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Reformation of Thought: A History of Philosophy (Class Offering) by: Charis Baker

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Western Civilization is in the midst of a crisis. You are living in the midst of one of the great ideological battles in history. Whether you want to be a better debater, increase your ability to defend your faith, or become a more well-rounded individual, you must know and be able to articulate the truth. 

How can you stand firm in truth if you don’t know where the battle lines of ideas are drawn?

This fall, Lasting Impact! is partnering with Speaking with Grace and Charis Baker. She is offering an 8-week live class for high schoolers who want to achieve these exact goals. We’ll read, write on, and discuss Dr. Glenn Martin’s comprehensive overview of the thoughts that have shaped Western philosophy: Prevailing Worldviews of Western Society Since 1500. Join Charis Baker to better identify and defend your beliefs and understand the history of philosophy. Continue reading for a glimpse into the questions and ideas we’ll be examining….

Continue reading “Reformation of Thought: A History of Philosophy (Class Offering) by: Charis Baker” →

NCFCA Team Policy Summer Source is Available NOW!

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Lasting Impact! is pleased to announce the early release of two cases for the 2025 debate summer camp season. In the past, we have released a source book near the beginning of August. This year will be no exception, but in addition to this traditional release, we also want to help support your summer research and camps by releasing two high-quality cases early. We will be selling one case for $20 or both early releases for $30 per team. The cases include a 1AC, an AFF backup, and a NEG brief. The two cases are: “Pass the TRUST Act,” which deals with insider trading, and “Pass Congressional Term Limits,” which advocates for term limits on U.S. Representatives and Senators. We have close to 100 pages of research already done for you!!

This summer release is sure to benefit both students and leaders…  

• Students: Get a head start diving into the resolution now! This is a fantastic starting point! This source has almost 100 pages ready for you to dive in! Students who are eager to begin researching the topic are going to love these cases, as they explore two topics likely to get a lot of traction this coming season. Students can begin with the case provided, brainstorm arguments, and begin researching additional AFF and NEG support. And just in case you are already going through withdrawal, grab a group of friends over the summer and get in a couple of practice rounds before the fall semester begins. These cases are sure to provide a good starting place for the cases you will run into next season. 

• Clubs: Clubs that are looking to understand the resolution better will appreciate the opportunity to dive into two topics sure to offer research opportunities and logical discussions. These cases will also allow for clubs to host summer tournaments or rounds with good, balanced cases that students will be able to debate on both sides. These are shareable… look at payment structure below.

• Camps: These cases are great examples to pair with your camp curriculum as they provide a hands-on example of the stock issues and real-life examples of topics likely to be explored in the coming season. This release is designed to pair well with NCFCA or other curriculum, providing real-life examples to which the students can apply debate theory. These cases are a strong start and could be debated in camp as is. They are not bulletproof, though, which also offers students the opportunity to learn how to research and refine cases to their own preferences, allowing them to be creative and learn the skills of debate!

Payment Structure:

  • 1-4 Teams:  $20 / $30 for both
  • 5-10 Teams:  $15 / $20 for both
  • 11+ Teams:  $10 / $15 for both

Got to the SHOP to purchase NOW! Or here is the link – https://lastingimpact.info/product/book23943/

TP Source – Early Release Announcement, Camps, and More!

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Hello, NCFCA Debaters, Coaches, and Clubs!
Lasting Impact! is eager to announce the release of TWO cases for the 2025 debate summer camp season. We are excited for the upcoming NCFCA season, which will focus on Congressional reforms, and our coaches have been hard at work researching and crafting the quality Lasting Impact! cases you have come to know and love (these may just be some of our best yet)! 

