My Bible never felt heavier than the time I held it under one arm with my Apol box, checking my name off the door posting for the first time. I begged as many competitors to go into my room before me, delaying what I thought was the inevitable fate for being called out for a lack of content, lack of understanding, and a shipload of heresy.
Along with Impromptu, I was forced into Apologetics. Impromptu wasn’t hard for me – no wrong answers meant no fear about topics. But Apologetics- I didn’t like Apol. at all. Specifically, I didn’t like feeling inadequate. No matter how much I prepared because I always knew that there was something I was missing. Above all, I was terrified that I would say something wrong about Scripture and God.
Now that the Lasting Impact! TP Sourcebook is released, we, the four authors behind it, are answering a few questions about the sourcebook in order to provide you with the context of how this sourcebook came to be, and what we hope you gain from it…
We are excited to announce the upcoming release of Lasting Impact’s Team Policy Sourcebook! It will include a total of 6 full cases, each case including a 1AC, negative brief, and affirmative backup. These cases will cover a broad range of EU immigration subjects likely to be discussed throughout the year such as asylum procedures, search and rescue assistance, integration, humane treatment of migrants, and more. Not only will the Sourcebook include these full 6 cases, each averaging around 52 pages of evidence, but it will also include three full general briefs covering economic, security, and human rights issues surrounding the resolution. With these briefs, competitors can gain a better grasp of the topic and face unusual cases without being left empty-handed.
Finally, the sourcebook will contain one broad document outlining the major areas of this year’s topic, general tips for debating EU policy, and an overview of how the rest of the book is put together.
We are confident that this resource will help students new to Policy Debate, as well as seasoned competitors. Laid out in an easily digested format, with strategy notes and explanations on each case and brief, this resource is sure to give novices a better grasp of the topic, along with a developed collection of cases and evidence in their arsenal.
We are also excited for the opportunity this resource gives advanced debaters to broaden their scope of knowledge about the resolution, the workings of the EU, and common arguments that will appear throughout the season. From brand-new to seasoned debaters, this Sourcebook is highly versatile and perfect for any experience level.
Who are part of the Lasting Impact! Team, who spent their summer researching to give you an awesome product to prepare you for a fantastic season?
Sarah Fox Sarah is entering her third and final year in the NCFCA, having competed in Team Policy, platform, interp, and all the limited preps, and qualifying to Nationals both years. In her first year of competition, Sarah won two tournaments in TP and one in apologetics. In her second year, she and her TP partner Eli Mayfield won each qualifier they competed in and placed second at the Anderson National Mixer, earning 13th place nationwide in at-large points before the season was canceled. Sarah has also enjoyed competing in speech events, securing 22 top-ten finishes in two years, taking each of her speeches to finals this past season, and earning a 2020 Regional Championship Ironman award. Apart from the Christ-centered community and friendships in the NCFCA, her favorite parts of competition are TP debate, public policy research, and apologetics.
Logan Hickman Logan is entering his third and final year of Team Policy Debate. He qualified to Regionals every year and broke at each tournament he attended last year, winning one of them. Logan loves limited prep speaking and qualified to Regionals in impromptu, but Team Policy debate is his favorite event. One of his favorite parts of competing in Team Policy is researching real-world issues and being forced to think about things in a logical, tangible, persuasive way. He credits his ability to articulate his position in a persuasive manner, his research skills, and some of his logical deduction ability to his time in the NCFCA. Along with his partner, Anna Macklem, he compiled over 200 pages worth of evidence and research during the abbreviated previous tournament season. Logan will be a student leader for his club this upcoming season.
Anna Macklem Qualifying to Regionals both years she competed, Anna is heading into her third year of Team Policy debate. Along with her partner, Logan Hickman, she broke in every tournament she competed at this year. A student leader at her club, Anna’s favorite event is TP, though she’s also competed in extemp, impromptu, and informative. She spent an average of 20 hours a week researching debate during the previous season, which translated to winning a tournament before the season was cancelled. She and two other students also wrote, developed, and taught a TP summer camp this year.
Eli Mayfield Eli has competed in both speech and debate for three years, qualifying to the Regional Championship all three years, and to the National Championship the last two. His first two years of debate were in LD, which helped him build the skills of cross-examination and quick thinking. During his third year of debate in TP, Eli and his partner Sarah Fox won both Regional Qualifiers they attended, as well as placing 2nd at the Anderson National Mixer. He and Sarah were the 13th team nationally in at-large point totals at the termination of the season. In speech, Eli especially enjoyed apologetics, extemporaneous, and any platform category. His persuasive speech placed 14th at the 2019 National Championship. Eli will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this fall to pursue a career as a Nurse Practitioner or a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
The Lasting Impact! TP Source Book will be released Aug. 3. Check out the SHOP for all of the amazing Lasting Impact! products, online classes, clubs, and coaching.
