It’s that time of year again. The new resolution is here and people are already forming their opinions and for next year’s debate season. We already ran an Online LD Camp (GET THE RECORDING HERE FOR ONLY $25/members –https://lastingimpact.info/product/workshop22659/ ) and the Lasting Impact! LD Guide is about to be released NEXT WEEK!! As a coach, I have already taken a deeper look at the selected NCFCA Lincoln Douglas value debate resolution for 2024-2025 debate season. Resolved: In combat, the use of automation should be valued above the use of Personnel. At first glance and without the context, it may not be clear whether this resolution begs ethical questions significant enough to debate. I would argue however, that there is practically an ocean of relevant moral philosophy to this highly relevant and deceptively nuanced resolution…
Dramatic Interpretation stands as one of the most emotionally charged and profoundly impactful categories in competitive speech. It requires competitors to delve into complex characters and narratives, often exploring themes of conflict, tragedy, and human resilience. Dramatic Interp is not just about death and dying! This category not only showcases a speaker's ability to interpret and convey intense emotions but also their skill in bringing to life the subtleties and depths of human experience. In some leagues they don’t have Dramatic Interp, so you can apply this article to Open Interp, or a dramatic duo! Really this article is how to dig deeper…
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The last time Nationals was held at Anderson University was 2019, my senior year. That year, my Moot partner and I had aspirations of making the final round. We had fully memorized our speeches and were the top seed at a previous National Open.
But when breaks were announced, the team of EJ Rorem and Ethan Tong wasn’t announced. As we’d later find out, we went 3-5 (there used to be 4 rounds with 2 judges each). Though we both got Oral Advocate awards later that week, it was a small consolation. We wanted to be in finals. And that was our last chance… (Keep reading to find out what I learned at Moot Court Nationals and why you should try Moot…)
Summer is underway, which means summer camps are on the mind! Lasting Impact! is travelling to around a dozen states (and online!) this summer, and we encourage you to make it to one of them! And if your club doesn’t have a camp yet… we still have a few weeks open for travel!
Why come to a Lasting Impact! Camp, when there are so many other great camps? Here are six reasons why we think you can’t go wrong with Lasting Impact!, whether it’s for camp, coaching, or clubs…
Over a Decade of Experience
Lasting Impact! has been around for over a decade serving Speech and Debate families with quality speech and debate resources. We’ve had the opportunity to coach, watch, and walk alongside some of highest quality competitors of years past. We’ve seen what works and what doesn’t work. And we want to pass this knowledge on to you! We also don’t just work with the elect! We will meet you exactly where you are… whether you are a student, parent, coach, or club!
Coaches Who are Active in the League
The coaches Lasting Impact! hires are not just bygone champions of old who used to be elite but are now out of touch with the “meta” strategies of the league. On the contrary! They’re alumni and adult coaches who have come back to judge tournament after tournament, coaching clubs, and giving private lessons to students. They have contributed to curriculum, teach classes, and have created resources for you to use! In fact, we pride ourselves by walking alongside you on your journey, as well as the leagues.
Balancing Teaching with Fun
As a former competitor, Ethan Tong says, “I’ve been to camps where the lecturer drones on and on for an hour, teaching impact calculus or federal court system economics. So when we teach, we always try to keep things fun.” And our students appreciate the balance. After a Lasting Impact! Moot Court camp last year, Gabe Zylstra said, “The camp has a really great balance of being goofy and fun while also covering useful material.” Not only do we bring fun into camps, our clubs provide a variety of ways to keep students engaged!
Meet Your Private Coaches Early
Lasting Impact! coaches coach privately throughout the year. Ethan Tong has personally coached over 250 sessions last year! We also teach clubs and classes, helping you to connect with a variety of ideas. Our camps will give you a taste for what could be in store for your season.
A Passion for Excellence
At Lasting Impact!, we’re not content with giving you a mediocre camp experience. We want to give you the best camp experience you’ve had. We work tirelessly behind the scenes, writing cases for camp, preparing examples, finding good demo rounds, and communicating with each other to bring you an exciting, informative camp. Cooper Cobbs, a camper last year, said “I honestly thought this was one of the best speech and debate related camps I’ve attended.” That’s our goal!
6. Christ Focused. We are here to remind you that we are all lumps of clay… Hopefully ready to be molded into His image. We need to be prepared for what HE has in store for us. The journey with speech and debate is a very personal one, and He wants to use us! We hope that coming to a Lasting Impact! Camp will be a good reminder of that.
If you’re in the area, want to look into an online camp (our ONLINE LD STARTS TOMORROW and ONLINE TP IS NEXT WEEK), or want to request our coaches swing by your state this summer, don’t hesitate to reach out! And would you believe summer coaching has already started!? Head to the SHOP to see what Lasting Impact! has to offer… coaching, camps, clubs, and resources galore!
Yes, we know your National Championship might have just ended… but we can’t wait to jump back in again! Join our team – Ethan Tong, Nathanael Kolssak, and Drew Swanberg, as they break down these events, as well as dig deeper for the more experienced competitor. Parents or Club Leaders are welcome to join us, as well! If you can’t make it to a in person debate camp this summer… this is where you want to be! Sign up NOW! https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/online-camps/
You asked for it… we have been asked for years to come out with a product just for Interpretive Speech! Here it is! Packed with photos, inspiration, tips, tricks, advice, worksheets, games, encouragement, and more. The Ultimate Guide to Interpretive Speaking will be your Guide to walk you though the process of an Interpretive Speech – finding a piece, picking a piece, themes, introductions, honing your characters, as well as tackling specific categories such as duo, open, dramatic, humorous, or biblical.
