Month: March 2015 Page 2 of 4

2015 Nevada Forensic Association State Tournament: Green Valley Rolls as Qureshi Repeats in IX and Avecilla Wins USX

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On March 19, 2015

In State Results

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Green Valley High School took both extemp championships at this year’s Nevada Forensic Association State Tournament, with Omar Qureshi winning International Extemp and Chace Avecilla winning United States Extemp.

Qureshi’s victory in International Extemp, which saw him take five of the six available first place ranks in the final round, gives him back-to-back state championships in the category. Phylaktis Demetriou of Green Valley was the second place finisher. Andrew Turner of Coronado High School took third.

Green Valley also took the top two placings in United States Extemp, where Acevilla defeated Conrad Palor by two ranks. Lance Ledet of Northwest Career and Technical Academy was the third place finisher.

All of the finalists earned an automatic qualification to this year’s Extemp TOC at Northwestern University.

Here are the results of the 2015 Nevada Forensic Association State Tournament (Click here for tab sheet):

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R&D from Prepd: The 2016 Senate Races

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On March 19, 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 2016 U.S. Senate elections.  The Democrats will need to retake five seats in order to regain their majority, which they lost in the 2014 midterms.  Democrats are bullish about their prospects since the Republicans will be defending twenty-four seats versus the Democrats ten and 2016 will be a presidential election year, where increased turnout tends to favor Democratic candidates.

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2015 New Jersey Forensic League State Tournament: Balaji Repeats in IX; Sirot Wins USX

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On March 18, 2015

In State Results

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This year’s New Jersey Forensic League State Tournament became a duel between Ridge High School and Montville Township High School, with both schools exchanging wins and second place finishes in the tournament’s International and United States Extemp categories.

In International Extemp, Vaikunth Balaji of Ridge successfully defended his state championship, achieving a two rank victory over Christopher Mayer of Montville. Mark Rinder of Freehold Township High School, the winner of this year’s Columbia Invitational, was the third place finisher.

Montville’s Jay Sirot won his first state championship in United States Extemp, achieving a three-rank margin of victory over Clare Halsey of Ridge. Thomas Abel of the Delbarton School, who finished in the top three of the Barkley Forum in January, finished third.

Two extempers – Mayer and Kyle White of Matawan Regional High School – were not previously qualified to this year’s Extemp TOC at Northwestern University. They earn an automatic qualification by virtue of reaching the final round of their respective extemp category.

At the tournament, Ridge had five extemp finalists, while Montville had three.

Here are the results of the 2015 New Jersey Forensic League State Tournament (Click here for tab sheet):

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2015 Utah High School Activities Association State Tournament: Four New State Champions Crowned in 4A and 5A; Twenty-Four Qualify to TOC

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On March 18, 2015

In State Results

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Last weekend saw Utah host its state tournaments for classes 4A and 5A (3A as well but we do not have the results for those tournaments yet). The state divides extemporaneous speaking into International and United States Extemp categories and the 4A and 5A state events crowned a set of of first-time winners.

In Class 4A International Extemp, Joseph Cieslewicz of Wasatch High School achieved a five rank victory over J.R. Hunsaker of Clearfield High School. Isidora Stankovic took third place. In the United States Extemp half of the tournament, Max Cline won the state title by five ranks over Joshua Williams of Sky View High School. Williams’ teammate Colleen Coyle was the third place finisher.

In Class 5A, Chantelle Gossner of Weber High School won a narrow one rank victory over Ethan Bastian of Copper Hills High School. Carson Robb of Davis High School and Alexander Holt of Copper Hills High School tied for third place. In United States Extemp, Bridges Sayers of Copper Hills High School won by five ranks over Malcolm Harrison of Hunter High School. Alex Day of Lone Peak High School finished third.

Utah did not have any extempers pre-qualified to this year’s 2015 Extemp TOC at Northwestern University, so all of the extempers who reached the final round earned an automatic qualification to this year’s event in May.