In the past, we have released a source book near the beginning of August. This year will be no exception, but in addition to this traditional release, we also want to help support your summer research and camps by releasing two high-quality cases early. We will be selling one case for $20 or both early releases for $30 per team. The cases include a 1AC, an AFF backup, and a NEG brief. The two cases are: “Pass the TRUST Act,” which deals with insider trading, and “Pass Congressional Term Limits,” which advocates for term limits on U.S. Representatives and Senators. We will be using these sample cases in our own Summer Debate Camps!!
Speaking of… Looking to dive into a Summer Speech or Debate Camp? Sign up NOW with some of the best speech and debate coaching and materials! Our Online Camps will be recorded! If you are still looking to host a camp… check with Heather to see if a coach can come to you Heather@lastingimpact.info, OR we would encourage you to stop by the Lasting Impact booth at the NCFCA National Championship in Minnesota! We will be on campus and look forward to meeting you! If you would like to see a preview of the NCFCA TP Camp Cases, or our other amazing products or materials – come to our booth (and meet our llama)!! We will have copies of the cases and books available for preview. And don’t forget the SALE going on now… (see previous post for details). As always, we love coming alongside your speech and debate journey!

FREE PRINTING OFFER!

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Heading to the NCFCA National Championship? Want to purchase and pick up printed materials and have them waiting for you? From now – May 24 until June 1, 2025, purchase one of our SPEECH Ebooks, and have them printed for FREE! Items must be picked up at Nats! Items will not be shipped! Did you know Lasting Impact! has numerous Speech Resources! The free printing offer includes…

  • Speech Games and Ice Breakers
  • The Ultimate Guide to Interpretive Speech
  • Grab and Go Speech Lesson Plans
  • Seek Him First (Speech and Debate Devotional)
  • Vol. 1 and 2 – Tips, Advice, and Encouragement for your Speech Journey
  • Guide to Limited Prep

To receive your FREE printing, simply purchase the books and write PRINT in the comments. This free printing offer does not include Debate Books, Sourcebooks, Activity Cards, or Public Speaking For Kids. Head to the SHOP now, and don’t miss this incredible offer! https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/books/

FREE Webinar – Judging Moot at Nats

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Are you heading to the NCFCA National Championship to judge Moot Court? When you judge Moot, you might also feel like you’ve won a slot to Nats! Asking the right questions might make you feel like you are put in the hot seat! Ethan Tong is putting together another Moot Judging Webinar so that you can be fully prepped to judge and ask good questions at Nationals. Judging at Nationals can be scary because it’s in person, but it can also be more fun! No more worrying about feedback, no more worrying whether the competitor can hear you or is intentionally ignoring you… you can see if he or she is reading from a script or if they have memorized their material, etc. Everything is better in person!

If you’re interested in learning more about how to judge well, understand the case materials better, and have your questions answered, register for the FREE webinar hosted Monday night, May 26th, at 7pm. If you aren’t able to make it, it will be recorded, but you still need to register. 

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSck8V_6SGjoUCe1Y80WI-KpP7gXXNHIQulTUraIcCAch5SQqA/viewform?usp=header

And invite your friends to the webinar—it’s completely free! We just want to equip judges so everyone feels good about their rounds.

What Can You Expect From Nationals?

Posted on by Heather Neumann

You made it! Now what?! This post is not about the competition, because as you heard it before… Speech and Debate is not always about the competition! Here are a few things to be prepared for before you head to Nats…

  1. Walking! Most National Championships are on college campuses. That means walking. Guys, make sure your shoes are broken in a and comfortable. Ladies, bring an extra set if walking shoes. Put your high heels in a back pack.
  2. Down Time. Congratulations you made in in one speech! Now what!? If you have been participating in multiple speeches and debate all season, this will be a new adventure! How will you fill the time? I know students who worship, play spike ball, frisbee, hang with friends, but don’t forget to support your competing comrades or watch speeches/debate to gain insight for future years!
  3. Hydrate, don’t die-drate. This goes without saying… with all that walking (and potentially hot weather), make sure you are drinking plenty of water!
  4. Relationships. Turn off your phone! Be in the present! You might meet someone standing outside your room or walking to the next place. Find someone who is alone. Invest in the relationship waiting to happen! Make a goal to meet someone new each day.
  5. Vendors/Sponsors. This might seem like a shameless plug for Lasting Impact! But really, these people – vendors, sponsors, colleges… these are your people. They may know things you don’t. Check them out, they could be an organization that could be the key to your success!
  6. Go to worship/devos. Start the day right! This could be why you are there. There could be a message you need to hear.
  7. Learn and grow! Yes, you learn a ton from doing this activity. But, as always I guarantee, He always has more for you… if you are seeking Him in all you do! Expect the unexpected.

