I will also post some books that are unofficial required reading for debate. Here's one that all of you should read. If you've already read it, you get a +1.
Animal Farm, George Orwell
It's a quick read and while there is a movie, I haven't seen it. Read it and post your comments.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Summer Stuff
As summer approaches and your parents fill your schedules with camps and vacations, I feel it's important to offer you some educational time-wasters. To start off, I'd like to introduce you to Sporcle.
www.sporcle.com
Sporcle was shown to me by some students back in 2010 and I've been addicted ever since. It's quizzes on a variety of subjects. I like the quizzes of the day and I also like the sports, movies and geography categories. As debaters/speakers, it's important to fill your head with some of the things featured in these quizzes. So, start an account, be my "friend" and we'll battle each other. No cheating (opening another window and looking up answers). By the time you're done, you'll know more Presidents, countries, capitals, historical events, than you really care to know, but it will help you when it comes to giving speeches and even doing improv. A friend of mine is fond of saying "The more you know, the more jokes you get." Sporcle makes life funnier. Happy sporcling to you, my friends.
www.sporcle.com
Sporcle was shown to me by some students back in 2010 and I've been addicted ever since. It's quizzes on a variety of subjects. I like the quizzes of the day and I also like the sports, movies and geography categories. As debaters/speakers, it's important to fill your head with some of the things featured in these quizzes. So, start an account, be my "friend" and we'll battle each other. No cheating (opening another window and looking up answers). By the time you're done, you'll know more Presidents, countries, capitals, historical events, than you really care to know, but it will help you when it comes to giving speeches and even doing improv. A friend of mine is fond of saying "The more you know, the more jokes you get." Sporcle makes life funnier. Happy sporcling to you, my friends.
Nationals Info.
A lot of information for Nationals can be found here including CONGRESS BILLS.
http://www.juniorforensicleague.org/national-tournament/competition-events
http://www.juniorforensicleague.org/national-tournament/competition-events
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
PF Topic Analysis
Resolved: Stand Your Ground laws are a legitimate expansion of the doctrine of self defense.
http://www.husseinandwebber.com/stand_your_ground.html
Start here
http://www.husseinandwebber.com/stand_your_ground.html
Start here
Nationals Topics Are Here!
Public Forum Topic - Nationals 2012
Resolved: That "Stand Your Ground" laws are a legitimate expansion of the doctrine of self defense.
Lincoln-Douglas Topic - Nationals 2012
Resolved: A government has the obligation to lessen the economic gap between its rich and poor citizens.
At this point, PF & LD debaters should be immersing themselves in the literature on the topic before formulating arguments. Happy immersing to you all.
Resolved: That "Stand Your Ground" laws are a legitimate expansion of the doctrine of self defense.
Lincoln-Douglas Topic - Nationals 2012
Resolved: A government has the obligation to lessen the economic gap between its rich and poor citizens.
At this point, PF & LD debaters should be immersing themselves in the literature on the topic before formulating arguments. Happy immersing to you all.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Attention All Students Who Are Returning to Debate Next Year
All current 6th and 7th graders wishing to be in debate in 2012-2013 need to submit a brief essay explaining the following:
1. What have you gained from debate (the class or the club)
2. How you see yourself on this team next year (a beginner, is Nationals a goal for you, etc.)
3. What you have to offer the team (not just debate/speech skills, but character too)
4. Would you rather be in an interp. or debate class?
These can be handwritten or typed but I need them byApril 13 April 30 (new date!). Completing this short essay lets me know that your committed to debate and helps me know what your goals are for next year. Thanks!
