Category: Uncategorized

SALE on Sourcebooks – One More Day! Only $20

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Cyber Monday and we are still feeling thankful! This year, we did something we never have done before- we are offering our Debate Sourcebooks for only $20! What makes our Debate Sourcebooks different from other Sourcebooks out there?

Many sourcebooks take a top-down approach to the resolution, providing you with swaths of evidence but with little way to digest it. While we still provide multiple cases and briefs to be used throughout the season, our sourcebook explores all the facets of debate, not just the evidence. We teach you the tricks of the trade, breaking down terminology and debate theory in an accessible and understandable way. Additionally, we have advanced approaches to boost your speaker points, organization, and persuasion. No matter what your strengths and weaknesses in debate are, our sourcebook is designed to meet you where you are and facilitate growth. This resource will help you gain traction as you launch into the new season. Right now, our sourcebooks are on sale! You don’t want to miss out on an opportunity that will help you identify your best speaker roles, partner compatibility, and strategic strengths.

Additionally, our coaches are on deck and ready to help you put the finishing touches on your cases and strategies as you start this season, and beyond! The holidays are here, but competition will be upon us before you know it. Don’t procrastinate!

Here’s what people are saying about our Sourcebooks, Elyse says, “The TP Sourcebook is absolutely amazing! What a great resource! And the vocabulary list… I didn’t even know half of the words, and I have been debating a couple years.” Club Leader, Speech and Debate Coach, Tena, says, “I have been helping debate students develop their speaking skills for over a decade. I have always encouraged students to utilize sourcebooks (especially early in the season) to get a jumpstart on their research and debating. I always recommend Lasting Impact! They have FAR and AWAY the best sourcebooks.” Heather says, “Our Sourcebooks are not only written for the student in mind, many Club Leaders and Coaches use our Sourcebooks to help them understand the resolution, terminology, definitions, etc. Hundreds of hours are poured into our resources, because we love what we do and love helping people succeed.”

Head to the SHOP and purchase your Sourcebook for only $20 TODAY!

TP Sourcebook is HERE! $29.95 (for a limited time)

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Today is the day to buy this book. We hope you decide to take a look! Hundreds of hours have been poured into helping you succeed. Thanks for listening, now Godspeed! All kidding aside, Go HERE or to the SHOP to purchase our 2021-2022 TP Sourcebook- for a limited time it’s only $29.95!!

The Lasting Impact 2021-2022 NCFCA TP Sourcebook contains over 400 cards of high quality research, plus analysis and strategies. Within the sourcebook there are 5 cases (complete with 1ACs, Affirmative backups, and Negative briefs), 6 general briefs, and a thorough resolutional analysis document to jump start your understanding and research of this year’s topic. 

Each case was tailor made to cover a broad scope of issues that are likely to be highly debated this coming season. These topics include prison labor, solitary confinement, attorney-client confidentiality, drugs, and prison care. Additionally, the general briefs provide a great way of not only jump-starting further research, but having evidence on hand that will be useful against many cases throughout the season. These general briefs cover topics including human rights: standards, human rights: violations, mental health, staff needs, medical care, and definitions/topicality. In all, the sourcebook provides a great way to dive into this year’s resolution and have research on hand all year long.

More Deliberation on NCFCA Debate Resolutions by: Kristi Eskelund

Posted on by Kristi Eskelund

I’ve watched the webinars and listened to some initial discussion beyond the white papers for each of the proposed NCFCA debate resolutions.  As typically happens with me, the more I think about and talk about these proposed resolutions, the more I like them, the more depth I see for research and learning, the more value I see in having developed ideas about these topics.  This, actually IS the reason to debate in the first place.  After the webinars, here’s what I think, with the caveat that this is really just me thinking out loud here, so please take it with a grain of salt:

Continue reading “More Deliberation on NCFCA Debate Resolutions by: Kristi Eskelund” →

Knocking Out Nervousness by: Julia Brousseau

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Most of us dream of being that person whose speaking was so outstanding that it lived in the memories of its audience years after it was presented. For me, one of the most vivid recollections of a speech I listened to was one I saw over six years ago, yet I can still picture it as perfectly as if I was there last week.

Continue reading “Knocking Out Nervousness by: Julia Brousseau” →

Ring in 2019 with Lasting Impact! Have you subscribed?

Posted on by Heather Neumann

We are so excited to ring in another year with you! Thank you for bringing us along in your Speech and Debate journey. Did you know we have over 250 articles? It’s crazy to think that we have so much to say! Make sure you are being kept apprised of each and every article…

Are you SUBSCRIBED to the blog?

Being “subscribed” does not mean you have to be a member! Being subscribed sends our weekly emails directly to your inbox. That way you are keeping up with everything we have to say, discounts, promotions, new products, etc.

LIKE us on Facebook

Our articles directly link to our Facebook page, where we do giveaways, incentives, and other social media stuff on there. We’d love to have you join us. And as always, feel free to like, comment, and share!

We, at Lasting Impact! are dedicated to giving you what YOU want to hear! What do you want us to cover!? Feel free to comment on want articles you want to see, products you hope we produce, classes or workshops you want us to hold.

We are lifting up 2019 to be a year full of growth, learning opportunities both in skill and character. We pray that each and everyone of you will choose to use your words to have a Lasting Impact! We hope you decide to ring in the New Year with us!