I was the first of my siblings to enter the daunting world of public speaking. For me, it happened as it has happened to many others: my mother informed me that I would be doing Speech and Debate, and no amount of terror and pleading on my part could convince her otherwise. Of course, like so many before me, I soon fell in love with the activity and the deep friendships that were ripe to be formed in this environment. I joined in mid-December, and in January headed off to the first tournament armed with a Lincoln-Douglas case and an After-Dinner Speech. As a beginner speaker thrown into the deep end, I was forced to learn quickly how to stop my knees from shaking, and how to think on the fly. Nowhere was this more evident than in the category of impromptu. Over a year, I learned how to go from fifth-and-below in impromptu to winning a tournament.
Through this process, I have discovered the difficulty level of this NCresolution – it isn’t an easy one. We want you to be as prepared as possible; we want you to reach your fullest potential.
The Guidebook is to do precisely as the name implies – guide you through the year. If you have never stepped foot in a round or if you are a seasoned pro looking to dominate your senior year, this book is for you.
For beginners, it contains thorough explanations and illustrations of each element of an LD case. Additionally, multiple cases are provided that can be used as-is or made into one’s own.
For advanced debaters, we have made sure that over 90% of the evidence found is from highly credible sources, that the briefs cover every major example you need to know about, and that inside contains everything you need to jumpstart your year.
Young or old, teacher or competitor, this Guidebook is for you.
Lasting Impact! TP NCFCA Source Book by: Sarah Fox, Eli Mayfield, Logan Hickman, and Anna Macklem
We are excited to announce the upcoming release of Lasting Impact’s Team Policy Sourcebook! It will include a total of 6 full cases, each case including a 1AC, negative brief, and affirmative backup. These cases will cover a broad range of EU immigration subjects likely to be discussed throughout the year such as asylum procedures, search and rescue assistance, integration, humane treatment of migrants, and more.
Not only will the Sourcebook include these full 6 cases, each averaging around 45 pages of evidence, but it will also include three full general briefs covering economic, security, and human rights issues surrounding the resolution. With these briefs, competitors can gain a better grasp of the topic and face unusual cases without being left empty-handed.
Finally, the Sourcebook will contain one broad document outlining the major areas of this year’s topic, general tips for debating EU policy, and an overview of how the rest of the book is put together.
We are confident that this resource will help students new to Policy Debate, as well as seasoned competitors. Laid out in an easily digested format, with strategy notes and explanations on each case and brief, this resource is sure to give novices a better grasp of the topic, along with a developed collection of cases and evidence in their arsenal.
We are also excited for the opportunity this resource gives advanced debaters to broaden their scope of knowledge about the resolution, the workings of the EU, and common arguments that will appear throughout the season. From brand-new to seasoned debaters, this Sourcebook is highly versatile and perfect for any experience level.
Both books should be out in August! This gives Club Leaders the extra time they may need to prepare. After all, these are not just for students. Be sure you SUBSCRIBE to our weekly emails, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram for the latest, up to date information. Do you have a product or project you would like to see Lasting Impact! tackle? What about an article you would like to read? We would love to hear from you! Be sure to check out the SHOP for our products, classes, club, and recorded workshops! This is going to be an AWESOME Speech and Debate Season!
Why participate in speech & debate? The thought of those two little words or actually participating in the activity can send chills up your bones, resulting in cold feet!
A special kind of camp is on the horizon… the type of camp, club leaders, coaches, and students can really sink their teeth into! How do you research? Have you ever really been taught, or did it just come instinctively? What if I told you, you could learn how, and it could help you foundationally for the rest of your life! This is going to be an opportunity you don’t want to miss…
Ahhh- the joys of summer! I truly hope you have had the opportunity for some rejuvenation, or at least some rest and relaxation. This summer has been a bit more unique than summers past. Most speech and debate programs have turned virtual, and perhaps you are not interested. I truly hope that is not the case, because growth is waiting to happen… whether it is IN PERSON or online. Speaking of IN PERSON opportunities… There are a few IN PERSON Camps (listed below) – I’d love to see you there! But whether or not you have signed up for a Speech and/or Debate Camp, make sure you come in the right mindset…
Arne Duncan, then Secretary of Education, said in 2010, “debate is uniquely suited to build skills required of a modern citizen, including critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.”
Most of us in the world of education would agree that competitive debate is a valuable activity for students of all skill levels, however, the style of debate preferred or which format a student new to debate should begin with, is, well, up for debate…
Lasting Impact’s fall line up of online clubs and classes is going to be better than ever! All of the classes are listed HERE. One of the classes will be taught by my dear friend, Denise Montgomery. I believe her class will directly influence students, their observations, and of course their journey with speech and debate. After years of teaching (at the collegiate level and at home) Denise aims to fill in the gaps that many English programs leave. To think critically, effectively communicate, problem-solve, and experience life more fully, people must look through a new and wider lens…
