regan Copple of Des Moines Roosevelt High School (IA), took fifth place.

The tournament was a qualifier for the 2015 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Northwestern University. The top three extempers earned qualifying legs and Sunkara, Modi, and Vijaykumar received their first leg of the season.

Here are the results of the 2015 Cavalier Invitational (Click here for tab sheet):

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Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of January 19-25, 2015

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On January 21, 2015

In Quiz

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

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

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R&D from Prepd: Global Fight Against HIV/AIDS

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On January 21, 2015

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 on the global fight against HIV/AIDS.  The United Nations (UN) reported in December that AIDS deaths have fallen 35% since 2004 and infection rates have declined by 38%, but they warn that there more needs to be done to eradicate the virus.  Currently, more than thirty million people in the world have HIV/AIDS, with 70% of that population residing in sub-Saharan Africa.  Medical researchers are optimistic that they can find a cure for the virus, but the UN warns that countries need to contribute more funds to prevention and assistance efforts.

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France and Islamic Extremism

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On January 20, 2015

In International Extemp, Topic Brief

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Two weeks ago on January 7, two gunmen stormed into the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical French magazine, and proceeded to kill eleven people and a police officer.  The gunmen, Cherif and Said Kouachi, were French citizens with Islamic beliefs and their grievance against Charlie Hebdo was the magazine’s cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, who cannot be depicted per the tenets of the Islam.  Over the next two days, French police tracked down and killed the Kouachi brothers, while one of their accomplices, Amedy Coulibaly was killed after taking a kosher supermarket hostage.  Coulibaly killed four hostages and one policewoman before being neutralized.  The string of attacks shocked the French public, with many seeing the attack on Charlie Hebdo as an assault on the country’s traditions of freedom of speech and expression.  On January 11, an estimated 1.3 million people went into the streets of Paris to march against the violence, which included more than forty heads of state.  The attacks have presented President Francois Hollande with an opportunity to bolster his reputation among French voters, which has eroded over the last year due to a sluggish economy.  However, the attacks may serve to galvanize support for the French far-right, namely the National Front (FN), which has argued for immigration controls and against what they deem as the “Islamization” of France.

This topic brief will cover the status of France’s Muslim population, discuss the French government’s response and that of its international allies to the Charlie Hebdo attacks, and assess how the attacks may affect French politics before 2017 when the country will hold its next presidential election.

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: France and Islamic Extremism

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On January 20, 2015

In R&D

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Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany today’s premium topic brief on France and Islamic extremism.

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HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of January 19-25, 2015

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On January 19, 2015

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

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HOTtopics1. Would new U.S. sanctions against Iran imperil the ability of negotiators to reach a solution concerning the country’s nuclear program?
2. Should U.S. students be made to pass a citizenship test before graduating?
3. How can policymakers improve wage growth in the U.S. economy?
4. What caused the recent milk bust?
5. Will the Supreme Court legalize gay marriage?
6. How can the Republicans create a convincing anti-poverty platform?
7. What supports should American schools have for children that come from impoverished backgrounds?
8. Would enhanced government surveillance powers over the Internet deter future terrorist attacks?
9. Will the expansion of executive authority be one of the lasting legacies of the Obama administration?
10. Did the Oscars err by not nominating a minority for one of its major acting and directing categories?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of January 19-25, 2015

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On January 19, 2015

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

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1. Five years later: Why has Haiti yet to fully recover from the goudougoudou?
2. Should the Chinese government view the rise of Christianity within its borders as a threat?HOTtopics
3. How can Croatia escape recession?
4. Is a Venezuelan default looming?
5. What impact would a Colombian peace deal have on the world’s coca trade?
6. Is the world winning the fight against HIV/AIDS?
7. How can international forces defeat the LRA?
8. Is France doing enough to curb anti-Semitism?
9. Will an ICC probe of Israeli war crimes bolster Benjamin Netanyahu’s political fortunes?
10. How should European governments handle citizens who go and fight for the Islamic State?

R&D from Prepd: Weekly Roundup for the Week of January 12-18, 2015

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On January 16, 2015

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 January 12-January 18, 2015.

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2015 Sunvitational: Stock Upsets Teammate Wexler in a Close Finish; Wexler Wins Round Robin

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On January 15, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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Nova Southeastern University was the site of this year’s Sunvitational, one of the more notable tournaments of the spring semester in the Southeast. Adele Stock of Nova Senior High School (FL) scored an upset win by edging out teammate Noah Wexler, who was coming off of a fourth place finish at the Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin, by one rank in the cumulative tournament to claim the championship. Wexler won the final round by one rank, but Stock’s collection of first place ranks in preliminary rounds and quarter-finals helped her claim the title. Justin Graham of Trinity Preparatory School (FL), who currently sits in third place in the National Points Race, was the third place finisher.

Stock’s win builds on a series of final round placings at several National Points Race tournaments last semester.  In October she finaled at the New York City Invitational and the International Extemp portion of the Florida Blue Key.

