Blood, Sweat, and Tears: Five Best Tips for Platform Speech Writing by: Rebecca Frazer

It’s that time of year—time for writing, re-writing, and honing speeches for competition. As an avid fan of the platform speech, I wrote and delivered nine platform speeches in four different platform categories during my years in speech and debate competition. By the end of it all, I’d learned that quality speech-writing takes an intense cognitive and emotional investment, somewhat akin to Churchill’s description of blood, sweat, and tears. We all can benefit from the encouragement of those who have been there before. So for all you hard-working speech writers out there, here are five pro-tips to aid your master process:

Continue reading “Blood, Sweat, and Tears: Five Best Tips for Platform Speech Writing by: Rebecca Frazer”

One Week until… Online Extemp

Extemporaneous is one of those Speech categories that after students graduate… they WISH they would have done it. Don’t let this opportunity for THIS season to YOUR season to give Extemp a try! Join our Lasting Impact! Online Extemp Group!

Guest contributor Drew Magness, 2018 NCFCA Extemporaneous Speaking Champion and Ace Peak Coach, shared this with me, “Most people view Extemporaneous speaking as a hopelessly complicated event reserved for the “smarter” people. Luckily, that’s not true. Let’s dispel the most common myth surrounding extemp.

Myth – I need to be a current events nerd.

Most of the best extempers out there didn’t get where they are by knowing everything about Zimbabwe’s electoral process, Japan’s disarmament history, or the legal standing of American Samoa. They climbed the mountain by learning how to process, condense, and communicate complex information. Extemp speeches don’t fall flat because the competitor is missing a robust history of the African Union. The most common failure is a failure to be understood. A background in current events will be helpful; knowledge is always good. But the keys to extemp are: Process, condense, communicate.”

Sam Wooddell, Stoa’s 2018 TP Champion, participated in Extemp for three years, he said this, “Extemporaneous speaking may help students fulfill their role as informed citizens by educating them on current events. Simultaneously, it teaches speakers critical thinking skills in high pressure situations, a skill which applies to nearly every event in speech and debate, as well as beyond high school.”

Joining a group, club, or class can help beginners and advanced students, even coaches. Here are what some of our Lasting Impact! students have said…

“I know I wouldn’t be as prepared if it wasn’t for your teaching and club.”

“Online Apol, allowed me to feel more confident, inside and outside the classroom, and even gave me the opportunity to compete at Nationals.”

“I am so thankful for my Online Community, this is exactly what I needed to push me out of my comfort zone.”

“I feel ready and prepared for this season!”

We have great things planned in Extemp for our six weeks together. Whether you are new to this category or have experience- this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!

  • Why Extemp? Goal Setting. Basics to writing an Extemp Speech.
  • What are reliable sources? How to Build a Box?
  • How to Research? Unifying Formats. 
  • Practice Speeches with Feedback. 
  • Analysis Types, Use of Quotes, Stories, and Data.
  • Practice speeches with feedback. 

Do do not let this be an opportunity that slips in the wind!

JOIN NOW!

Limited Prep Breakdown by: Catherine Alles

When I was competing in Speech and Debate, I loved the Limited Preparation speeches. Apologetics, Impromptu, and Extemporaneous gave me the opportunity to use my voice to speak about important issues, make an impact, and inspire people. I used to jokingly tell people that I loved limited prep because for me, “limited preparation meant no preparation.” But that wasn’t really true. I spent a lot of time preparing for limited preparation speeches, just not in the same way as for platform or interpretive speeches. Remember our Online Extemp Group starts in less than two weeks. Join Now!

When you are doing a duo, your prep involves picking a book, memorizing, and practicing blocking with your partner. For persuasive, you need to spend most of your time researching and writing your speech, and then fine tuning your delivery. In Limited Preparation speeches, you don’t need to memorize anything, work with a partner, or plan out your hand motions, body movements, or pauses ahead of time. Instead, the best use of your time is to be an inquisitive and fully present person. What do I mean by this? Let’s break it down for three limited preps- Extemp, Apol, and Impromptu… (Isabelle Clausen will break down the Mars Hill binder next week)…

Continue reading “Limited Prep Breakdown by: Catherine Alles”

Top 5 Things Every LDer Should Do (Workshop Thursday)

Have you ever walked into a debate round wondering in the world are you doing? Have you ever walked out of a round thinking you won that round, but ended up pathetically losing? Or have you ever walked out of a round thinking that you lost pathetically but actually won by a huge margin?

