Preorder the brief for the low price of $10 at DebateChamps.

The Extemp Central Topic Analysis will review each of the 10 possible Commentary areas for the 2011 National Tournament. The brief will be delivered via email on Saturday, June 4, 2010.

Extemp Commentary 2011 Topic Areas

• 2000 vs. 2010: A Decade of Differences
• The Budget Crunchies
• Campaign 2012: Contenders and Bit Players
• Looking for Unions and Their Labels
• Notable Deceased Since 2010 Nationals
• Rogue Nations and Nations Ruled by Rogues
• Social Media vs. Actual Socializing
• Tea for Two Parties
• Who’s Afraid of Foreign Trade?
• Wicked Wikis and Lamentable Leaks

Spend your time working toward your main event. If that doesn’t pan out, we’re here to help you be as competitive as possible in Extemp Commentary!

A speaker cozy? A suit bib? A warm-up suit?

Instead, we’ll simply call it what it is: a forensics themed, officially licensed Snuggie!

Perfect for a cold squad room or bus rides to tournaments during the winter months, this blanket with sleeves keeps you totally warm and gives you the freedom to use your hands–you know, to gesture or hold an interp binder–while remaining in total warmth and comfort.

The Snuggie blanket is made with super soft, thick, luxurious fleece with roomy, oversized sleeves that let you do what you want while keeping warm.  As a bonus, each order contains a complimentary book light. Start reading your ballots on the ride home to prepare for next week!

Orders placed prior to December 20, 2010, will ship that Monday. Individuals wishing to purchase the item as a Christmas present should select PRIORITY DELIVERY to ensure arrival before Christmas. All additional orders will ship no later than December 29, 2010.

Purchase yours in royal blue or burgundy featuring our two most popular slogans right now in our online store!

The Final round was broadcasted live on Korean National T.V.

Forensics is a global activity.  Our friends at Global Debate prove that the case through their insightful commentary and updates from competitions across the globe.

2010 National Forensics Association college Individual Sweepstakes Champion Dan Glaser is currently teaching in South Korea.  He recently had an opportunity to attend an English-language forensics tournament with a friend.

Dan commented on the format of the tournament and other elements:

In case you’re wondering…. the tournament was conducted 100% in English and most of the kids were impressively fluent. The tournament followed Asian Parliamentary Format (read about it here if you want). There were three preliminary rounds, then Quarters, Semis, and Finals. The winning team took home 1,000,000 won (a thousand bucks)!

On the day of the tourney, I got in a last minute coaching session with my friend’s students and had a funny min-session with a very nervous 12 year-old girl who I had to convince there is no mathematical formula to calculate the amount of eye contact you should be making during a speech.

Do we have any international Speech Geeks reading the blog?  If so, tell us about your tournaments and competitive experiences.

Maybe not. Rolando Valeasquez offers some compelling commentary in the Dallas Morning News‘ editorial section.

Like football players, debaters have to have quick reflexes. When debating and listening to our opponent’s arguments, we have seconds to process the information and develop counter-arguments. A few weeks ago, I debated at the nationally renowned debate hosted by St. Marks School of Texas, going up against some of the best debate teams in the nation. I was thoroughly exhausted, my brain and body drained of energy.

Like football, debate is intensively competitive. Rivalries develop, just like in any other sport. You know which teams you want to beat, yet you develop a begrudging admiration for their tactics and strategies.

Like in other sports, we debaters are scouted out and recruited by some of the most prestigious colleges and universities. Scouts frequently attend the high-profile tournaments to identify debaters. Scholarships are offered to those lucky and gifted debaters.

What do you think?

We’ve all had that horribly awkward conversation with a friend, classmate, or coworker about forensics.  Generally, the first statement out of their mouth will be something like “So…you see a lot of dead bodies?” If you tell them you’re on the speech team, then folks will probably ask “Is that like debate?”  If you do LD, PF, CX, Parli or other forms of debate, well, it is like debate.  If you compete in interp, public address or limited prep events, no, it’s not like debate.  The PG-13 video above demonstrates the frustrations of sharing our favorite activity with the world.

I’m just surprised someone who is on the speech team has such a monotone voice.

Season Eight: Fall 2010

Purchase this issue in the SpeechGeek Store.

SpeechGeek Season Eight: Fall 2010

Quality forensics performance material is often difficult to find. SpeechGeek provides high school coaches and competitors with scripts that are not only challenging, but also of strong literary merit. Each issue of SpeechGeek contains five scripts in a variety of events: prose interpretation, poetry interpretation, humorous interpretation, dramatic interpretation, and duo interpretation. SpeechGeek’s interp scripts are written by winning authors who know what it takes to make final rounds at all levels of competition.

Science: No Boys Allowed by Jane Nicolaas Duo Interpretation (Female/Female)

Two sisters are on a quest to win the school science fair in this wacky comedy debut by Jane Nicolaas. Precocious youngster Ina takes her annoying younger sister Angelica along for the ride as the two explore the male of the species. Can they create the perfect boy?

Diamond Dreams by Jane Nicolaas Dramatic Interpretation

Miguel Santana is a young Dominican man who dreams of something more in life. His world is filled with poverty, yet his hopes are pinned on the one thing he knows he can do: throw a baseball. When an American agent comes into his life, Miguel may have finally found an avenue to save his family and provide them with a better life. Mr. Jack, though, sees only a better life for himself—and his bank account—in Miguel’s talent. A story of dreams and aspirations that is sure to wow audiences.

