Dec. PF Topic help

Resolved: In the United States, current income disparities threaten democratic ideals.

Before getting into the Pro's and Con's of this topic, it's important to acknowledge some things and make sure the debates don't veer off into shouting matches about class warfare (which is likely to happen anyway).

The income disparity in this country, or wealth gap, has grown considerably over the years.  Many stats will prove that.  But is it such a given that this condition is a bad thing?  After all, the wealthy provide a lot of opportunities for regular folks.  Jobs. Scholarships. Charitable donations.  Some CEO's don't even take a salary as they make their millions in investments.  And who are we talking about when we talk about the poor?  There are people who live in unsavory neighborhoods.  There are those who use social welfare (food stamps, medicaid, unemployment benefits).  But even most of those people own cars, use cell-phones and have televisions.  The poor in Somalia would have nothing in common with the poor in the U.S.  The truly poor in our country would be the homeless and families in crisis.

Thinking about these issues will help you focus your points.  It will also help you to stay on topic and avoid points that vilify the wealthy or make rude judgements about the poor.  Instead, ask yourself "Despite my feelings about the wealthy and/or the poor, what affect do these circumstances have on ideals like equal representation, the civil duty of voting, and the integrity of government?"

If you're still struggling I'll have some point-specific items up this weekend.

An Open Letter to MLB

Dear MLB and Bud Selig,
You stink for moving the Astros to the American League.
Sincerely,
A native Houstonian and long-time Astros fan

Katy Results

				KATY HIGH SCHOOL
				Nov. 5, 2011
			1ST PLACE SWEEPSTAKES
Senior Poetry			Storytelling			Extemp.
Rachel Jama - 3rd			Rachel Jama - 1st			Jason Lan - 1st
Betsy Broaddus - Finalist			Amy Jia - 2nd			Connor Selna - 2nd
Alfred Grimaldo - Finalist			Alfred Grimaldo - 3rd			Andrew Hollenberg - 3rd
Mary Tindall - Finalist			Maggie Wintz - Finalist			Tomas Arango - Finalist
Helen Salgi - Finalist			Jasmine Khadem - Finalist			Tirthana Khedkar - Finalist
Tirthana Khedkar - Finalist			Litzell Juarez-Palestino - Finalist			Jasmine Khadem - Finalist
			Eric Shi - Finalist			Dane Byrd - Finalist
Dramatic			Sr. Prose
Maddie Spence 1st			Betsy Broaddus - 1st
Eric Shi - 2nd			Lauren Sonik - 2nd
Amy Jia - Finalist			Eric Shi - 3rd
Alfred Grimaldo - Finalist			Mary Tindall - Finalist
			Helen Salgi - Finalist
			Sophie Lanier - Finalist
			Jamie Lin - Finalist
Lincoln-Douglas Debate			Public Forum Debate
Kierra Morris - 1st			Gregory Pauloski & Sam Tekie - 1st
Jason Lan - 2nd			Andrew Hollenberg & Bowen Song - 2nd
James Feng - Semi-finalist			Miguel Covarrubias & Haydn Pugh - Semifinalists
			Tirthana Khedkar & Tommy Yi - Semifinalists
Junior Poetry			Duet Pantomime
Jillian Thomas - 1st			Luke Mouton & Thomas Quintero - Finalists
Madeline Mulhlerr - 2nd			Tirthana Khedkar & Daniela Ramos - Finalists
Nia Reedy - 3rd
Jasmine Khadem - Finalist			Duet Improv
Madison Black - Finalist			Alfred Grimaldo & Eric Shi - 1st
Michelle Tang - Finalist			Maggie Wintz & Mary Tindall - 2nd
Ali Potthast - Finalist			Jasmine Khadem & Martina Khurana - Finalists
			Cameron Biggart & Everett Lowenstein - Finalists
			Luke Mouton & Thomas Quintero - Finalists
Junior Prose			Megan Dickson & Ali Potthast - Finalists
Jasmine Khadem - 1st
Maddie Spence - 2nd			Humorous			Solo Improv
Martina Khurana -3rd			Cameron Biggart - 1st			Nia Reedy - 1st
Xena Toumajian - Finalist			Luke Mouton - 3rd			Michael Talanker - 2nd
Maddie Van Brunt - Finalist						Matthew Baker - Finalist
Rea Golt - Finalist
Oratory
Mahavir Bhakta - 1st
Luke Lawyer - 2nd
Mackenzie Aden  - Finalist
Chan Golla - Finalist
Jason Lan - Finalist
Sophie Hernandez-Simeonidis - Finalist
Duet Acting
Jessie Chen & Helen Salgi - 1st
Madline Mulhlerr & Amy Yo - Finalists
Rachel Jama & Litzell Juarez - Finalists
Alfred Grimaldo & Eric Shi - Finalists