The final round was entirely composed of Florida extempers and was mostly a battle between Nova and Trinity Preparatory extempers. Nova had three extempers in the final round with Sanjay Supan finishing sixth for the team behind Stock and Wexler. Nathaniel Saffran was Trinity Preparatory’s other extemper in the final round. He finished fourth. Isabella DeSheplo of Cypress Bay High School (FL) was the other finalist. She took fifth place honors.

The tournament also featured a Round Robin competition. This was won by Wexler, with Graham finishing six ranks behind. Saffran took third in that competition.  Stock did not participate in the Round Robin.

All of the elimination round participants at the Sunvitational earned bids to the 2015 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC). Four extempers – Mary Breen of Gwynedd Mercy Academy (PA), Jessica Chow and DeSheplo of Nova, and Jarrek Holmes of Kent Denver School (CO) – earned their second TOC legs to wrap up their at-large qualification to the tournament. Twelve other extempers earned their first bid to the TOC. The extempers who earned a TOC bid are indicated in italics below.

The finalists of the tournament also earned an automatic qualification to the University of Kentucky TOC in April.

Here are the results of the 2015 Sunvitational (Click here for tab sheet):

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R&D from Prepd: The Chinese Economy

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On January 15, 2015

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 on the Chinese economy.  The country is currently moving away from an export-driven model to more of a consumer-driven model of growth, which has produced an economic slowdown and contributed to some of the weakness in the global economy.  There is also evidence that the country’s property market is cooling and some economists warn of deflation, since the country’s inflation rate was below previous estimates and its economy is producing more goods than it can sell.

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2015 Winston Churchill Classic: Sridharan Secures Third TOC Win of the Season; Venkatraj Wins Second TOC Title

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On January 14, 2015

In Local Results

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Nearly one hundred extempers participated in International and United States Extemp at the Winston Churchill Classic last weekend in San Antonio, Texas. The tournament saw two previous Extemp Tournament of Champions (TOC) qualifying tournament champions return the winner’s circle as Abhinav Sridharan of Plano Senior High School (TX) won International Extemp and Karna Venkatraj of A&M Consolidated High School (TX) won United States Extemp.

Sridharan’s victory is his third victory at a TOC qualifying tournament this season, more than any other competitor in the country. Sridharan won the International Extemp half of St. Mark’s and the Plano West Senior High School Tournament in October. Shreetika Singh of Seven Lakes High School (TX) finished second to Sridharan, with Mark Wilson of the Parish Episcopal School (TX) taking third. Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin invitee Marshall Webb of Saint Mary’s Hall (TX) placed fourth.

In United States Extemp, Venkatraj won his second TOC qualifying tournament title of the year beating Neil Patel of Plano West Senior High School (TX) in the final round. Venkatraj won International Extemp at the University of Texas-Austin Longhorn Classic last month. Jordan Rojas of Hendrickson High School (TX) finished third behind Venkatraj and Patel.

All of the tournament finalists earned a qualifying leg to the 2015 Extemp TOC at Northwestern University. Most of the finalists in both categories were pre-qualified to the TOC before the tournament, but two extempers – Sir Maxim Belov of Lake Travis High School (TX) and Wilson – finalized their TOC qualification. Five other extempers earned their first qualifying leg, leaving them roughly a month left to finish their at-large qualification to this year’s TOC. All of those earning a qualifying leg are indicated in italics below.

In addition, all of the finalists at the tournament earned an automatic qualification to the University of Kentucky TOC.

Here are the results from the 2015 Winston Churchill Classic:

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2015 Southwest Championship: Brown Wins Tight Final Round; Jacobs Finalizes TOC Qualification

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On January 14, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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Extempers from the Southwest competed against each other last week at the aptly named Southwest Championship, hosted by the Arizona State University Forensic Team. Tristan Brown of Brophy College Preparatory (AZ) was the tournament champion, securing a one rank win over Brecken Denler of Mountain View High School (AZ). Brown won two of the three available first place ranks in the final round, but an errant six place rank nearly cost him the title. Clayton Jacobs of Torrey Pines High School (CA) finished in third place.

The final round was also very close, as the top four competitors were separated by only two ranks.

The top three finishers at the tournament received legs for the 2015 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Northwestern University. Jacobs finalized his TOC qualification, while Brown and Denler earned their first TOC qualifying leg of the season.

All of the finalists at the tournament earned an automatic qualification to the University of Kentucky TOC in April.

Tempe Preparatory Academy had three outround participants, the most of any other school at the tournament. The school’s highest finisher was Yegor Znkov, who placed sixth.

Here are the results of the 2014 Southwestern Championship (Click here for tab sheet):

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Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of January 12-18, 2015

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On January 14, 2015

In Quiz

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

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

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R&D from Prepd: President Obama’s Community College Plan

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On January 14, 2015

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 President Obama’s proposed community college plan, called America’s College Promise, which seeks to provide free community college and technical training.  To qualify, students would need to earn a 2.5 grade point average, make progress toward a degree, and be enrolled at least half-time.  The estimated price tag for the plan would be $60 billion over ten years, with the federal government providing three-quarters of the funding and the states providing the other twenty-five percent.  Tennessee and Chicago have similar programs.

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