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by Gabriel Ferrante
Gabriel Ferrante was a competitor for the Iona Preparatory School in New York. He was last year’s Catholic National Champion. In addition, he was an extemp finalist at Yale, Bronx, Villiger, and a champion at the Columbia invitational. He was a competitor at the Montgomery Bell Academy Round Robin and New York Sate Champion in 2013. He is attending the University of Pennsylvania and studying Chemistry and Philosophy. Gabriel wrote this topic area analysis for competitors attending this year’s National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL) Grand National Tournament in Chicago, Illinois. It provides tips on navigating the tournament, answering questions in each topic area, and provides a few practice questions for each topic area that extempers can use to prepare for the tournament.
The Tournament
The Catholic National Forensic League has released its topics, and once again, Extemp Central is providing analysis of the areas to help extempers prepare for Grand Nationals in Chicago. Before delving into the individual topics, however, there are a few key points to remember about NCFL questions. First, NCFL questions are selected from a pool submitted by students and coaches. The deadline for submission of these questions ended on April 18th. As a result, while there are some questions thrown in at the end for the sake of topicality, the questions at NCFLs lean heavily toward systemic or long-running issues. In short, the hot headline the week before the tournament is more likely to inform one’s position in a speech than to be its subject. As a result, CFLs prep is best complemented with a few good policy/theory books, and a large number of think-tank briefs, as these have a greater likelihood of providing solid background for speeches, with examples drawn from recent events. Second, the order in which the topics appear is chosen at random only minutes before the round. This is different from many other tournaments, and means that there is no “clearing” round with deliberately harder questions than the rest to weed out speakers from the final or semi-final rounds. On the other hand, last year, the fourth prelim topic (US Legal & Constitutional Issues) was a serious struggle for nearly all the speakers, featuring questions of detail no one was expecting in prelims. Finally, one of the topics is not used (last year, the Foreign Economics questions never saw the light of day), so be prepared for curve-balls, both in terms of what is, and is not, asked. For those competing, as always, it’s important to remember that having fun and being interesting are essential at the NCFL tournament, not only because the speech pool of judges is receptive to them, but also because it’s worth remembering that anyone who has the privilege of competing at the NCFL is great. Extemp can and should be fun as well as excellent, and the opportunity to see the kind of competition Catholic Nationals allows is one to be relished.
Topic Area #1: US Politics
US politics rounds are a staple of both local and national tournaments, but the extended nature of the NCFL question writing regime means that the up-to-the-minute scandal questions which characterize many of these rounds will be largely absent. Instead, the topics will likely focus on longer term political challenges facing the US (the perennial favorites, Healthcare and Immigration reform will appear here) as well as focus on the midterm elections. With Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell’s seat in jeopardy, as well as the fate of control of the Senate hanging on the tight re-election races in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Alaska, expect questions of some specificity in at least one of these states, in which case, local sources (such as Lexington Courier-Herald, New Orleans Times-Picayune, and Anchorage Daily News) are a major boon. These will accompany questions about the overall fate of the Upper House. In all legislative race cases, it pays to have the most recent fundraising statistics of the major candidates printed, as they can add the specificity judges are looking for to distinguish top speakers, as well as informing your personal position. Finally, the topic writers will probably not be able to avoid the temptation of asking at least one question about the 2016 Presidential election. However, since these questions could be sourced with little more than conjecture (whether produced by the speaker or political columnists) this last class, while seductive, may be worth avoiding if there is the opportunity to give a speech with more concrete facts backing it up.
- Can Wendy Davis win the governor’s race in Texas?
- Should President Obama focus on domestic or foreign policy in the next twelve months?
- Is Democrats’ failure to find high profile Hispanic candidates likely to hurt them in the long run?
Topic Area #2: US Legal & Constitutional Issues
Last year’s most challenging set of questions, US Legal & Constitutional Issues is always something of a wildcard round. Perhaps because it attracts fewer submissions from coaches and competitors, the questions last year were extremely specific. While a few of the questions related to topics covered heavily in general publications (such as last year’s Civil Rights Act case), some of the subjects had received almost no attention at all. This year, keep an eye out for questions about the interpretation of the 4th Amendment, and the President’s recess appointment power. For the rest SCOTUSblog and case briefs from the American Bar Association are a must, not only as a source to cite in speeches, but to have enough information to reliably answer the questions presented. Last year, this was a preliminary round, but if it were to fall in out-round (as it did in 2011) it has the potential to be a major winnower of the field. Preparation is key. For prestigious/theoretical citations, look up articles from law reviews, especially University of Virginia Law Review, University of Michigan Law Review, Pennumbra (University of Pennsylvania’s), Harvard Law Review, and Stanford Law Review all stand out for their quality and accessibility to the lay audience.