I’ve been there before, feeling inconsistent in my debate rounds, not knowing how I won or lost. We either go through a debate round feeling rushed and nervous, or confident and pragmatic. But regardless of how we feel, sometimes the judge votes for what we least expected. Why is this? Why can’t we find consistency in our competition? How is it that the really good people keep on winning tournament after tournament and we are just chilling here getting 3-3?

If you’re in this boat and want more consistency in your debate rounds, then I have 5 tips to share with you that will lead you down a more successful path! Join me, on Thursday for my LD Online Workshop, or keep reading…

Continue reading “Top 5 Things Every LDer Should Do (Workshop Thursday)”

Be a Pioneer! Try Biblical Thematic (or Any New Speech Event)

New Speech Events come along now and then. Some students want to sit back and watch and figure it out. Although that is a fine technique to use, I say, “Be a Pioneer! Get messy! Take chances!” Yes, I have watched a lot of Magic School Bus throughout the years, and I have learned valuable lessons from Ms. Frizzle and gang…

DO be a Ms. Frizzle – Take chances, get messy! Why not? Explore the category for yourself (or with your family), especially if it’s never been done. Talk about it. The more you talk, the more ideas will come! Go to a workshop on it, TONIGHT we have a Biblical Thematic Workshop where we will cover the ideas and things you can do in this event. If you can’t make it – look for the recording.

DON’T be an Arnold – Wishing you would have stayed home, is not going to enhance your speech and debate skills. You have the opportunity to learn new things, as well as be a better communicator. How cool is that!?

DO be a Dorothy Ann – Dorothy Ann always has her book with her. She knows the rules inside and out! Make sure you are coming at the new event by fulling understanding the rules first.

DON’T be a Phoebe – There is no reason to compare things to your “old school,” or events that happened in the past. This is a new year! Jump in and do this! Wishing things were different, isn’t going to make it so. Be in the NOW and try to find things you like about the event and run with that. Being negative and unwilling to explore the possibilities will leave you in the dust. Remember, there is growth in everything, even if you feel uncomfortable at first.

DO be a Ralph – Ralph always puts a smile on my face. He is making the most out of the situation and having fun with it! Remember to find the joy in new events – this can help you go a long way!

All of these examples can be applied to new speech events… whether they are completely brand new to the league you are in, or you are trying an event for the first time. Join Lasting Impact! through our articles, video workshops or live workshops. We want to help you explore YOUR potential through speech and debate. And remember, You Got This!

IO/Expos Tips from Nate Thompson, 2016 Champ

Are you on the fence about jumping on the IO/Expos bandwagon? Now is the time to check out what others have to say (including Nate Thompson) about this fabulous event! TONIGHT, Lasting Impact! will have a team of experienced speakers and constructors of “the speech event that uses boards and easel for visual aides”. IO/Expos is so much more than that! But don’t just take my word – come TONIGHT (sign up now). And don’t forget to read the article below…

Continue reading “IO/Expos Tips from Nate Thompson, 2016 Champ”

Extemporaneous – NOW is the time to try it! by: Steve Kish

Lasting Impact! has TWO opportunities to jump in to Extemp this fall! If this is something your club hasn’t been able to offer or you want more help and direction on how to get started… we have the answer!

1. Extemp Basics with Catherine Alles – Sun. Oct. 21 6:00pm CT

Extemp Basics with Catherine Alles

2. Extemp Excel with Steve Kish – Online 6 Week Club – Nov. 12 – Dec. 17

Extemp Excel Class (6 weeks)

If you still aren’t ready or sure you want to commit, read Steve Kish’s explanation on why Extemp is an important speech event to grow your speech and debate skills…

Continue reading “Extemporaneous – NOW is the time to try it! by: Steve Kish”

JOIN US!! Workshops this Week- IO/Expos, Biblical Thematic, and Extemp – Oh my!

