2024 Harvard National Speech & Debate Tournament: Peddi Breaks Through at Last Regular Season National Points Race Tournament, Wins Final Four Against Three National Points Race Champions

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On February 27, 2024

In National Circuit Results

239 extempers made up the largest field of a National Points Race this season when Harvard University hosted its annual National Speech and Debate Tournament on February 17-20 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. As a result of the high number of entries, the tournament was a second tier event.

#1 Sruti Peddi of BASIS Scottsdale (AZ) won the championship in commanding fashion, earning a six-rank final round victory that saw her earn four of the five available first place ranks. It is Peddi’s first National Points Race title this year after she made four previous final round appearances. Her victory marks the second consecutive time that an Arizona extemper has won Harvard as McKinley Paltzik won the title last season. And the 150 points she earned with this victory will enlarge her National Points Race lead.

Peddi won a final round against three other National Points Race winners. Second place was earned by #11 Waleed Haider of Hendrickson High School (TX), who won the United States Extemp half of the University of Texas Longhorn Classic in December. Haider swept up a majority of the second place ranks in the final round and was five ranks clear of the rest of the competition.

George Mason University Patriot Games winner Siri Ural of Shrewsbury High School (MA) earned a third place ranking, three ranks ahead of #18 Taylor Burris of the Potomac School (VA) and four ranks ahead of Stanford International Extemp winner #2 Brandon Cheng of Flintridge Preparatory School (CA). Burris and Cheng were separated by a mere rank for fourth place. Burris made her third National Points Race final round of the season while Cheng made his fifth.

Paul Fertig of Mounds Park Academy (MN) finished sixth, reaching a National Points Race final round for the second time this season. Fertig also finished sixth at the Apple Valley Minneapple Speech Tournament two weeks before Harvard.

While the final round featured a good number of previous winners this season, many ranked extempers were found in earlier elimination rounds and will earn National Points Race points. #12 Skyler Burrus of the American Heritage School – Palm Beach (FL) and #14 Kate Liu of Plano East High School (TX) made semi-finals, Glenbrooks champion #6 Lishore Kumar of Tomball Memorial High School (TX) and #25 Ishika Kothari of Plano East reached quarter-finals, and #3 Robert Zhang of Elkins High School (TX) qualified for octa-finals.

Due to the large number of competitors at Harvard, a few ranked competitors missed qualifying for elimination rounds. These included #10 Amy Cao of Ridge High School (NJ) and #19 Ronak Patel of American Heritage School – Broward (FL).

Here are the results of the 2024 Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament (Click here for tab sheet):

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HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of February 26-March 3, 2024

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On February 26, 2024

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. If Russia were to invade the Baltics, would Western European nations resist?
2. Should the United Nations eliminate vetoes on the Security Council?
3. Is Pakistan heading toward an inevitable default?
4. What will Bukele do with his supermajority?
5. Is the first space war on the horizon?
6. Has Boric sold out the Chilean left?
7. Is Lula interfering too much in Petrobras’ operations?
8. Who should be the next leader of NATO?
9. Did ECOWAS make a smart decision in lifting sanctions on Niger?
10. Will Congo’s M23 rebellion spark a regional war?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of February 26-March 3, 2024

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On February 26, 2024

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Should the U.S. continue providing military aid to Israel?
2. If Donald Trump wins the 2024 presidential election, will he withdraw the U.S. from NATO?
3. How can the U.S. make its sanctions policies more effective?
4. Should U.S. regulators approve a Capital One-Discover Financial merger?
5. Can Larry Hogan turn Maryland’s Senate seat red?
6. How can the Democratic Party rebuild its polling lead over Republicans on education issues?
7. What reforms need to be made to America’s asylum system?
8. How can Colin Allred defeat Senator Ted Cruz this November?
9. Should Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act be curtailed?
10. How much longer should Nikki Haley continue her presidential campaign?

Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of February 19-25, 2024

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On February 21, 2024

In Quiz

Here is this week’s Extemp Central news quiz!