Photo by: JulieannePhotography

August Online Workshops

Posted on by Heather Neumann

If you can’t make it to physical camp or workshop, let Lasting Impact! come to YOU! We are so excited to be offering more online workshops this summer/fall.

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).

Please go here to sign up.

Anatomy of Interp/Finding the Right Piece/Literary Merit

Friday, August 10 – 9:20-10:50 ET / 8:20-9:50 CT

Heather Neumann has helped hundreds of students find their perfect piece. In this session we will go over where to look, what type you should be looking for, and what your interp needs for success.

$5 members/$20 nonmembers

Cutting Scenes Without Losing Story/Tips for Cutting

Friday, August 10 – 11:00-12:30 ET / 10:00-11:30 CT

Are you making the most out of your piece? Heather Neumann helps you to understand if your piece is making the cut. Don’t worry if you don’t have a piece for this year picked out. We will have handouts to help apply what we will be covering.

$5 members/$20 nonmembers

Defining Your Characters/Setting the Stage

Friday, August 10 – 1:15-2:45 ET / 12:15-1:45 CT

How well do you really know your characters? When you are performing an Interpretive Speech, it’s your characters that are telling the story. We will analyze “Theater of the Mind” and apply it to speeches. Hands on activities will have us- defining characters (voices, stances, gait, and any other attributes or factors to make them easy for the judges to imagine and distinguish). We will also “Set the Stage” for success by mentally picturing the scene, identifying where things are, and planning movements appropriately, using the space available, imaginary props, etc.

$5 members/$20 nonmembers

Finishing Touches/Delivery

Friday, August 10 – 2:55-4:25 ET / 1:55-3:25 CT

Are you sure you are putting all the finishing touches on your speech? Delivery matters! Delivery involves expressiveness! Are you using all three types?

$5 members/$20 nonmembers

The Ins and Outs of LD for Parents and Coaches/How to Judge LD

Friday August 17 – 7:00-8:00pm CT

Coaches: Joel Erickson and Hillary Kolssak

Have you ever stared blankly at your LD ballot in judge hospitality, stumped 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. Hillary Kolssak has been a debate parent, judge, and LD coach for a number of years. These two will get you on the track to help students succeed.

$5 members/$20 nonmembers

Impromptu – Storytelling (part 2) By: Kaitlyn Butts

Posted on by Heather Neumann

“Once Upon a Time:” Storytelling, Impromptu, and Human Interaction

Once you’ve caught the vision and built a system, it’s time to develop a confident and persuasive impromptu style. It’s quite likely that if you’re just getting started with impromptu, you’re also new to the very idea of delivering speeches. The good news is that impromptu is the best way to improve your vocal and physical delivery. Storytelling is the powerful key in speech and debate that will simultaneously unlock your impromptu potential in four ways…

Continue reading “Impromptu – Storytelling (part 2) By: Kaitlyn Butts” →

Guest Post- Joel Erickson- Community Judges- pt. 3

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Community Judges, Part 3: Persuade Them

Be Orators, Not Debaters

“All right,” you may be thinking, “Community judges may be a necessity. I recognize they approach debate with a mindset of hesitancy and self-doubt. And I may very well be able to mitigate this mindset by somewhat adapting to this mindset. But how for heaven’s sake do I stop getting bogus ballots? WHAT’S WRONG WITH THESE COMMUNITY JUDGES?!”

Continue reading “Guest Post- Joel Erickson- Community Judges- pt. 3” →

Guest Post- Joel Erickson- Community Judges- pt. 2

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Community Judges, Part 2: Adapt to Their Mind Set

As expected, the transition from competitor to alumnus was a bit jarring. I managed to control the overpowering nostalgia, to overcome the sensation that I was trespassing into unauthorized areas (such as the much-vaunted judges’ hospitality), and to quell the “something-is-amiss” feeling engendered by my casual attire.

Continue reading “Guest Post- Joel Erickson- Community Judges- pt. 2” →

Guest Post- Joel Erickson- Community Judges, pt. 1

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Community Judges, Part 1: The Necessity of Community Judges

You didn’t break. Or you were eliminated in a crucial outround. Or you barely lost in finals. You charge to ballot retrieval, seize your manila envelope, and frantically rifle through until you find the ballot you were dreading. The speaker points appear randomly assigned. The RFD looks borderline incoherent, rhapsodizes about your opponent’s speaking style, and displays an appalling amount of bias. In one moment, it all coalesces — you remember their light blue nametag, their garbled attempts at articulating their judging experience, and their glazed expression during your final speech. You glance at their signature. Suspicions confirmed. The circled “C” — signifying “community judge” — leers smugly back at you.

Continue reading “Guest Post- Joel Erickson- Community Judges, pt. 1” →

Lasting Impact Video Gallery

Posted on by Heather Neumann

I am super excited to announce a new element to our Lasting Impact website. We have a new Video Gallery! In the gallery we will be adding videos of speeches for your viewing pleasure. Learn great tips and techniques as you watch other perform their award winning speeches. We may also add videos demonstrating what not to do. This video gallery will sit along side our photo gallery in the Community section of the website. A membership is required to view the videos.  While you are in the community area, please feel free to visit our forum and start up conversations with other members.  Also, our photo gallery is eagerly waiting for you to upload photos that you want to share with the Lasting Impact community.

You can view what we have in the gallery so far by clicking here.

If you are not a member, but want to join, please click here to sign up. Remember, tell your friends about Lasting Impact!