by Harrison Durland | Jan 18, 2020 | Communication/Rhetoric, Speaking, Technique
Recently, Thaddeus Tague dug up an old document that Ethos has used for coaching: a figures of speech handout. “Figure of speech” broadly refers to deliberate patterns or abnormalities in language with a goal of producing some effect in the audience; it includes... 
by Harrison Durland | Dec 31, 2019 | Debate, Soapbox, Speaking, Technique
When you are trying to teach or argue for something—whether in a debate, speech, lecture, or blog article—you should present the points as uncontroversial, perhaps even intuitive (so long as you aren’t being misleading); after all, you want the audience to believe... 
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 Joshua Anumolu | May 1, 2019 | Communication/Rhetoric, Soapbox, Speaking, Technique
Author Robin Sloan described attending debates sponsored by the Long Now Foundation. He was struck by the debate format, writing, “The first time I saw one of these debates, it blew my mind.” Why were these debates so revolutionary? Sloan gives some context: “Our... 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...