Congrats for making it to your National Championship! Now what?

Now is the Time to Seize the Day!

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Yes, I just got off the whirlwind of directing Newsies… but this lesson of “seizing the day” can be implemented NOW, before heading to your Speech and Debate National Championships! I see it all the time… most students are just grateful to get to the pinnacle level- they sit back relax and go into summer mode. Don’t stop now! Seize the moment! I highly recommend 3 things before heading to Nats…

  1. Perspective – Get another perspective on your speech or case. This can be anyone! You don’t need to hire a coach (if you don’t want to). But think and talk about your speech with anyone who will listen AND get you thinking! You have choices… looking at something from a different angle might be just what you need.
  2. Read those ballots… ALL OF THEM! You could even call anyone you might have a question about. Yes… you can do that! If you know a judge (someone who judged you), you can reach out to them! There are no rules about that. Understand their ranking or decisions could impact this last tournament.
  3. Pray. Yep, sounds typical… but I believe in it. Does your speech need tweaking? What does God want from you at Nationals? Maybe you are there for competition, but maybe not. Be open to what He wants!

Your friends are Lasting Impact! are lifting you up during these final steps in the season. And hey- if you are ready to talk next year… that’s ok too! Are you ready for your National Championship? Do you need help? The coaches as Lasting Impact! are standing by! Schedule a coaching call today!

Reflection on the Season by: Roman Hogancamp

Posted on by Heather Neumann

“Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.”

–Titus 2:6-8

As the season comes to a close, I want to ask you this; what have you gained? First, second, or third place awards? What was it all for? Success? The coin-size medal? A piece of paper? No, speech and debate is not about winning. Instead, competition allows you the opportunity to grow in your understanding of the world around you and to learn to effectively communicate a Christian worldview. We must understand that our debates are not for a ballot or two but are instead refining and molding us to be ambassadors for God’s glory—ambassadors to a world that desperately needs the message of Jesus Christ.

Continue reading “Reflection on the Season by: Roman Hogancamp” →

THE FINE ART OF BREAKING YOUR BRAIN AND BECOMING A CHAMPION by Cody Dedon

Posted on by Heather Neumann

The most creative person to ever scam me was a gnarly looking old man I bumped into on 16th street in Baton Rouge. I was 19 at the time, freshly homeschooled, deeply naive, and very, very easy to separate from my money. Over the next half hour, this old man explained to me the sad situation that he was supposedly in.

“I work for that art shop.” He said, pointing to a nearby building. “This afternoon I was working from home. I was on the BRINK of finishing a big charcoal portrait for an elderly lady who’s dying of cancer, but then I ran out of charcoal! Can you believe that?” I could believe that! I DID believe that! He went on. “This poor, dying lady has a daughter, and this daughter’s birthday is tomorrow! The dying lady wants to give my portrait to her daughter as a birthday present, but I can’t finish it in time unless you help me buy some more charcoal! Can you spare a few bucks?” I eyed him somewhat suspiciously. “Why can’t you get the supplies from the shop you work at?” I said pointing to the building. The man’s face fell as he said “I tried. But my car broke down and by the time I made it to the shop on foot, the owner had locked up and left town on vacation. If you don’t help me, this lady may die before I can finish this portrait.” And with that, he held out his convincingly soot stained hand and I opened my wallet. We went back and forth on just how much money charcoal cost, and by the end of our haggling, we settled on a number we were all happy with: a cool, calm 90 dollars.

The next week, I happened to see the owner of the art shop. I asked him about the old man who worked at the shop. His reply? “We’ve never had an old man working at this shop.” I didn’t mention the particulars of WHY I was asking about the old man.

