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!
When I was 19 years old, (gosh that was a long time ago!) I ran a 6 week summer Theatre Camp based almost entirely on improvisation. Improv for short, we would develop our listening skills to learn excellent communication and performance skills. Sound like Fun? For those that are unclear as to what Improvisation actually is, the University of Chicago, one of the leading Improv Institutions, defines it like this: (Improv) “is a live performance in which the actors make up scenes, dialogue and characters on the spot (sometimes incorporating suggestions from the audience). It’s often comedic, though not always.” Sound slightly familiar? How about this definition: “to make, invent, or arrange offhand” (Merriam Webster) In competitive, public speaking, Impromptu is a category where we often do all of the above.
Online Apol starts TONIGHT!! Remember, all classes are recorded! Ethan Tong will coach this semester class/club. Sign up HERE – https://lastingimpact.info/product/club22508/ Or read on for his valuable insight…
I never used a box in Apologetics. Early on, I had a box in which I stored blank cards, but eventually, I stopped using a box at all. At first, I told people that I wasn’t using a box because “you don’t have a box with you in real life when someone asks you a hard question.” But… that was an excuse. I was a little too lazy to figure out how to print stuff onto index cards, and I was definitely too lazy to HANDWRITE all the cards.
But my senior year, I won the Region 4 Championship (which used to be all of Texas and Oklahoma!) in Apologetics. Without a box! How? Let me give you some of my secrets…
We apologize for the delay… but good things come to those who wait! This Team Policy Sourcebook was not just pulled together! In fact, our editors and writers put a great deal of thought and detail into this AMAZING resource! The TP Sourcebook is a compilation of cases and practical reference materials, intended as a “starter pack” to help students launch the season quickly and easily. And we created it for TWO leagues- ASDA and NCFCA (if you compete in both, you don’t need to purchase both). The TP Sourcebook provides important foundational information about the resolution and the key concepts involved, reference information about the countries and agencies covered under the resolution, and a set of cases to help students to begin debating right away. Not only do we write our resources for students, we write them with parents and coaches in mind.
2024-25 TP Sourcebook contents include…
– A resolutional analysis brief
– Six original affirmative cases (1AC’s)
– Six corresponding affirmative backup briefs
– Six corresponding negative briefs
– Six country-specific fact sheets
– A strategy article on “The Debate Continuum”
The 27-page “Resolutional Analysis” provides a thorough introduction to the resolution and a reference handbook with evidence cards regarding the terms and agencies covered under the resolution. The cases in this year’s sourcebook cover a variety of topics related to US policy, including immigration, foreign aid, tariffs & imports, economic development, global stability and strategies for fighting corruption in Central America.
Sourcebook contents are provided in an electronic folder with separate files for each brief, so students can print the sourcebook sections individually, or in their entirety.
Fair Use Agreement
Students may download the sourcebook in either a PDF, or DOC (Microsoft Word) version, or both. By downloading the TP Sourcebook, students agree to utilize the materials for their own personal use. They are allowed to share the sourcebook with their partner, but not with other students, unless a student has purchased (but perhaps not printed) the sourcebook for themselves. Students may use the cases and briefs as written, but they also may choose to “personalize” them by adding and adapting the materials with their own ideas and information.
Ahh! The new speech and debate season is upon us! Are you feeling prepared? Perhaps a little overwhelmed!? Don’t worry… The Lasting Impact! Team is ready to come alongside students, parents, coaches, and clubs! Allow me to introduce ourselves…. Lasting Impact! has been around for a while now! We have literally coached thousands of students nationwide and internationally. We have had the opportunity to coach numerous (too many to count) National Champions. Throughout the year we travel the country from coast to coast teaching the art of communication through Speech and Debate. During the school year, you will often find our coaches on Zoom teaching classes and clubs, or coaching one on one. We offer a variety of products and services to help you navigate the world of speech and debate! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to our BLOG to be sure you get the latest information, releases, sales, etc. Look what we have just for YOU… the SHOP is where you can find all the amazing offerings…
Clubs/Classes – Our fall 2024 club/classes are gearing up, ready to go! We are offering from everything to Apologetics to Debate to Speech 101 and 102, Extemporaneous to Interp! All clubs/classes are on Zoom and recorded. Our clubs are not only for students! Many coaches have sat in to learn and gain a better understanding of what our experienced coaches have to offer! We are still taking registrations- REGISTER NOW!
