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?

R&D from Prepd: Abortion Rights

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On December 17, 2021

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 abortion rights.  The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments for the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that questions the constitutionality of a 2018 Mississippi state law that bans most abortion after fifteen weeks of pregnancy.  In addition, the Supreme Court sent a lawsuit over Texas’ controversial abortion law, that bans most abortions after six weeks, back to the appellate level yesterday and has left the law intact at the moment.  Pro-choice advocates warn that the Supreme Court is on the verge of overturning the landmark 1973 case of Roe v. Wade that constitutionalized the right to abortion, and if that happens, more than twenty states would immediately ban the procedure.

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NSDA National Champion Interview with Laurel Holley

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On December 16, 2021

In Interviews

Laurel Holley competed for Riverside High School in Greenville, South Carolina. She was the 2021 NSDA U.S. Extemp National Champion, 2021 Ronald Reagan Great Communicator Debate Series National Champion, two-time South Carolina state champion in Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu Speaking, and a two-time NSDA Nationals finalist. Laurel will be attending Duke University in the fall, where she will study public policy, global health, and Chinese.

Laurel agreed to sit down with Extemp Central to talk about her road to the NSDA National Championship and what advice she would give current extempers.

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Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of December 13-19, 2021

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On December 15, 2021

In Quiz

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

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HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of December 13-19, 2021

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On December 13, 2021

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

Note that these will be the last questions of the first semester.  Extemp Central will resume posting new, original content on Monday, January 3.

1. How will the world decide the COVID-19 pandemic is over?
2. Should the British Conservative Party give Boris Johnson the boot?
3. What will be the global impact of the Evergrande default?
4. Is Aung San Suu Kyi the best leader for Myanmar’s democratic movement going forward?
5. To what degree can Emmanuel Macron make the European Union more powerful in the world?
6. Should El Salvador’s political leadership continue negotiate with street gangs?
7. Will New Zealand’s anti-smoking plan work?
8. What can cure the dysfunction that bedevils global democracies?
9. Who will win Colombia’s next presidential election?
10. Should Israel end its policy of nuclear ambiguity?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of December 13-19, 2021

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On December 13, 2021

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

Note that these will be the last questions of the first semester.  Extemp Central will resume posting new, original content on Monday, January 3.

1. Will Donald Trump’s intervention in the Georgia governor’s race produce an Abrams victory?
2. Is Biden’s term turning into Jimmy Carter 2.0?
3. Will “The Great Resignation” continue into 2022?
4. Should the GOP abandon its position on keeping taxes low for business owners?
5. Would private school tax credit programs undermine public education?
6. Is there a “missile gap” forming between the U.S. and China?
7. Should Democrats cease using the term “Latinx”?
8. Is an arms embargo on Cambodia necessary?
9. How could Mike Pence defeat Donald Trump in a Republican presidential primary?
10. What steps do American cities need to take to curb rising homicide rates?

R&D from Prepd: Iran’s Nuclear Program

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On December 10, 2021

In International Extemp, R&D

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 the ongoing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.  The United States backed out of a 2015 framework on Iran’s nuclear program during the Trump administration, something that President Biden is looking to reverse.  However, ongoing talks in Vienna, Austria between Iran and negotiators from the United States, Russia, China, Great Britain, Germany, and France are deadlocked over Iran’s demand that all American sanctions against it end.  Some fear that the U.S. not joining a new nuclear accord could mean that Iran gets a nuclear weapon, potentially triggering a military conflict with Israel, who fears a nuclear Iran threatens its survivability.

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2021-2022 Extemp Central National Points Race: New Standings Released to Reflect the George Mason University Patriot Games & University of Texas Longhorn Classic!

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On December 9, 2021

In National Points Race

Updated standings for the 2021-2022 Extemp Central National Points Race have been posted!  You can find them by clicking on the “National Points Race” tab at the top of the page or by clicking here.

The new standings reflect the results of the George Mason University Patriot Games, a third tier event, and the University of Texas Longhorn Classic, a fourth tier event.

These standings are the final ones for first semester and the National Points Race will resume at the Sunvitational in early January.

2021 University of Texas Longhorn Classic: Roberts Impresses in IX; Letterer Earns Narrow Victory over Ittycheria in USX

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On December 9, 2021

In National Circuit Results

Last weekend’s the University of Texas at Austin played host to the 24th Annual Longhorn Classic Tournament, which took place in person after the COVID-19 pandemic forced last year’s tournament to be online. The tournament allowed extempers to double in International and United States Extemp but no one managed to win both as #5 Cameron Roberts of Jack C. Hays High School (TX) and #16 Kyle Letterer of Plano West Senior High School (TX) split the titles.

Roberts dominated the International Extemp final, winning all three first place ranks available, and cruising to a five-rank victory over a bevy of Plano West extempers that were led by Phoena Lin. This marks Roberts’ first National Points Race win of the season in four opportunities.

In United States Extemp, Letterer enjoyed a narrow one-rank victory over Meghna Ittycheria of Lake Travis High School (TX) and also won his first National Points Race tournament of the season. Lin finished third, which made her the most consistent extemper at the tournament across both categories.

Other notable finishes at the Longhorn included a semi-finalist showing in United States Extemp for #2 McKinley Paltzik of Phoenix Country Day School (AZ), who also reached the quarter-final round of International Extemp, a semi-finalist finish by #8 Charles Hou of Plano West in United States Extemp, and semi-finalist placings by #14 Gabriel Bo of Plano West in each extemp category.

The Longhorn Classic is a fourth tier tournament in the National Points Race, so all extempers who reached the semi-final round and beyond will earn points. So as to avoid double counting, Extemp Central will give points to an extemper’s highest finish across the two categories.

All quarter-finalists at the Longhorn receive a bid to the Extemp Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Northwestern University, while all semi-finalists will receive a bid to the University of Kentucky TOC in each category because the Longhorn attracted seventy-two extempers in International Extemp and eighty-seven in United States Extemp.

Here are the results of the 2021 University of Texas Longhorn Classic (Click here for tab sheet):

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