by Anthony Severin | Dec 21, 2020 | Judging/Judges, Speaking, Technique
We Ethos coaches frequently hear despair about how judges receive theory-heavy arguments. There’s a perception that judges despise topicality, counterplans never win rounds, and hardly anybody has even heard of a kritik… and those who have heard of a kritik just think...
by Thaddeus Tague | Dec 26, 2018 | Apologetics, Communication/Rhetoric, Extemporaneous, Soapbox, Speaking, Speech Events
Speakers who surprise, educate, and impress their audiences (by definition) keep their audience’s attention. If you’ve ever listened to a cool story or listened to a speech about a favorite subject, it is harder than normal to distract you. Bad speeches tend to cause...
by Blake Toman | Apr 18, 2018 | Communication/Rhetoric
“How could the judge not understand our mandate?” “Did they really miss that round-winning statistic?” “We addressed that Disadvantage! Why was it in their RFD?!” If you’ve ever had questions like these after a round, then...
by Anna Johansen | Dec 20, 2017 | Communication/Rhetoric, Technique
Let’s say you’re visiting Australia. On the western edge of Cape York Peninsula, there’s a group of people called the Kuuk Thaayorre. The language they speak doesn’t have words for left or right, forward or back. Instead, its speakers describe locations using north,...
by Noah Howard | Dec 9, 2017 | Communication/Rhetoric, From Intermediate to Advanced
Having trouble getting your points across? Feel as though your audience is almost falling asleep as you talk? Getting comments like, “try not to speak monotone” or, “try to sound more interesting”? If any of this sounds like you, fear not, because all is not lost. You...
