Month: January 2022

2022 Sunvitational: Kind Continues Impressive Run; Kumar Places Second

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On January 11, 2022

In National Circuit Results

At last week’s Sunvitational, held online, #1 Daniel Kind of Lake Highland Preparatory (FL) continued his impressive run through the national circuit, winning his fifth major national circuit event of the year against sixty-one other competitors. As has been customary in recent months, Kind won the final round in impressive fashion by taking four of the five available first place ranks and defeating Praveen Kumar of the Hawken School (OH) by eleven.

Behind Kind and Kumar were Jack Vervis of Trinity Preparatory School (FL) and Faye Zhang of Eastview High School (MN). Ververis tied Kumar for second place but lost on a judges preference tiebreaker, with Kumar preferred by three judges to Ververis’ two. Zhang finished only one rank behind both of them.

The last two finalists were Michelle Park of Solon High School (OH), who was fifth, and Elizabeth Wong of Durham Academy (NC), who placed sixth.

Other notables who reached elimination rounds included #10 Olivia Wetzel of Whitmer High School (OH), who dropped in semi-finals, and #5 Marc Zavarro of Western High School (FL), who dropped in quarter-finals.

Defending champion #9 Mukta Dharmapurikar of Durham Academy did not participate in this year’s contest.

Kind will earn seventy points in the National Points Race for his win at the Sunvitational, as the tournament is a fourth tier event. All extempers who reached the semi-final round will earn points.

In terms of TOC qualifying bids, all extempers who made finals and semi-finals earned a bid to the Extemp TOC at Northwestern University. All finalists receive a bid to the University of Kentucky TOC in April.

Here are the results of the 2021 Sunvitational (Click here for tab sheet):

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HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of January 10-16, 2022

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On January 10, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Which candidates will make the French presidential runoff this spring?
2. How can Turkmenistan put an end to the “Gates of Hell” fire?
3. Are Russian concerns about NATO expansion to its border justified?
4. Can the UN save Sudan’s democratic transition?
5. Was Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s recent trip to Myanmar helpful or harmful for efforts to resolve the nation’s political crisis?
6. How can Bulgaria reverse its population decline?
7. Is Bosnia falling outside of the West’s orbit?
8. Will street protests in Kazakhstan produce lasting change?
9. Is the refusal of some nations ot sell defense components to Turkey weakening the NATO alliance?
10. How can African nations reduce their reliance on commodities?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of January 10-16, 2022

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On January 10, 2022

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Should the U.S. government issue a monthly universal income payment to all taxpayers for January to deal with the effects of the Omicron variant?
2. If the Democratic Congress barred Donald Trump from running for re-election under the terms of the 14th Amendment, would it be constitutional?
3. How can schools reduce the number of days they have to close due to staffing shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic?
4. Can independent, state-level redistricting commissions solve America’s gerrymandering problem?
5. How will the COVID-19 pandemic affect the future of America’s churches?
6. What steps should the U.S. government be taking to prevent another January 6 attack?
7. Should the U.S. reform the Electoral Count Act of 1887?
8. What should be the legislative priorities of the Biden administration in 2022?
9. Is America’s militia movement stronger or weaker than it was a decade ago?
10. What hurdles must be overcome to increase the number of electric vehicles in the United States?

R&D from Prepd: Vice President Kamala Harris

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On January 7, 2022

In R&D, U.S. Extemp

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D covers Vice President Kamala Harris.  The last few months have been turbulent ones for America’s first female vice president as Harris has seen staffing departures, rumors that she is upset at the lack of a defined role in the Biden administration, and concerns about her electability if President Joe Biden does not run for re-election in 2024.

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Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of January 3-9, 2021

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On January 5, 2022

In Quiz

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

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HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of January 3-9, 2022

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On January 3, 2022

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Have new quarantine guidelines damaged the CDC’s credibility with the American people?
2. What grade does President Biden deserve after his first year in office?
3. Should race be used as a factor in distributing life-saving healthcare resources?
4. Is the U.S. headed for another housing crisis?
5. If progressives were to primary President Biden in 2024, who should they nominate?
6. Is the “defend the police” movement dead?
7. At what age should universal public education begin in the United States?
8. Are U.S. sanctions policies against Russia an ineffective strategy?
9. Should President Biden attempt to impose the “Build Back Better” bill via executive action?
10. Will American schools struggle to assemble enough staff to operate in 2022-2023?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of January 3-9, 2022

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On January 3, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Will 20222 see the end of the COVID-19 pandemic?
2. Should the international community refuse to release funds to the Taliban government until their human rights record improves?
3. How can Ukraine best prepare to defend itself from a Russian invasion?
4. Is Gambia’s truth commission working?
5. How can the Chinese government encourage its population to spend more in 2022?
6. Are Erdogan’s policies making Turkey’s economic situation worse?
7. Should African countries rely on their neighbors more than the United Nations to put down internal rebellions?
8. How can Boris Johnson reverse his eroding political position?
9. Does Chile need more or less “neoliberalism”?
10. Will Libya be able to hold a fair and impartial presidential election?

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