Whew! It’s a big week at Lasting Impact! We love what we do! If you haven’t had the opportunity to partake in one of our Lasting Impact! Online Workshops this is going to be a great week to join us. Here is what people from all over the country are saying about our online sessions…

”I didn’t think I needed a club to do Apol- I can do things on my own, right? But there is no replacement for the group knowledge and community support that you get with the online Apol club. I’ve been so challenged but also blessed to be a part of something bigger than just competition— learning things from brilliant teachers like Joel or Matthew that are helpful even outside of the competition room. When I say I recommend it, I don’t say it flippantly. Joining a Lasting Impact! online club or workshop is something I promise you won’t regret.” – Ethan, student, TX

“Mrs. Neumann’s workshop on cutting your piece (for interp) was so helpful. I’ve been competing for three years and she showed me things I never knew were possible! I think some rules are hard to understand so it was awesome to be able to talk through them and really delve into the “do’s” and “dont’s” of script writing. I definitely recommend it to anyone planning to perform an interpretation speech!” – Ellen, student, NE

“The Online Workshop experience is great for students and parents who are interested in learning about brand new categories. Mrs. Eskelund’s analysis of Oratorical was educational while allowing you to brainstorm while you listen.” – Gloria, student, WI

“The IO/Expos Online Workshop was such a big help to us in generating ideas and more importantly the nuts and bolts of the supplies needed. There is hardly any information out there on Illustrated Oratory/Expository but Lasting Impact’s workshop filled the void.” – Debbie, parent, FL

“Lasting Impact! has been one of the most influential tools for my speech and debate journey. It has equipped me with the tools to speak in a manner that glorifies God! I am extremely thankful for their resources. I would encourage anyone, who wants to become a better speaker, in any capacity, to join Lasting Impact!” – Mark, student, MI

Join us this week for one of these awesome Online Workshops…

Exploring Biblical Thematic – Fri. Oct. 19, 6:00pm CT

Exploring Biblical Thematic with Heather Neumann and Kristi Eskelund

All About IO/Expos – Fri. Oct. 19, 7:30pm CT

All About Illustrated Oratory/Expository with Heather, Kristi, and Guests

Extemp Basics with Catherine Alles – Sun. Oct. 21, 6:00pm CT

Extemp Basics with Catherine Alles

Here are some reasons why you should want to tune in…

  • Opportunities for growth
  • Exploring new ideas
  • New perspectives
  • “Golden Nuggets”
  • Fantastic and Experienced Coaching
  • Tips for success

If you can’t make live workshop, we do try to get the workshops recorded. See here for a complete list of RECORDED Workshops…

https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/recorded-workshops/

 

We hope to see you soon! You Got This!

The Power of Persuasion – Workshop Sunday!!

per·sua·sive
pərˈswāsiv, pərˈswāziv
adjective

Definition- good at persuading someone to do or believe something through reasoning or the use of temptation.

“an informative and persuasive speech”

synonyms: convincing, cogent, compelling, potent, forceful, powerful, impactful, eloquent, impressive, influential, sound, valid, strong, effective, winning, telling;

Being a good communicator, MUST include understanding the Art of Persuasion. Did you read all those synonyms for the word “Persuasion”? Now, who doesn’t want to do that?? I have heard it said that EVERY speech has elements of persuasion. And I believe that! In our life, we use persuasion daily. You see, persuasion is not just a tool for speech and debate students. It is a skill for life. The way you present yourself or your ideas can affect whether you get an A on a verbal exam, get out of a speeding ticket, or what to have for dinner. And that was just yesterday!!

You see, our role as good communicators is to persuade others to understand our viewpoint (and hopefully they will agree with you). This is a life skill, not only for those selling a product, but for anyone relaying information. Knowing how to convince people of your perspective is an asset for life. Can you imagine the positive outcomes?

Here is what Isabelle Clausen had to say about her Persuasive Workshop this Sunday 10/14 at 7:00pm CT…

Have you ever gotten into an argument with your mom and wanted to learn how to convince her that she was wrong and you were right? Or have you ever gotten into a debate with your sister about who is the favorite child, and you wanted to convince her that you are, and always will be, the favorite?

Well, I can’t promise you that I’ll be able to help you win arguments with your family members, but I can guarantee that I’ll be able to help you learn the art of persuasion for speech and debate. Not only will you learn how to be persuasive and use the primary tools of rhetoric within speech and debate, but you will also learn how to use these skills in your everyday life (of course excluding debates with your mother!?).

Persuasion isn’t just about how you write out certain arguments; rather, a primary part of it is how you introduce the arguments, what tone of voice you have, and what kind of conversational hand gestures you use.

