by Kyle Lee | Sep 15, 2020 | From Advanced to National-Class, From Intermediate to Advanced, From Novice to Intermediate, Strategy
“I wish I could come back just one more year.” After Covid-19 cancelled the debate season, I heard that phrase countless times from my senior high school friends. “If only I had one more year.” I’ve come to realize that the years you have... 
by Kyle Lee | Sep 2, 2020 | Basics, Concept Analysis, Debate, From Advanced to National-Class, From Intermediate to Advanced, From Novice to Intermediate, Parliamentary, Speaking, Strategy, Technique, TP
“No way I should’ve lost that round; I won every argument on the flow.” “How did I lose? The judge ignored my most important argument!” “It’s not my fault I lost; my logic was perfect.” You’ve likely heard people... 
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....