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HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of February 19-25, 2024

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On February 19, 2024

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Should the U.S. Senate have an impeachment trial for Secretary Mayorkas?
2. How should the Federal Reserve respond to recent inflation data?
3. Should schools abandon remote learning days?
4. How can President Biden deflect concerns about his age in the upcoming presidential campaign?
5. Should the U.S. pivot its defense priorities to space?
6. How will a new round of redistricting in New York affect control of the House in 2024?
7. Should Fani Willis be removed from the Georgia election interference case against former President Trump?
8. What would another Biden term mean for the U.S. economy?
9. Will the civil judgment against Donald Trump in New York be upheld on appeal?
10. Is the National Labor Relations Board unconstitutional?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of February 19-25, 2024

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On February 19, 2024

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Is Egypt losing influence in the Arab World?
2. What relations should ECOWAS have with its departing members?
3. Has the West lost Africa?
4. Should an international force secure Ukraine’s emergency maritime corridor?
5. Has Russia become a rogue state?
6. Should the Tories jettison Sunak before this year’s general election?
7. To what degree does the new Pakistani government have a mandate?
8. How can China restore investor confidence in its economy?
9. Has the EU’s COVID recovery fund worked?
10. Will Subianto be a good steward of Indonesia’s economy?

2023-2024 Extemp Central National Points Race: New Standings After the Apple Valley Minneapple Speech Tournament and Stanford Invitational!

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On February 16, 2024

In National Points Race

Updated standings for the 2023-2024 Extemp Central National Points Race have been released.  Check them out by clicking here or the “Natl Points Race” tab above.

The new standings are updated to reflect the Apple Valley Minneapple and Stanford Invitational, fifth tier events that took place over the last two weeks.

The regular season phase of the National Points Race concludes this weekend at the Harvard National High School Invitational Forensic Tournament and the California Invitational.  Both tournaments are massive as 242 extempers are registered to compete at Harvard and 131 are registered to compete in California.  Harvard’s event is a second tier event, awarding 150 points to its winner and points to all octa-finalists.  The California Invitational will be a third tier event, awarding 100 points to its winner and points to all quarter-finalists.

2024 Stanford Invitational: Flintridge Preparatory’s Cheng and Sohn Have Impressive Performances; Cheng and Abrams win IX and USX in Online Event

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On February 15, 2024

In National Circuit Results

The 37th annual Stanford Invitational took place online last weekend, hosted by Stanford University’s Stanford Student Enterprises division. The online nature of the tournament made it accessible to extempers throughout the country and 76 competitors battled in International Extemp and 58 entries did the same in United States Extemp.

Flintridge Preparatory School (CA) had a great tournament. #4 Brandon Cheng and Ellie Sohn led the way, taking the top two spots in International Extemp. The duo also placed second and fourth, respectively, in United States Extemp, giving them the best performances across both extemp categories.

Cheng captured his first National Points Race title in four final round appearances, beating Sohn by five ranks in the final round. Cheng only took one first place rank but his consistency was much better than other competitors, solidifying the win.

Second through sixth place in International Extemp was separated by a mere four ranks, attesting to how judges split in their decisions. Nathan Cai of Brophy College Preparatory (AZ) was third, Prajval Kesireddy of Solon High School (OH) was fourth, James Logan MLK United States Extemp winner #16 Evelyn Tsoi of Velasquez Academy (CA) was fifth, and Joy Hu of the Harker School (CA) placed sixth.

Kesireddy captured two of the five available first place ranks in the final round but scooped up fifth and sixth place ranks from the other three judges, dooming their composite score.

In United States Extemp, Matthew Abrams of George Washington High School (CO) won a four-rank win over Cheng.

The battle for second through fourth place was tightly contested as Cheng finished second by one rank over Hu and Hu was two ranks ahead of Sohn.  Aside from Cheng and Sohn, Hu was the only other extemper to final in both extemp categories.

Robert Fields of the Harker School (CA) and Samuel Ma of Bellarmine College Preparatory (CA) had a tight battle for fifth, with Fields finishing ahead by one rank.

#1 Sruti Peddi of BASIS Scottsdale was in the field but dropped in the semi-finals of both categories. #13 Kate Liu of Plano East High School (TX) entered International Extemp but did not clear to elimination rounds and #14 Abhijay Rana of Bellarmine College Preparatory (CA), who won James Logan’s MLK tournament last month in International Extemp, was eliminated in the semi-final round of International Extemp.

All of the finalists will receive National Points Race points since Stanford was a fifth tier event this year. To prevent double counting, an extemper’s highest finish will be awarded points.  Due to the number of entries and if the tournament is online for 2024-2025, it is in the running to move up a tier because of the wide geographic participation of this year’s event compared to prior editions.

Here are the results of the 2024 Stanford Invitational (Click here for tab sheet):

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2024 Apple Valley Minneapple Speech Tournament: Lee and Zylstra Notch First National Circuit Wins of the Season

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On February 15, 2024

In National Circuit Results

This season was the first that the Apple Valley Minneapple Speech Tournament has been part of the National Points Race. The tournament took place on February 3 in Apple Valley, Minnesota and extempers had the chance to earn points in International and United States Extemp. As expected, the tournament was a big draw for Minnesota schools as well as other schools from Midwestern states like Nebraska and Indiana.

