The seventh of (slightly late) weekly Wiley Wednesday Speech and Debate blogs hypes up Izzy Garcia's Interp Survival Guide series from Camp One Clap. The constant cultural rhetoric involving destructive civil wars or an impending nuclear holocaust has left me pondering just how long I would last in the post-apocalyptic wasteland. And the answer is, clearly, not long at all. I'm soft, overly gracious, and require copious amounts of pizza for survival. In the dangerous wilderness of Speech, some of us might feel equally inept. It's a good thing that Cheyenne South Assistant Coach Izzy Garcia ..read more

New Coach 411 is a monthly column designed to give new Speech and Debate Coaches the lowdown on the world of coaching. In column 32 - the final column, Coach Rick Dorn explores possibilities for Speech and Debate at the middle school level. Thank you so much to Coach Dorn for all of his hard work, dedicated writing, and shared knowledge on New Coach 411! Be sure to give Rick (rickdorn1@yahoo.com) some love if the column has been helpful for you! New Coach 411 - Column 32, FINAL COLUMN May 2024 Article Hello everyone!  I hope your season went well!  This has been fun for me, but a ..read more

The sixth of weekly Wiley Wednesday Speech and Debate blogs explores five reasons why coaches and competitors should consider participation in the aSync Spring Spectacular Speech Tournament this Spring. I've been thinking about those initial COVID days a whole lot. I mean, I know that COVID is not gone by a longshot and that the impact of the virus is barely understood, but I've been thinking back to those days at the beginning of the virus when the world felt totally flipped upside-down. I spent so many hours in the dark basement of my home trying to connect with the Speech and Debate comm ..read more

The fifth of weekly Wiley Wednesday Speech and Debate blogs is a reflective post about the future of One Clap in which Lyle takes some time to ponder what comes next for the website, social media, and podcast. It is hard to believe that I launched the first One Clap podcast episode on March 25, 2020 - four years ago. It's also tough to even begin to explain what I thought might come from working on a podcast aimed at highlighting, celebrating, and supporting the Speech and Debate community. I was ignorant of the technology to create the podcast, new to the idea of publishing anything with m ..read more

The fourth of weekly Wiley Wednesday Speech and Debate blogs is... a little different. In honor of the completion of my MA in English with a Rhetorical Studies emphasis earlier this year, today we will explore five insightful life lessons we can glean from man, myth, and legend - Nicolas Cage - and his epic cinematic journey. It's time to grab your popcorn, release your inhibitions, and embrace your inner Cage! Confession time: I may be a little obsessed with Nicolas Cage. In fact, I may or may not have written my capstone for my Master of Arts in English with a Rhetorical Studies emphasis ..read more

Are you lost in a dark maze of debate inquiry, seeking a beacon to illuminate your path? Do you yearn to infuse your intellectual discourse with a touch of cosmic brilliance? Is your hunger craving a veritable banquet of dialectical delights, crafted by a virtuoso of thought? Brace yourself, because Professor Adrian Graham and Kevin are here to lead the way through the labyrinth of debate! In today's ABC's of Debate, we shine the spotlight on episode six: E is for Existential. Adrian Graham's whole ABC's of Debate YouTube series is available now! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com ..read more

The third of weekly Wiley Wednesday Speech and Debate blogs brings back The Half Hour Prep Room - some classic Extemporaneous Speaking knowledge nuggets in a five-part series from Extemp experts YuYu Yuan and Spencer Travis. I love all of the events that are offered in the Speech and Debate competitive universe, but when push comes to shove, I'll usually declare Extemporaneous Speaking to be my favorite event. Why do I appreciate Extemp so much? Well, here are five quick reasons why (I think) Extemp rules: Quick Thinking and Adaptability: Extemporaneous speaking hones your ability to thi ..read more

New Coach 411 is a monthly column designed to give new Speech and Debate Coaches the lowdown on the world of coaching. In column 31, Coach Rick Dorn looks at student advice for coaches about being accepting of differing political perspectives. New Coach 411 - Column 31 April 2024 Article Student Advice for Coaches: Handling Political Differences This month’s column continues with advice from students. The students brought up an interesting topic this month: politics! My students suggested that if you want a debate team to be fully representational to the country, then political beliefs sh ..read more

The second of weekly Wiley Wednesday Speech and Debate blogs highlights Bailey Patterson, Marcus Viney, & Junebug's Troop Leader Talk Coaching series from Camp One Clap. Coaching Speech and Debate is a grand adventure and a complicated puzzle. There are so many moving pieces, logistical considerations, and human elements to consider for those who answer the call to be a Troop Leader in this community. This week, I want to highlight an outstanding coaching series put together by Camp One Clap Counselors Bailey Patterson, Marcus Viney, and Junebug the pug called Troop Leader Talk. In the se ..read more

Are you wandering aimlessly in the desert of debate? Do you long to sprinkle some extra spices into your debate vocab? Is your belly rumbling for some tasty debate delicacies straight from a seasoned debater's cookbook? Does the sight of plush Corgis bring a grin to your face? Well, hold onto your hats because Professor Adrian Graham and Kevin are swooping in to to deliver the ABC's of Debate! Today we highlight episode four: D is for DISADVANTAGE. Adrian Graham's whole ABC's of Debate YouTube series is available now! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorGraham Here's a basic ..read more