Don’t Demonize the Other Side

Don’t Demonize the Other Side

When I was just getting a good grip on how to debate well, I struggled with winning the judges over. Oftentimes the ballots blamed this on my aggressiveness, but looking back on it now, I realize that that was only one facet of the problem. Counterintuitively, the...
Leveraging Time

Leveraging Time

There is a fundamental principle that governs formal debate and public speaking in general: time signifies importance. Great orators are able to use this to their advantage, and without its recognition one misses out on a key part of the rhetorical toolbox.  In...
Think like a Computer

Think like a Computer

In my opinion, Extemporaneous speaking is the most technical speech in NCFCA/Stoa. Sure, if you’re doing a digital presentation or an expository, then your speech might involve more technology, but barring that, Extemp requires you to learn technical skills that no...
Thinking Beyond the Debate

Thinking Beyond the Debate

We’ve all experienced it. A fellow competitor acts one way within a debate round and when they walk out of the room they act like a completely different person. Maybe they’re quite polished and professional while debating and then you see them in goofy antics with...