R&D from Prepd: Rick Perry’s Withdrawal

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On September 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 former Texas Governor Rick Perry’s decision to withdraw from the 2016 Republican presidential primary.  Perry announced his decision on Friday and he is the first Republican presidential candidate to drop out of the race.  Although he was once considered a frontrunner for the Republican nomination in 2012, Perry never made significant traction in 2016 campaign.  Pundits believe that his inability to acquire high poll ratings illustrates the smothering effect that Donald Trump’s candidacy is having on the ability of other Republican contenders to be heard.

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HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of September 14-20, 2015

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On September 14, 2015

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

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HOTtopics1. What should be the primary goals of Russia’s foreign policy?
2. Is Venezuela justified in closing its border with Colombia?
3. What is the significance of Guatemala’s presidential elections?
4. Is a solution to Ukraine’s long war in sight?
5. How can Abdel Fattah el-Sissi enhance his popularity among the Egyptian public?
6. Is Tunisia’s corruption amnesty law a bad idea?
7. How can nations stop “lone wolf” terrorism?
8. Should Britain allow for a second Scottish independence referendum?
9. Is there a “humane” solution to Europe’s migrant crisis?
10. Will Jeremy Corbyn lead Labour deeper into the political wilderness?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of September 14-20, 2015

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On September 14, 2015

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

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HOTtopics1. How can Scott Walker rejuvenate his presidential candidacy?
2. What steps can the U.S. take to lower its suicide rate?
3. Should women be used in combat operations?
4. What role should the U.S. play in the European migrant crisis?
5. Are the U.S. and China natural rivals?
6. How can the Federal Reserve raise interest rates without “spooking” markets?
7. Should Los Angeles expand charter schools?
8. How will Rick Perry’s withdrawal affect the 2016 Republican presidential primary?
9. Should more states approve “right-to-die” legislation?
10. In an ideal world, what should be the first presidential primary state?

R&D from Prepd: Weekly Roundup for the Week of September 7-13, 2015

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On September 11, 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 September 7-13, 2015.

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2015-2016 Extemp Central National Points Race Structure

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On September 10, 2015

In National Points Race

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pointsraceheader-01The National Points Race is a season-long competition that seeks to identify the top extempers across a select group of prestigious national circuit events.  Extemp Central recognizes that in some years the top extemper in the nation may not win the National Points Race due to the inability of some competitors to travel extensively.  Still, four national champions are among the five previous National Points Race winners.

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R&D from Prepd: Tax Reform

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On September 10, 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 tax reform.  For the last several election cycles, candidates for Congress and the White House have claimed to favor reforming America’s complicated tax code.  However, both parties disagree over the course of the necessary reforms, with Republicans typically favoring lower taxes as part of a deal and Democrats insisting on higher taxes for the wealthy in any proposal.

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The Colombian-Venezuelan Border Crisis

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On September 9, 2015

In International Extemp, Topic Brief

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While concerns about border security have acquired significant attention in the United States and Europe, another border crisis has created upheaval in the Western Hemisphere.  Several weeks ago Venezuelan officials closed border crossings with Colombia, citing security concerns and a need to clamp down on smugglers in the area.  In addition to closing the border, Venezuela deported 1,000 economic migrants from Colombia and demolished some of their homes.  While Colombia argues that Venezuela’s behavior constitutes a gross human rights violation, Venezuelan authorities insist that they have the right to police their own border and that the inability of the Colombian government to share border responsibilities is what has forced it to act.

This topic brief will outline the scope of the recent border closures, explain some of the reasons that Venezuela moved to close the Colombian border, and then analyze how the border closures could affect Venezuela’s politics, as well as future American foreign policy in Latin America.

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 Colombian-Venezuelan Border Crisis

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On September 9, 2015

In R&D

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Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany today’s premium topic brief on rising college costs.

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Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of September 7-13, 2015

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On September 8, 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: South Africa’s Economy

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On September 8, 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.

Today’s R&D provides resources on the South African economy.  Like other BRICS nations, South Africa’s economy is underperforming, registering an average of 1.8% GDP growth since 2008.  The economy contracted 1.3% in the second quarter of this year and demands for employment are pushing the African National Congress (ANC) in a more leftist direction.  Critics of the ANC government say that it needs to bolster infrastructure spending and warn that solutions that call for nationalizing properties could prove counterproductive.

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Site News: Schedule Change for Website

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On September 7, 2015

In Site News

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buzzTo best accommodate elements of my work schedule, the content releases for this point going forward will be the following:

Monday:  International and United States Extemp questions
Tuesday: R&D from Prepd; Weekly news quiz
Wednesday: Premium content topic brief & premium R&D
Thursday: R&D from Prepd
Friday: Weekly R&D from Prepd

Extemp Central will also be posting some brief pieces this week to highlight this year’s National Points Race tournaments and structure, a pre-season top 25, and will gradually work to update the 2015-2016 tournament calendar.

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of September 7-13, 2015

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On September 7, 2015

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

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HOTtopics1. Are car-free days a solution to metropolitan pollution?
2. What does a simplified tax code look like?
3. Is Bernie Sanders making a strategic error in deciding not to directly attack Hillary Clinton?
4. Should more states use the SAT or ACT as their statewide achievement test?
5. When religious liberty conflicts with the U.S. Constitution, which side should prevail?
6. Is Saudi Arabia America’s closest ally in the Middle East?
7. What regulations should be imposed on civilian drone use?
8. Should the U.S. recalcuate how unemployment is measured?
9. How can the next Democratic presidential nominee keep the Obama coalition together?
10. Which three Republican presidential candidates should immediately drop out of the race?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of September 7-13, 2015

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On September 7, 2015

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

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HOTtopics1. When will democracy return to Thailand?
2. Will the Paris climate talks be successful?
3. Should South Africa nationalize more industries?
4. Who should be Guatemala’s next president?
5. If you were Park Geun-hye, how would you deal with future North Korean provocations?
6. Can Modi’s labor reforms revive India’s slowing economy?
7. How would a Chinese recession affect its Asian neighbors?
8. Should Persian Gulf nations take more Syrian refugees?
9. Is Russia the only global power that can bring a resolution to the Syrian Civil War?
10. Will the European refugee crisis strengthen the continent’s far right parties?

MBA Champion Interview with Josh Wartel

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On September 4, 2015

In Interviews

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WartelJosh Wartel competed for Lake Braddock Secondary School. He was a MBA Extemp Round Robin, Patriot Games, Patriot Games Round Robin, TOC, Blue Key Round Robin, two-time Villager and three-time Virginia state champion. He was a finalist at NCFLs, three-time NSDA finalist and the 2015 United States final round winner. He will be studying at Brown University.

After placing third in the 2014-2015 National Points Race and winning the final round of last year’s NSDA U.S. Extemp competition, Wartel agreed to talk with Extemp Central about his career.

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R&D from Prepd: Weekly Roundup for the Week of August 31-September 6, 2015

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On September 4, 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 August 31-September 6, 2015.

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