Here are the results of the 2015 Utah High School Activities Association State Tournament (Click here for 4A Tab Sheet ; Click here for 5A Tab Sheet):

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Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of March 16-22, 2015

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On March 18, 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: China-Myanmar Border Tensions

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On March 18, 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 border tensions between China and Myanmar.  Myanmar is currently engaged in fighting Han Chinese rebels in its Kokang region, located on Myanmar’s eastern border with China.  Myanmar alleges that Chinese mercenaries are helping the rebel group that calls itself the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).  Fighting with the MNDAA spilled over into Chinese territory last week when five people were killed by a Myanmar air operation in China’s Yunnan province. China has long denied that it has given sanctuary to rebels fighting in Myanmar.

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2015 South Carolina Forensic Coaches Association State Tournament: Abdeladi Gives Greenville Tech Its First Extemp Champion; Riverside Has Four Finalists

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On March 17, 2015

In State Results

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This year’s South Carolina Forensic Coaches Associatin State Tournament featured a first-time winner as Roann Abdeladi of Greenville Tech Charter High School captured the championship by five ranks over Unshu Biyani of Riverside High School. The victory is the first for Greenville Tech, with Abdeladi thwarting Riverside’s effort to have back-to-back winners after Nida Ansari won last year’s title.

The tournament was cumulatively tabbed, with a competitors preliminary, semi-final, and finals rankings factoring into their total score. Abdeladi won the final round with a composite score of six versus Biyani’s score of nine. Fifth place finisher Jordan Childs of Riverside also finished the final round with a total of nine ranks.

Andrew P. Clater of Bob Jones Academy finished third.

All of the finalists earned an automatic qualification to the 2015 Extemp TOC at Northwestern University.

Here are the results of the 2015 South Carolina Forensic Coaches Association State Tournament (Click here for tab sheet):

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2015 South Dakota High School Activities Association State Tournament: Redlin Repeats; State Crowns Three New State Champions

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On March 17, 2015

In State Results

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Two weeks ago, extempers from South Dakota competed in the South Dakota Activities Association State Tournament. South Dakota has two classes for its state tournament, which are then divided into International and United States Extemp categories.

In Class A International Extemp, Brady S. Jandl of Lennox High School became the first winner from Lennox since 2010. Jandl defeated Kadon Leddy of Milbank High School for the title. Jandl’s Lennox teammate August W. Meyer finished in third place.

In Class A United States Extemp, Berk Ehrmantraut of Beresford High School became the first state champion from his school in the category since 1992. Joe Miller of Vermillion High School finished runner-up for the second consecutive year and was trying to become the second consecutive Vermillion extemper to win the U.S. Extemp state title. Connor Lightfield of Milbank High School took third place, an improvement over his seventh place finish last season.

Class AA International Extemp saw Shyanne Redlin of Watertown High School successfully defend her state championship. Redlin defeated Ryan Wellman of SF Lincoln High School. She becomes the first back-to-back winner in AA International Extemp since Ann Fishback of Brookings High School accomplished the feat in 1996. Yilun Li of Brookings High School finished third.

And in Class AA United States Extemp Ryan Solberg gave Mitchell High School its fourth consecutive winner in the category, defeating Caleb Munce of SF Lincoln. Solberg was a return finalist, having placed fifth at last year’s state tournament. Emily Meier of Aberdeen Central High School rounded out the top three.

All of the finalists at the tournament earned an automatic qualification to the 2015 Extemp TOC at Northwestern University.

Here are the results of the 2015 South Dakota High School Activities Association State Tournament (Click here for tab sheet):

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The Prospects for a Colombian Peace

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On March 17, 2015

In International Extemp, Topic Brief

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For the last fifty years the Colombian government has been fighting the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a Marxist outfit.  The conflict has claimed 220,000 lives, displaced an estimated five million people, and harmed Colombia’s international image.  Under former President Alvaro Uribe, the Colombian government launched an aggressive campaign against the FARC, which at one time controlled a vast amount of territory in the northern and eastern parts of the country.  Uribe’s tactics, some of which were criticized by the Western world, succeeded in weakening the FARC’s leadership, but did not force the group to the negotiating table.  President Juan Manuel Santos, who served as Uribe’s Minister of Defense, has taken a more conciliatory line toward the FARC, entering into peace negotiations with the group in November 2012.  Those negotiations have borne some fruit, with the FARC declaring a unilateral ceasefire in December and both sides making progress on issues such as land reform and the FARC’s participation in politics.  Santos has said that he wants a peace agreement by the end of the year, but issues such as disarming the FARC, compensating victims of the violence, dealing with the human rights abuses that took place during the conflict, and political resistance by right-wing politicians may scuttle a peace deal.