Oak Ridge Schedule

OAK RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

DEC. 3, 2011

6:00 A.M.              Arrive at Lanier

6:10 a.m.               We leave Lanier

7:00   - 7:30          Registration

7:30                       Extemp Draw

8:00   - 9:00           Section A Prelims

9:00 – 10:00           Section B Prelims

10:00 – 11:30         Section C Prelims, Round I Debate

11:30 – 12:30         Section D Prelims, Round II Debate

12:00                     Extemp Draw for Semis

12:30 – 2:00           Semis A and B

2:00 – 3:30             Semis C & D, Round III Debate

4:00                       Extemp Draw for Finals

4:30 – 6:00             Finals A & B, Debate Semis

6:00 – 7:30             Finals C & D, Debate Finals

8:00                       Awards Assembly (in cafeteria)

10:00 p.m.             Return to Lanier

Section A                  Section B                          Section C                 Section D                          

Extemp $7                  Oratory $7                         Duet Acting $12       Readers Theatre $12       

Humorous $7            Prose $7                             Solo Improv $7        Pantomime $7

Poetry $7                   Storytelling $7                  Dramatic $7               LD Debate $7

Ind. Lip-Sync $7       Duet Improv. $12                                                  PF Debate $12

Group Lip-Sync $12                                                                                Parliamentary Debate $12

                                                                                                                    Vocals $12

Dec. PF Topic help

Consider this assigned reading for the weekend if you're doing PF at Oak Ridge.  Or assigned reading in general for debaters.

http://www.apsanet.org/imgtest/taskforcereport.pdf

Revised Katy Schedule

Katy High School

Nov. 5, 2011

6:10 a.m.                Meet at Lanier

6:30 a.m.                Leave Lanier

ROUND I COMPETITION

 

8:00 – 9:15             Section A Prelims         8:45                 LD & PF Meeting in Annex

9:15 – 10:15                       Section B Prelims         9:15                 Round I  LD/PF

10:15 – 11:15                     Section C Prelims         10:00               Round II LD/PF

11:15                                 Prelims Extemp Draw   10:45               Round III LD/PF

11:15 – 12:15                     Section D Prelims

ROUND II COMPETITION

12:30 – 2:00                       Round II  A & B Events

2:00 – 3:00             LD Semis or Finals

3:00 – 3:30             Round II Extemp Draw

2:30 – 4:00             Round II C & D Events (go to Extemp first)

 FINALS ROUNDS

Extemp finalists use your favorite topic from Round I & II.

4:30 – 6:00             FINALS  (5:30 LD/PF Finals)

7:00                                   AWARDS ASSEMBLY

9:00 p.m.                Return to Lanier

EVENTS

SECTION A:  DRAMATIC, PANTOMIME, POETRY*, ORATORY

SECTION B:  READER’S THEATRE, STORYTELLING* DUET IMPROVISATION, LD

SECTION C:  HUMOROUS, SOLO IMPROVISATION, PROSE, LD

SECTION D:  EXTEMP, DUET ACTING*, LIP SYNC*, GROUP IMPROV

December PF Topic

Resolved: In the United States, current income disparities threaten democratic ideals.

I want to marry this topic!