What did I learn from this experience? Well… I learned to NOT give copious amounts of money to anyone and everyone who asks. But perhaps more importantly, I learned that creativity is the key to reaching your goals as a communicator. I’ve been shaken down for 5 or 10 bucks by a common street hustler before, but it took a story of REAL CREATIVITY to pry 90 whole dollars from my hand! NOW THAT’S RESULTS! If you want results as a public speaker, you too will need to get very creative; although, I do advise that you skip the whole lying about your entire backstory technique. Stick to the facts! But GET CREATIVE! Here’s how:

Continue reading “THE FINE ART OF BREAKING YOUR BRAIN AND BECOMING A CHAMPION by Cody Dedon” →

An Original Start for Your Original Interpretation by: Serenity Spada

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Twelve years ago, Seven-year-old Serenity mindlessly walked around at her first official Speech and Debate Tournament. Here, I was exposed to interp speeches that exploded my little brain. I watched with awe at the phenomenal acting skills, blocking, and characterization and quickly fell in love and couldn’t wait to begin myself. So, I wrote and performed my first interp speech, which was adorable for a six-year-old. But then something extremely unfortunate happened—I grew up, and twelve-year-old Serenity could no longer hide behind her cuteness. I was abruptly thrown into a new type of competition that required a much higher level of acting, writing, and blocking. After eleven years of writing and competing in interp speeches, I have learned many lessons that have improved my skills over the years. I wanted to share some of the first steps you would need to take as you start writing your own Original Interpretation…

Continue reading “An Original Start for Your Original Interpretation by: Serenity Spada” →

Free Moot Court Judging Webinar

Posted on by Heather Neumann

The first Moot Court tournament of the year is coming up, and that means many parents will be judging for the first time!

Judging Moot Court is a favorite for many parents. They love the ability to interact with student arguments. I mean, how often do you just WISH you could pipe up and ask a debater to explain their case a little more?? Or to ask them how they would answer a particular objection? That’s exactly what you get to do the whole round in Moot Court.

But on the other hand, Moot Court is very intimidating for new judges. If the students know more than me… will any questions I ask even be good questions? What if I just agree with everything they’ve said? 

And what is this year’s case even about?? 

That’s where we come in. Our mission at Lasting Impact! is to equip parents and students so they can judge and compete at the highest level. We’re offering TWO FREE webinars coming up on January 8th and 9th (Wednesday and Thursday night, 8pm CT). Register here: https://lastingimpact.info/product/workshop23510/.

The first night we’ll cover the case packet, to give you a quick preview into what the case is all about. The second night, we’ll cover judging tips: asking good questions even if you haven’t read that much of the packet, filling out the ballot, deciphering between prepared and unprepared competitors, etc.

You are invited to attend both webinars if you’d like, but if you can only make one (or only need one), feel free to attend whichever you prefer! And invite others––this is entirely free of charge because we want parents to feel equipped!

Here’s one tip you can keep in your back pocket for judging this year: ask them “why.” When they say that a particular Supreme Court case said xyz, ask them why the Court decided that. What is the logic behind that? Why would the Court say xyz instead of abc? That will push them to see if they’re just parroting the Court’s language or if they have a robust understanding of why the Court ruled the way it did.

More where that came from! Come to the judging webinar, and invite others!

Extemporaneous Tips and Tricks by: Roman Hogancamp

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Extemporaneous is so gratifying—and not just because of the competition. There are plenty of outlets that provide that opportunity. What I really love about Extemp is the opportunity to expand my knowledge of the world, discuss it with family and friends, and then share that information and analysis with others. That’s exactly what I hope to do with you today. If we haven’t met, my name is Roman Hogancamp, and I honored to be the 2024 NCFCA Extemporaneous National Champion. As such, I would like to provide three tips for competing in Extemporaneous—whether in STOA, NCFCA, or just around the dinner table. Continue reading or SIGN UP for EXTEMP CLUB that starts NEXT WEEK!

Continue reading “Extemporaneous Tips and Tricks by: Roman Hogancamp” →