In International Extemp Eunsol Lee of Woodbury High School (MN) captured the title, defeating Mina Bhargava of Edina High School (MN) and Anish Amin of Millard North High School (NE) by two ranks. Bhargava and Amin tied for second, with Bhargava winning a judges’ preference tiebreaker 3-2.

Claire Han of Munster High School (IN), who was previously ranked in the top 25 of the National Points Race, finished fourth, three ranks back of Lee.

Devanshu Shah of Eden Prairie High School (MN) placed fifth and Soren Peterson of Stillwater Area High School (MN) was sixth.

Nick Zylstra of Eastview High School (MN) won a hard fought battle in United States Extemp, defeating Aaimah Khawaja of Lakeville North High School (MN) by one rank. Zylstra only took one of five available first place ranks in the final round but that was enough to win as a fifth place rank doomed Khawaja’s composite score.

Kate Westlake of Woodbury High School finished third, two ranks ahead of fourth place finisher Nithin Palani of Eden Prairie High School and three ranks ahead of fifth place finisher Ella Larson of Moorhead High School (MN).

Paul Fertig of Mounds Park Academy (MN) was the sixth place finisher.

Since the Apple Valley Minneapple was a fifth tier event, all of the finalists in International and United States Extemp will earn National Points Race points. Lee and Zylstra will receive 40 points for their wins.

Here are the results of the 2024 Apple Valley Minneapple Speech Tournament (Click here for tab sheet):

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Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of February 12-18, 2024

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On February 14, 2024

In Quiz

Here is this week’s news quiz!

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HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of February 12-18, 2024

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On February 12, 2024

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Does Iran have enough control over its proxy forces to prevent a wider conflict with the United States?
2. Can the Mattei Plan successfully enhance Italy’s position in Africa?
3. Should the UNRWA be overhauled?
4. Will the African National Congress lose its majority in this year’s elections?
5. How will the dismissal of Valery Zaluzhny affect the Russo-Ukrainian War?
6. What lessons should Milei learn from the failure of the “Omnibus Bill”?
7. Who will win Indonesia’s presidential election?
8. Do Brazil’s tax reforms go far enough?
9. Should Japan’s LDP move on from Kishida?
10. How can Guyana best deter a Venezuelan invasion

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of February 12-18, 2024

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On February 12, 2024

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Will the Supreme Court rule that former President Donald Trump has absolute immunity from federal criminal prosecutions?
2. Is the U.S. fast food industry in an “affordability crisis”?
3. How can Vice President Kamala Harris be an effective advocate of a second Biden term?
4. To what degree should the United States help Mexico’s transition to cleaner energy?
5. Should parents be held legally responsible if their child becomes a school shooter?
6. Could Iran become the spoiler of the 2024 presidential election?
7. Is Governor Gavin Newsom providing enough assistance to Oakland to handle its crime wave?
8. Should the U.S. recognize a Palestinian state?
9. Are Mexican drug cartels becoming a significant threat to U.S. national security?
10. Is Dunkin’ Donuts violating the ADA?

Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of February 5-11, 2024

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On February 7, 2024

In Quiz

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

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HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of February 5-11, 2024

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On February 5, 2024

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Did the U.S. effectively respond to the attack on military personnel in Jordan?
2. Does Florida’s attempt to ban children from social media violate the First Amendment?
3. How will RNC cash flow problems affect its ability to contest the 2024 elections?
4. Why have America’s immigration policies failed?
5. Has the Biden administration asked too little of Mexico?
6. Should Sinema seek re-election?
7. Have America’s schools effectively dealt with COVID-19 “learning loss”?
8. Should Robert Kennedy, Jr. seek the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination?
9. Is Alejandro Mayorkas becoming a political liability for the White House?
10. Should the U.S. federal government subsidize America’s newspaper industry?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of February 5-11, 2024

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On February 5, 2024

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. How should Mexico transition to cleaner energy sources?
2. What role should Japan play in a future space race?
3. Will corruption scandals bring down Gustavo Petro?
4. What is to blame for Europe’s economic stagnation?
5. Is Palestinian political dysfunction the biggest impediment to the creation of a Palestinian state?
6. Does the European Union need to do more for Ukraine?
7. Can China successfully bend the global order to its will in the next decade?
8. How can Great Britain fix its housing shortage?
9. Will gang violence in Latin America lead to more Bukeles?
10. How much credit does Modi deserve for India’s economic success?

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