by Patrick McDonald | Dec 17, 2021 | Concept Analysis, LD
I don’t like definition debates. Never have. That’s why I find it such a shame how often high-school debate devolves from a sophisticated discussion about real-world, high-stakes issues into an esoteric shouting match about what words mean. If you’ve competed in LD...
by Patrick McDonald | Nov 12, 2021 | Speech Events, Strategy
I have watched more than my fair share of speeches. Whether it be online, in-person, or in competitive speech and debate, I have dedicated minutes — nay! hours — to this endeavor. Some have been incredibly instructive, with facts or points of view that I still...
by Patrick McDonald | Oct 6, 2021 | Nuclear War, Tournaments
Before I begin, I ought to inform you that I am deeply unqualified to give this advice. I have spent much of my life looking far more stern than most people would consider proper, and still think myself an unflappable pessimist. Read at your own peril. Out on a Limb...
by Patrick McDonald | Jun 12, 2021 | Speaking, Technique
For most of my life, I have been an avid baseball player. The primary reason I have stuck with the sport thus far is that I find it incredibly fun to partake in, at least when my team isn’t getting pulverized. (Side-note: When you are getting pulverized, it is...
by Patrick McDonald | May 23, 2021 | Debate Blog, TP
If you know me, you know that I have an extreme dislike for wasting time. Regardless of what I am doing or what I am supposed to be doing, the mere feeling of complete unproductiveness is maddening. Perhaps it is for this reason that I believe that, if you can...
