by Nick Storz | Nov 13, 2023 | From Novice to Intermediate, Specifications, Strategy, Team Policy
Source for cover image is istock.com “Judge, the Affirmative plan is like the four legs of a table. If you cut off one of the legs, the table won’t stand. That’s why they have the burden of proof to show…” Often, as this analogy is given, you can almost feel the eyes...
by Nathanael Morgan | Apr 3, 2023 | Debate Resources, Disadvantages, NCFCA, Stoa, Strategy, Team Policy, Uncategorized
Source: Pixabay In recent years, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend among Team Policy debate, both in Stoa and in NCFCA (although most of my experience has been within the Stoa sphere). As debaters progress in their skills, one idea I almost never hear brought up within...
by Nathanael Morgan | Nov 15, 2022 | Uncategorized
Source: Pixabay There is a fundamental principle that governs formal debate and public speaking in general: time signifies importance. Great orators are able to use this to their advantage, and without its recognition one misses out on a key part of the rhetorical...
by Noah McKay | Nov 7, 2022 | Cross Examination, Lincoln-Douglas, Strategy, Uncategorized
Poly Languages, https://polylanguages.edu/bend-over-backwards/ Competitive debaters are trained to give good answers to difficult questions. So, we are profoundly uncomfortable when we don’t have an answer to a question. And, under most circumstances, we would...
by Patrick McDonald | Feb 11, 2021 | Speaking, Strategy
He’s asleep. He’s literally asleep. When that thought pierced into my mind, my initial reaction was one of astonishment. I was roughly halfway through my Persuasive speech, and five feet in front of me was the head judge, his head peacefully at rest on his chair,...