With progress being made toward a lasting solution for Colombia’s war with the FARC, extempers should be prepared to handle questions about the issue for the rest of this season.  This topic brief will provide a quick overview of the Colombian conflict, address the pace of negotiations thus far, and then analyze the stumbling blocks that could hinder a lasting peace agreement.

Note:  There are other armed groups that are fighting in Colombia such as the National Liberation Army (ELN).  This topic brief will primarily focus on the FARC, though, as they are Colombia’s largest left-wing militant group and, unlike the ELN, they are currently negotiating a peace accord with the Colombian government.

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: The Prospects for a Colombian Peace

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On March 17, 2015

In R&D

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Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany today’s premium topic brief on the prospects for a Colombian peace.

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HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of March 16-22, 2015

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On March 16, 2015

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

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HOTtopics1. Is the federal government asserting itself too much or too little in local policing?
2. If Hillary Clinton does not run for president, what should be Democrats plan B?
3. Will Utah’s LGBT antidiscrimination law become a template for other states?
4. Should traffic fines be based on income level?
5. Does the Democratic coalition’s domination of America’s major urban areas a hindrance to taking back the Senate in 2016?
6. Should the U.S. be concerned about cuts to the British defense budget?
7. What should California do about its water problem?
8. Would the election of “Chuy” Garcia have negative affects on Chicago’s economic outlook?
9. Can bilaterial U.S.-Syrian negotiations end the Syrian civil war?
10. What is the appropriate role of Congress in foreign policy?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of March 16-22, 2015

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On March 16, 2015

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

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HOTtopics1. How should Egypt engage the African continent?
2. Can democracy fix Latin America’s corruption woes?
3. Will 2015 be the year that nationalism reasserts itself in European elections?
4. Is China undermining Myanmar’s territorial integrity?
5. How can the Pakistani government better protect religious minorities?
6. Should the EU construct its own army?
7. Has Ebola undermined the political stability of West African states?
8. Is Venezuela a threat to U.S. national security?
9. Has the Worker’s Party been responsible for Brazil’s anemic economic growth?
10. Will Colombia secure a peace deal with the FARC by the end of 2015?

2015 Texas Forensic Association State Tournament: Sridharan Repeats in IX; Webb Gives Saint Mary’s Hall First Extemp Championship

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On March 14, 2015

In State Results

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Texas usually hosts one of the largest state tournaments in the country and this year’s Texas Forensic Association (TFA) State Tournament lived up to that billing by attracting more than one hundred competitors in International Extemp and ninety-nine competitors in United States Extemp.

In International Extemp, Abhinav Sridharan of Plano Senior High School successfully defended his state championship, achieving a dominating eight rank victory over second place finisher Matthew Feng of Plano West High School. Sridharan took four of the five available first place ranks in the final round. Sridharan becomes the first extemper to win consecutive International Extemp titles at TFA since Jeff Geels of Southlake Carroll High School won three consecutive championships between 2003 and 2005. Junyuan Tan of Alief Kerr High School was the third place finisher.

Saint Mary’s Hall won its first TFA extemp championship in United States Extemp when Marshall Webb edged out Neil Patel of Plano West High School by one rank. Webb won a majority of the first place ranks in the final round, but Patel’s string of second place ranks was nearly enough to win as Webb’s other two final round ranks were three’s. David Dam of Westwood High School finished in third place.

All of the finalists at the tournament received an automatic qualification to the 2015 Extemp TOC at Northwestern University. Six extempers were not previously qualified to this year’s TOC and thereby earn an entry into the tournament this May.

Here are the results of the 2015 Texas Forensic Association State Tournament (Click here for tab sheet)

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R&D from Prepd: Weekly Roundup for the Week of March 9-15, 2015

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On March 13, 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 March 9-15, 2015.

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R&D from Prepd: Ukraine’s Economy

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On March 12, 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 the Ukrainian economy.  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is providing a $17.5 billion bailout for the country, which will last for the next four years.  In return for IMF aid, the Ukrainian government has promised to reform its energy and banking systems and launch a more aggressive anti-corruption drive.  Ukraine’s currency, the hryvnia, is the world’s worst performing currency this year.

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