At my workshop, I will teach you the basics of how to write a persuasive thesis statement, how to carry that statement through your points, and how to challenge your judges to take part in your call to action. Likewise, I will also teach you how to apply persuasive rhetoric in your daily life, such as at school/co-op, with your friends, in your future career, and as you witness about Jesus Christ!

I can’t wait to see you at my workshop this next Sunday, October 14th, at 7:00 PM CT time!

To sign up CLICK HERE.

Having a Theme in Speech… Even in Debate

The importance of a theme is something I state often.

As my good friend, NCFCA TP Champion and coach, Rebecca Frazer said, "Good communication is practically always thematic. Your favorite movies are your favorite movies because they leave you with strong, central feelings. Every round strategy–aff or neg–must be centered around a strong theme. Stating a value in a case does not make it thematic, nor does stating a negative philosophy. Some of the best values I have ever seen in debate are so obvious that they don’t even need to be labeled–every argument the team makes ties back to a clear idea that they value. Please don’t let your judge leave the debate round wondering, “Hmm, so I wonder what was really important to them?”

The same is true for Speech. You want your audience to remember you- as well as what you have said, or performed. How?! This can be done by having a theme! A theme can be an underlying topic or recurring idea in your speech. Your memory is powered by your brain, which is full of emotions. Those emotions can be triggered by impacting the audience through a theme. Think about it- a judge will listen to 8 students give a speech for 10 minutes each... That's 80 minutes of speeches! You want  to be sure they remember you! How can that be done?

You need to be a member to view this content.  Please sign up or login.

“Big Picture Argumentation” (WORKSHOP SAT) by: Luke McConnel

Often times debate students, whether it be LD, TP, or Parli, often have trouble seeing past the debate round when it comes to their impacts. While there is nothing wrong per say with wanting to win, if we are not able to show the judge(s) the implications of our logic and arguments in the real world, we will have missed what debate is all about. Luke McConnel will present their case for Big Picture Argumentation in his  Online Workshop this weekend (Sat. Oct. 6, 11:00am CT). Read on… or sign up HERE.

Continue reading ““Big Picture Argumentation” (WORKSHOP SAT) by: Luke McConnel”

Lasting Impact! October and November Online Workshops and Classes

Can you believe it’s October, already?! It’s prime time to start digging deeper into Speech and Debate. If you haven’t had the opportunity to partake in one of our past Workshops, sign up NOW and don’t miss out on all the ideas, tips, and valuable information!

Signing up for an Online Workshop is easy!! All workshops are through an online forum called Zoom. It’s a quick and easy download that your instructor will send to you, as part of their introduction email (usually within 24 hours of your workshop). We do try to record all our workshops, but can’t guarantee how quickly they will be up and ready on our site. Click HERE to see available recorded videos.

Check out the list of the fantastic line up of Online Workshops and Classes coming directly to you, in the comfort of your own home…

October

Sat. Oct. 6, 11:00am – Big Picture Argumentation with Luke McConnell
$5 members/$20 non members

“Big Picture Argumentation” is an argumentative strategy that allows you to prep better for rounds, know all the vital details of your case, unlock the lost art of conversation, and overall appear more professional and persuasive to your audiences. This is for ALL types of debate!!

More students and coaches need to learn “Big Picture Argumentation.” It is a very simple argumentative strategy that will allow students to connect better with their judges. One of the aspects of the strategy includes pre round and pre tourney prep. If students want to win debate rounds, they have to earn it. Furthermore however, if they are not able to clearly communicate to the judge why the judge should vote for them, aka how they won the round, all their hard work means nothing. This strategy gives them the ability to break the barrier that prevents judges from really capturing the meaning of their arguments.

Sign up HERE.

Sun. Oct. 14 7:00pm CT – The Power of Persuasion with Isabelle Clausen
$5 members/$20 non members

Speaking persuasively is a skill that is extremely powerful in every area of life: speech and debate, college, the workforce, conflict resolution, and ministry. However, as powerful as this skill is, it takes much practice to perfect. That is why I created this workshop, so you can learn how to speak persuasively not only in Speech and Debate, but also in your daily life! Once you learn and practice these techniques to develop this skill, you can impact the world for Christ in a whole new way!

