As is usually the case with me, it wasn’t my idea to compete in Apologetics. It was one of those things that I was cool observing from a distance but didn’t want to participate in myself. My mother had other ideas though and decided that it would ‘be good for me.’ Oh, how I hated those words. It was only my second year in Speech and Debate and I was absolutely terrified. Apologetics sounded complicated and scary. Apologetics was going to be miserable, and I was going to make a fool of myself…
You may not want to hear it, but online communication is here to stay. It’s not going anywhere! While it seems as if it came abruptly in March of 2020, because of COVID, Lasting Impact! has been connecting with thousands of people across the country, even the world over the last five years! I have coached National Speech and Debate Champions, an Olympian, Fortune 500 Business owners, as well as students who want to be better communicators overall or simply want to enjoy the art of communication. And guess what? I have done this mostly online!! I have even directed a virtual play, as well four national online speech and debate tournaments, all within the that six months.
While all of us prefer to communicate in person and can’t wait to be together again, there is much to learn in the online environment. I believe communication, connection, and engagement can happen virtually. Until the day when we can be together, I will embrace, learn, grow, and adapt. There is much to learn!
This is why after our recent practice tournament, we decided we wanted to share with you the tips and tricks you can use to help you be a better virtual communicator. The Lasting Impact! Team will be offering an online workshop on how to prep for virtual tournaments. There are so many more elements to think through than just doing your speech or debating (in your bedroom) online. By now, you have been in an online meeting, where the presenter is back lit, or just the opposite and the sun is glaring in their eyes. We will address multiple items to get you thinking about how you want your online presentation to be, whether it be for speech or debate. I look forward to sharing what we have learned to help you prepare for the online world ahead. I hope you will join us Dec. 28 at 6:30pm CT
Learn about…
Online Tournament Tips
How to create an online environment
Lighting
Microphones and sound
Connecting online
Sitting vs standing
Movement and space
And more!
Cost – Only $10 per member family/$25 non member families*
Lasting Impact! exists to train and educate students to build their communication skills so they can be effective ambassadors for Christ in all areas of life. We are often told that practice makes perfect. In the case of online communication and this “don’t miss” Workshop, we believe practice will equal prepared! We hope to see you soon!
Our friends, at New England Debate, posed a great question… it’s geared toward judges…
Are you ready? We’ve all spent months helping equip our debaters for competition. We’ve asked: Do they have fitting tournament attire, a way to organize their evidence, a timepiece and flowpad? Have they written their case well, developed enough negative research, and practiced enough debate rounds? We’ve focused on making sure they are prepared — or at least as prepared as they can be. As parents, we usually worry about ourselves last, but are we prepared?
This offer is only good today! Purchase 2 coaching sessions – get 1 FREE!! Mix and match coaches. Use the coaching for the ultimate tournament prep, or spread it out during the season. Our coaches are excited to help you better prepare- for whatever lies ahead!
Check out our Lasting Impact! Team and Coaches HERE.
Purchase your sessions HERE. Just purchase two, and we will add the third for FREE!!
*Sessions must be used for the 2020-21 Season. Sorry, not valid for Club Coaching.
There’s nothing like Thanksgiving to put you in the spirit of feeling thankful! I know many of us are tired, overwhelmed, or even frustrated. But I believe we still have much to be thankful for…
It was the moment every policy debater fears. My partner and I had just asked our opponents what case they were running, and to our horror they gave us the name of one of the only cases we didn’t prep for at that national mixer. Not to mention it was the last prelim round – a breaking round. I less than confidently pulled out our one piece of evidence on the bill printed late the night before while my partner ran through the rain to retrieve a few pages of evidence from a fellow team. Needless to say, it was chaotic… Till we remembered there were such things as sourcebooks.
