by Anna Johansen | Jun 27, 2019 | Basics, Communication/Rhetoric, From Novice to Intermediate, Speaking
Simpler is better. I don’t know why it took me five years to figure this out. After all, our nation was basically founded on the imperative “Never use two words when one will do.” Right? So why did I, an accomplished speaker, still stumble over phrases in my 1AC or... by Anna Johansen | Apr 10, 2019 | From Novice to Intermediate, Soapbox, Speaking
This is for every scared debater out there. I know how you feel. Confidence: Fake It Til You Make It Lessons From An Impostor: The Psychology of... 
by Anna Johansen | Mar 20, 2019 | Communication/Rhetoric, From Intermediate to Advanced, From Novice to Intermediate, Speaking
“Everybody here? Great. Anna, would you pray for us before we get started?” “Oh. Me? Oh. Yeah, sure! Um. Okay.” You know that moment when you’re handed something completely unexpected? When you’re strolling along a sunny lane and then a giant iguana shows up out of... 
by Anna Johansen | Mar 13, 2019 | Basics, Coaching a Club, From Novice to Intermediate, Technique, Top Drills
For TPers in the throes of tournament season, evidence can seem like the be-all, end-all. They desperately scrounge for cards and trade for briefs, then head off to a round, gripping those pages like they’re Ben Gates making off with the Declaration of Independence.... 
by Anna Johansen | Mar 6, 2019 | Best Resources, From Novice to Intermediate, Soapbox
Here in the frigid wastelands of Chicago, spring can seem a long way off. Debaters everywhere know how that feels: we often hit plateaus where we lack motivation or feel like we’ll never reach that next level. If you’re looking for some midseason... 
by Toby Rivas | Dec 4, 2018 | Affirmatives, Communication/Rhetoric, From Intermediate to Advanced, From Novice to Intermediate, Strategy
If you’ve ever played volleyball, you know the terror of a spike. A player slams the ball over the net so hard you have no hope of returning it. In debate, a spike is a little different, but still a powerful offensive tactic. Referring broadly to preemption, a spike...