This online workshop will be covering the following topics:
– The purpose for the persuasive speaking event
– How to develop a persuasive argument by finding the “crux”
– How to look at a topic from both sides
– How to develop and strong and strategic thesis statement
– How to format your points in your speech
– How to use personal stories to create a connection with the judge
– How to add lasting impact to your speech (see what I did there ?)
– How to apply these skills to your daily life

Sign up HERE.

Fri. Oct. 19, 6:00pm CT – Exploring Biblical Thematic with Heather Neumann and Kristi Eskelund
$5 members/$20 non members

Join Heather and Kristi as they explore the new NCFCA Interpretive Speech Category- Biblical Thematic. We will break down all the possibilities!!
– Encouragement and excitement for Biblical Thematic.
– How to incorporate Platform and Interpretive speech types well.
– Learn ideas of how to use your binder as a prop.
– Help with how to choose a theme.
– Tips on how to embrace BT.

Sign up HERE.

Fri. Oct. 19, 7:30pm CT – All About Illustrated Oratory/Expository with Heather, Kristi, and Guests
$5 members/$20 non members

Come learn all about one of our favorite speech categories! Almost every platform speech can be enhanced by visual aides! So why not turn your platform speech into something so much more!? Join us, and an amazing panel of IO/Expo experts! We will dispel the myths that only rich (the boards and supplies are too expensive), artistic (I’m not creative enough) type people can do this event.

Sign up HERE.

Sun. Oct. 21, 6:00pm CT – Extemp Basics with Catherine Alles
$5 members/$20 non members

After having competed in Extemporaneous for three years, Catherine Alles has gone through stages of failure and success- including winning tournaments and making it to Nationals. In this workshop, she will be going over some basic tips on organization, how to spend your prep time, how to incorporate humor, how to prepare for tournaments, and how to make your speech stand out. If you are thinking about competing in Extemp or looking for ways to improve, this is a workshop you won’t want to miss!

Sign up HERE.

Wed. Oct. 23, 8:00pm CT – Finishing Strong in Debate with Eric Meinerding
$5 members/$20 non members

Finishing Strong: How to Give Winning Rebuttals (LD and TP). This will be another strategy/theory workshop. Eric will be going over time efficiency, reading the room, identifying strong/weak arguments, and some rhetorical tips as well.

Sign up HERE.

November

Nov. 3, 10:00am CT- How to Judge LD Debate with Joel Erickson
$5 members/$20 non members

Back by popular demand… Have you ever stared blankly at your LD ballot in judge hospitality, stymied by the complete incoherence of the debaters? In this workshop, veteran LD coach Joel Erickson shares some practical pointers for judging LD. You’ll learn an intuitive way for evaluating LD rounds, what to do when debaters don’t refute each other, what to say (and not to say) in your judging philosophy to prompt the debaters to debate well, and how to write a ballot that debaters will want to read. Joel will talk for about 25 minutes, then devote the rest of the time to answering your questions. Hope to see you there!

Sign up HERE.

Nov. 5, 7:00-8:30pm CT – Writing Winning Speeches with Rebecca Frazer
$10 members/$25 non members

Join Rebecca Frazer for a dynamic speechwriting workshop aimed to help you take your platform speeches to the next level. From thesis formation, to writing hacks, to persuasion techniques grounded in social science, Rebecca’s workshop is sure to bring new insight to speakers of all levels.

Rebecca is the 2012 NCFCA National TP and Persuasive Champion. She has a B.A. in communication and is currently earning a PhD in Communications.

Sign up HERE.

Nov. 12- Dec. 17, 8:00pm CT – Extemp Excel Class (6 weeks)
$40 members/$60 non members

Extemporaneous is often considered a nuanced and nebulus event in competitive forensics. This idea stops here. During Extemp Bootcamp, you will learn the ins-and-outs of extemporaneous speaking — speech writing, research methods, and tips/tricks developed from years of experience. My goal for each student is simple: to be able to approach each extemp speech with confidence and courage. Extemp is not the scary monster overconfident competitors like to make it out to be. It is a fun and rewarding experience once you learn the ropes.

Join this Extemp Class to jump start your season! Whether or not you are new to Extemp, this class will cover everything you need to push you to be a better Extemporaneous Speaker!
– Card Writing
– Research
– Sources
– Resources
– Building Credibility
– Practice
– And More!

Sign up HERE.

We hope to see you soon! Thanks for making Lasting Impact! part of your Speech and Debate journey!