I was your classic speech and debate nerd. For three and a half years of my life, I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into the sport that had become one of my greatest passions. Over the course of my Speech and Debate career, I went to numerous camps, outsourced ten different coaches, and heard more lectures than I can count. I attended 35 tournaments, participated in 220 debate rounds, and competed in every event except for Expository. You could say I was obsessed with Speech and Debate. But it wasn’t until my senior year was abruptly cut short by COVID-19 that I truly took a step back from the competition to reflect on my experience throughout my time in forensics. It wasn’t until my senior year that I actually understood the impact Speech and Debate had on my life, in both positive and negative ways. It wasn’t until my senior year that I realized the opportunities I wish I had taken and the lessons I wish I had understood.
How many times have you seen it happen? A debater loses significant likability with a judge because they are far too rude in cross examination. Or someone loses a round because they don’t bring up a point for the fear of sounding too harsh. In my five years of competing in Speech and Debate, I often experienced being on both ends of the spectrum (more so the former than the latter). This can be categorized as a lack of balance- the balance between firmness and respect. Being out of balance on either side can devastate your chances of winning debate rounds and having genuine communication with your audience. By the end of my senior year, I feel I had greatly improved with this balance and transformed it from a massive weakness into one of my strengths. Part of that is because my TP partner for my last two years, Thomas Walter, is an absolute master at balance and I learned a ton just from observing his habits. I’ve boiled down what I’ve learned about the balance of firmness and respect in debate into a few very practical suggestions that I feel can significantly improve your skills, likability, and success as both a speaker and a cross examiner.
How do you measure the impact of a speech? As you consider the words you think about, put on paper, and give voice to, also consider the one who holds those words in His sovereign hands. Your testimony of His work in your life is not about you. It’s about Him. He is faithful, merciful, just, right, and good. We are called to testify to His goodness, His truth, and His faithfulness, not our own. A testimony requires communication. We write, speak, and testify to His purposes, not our own. The impact of your words may be hidden from you, so I would like to give a personal example of the impact that spoken words can have on the broken soul of a sinner…
I’ll never forget the moment when I told my best friend in Speech and Debate (a regionally ranked Team Policy debater) that I was going to compete in Lincoln Douglas debate my junior year of high school. “Olivia, that’s not real debate” she smiled as she spoke as if explaining simple addition to a kindergartner. “All you’re talking about is concepts that you can’t change, do TP, you can change policy.”
It’s that time of year, when the resolution research begins to get collected into books and distributed for all those conscientious coaches and students out there who are ready to start working on their debate material. There are plenty of sources out there to help you get started, here are some things to keep in mind as you start to consult those resources…
Yes! We have done it again… added another resource to help guide you through this 2020-21 Team Policy Debate Season. This is for any TP student, parent, coach, club leader, or even judge who wants to get a better understanding Team Policy! If you want to quickly wrap your brain around TP this season in either NCFCA or Stoa- this Guide is for you!
The Lasting Impact Grab and Go TP Guide provides a succinct and thorough basis for Team Policy Debate. Perfect for both competitors and coaches new to Team Policy, the guide covers basics such as stock issues, plans, harms, advantages, definitions, and more. For those wanting a deeper dive, the Guide also offers aff/neg strategies and research tips, laid out in a clear and accessible manner. Complete with an example Stoa Aff case, NCFCA Neg brief (from the Lasting Impact TP Sourcebook), and NCFCA general brief, this Guide will equip students with a thorough understanding of how to approach and compete in Team Policy Debate in a skilled and godly way.
Table of Contents include…
About the Book About the Authors Definition Definitions Summary Definitions Brief (NCFCA) Definitions Brief (Stoa) Plans The Stock Issues Topicality Inherency Significance Solvency Advantages & Disadvantages Evidence Advocacy Case Backups Brief Writing Sample Case Structure Sample Case (Stoa) Sample Negative Brief (NCFCA) General Brief: The European Union Debate Terminology TP Tips and Tricks Prep Time Speaker Positions Presentation Evidence Preparation Strategy Voting Issues Choosing Your Partner Partner Questionnaire Tips For Writing A Good Ballot
Grab the Guide and Go HERE. Don’t forget to also check out the 2020-21NCFCA TP Sourcebook HERE. Lasting Impact! loves being able to support your speech and debate journey, wherever you are in the journey.
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