1. What have you gained from debate (the class or the club)
2. How you see yourself on this team next year (a beginner, is Nationals a goal for you, etc.)
3. What you have to offer the team (not just debate/speech skills, but character too)
4. Would you rather be in an interp. or debate class?
These can be handwritten or typed but I need them by
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
The Primaries, The Debates, and Why I'm Sometimes a Lousy Teacher
Quite a few students have asked me if I've been keeping up with the Republican debates and the Primary Season. One of my shortcomings as a debate teacher (I have many, don't worry) is my lack of patience for Presidential debates and Primary elections. I'm not inspired by any of the guys still in the race, but I can sum up the primaries and debates (past and future) for you like this:
Ever since Obama came into office, Republicans and his critics have worked on comparing him to Jimmy Carter and to make that analogy true, Obama has to lose his re-election bid to a Republican who embodies Ronald Reagan, who Republicans revere as demigod. There's only one problem: Gingrich, Santorum, Paul, and Romney are not Ronald Reagan. This isn't like a sports team who instead of netting one big superstar decides to acquire the aggregate of that star in several players. You can only pick one person to run against Obama, and as bruised as Obama is over the economy, there has yet to be a Republican candidate who has unified the base, the moderates and the independent voters in the way that Reagan did in 1980.
Newt Gingrich is perceived as a hypocrite; a man who runs as a conservative yet has a history of cheating on his wife, especially as he was one of the main critics of Bill Clinton when he was President (Gingrich was Speaker of the House during Clinton's presidency). Rick Santorum is popular with Evangelicals, basically picking up the voters that Rick Perry left behind, but doesn't appeal to the average voter because of his staunchly conservative views on issues like gay marriage and contraception and other things most people wish politicians left alone. Mitt Romney stands as the typical Republican businessman. Except that he's also Mormon. The conservatives who like Santorum see Romney as too liberal, but Romney is probably the most moderate and most appealing to moderates because he's proven he can compromise on issues (as governor of Massachusetts he instituted universal health-care.) And then there's Ron Paul, the man who hasn't won a single primary yet is still hanging around because of a loyal group of supporters who like him because he supports fewer restrictions on marijuana use.
So forgive me if I seem cynical, but if Republicans want to keep comparing Obama to Carter in the hopes that he will be a one term president, they need a dynamic candidate to take him down. Plus Obama has more charisma than Carter and the support of Hollywood so unless he commits some horrendous act like shooting an endangered rhino in the face, and Republicans can find a Reagan-esque candidate, all of these primaries and debates will be a nice distraction until President Obama is reelected this November. This will be good news for some and disappointing news for others. But for some out there it was meant to be, as Obama's reelection will be the beginning of the end as the world ends 12/12/12.
Ever since Obama came into office, Republicans and his critics have worked on comparing him to Jimmy Carter and to make that analogy true, Obama has to lose his re-election bid to a Republican who embodies Ronald Reagan, who Republicans revere as demigod. There's only one problem: Gingrich, Santorum, Paul, and Romney are not Ronald Reagan. This isn't like a sports team who instead of netting one big superstar decides to acquire the aggregate of that star in several players. You can only pick one person to run against Obama, and as bruised as Obama is over the economy, there has yet to be a Republican candidate who has unified the base, the moderates and the independent voters in the way that Reagan did in 1980.
Newt Gingrich is perceived as a hypocrite; a man who runs as a conservative yet has a history of cheating on his wife, especially as he was one of the main critics of Bill Clinton when he was President (Gingrich was Speaker of the House during Clinton's presidency). Rick Santorum is popular with Evangelicals, basically picking up the voters that Rick Perry left behind, but doesn't appeal to the average voter because of his staunchly conservative views on issues like gay marriage and contraception and other things most people wish politicians left alone. Mitt Romney stands as the typical Republican businessman. Except that he's also Mormon. The conservatives who like Santorum see Romney as too liberal, but Romney is probably the most moderate and most appealing to moderates because he's proven he can compromise on issues (as governor of Massachusetts he instituted universal health-care.) And then there's Ron Paul, the man who hasn't won a single primary yet is still hanging around because of a loyal group of supporters who like him because he supports fewer restrictions on marijuana use.
So forgive me if I seem cynical, but if Republicans want to keep comparing Obama to Carter in the hopes that he will be a one term president, they need a dynamic candidate to take him down. Plus Obama has more charisma than Carter and the support of Hollywood so unless he commits some horrendous act like shooting an endangered rhino in the face, and Republicans can find a Reagan-esque candidate, all of these primaries and debates will be a nice distraction until President Obama is reelected this November. This will be good news for some and disappointing news for others. But for some out there it was meant to be, as Obama's reelection will be the beginning of the end as the world ends 12/12/12.
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