This is a great resource for students, parents, and coaches! Did you know, Lasting Impact! Has dozens of resources? Check out the SHOP for items such as Debate Guides, Sourcebooks, The Speech Grab and Go, Speech Games Book, The Limited Prep Guide, and more!
Are you ready to transform your speaking skills and win arguments not just in competitions but in life? This summer, dive into the exhilarating world of speech and debate through our specially designed camps!
Whether you’re a novice eager to learn the basics or an experienced debater aiming to refine your skills, we have something for everyone. Our camps are not just about learning; they’re about experiencing a journey of personal growth, critical thinking, and loads of fun!
Why Join Our Camps?
Expert Guidance: Learn from seasoned instructors who are passionate about speech and debate and have years of competitive and coaching experience.
Dynamic Workshops: Participate in interactive workshops that cover everything from debate – crafting compelling arguments to the fine art of persuasion or speech – mastering the cut or characters in an Interp.
Peer Learning: Meet other enthusiastic speech and debaters from all walks of life and levels of experience. Exchange ideas, practice together, and forge friendships that last a lifetime.
Competitive Edge: Get equipped with strategies that set you apart in local, national, and even international competitions.
Fun Activities: It’s not all serious! Enjoy fun activities and games designed to boost your public speaking confidence in a relaxed environment.
Our camps are offered ONLINE, as well set in inspiring locations across the country, hosted by local clubs that trust us to help you be your guide. Locations include…
Are you ready to join us this summer? And you ready to step up your game? Spots are limited, and our camps are filling up fast. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this transformative experience. Register now and start your journey to becoming a better equipped speech and debater!
Don’t see a location you can get to? Want to host your own camp? For more details and to register, visit our camp page – HERE or contact Heather at heather@lastingimpact.info
Embrace the challenge, enjoy the camaraderie, and leave with skills that will empower you for life. We can’t wait to welcome you to our Speech and Debate camps this summer!
If you have qualified for NCFCA Nationals and are thinking about how to prepare for that final competition of the season, then a prep group may be right for you. With Regionals now behind you and Nationals finally in sight, it’s important to carry your momentum from the season into that national tournament. This prep group outlined below is designed to examine the cases you will likely see at Nat’s, help you mentally prepare for the competition, and teach you how to build an effective narrative for both aff and neg.
What’s a narrative and why is it important? The story behind your case is often the most important factor in deciding whether you will win or lose a round. If your judge walks out of the competition room with your narrative in mind, chances are you will pick up that ballot. Whether you are talking about a policy or a value, an effective narrative takes your case and connects it to a big idea. This big idea then becomes present throughout every aspect of your round to weave a cohesive narrative throughline.
How is this approach different from other prep groups? This prep group will look a bit different from others offered because we will look at the big ideas and focus on analyzing and crafting narrative strategies. Our goal is not to search for evidence or write a bunch of briefs, but rather to focus on strategic narratives related to the cases you will likely hear at Nats. And prepare you to bring your most persuasive tool into nationals, Your Narrative.
Who will be leading the sessions? This session will be led by Nathanael Kolssak, an NCFCA alum who has continued to coach and compete in speech & debate as a college student. Nathanael competed in NCFCA for seven years in nearly every speech & debate category. He achieved nationally ranked status in speech and debate in both high school and college, and is now a communications major, forensics competitor and assistant coach at Cedarville University. He continues to earn national awards in collegiate debate and has actively coached both Team policy and Lincoln Douglas this year. Nathanael’s approach to debate is idea-driven, as he is a staunch advocate for developing narratives that can captivate judges with a winning storyline.
Learning Objectives ● Identify the top cases expected at Nationals ● Learn what a good narrative looks like and how to build one ● Discuss which cases and strategies perform best in different regions ● Develop narrative strategies for aff and neg ● Build confidence for Nationals
These prep groups would be available for both TP and LD. Geared specifically for students, coaches… tell your students! Are you interested in joining a National Prep group? Contact Nathanael at nkolssak@gmail.com Tell your friends! Make this the best Nats yet!
Opportunities to compete online are all over the place, but how prepared are you? Online competition is a great way to participate in speech and debate without leaving the comforts of your home. But how do you prepare to communicate in this environment? Is it as simple as setting up your computer in your bedroom and showing up to deliver a speech? Our coaching team has been booked the last couple weeks… people realize you have to ADAPT if you are speaking to a camera or computer. It’s just different! If you don’t have time to schedule a coaching call before the next time you compete online, read on for the best tips and tricks from online competition experts who helped many in 2021 succeed…
It’s that time of year again. The Lincoln-Douglas debate resolutions have been released and the family affiliates have been asked to vote. But how are we to decide? This question seems to come up every year, so here are a few metrics that we like to think about when considering the debate resolutions:
Our friends at IvyPanda reached out to us to tell us about an article they wrote. They specifically thought our audience would benefit from reading what they had to say about “filler words.” We couldn’t agree more! This is part 2 of their article…
I recently had the privilege of representing Lasting Impact! and attended a tournament in Florida (I reside in NH). After the tournament I spent the day coaching a local club. In our general session we covered how to prepare for the rest of the season…
The REST of the season can mean several things…
1. Preparing for Regionals or your National Championship
2. Having one last chance to break – to take your speech to the next level of competition- gain a green check, cash in some at large points, etc.
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