Endangered Species by Jane Nicolaas Prose Interpretation

A college student accompanies his girlfriend to a doctor’s visit he wish he didn’t have to attend. Despite being in love, they are not ready to see through an unplanned pregnancy. It’s an uncomfortable situation to say the least: “The woman stares at me. I guess that’s the wrong thing to do? I don’t know. I guess I forgot my abortion etiquette handbook: What to Expect When You’re about to Stop Expecting.” In a room of women who expect him to be the bad guy, he demonstrates that timing is everything and nothing at all.

Prima Ballerina by J.D. Taylor Dramatic Interpretation

Athena Pallas may now be an old, bitter dance instructor, but she was once one of Europe’s most gifted ballerinas. As the Hitler’s reach extends across Europe, the young dancer rises to stardom. When they are invited by Hitler himself for a performance, she is faced with an amazing opportunity and a terrible decision. She learns that fear is a powerful motivator and inaction can lead to a lifetime of regret.

Lost Souls Starboard Ho! Duo Interpretation (Male/Female)

Shawn and Lynn have suffered the loss of their daughter. In this emotional drama, the couple must come to terms with their loss while bridging the growing distance in their relationship. Will this crisis cause even more loss, or will they find a way to move on and love again?

Preview SpeechGeek Season Eight: Fall 2010

Woodring and Lux will still occupy the same offices in the Garrett Conference Center, but they’ll be in new positions. After two decades of directing WKU’s award-winning speech and debate programs, Woodring is retiring as director. Lux, who has been associate director for the past three years, is taking over as director.

“I’m incredibly happy that Jace is going to stay here and take over this program,” Woodring said. “He’s the ideal person. It takes a special person to work with coaches and students and he’s that special person.”

Lux, a native of Evansville, Ind., was a member of WKU’s Forensic Team from 1998 to 2000 and was a team coach for six years before becoming associate director. “Judy has done everything she can to make sure I’m prepared for this role,” he said. “You don’t often get the chance to work with the person who is the best in the world at their position, but I’ve done that for the past nine years. I’ve learned from the best.”

The National Forensic League recently honored Woodring with the Brother Gregory “Rene” Sterner Alumni Lifetime Service Award at the NFL National Tournament Awards Assembly in Kansas City, Mo. Woodring received the award for her decades-long commitment to speech and debate at both the high school and college levels. The award was presented by one of her standout alumni, recording artist and daytime television star Kassie DePaiva.

“I was truly surprised,” Woodring said of the award. “I was very honored.”

“This award is yet another recognition of Mrs. Woodring’s exceptional leadership in building and advancing forensics program opportunities for students,” WKU Provost Barbara Burch said. “She is widely recognized for her talent, dedication and exceptional achievements in building the forensics program at WKU, and this award affirms the impact of her influence and leadership nationally as well.”

President Gary Ransdell agrees. “Judy Woodring has, as much anyone at WKU, helped us understand that WKU can indeed become a leading American university,” he said. “She has taken a good forensics program and turned it into the best in American higher education.”

Woodring, a 1965 WKU graduate, taught speech and debate at Webster County Union County high schools before returning to the Hill in 1988 as director of the Kentucky High School Speech League then becoming director of the forensic program in 1989.

In the past two decades, the program has built a tradition of state, national and international championships.

Read the Full Story at the WKU News Blog

Earning School of Excellence awards for holistic squad performance were Sidney Lanier Middle School (Houston, TX), Northwest Junior High School (Coralville, IA) and Clay Middle School (Carmel, IN). Earning School of Excellence awards for performance in debate were Sidney Lanier Middle School, Capitol Debate (Woodstock, MD), Kugnus ACTS (Closter, NJ), The Harker School (San Jose, CA), and The Kincaid School (Houston, TX). Earning School of Excellence awards for performance in speech events were Sidney Lanier Middle School, Ockerman Middle School (Florence, KY), The Pike School (Andover, MA), Milton Academy (Milton, MA), and Rowan County MS (Morehead, KY).

Champion students in each of the events included:
Policy Debate: Devansh Srivastura and Michael Koo, Capitol Debate, MD
Congressional Debate: Peter Oathout, Sidney Lanier MS, TX
Lincoln Douglas Debate: Naomi Whitney-Hirschmann, St. Louis Park, MN
Public Forum (Co-Champions): Ardash Battu, Arjun Kumar, Claudia Tischler, Shilpa Yarlgadda, The Harker School, CA
Prose: Claire Russell, Milton Academy MS, MA
Poetry: Bridget Kim, Rowan County MS, KY
Humorous Interpretation: Scott Diekema, Northwest Junior HS, IA
Dramatic Interpretation: Caroline Ford, Sky Academy, KY
Impromptu: Sarah Muse, Milton Academy MS, MA
Extemporaneous Speaking: Gregory Ross, Sidney Lanier
Original Oratory: Caroline Ford, Sky Academy, KY
Duo Interpretation: Bobby Turnbough & Nicole Hickok, Raymore-Peculiar MS, MO
Declamation: Willow Curry, Sidney Lanier MS, TX

Click here for a full results packet. Next year’s tournament will be held in Dallas, Texas. Stay tuned for more information on dates and specific details.

The tournament received generous assistance from Brent Hinkle of The Joy of Tournaments registration and tab room management software.

The NJFL was founded by the National Forensic League in 1995 to extend speech and debate opportunities to students in grades 6-8. Upon enrollment at an NFL member high school, students can convert a fraction of junior merit points earned for speaking activities to high school points toward advanced levels of NFL membership. This creates a great feeder program for high schools, and motivation for students to participate more.

IDEA was established in 1999 to promote mutual understanding and democracy globally by supporting discussion and active citizenship locally. Central to IDEA’s values are tolerance, international cooperation, and freedom of expression. This tournament instills and nurtures in younger students an appreciation for divergent viewpoints and diverse cultures.