Speech and Debate Resources – Lasting Impact! has created a number of “must have” resources! Whether it’s The Ultimate Guide to Interpretive Speech, The Limited Prep Guide, Speech Games, Speech Grab and Go, or our Debate Sourcebooks… our Resources will make your life a whole lot easier! All books are Ebooks, and just one click away! https://lastingimpact.info/shop/
Coaching – Wait until you see the line up of our 2024-25 Coaches! These are truly the best of the best! All of our coaches are actively involved in the speech and debate community. They are club leaders, debate coaches, preachers, tournament coordinators, judges, etc. Book a session with one today, and you won’t be disappointed! https://lastingimpact.info/coach-information/
Blog – Did you know that Lasting Impact! has over 500 articles about speech and debate!? We have a lot of say. We are here for YOU to help you dig deeper and understand the ins and outs of debate resolutions and speech categories. Be sure you SUBSCRIBE to the blog to read what our coaches think or are discovering! https://lastingimpact.info/tag/free/
Membership – Yes, Lasting Impact! is a membership site. But you don’t have to be a member to read the free blog. Members receive discounts on coaching and clubs, access to video gallery, free workshop recordings, etc. Membership is just $35 for the year! https://lastingimpact.info/register/annual-membership-subscription/
We welcome you to be a part of the Lasting Impact! Family! We look forward to coming alongside you in your speech and/or debate journey!
It’s a new speech and debate season – and we have a lot to uncover! Our coaches have been from coast to coast and they are excited to jump into our online clubs and classes with YOU! This year, Lasting Impact! will offer 10 unique speech and debate clubs! Each are less than $150! Check out all the options here – https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/clubs/ Don’t see something you want or need? We have been known to create one. Need a coach to teach a lesson or help your club? Just contact heather@lastingimpact.info
(Sign up for the final Moot Camp today!! It’s just around the corner––August 17th and 19th. It’s so much fun every year, and campers always express being grateful they decided to come.) https://lastingimpact.info/product/camp22585/
I’m a Moot Coach, so I hear a lot of people’s thoughts on the event. But oddly enough, the most common objection I hear to competing in Moot is not “idk, it looks scary.” It’s not “I dunno, it doesn’t look fun,” or even “I don’t have a partner.” No––the overwhelming #1 objection is “I don’t have time for it. I’m too busy this year.”
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” This popular quote from Benjamin Franklin is one that I often heard parroted at me by coaches throughout the years, always immediately followed by an instruction to start working on my speeches and debate cases much sooner than I would have liked. At the time, I felt like it wasn’t that helpful to start in the summer, after all, the same materials would still waiting in the fall. While I don’t like to admit that I’m wrong, I was definitely wrong; getting a head start on preparation during the summer has proven to be invaluable in my experience, especially when preparing for Moot Court. Getting a head start on the extensive reading and analysis only helps you. However, figuring out where to start is difficult, should you read the Supreme Court cases first? Or the facts? When should you start writing your cases?
Here are a few tips on jump-starting your season a few months in advance:
“The United States Federal Government should significantly reform its foreign policy toward one or more of the following Central American countries: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.” This year’s NCFCA and ASDA TP resolution asks us to learn about some of our neighbors, who are just a few countries south. Given the number of countries covered under the resolution, it opens the door to a wide range of policies. International policy resolutions are distinct from domestic policy resolutions in that they offer debaters a greater challenge and a good opportunity to be creative. Some of my best years debating in the league were when I was challenged by an international policy resolution. With a new debate year right around the corner, it’s about that time in the summer when most people (except the most studious debaters who started researching when the resolution was released) start to think about the topic for the upcoming season. You may be asking, “How do I tackle this year’s resolution, and where do I start?” I hope to provide a brief orientation to this year’s topic and pique your interest by examining three broad issues related to the resolution: economics, national security, and global stability. Continuing reading below… or sign up for Lasting Impact!’s Online TP Camp (non league specific)! It starts next week. Also- our TP Sourcebook is COMING SOON!
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…
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!
You must be logged in to post a comment.