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Guest Blog- Tips for Writing your Speech By: Grace Rankin

Posted on by Heather Neumann

I came across Grace’s article on Facebook.  I knew I wanted to share her valuable insight with all of my readers, especially students who procrastinate writing their speeches. The time to write is NOW! Below is her article, titled 5 Tips for Academic Paper Success on her site- rightingyourownwriting.org

Although her specific points are addressing academic papers, I believe the concept can be applied to speeches, especially if you are at “crunch-time”. I know some of you are die hard IEW fans (I am too), but as writers we sometimes get stuck. I feel it is always helpful to look at a new approach! This article is posted with permission by her- thanks Grace!

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Lasting Impact! Year in Review… Our first Vlog!

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Wow! What a year! We started this journey just a little over a year ago. Recently, Kristi and I actually got to be together not at a Speech and Debate tournament! It was so much fun to be together! We decided to celebrate by producing a video for you. Thanks for coming along with us! We look forward to where God is going to take us next!

Guest Blog- Filler Words by: Kate Peters and Abbey Lovett

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Last week, we had an awesome three part series on Impromptu by Kaitlyn Butts, National Champion and Lasting Impact! Coach/Intern. We thought we would start off this week with an article by Kate Peters AND a pod cast by Abbey Lovett (see below) geared toward helping you communicate with out the “ticks and ums”, otherwise known as filler words…

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Impromptu – Practicing (part 3) By: Kaitlyn Butts

Posted on by Heather Neumann

“Prepare to be Unprepared:” Practicing Impromptu Every Day

In the world of speech and debate- Interpretative speeches require hours of cutting, blocking, and intensive rehearsal. Platform speeches require brainstorming, editing, memorizing, and regular repetition to keep them stored solidly in your mind. Apologetics requires studying theology and searching for Scriptures. Extemporaneous, at least theoretically, requires surveying the weekly news highlights and becoming familiar with the political mindset of various sources. Impromptu offers the luxurious opportunity to compete in a speech event without doing a lick of work. Wrong. Participating in impromptu offers such an opportunity. The entire point of speech and debate, however, is not mere participation, but visible growth both in character and capability. Mastering impromptu and honing your ability to think on your feet requires rigorous practice. While you can never prepare for a specific impromptu round, you should be perpetually preparing to be unprepared. Practice impromptu every single day.

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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…

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Impromptu- Mind Mapping (part 1) By: Kaitlyn Butts

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Impromptu Intimidation ​

Impromptu strikes fear into the heart of almost every speech and debate competitor when they begin their speech journey. I remember being handed a slip of paper with the word “joy” on it one day in speech club when I was twelve years old. After two minutes of preparation time, I stood in front of my peers and mumbled about how joy was different than happiness for approximately thirty seconds. Sound familiar?

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Online Apologetics – Growing Together – by: Rachel Bechtel

Posted on by Heather Neumann

We hear all the time that one of the speech events that most alumni competitors wish they would have done whether they competed in it or not, is Apologetics! Matthew 18:20 says, ” When two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.” Learning and growing in Apologetics is so much bigger then a speech competititon. We are looking forward to another great year of seeking God’s Truth together!

Our goal in Online Apologetics is to…

– Discuss and dig into the life-transforming answers God’s Word provides.
– Expose you to a variety of Apologetics resources, introduce you to a variety of passionate Apologetics speakers, and encourage you with challenging discussion and weekly application.
– Equip you to powerfully, gently, and clearly defend the foundational doctrines of Christianity.
– Give you the opportunity to practice and receive feedback on your Apologetics speeches.

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Introducing our Newest Coach – Abbey Lovett

Posted on by Heather Neumann

We are excited to introduce you to another member of our Lasting Impact! team! Abbey Lovett has been coaching Speech and Debate for 4 years.  She has had an amazing Speech and Debate career-a few of her highest accomplishments include 2016 National Impromptu Champion, 2015 National Team Policy Speaker Champion. Abbey is scheduling appointments for either Speech and/or TP Debate. Here is what she had to say in her interview…

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Online Apologetics Starts in Less than 3 Weeks- space limited!

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Lasting Impact! is gearing up for another great year of living in the word through Online Apologetics. You do not need to be a competitor of Speech and Debate to get a better understanding of the Christian Faith. You don’t have to walk that road alone. Each year we have students, along with their families join us in the journey. Through the power of technology we have people across the nation joining us every Tuesday evening starting Sept. 12 from 8:00-9:00 CT.

When I asked Online Apol. Leader, Rachel Bechtel, what can Online Apol. do for students? She replied, “Online Apololegics opens the door to not only to great apologetics resources, but also to great apologetics discussions and feedback. Online Apol. will challenge you personally in your walk with Christ, equip you to effectively communicate in competition or out of competition , and give you the tools to powerfully persuade in your day to day conversations.  For me, Online Apol. has encouraged me significantly in my study of Scriptures… and they are more valuable than “fine gold” (Psalm 19:10).!! Talking about God’s life answers with others who also passionately follow Him is so incredible! Discussing and learning together in online forem has helped me answer some of the biggest questions about my faith – like, why does God allow us to sin and yet still hold us accountable? Why do bad things happen to good people?”

If you want to be part of this season’s Online Apol. group, click here.

Guest Blog: Grappling with Grendel: Seeking Growth above Trophies

Posted on by Heather Neumann

I had the priveledge of coaching and working with Alexander Kidd (along with the other amazing members of his club in Ohio) this past year, and specifically witnessing his speech journey. I asked him to share what he learned this year. As you are grappling with what events to participate in, I hope you take heart Alexander’s message….

From my first days as a Speech and Debate competitor, I considered myself, first and foremost, a debater. My categorization of speeches could be generally understood as follows:

1. interps are great for amusement (from the Latin: a + musa or without thought).

2. platforms are not for me.

3. limited preps are worth doing to avoid timing them.

Perhaps, I overstate my mindset, nevertheless, I most certainly viewed speech as something to pass the time between debate rounds. Yet this past year, which also happened to be my senior year, I had something of a mindset switch. Now please don’t misunderstand me, none of this new revelation in anyway dampened my passion for debate. But it did cause me to view my involvement in Speech and Debate through a different lens.

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Apologetics – Where to Start

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Preparing in the summer for Speech and Debate? For limited prep events? Seems unnecessary, to say the least… maybe even incongruous. Despite the category’s connotations, starting prep in the summer will enable you to actualize your maximum competitive potential and derive the greatest educational benefit. This week, I’ll be sharing some strategies for conquering the task, starting with apologetics.

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