- Will the Supreme Court affirm the D.C. circuit’s ruling in NLRB vs. Noel Canning?
- To what extent should anti-bullying laws be treated as a threat to First Amendment rights?
- Do Guantanamo detainees retain the protection of the Ex Post Facto clause?
Topic Area #3: U.S. Foreign Policy
With Russia’s advances in eastern Europe, President Obama’s pivot to Asia is in jeopardy despite the rapid withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. In the perennial questioned areas like Syria, the Senkaku/Diaoyu, Ukraine, and Afghanistan, speakers should be prepared with potential courses of actions for the US in addition to challenging the Obama administration’s choices. For background, pick up a book on foreign policy and military theory, like Strategic Vision by Zbigniew Brzezinski, the classic Clash of Civilizations by Sam Huntington, or The Insurgents by Fred Kaplan. Other topics worth filing on are the foreign policy fallout of US spying programs (especially with Germany and Brazil), US drone policy, and the Kerry brokered (and floundering) peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Top sources include the major think tanks: The Brookings Institution, CSIS, The Diplomat, as well as the magazines Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, and The National Interest. Having wide ranging, potentially local sources will help speakers stand out in what is usually one of the most competitive rounds in the tournament.
- Should the US promote the Philippines’ arbitration strategy in the South China Sea?
- How can the US work to end violence in Venezuela?
- Is America at risk of losing naval dominance in the Pacific?
Topic Area #4: US Economic Policy
While Congress has been busy accomplishing very little in the way of any kind of policy this year, that has not stopped analysts everywhere from advocating for a variety of policies they claim are the magic bullet for the US’s economy’s flaws. Expect several questions about the Ryan budget plan (especially in light of Paul Ryan’s newfound interest in fighting poverty), tax reform, and immigration reform. Finally, with Democrats seizing on the issue of inequality as a major theme in their 2014 strategy, there is likely to be at least one question about whether and how the US should attempt to combat income and wealth inequality. Adding to that debate is the new book Capital in the 21st Century by Thomas Piketty. Though the tome is 700 pages long, it has provoked a significant amount of commentary in major publications, all of which are worth filing for this round. Top sources include the Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation, Center for American Progress, and Peterson Institute for International Economics. As in all cases where many judges are likely to have strong opinions about speech content, the best strategy is to try to quote sources associated with both sides of the policy debate in making one’s case. Even for a sympathetic judge, this makes one’s speech more compelling, and encourages speakers to read more conflicting research, allowing them to formulate more nuanced views of economic policy.
- Does economic inequality negatively affect economic growth?
- How should the US encourage “re-shoring” of manufacturing jobs?
- Would the poor benefit from a consolidation of state aid and welfare programs?
Topic Area #5: Medicine, Science, and Technology
Last year’s finals topic, this area is a guaranteed curveball. Top questions currently facing the scientific community involve the question of whether artificial genes can be patented, and the reduction of federal funding for basic research. On the tech side, expect questions about Apple and Google’s battle for market share in mobile operating systems, as well as at least one on the patent wars between silicon valley corporations. With far too few respected scientific publications writing for the non-professional, sourcing for these speeches should come from the little read bits of the extemper’s favorite two sources. The New York Times Science section (published each Tuesday) and the tech and science section of the Economist are strong resources, but only if the speaker knows enough about them to know where to look. In this area, background is more than half the battle, and has the benefit of granting an edge in a round where many top speakers are off their game.
- How can the US encourage more doctors to become general practitioners?
- Are malarial nets effective enough to merit international aid dollars?
- Is peer review the best way to prevent fraud in research science?
Topic Area #6: Education (International and Domestic)
This year, education has once again been granted an entire topic area. Last year’s questions included subjects like the influence of teachers’ unions and technology in the classroom. Since there has been no major change in the education sphere, it’s entirely possible that these topics will make another appearance. On the international education front, there may be a question about Mexico’s efforts to reform its immensely powerful teacher’s union. In addition to general publications, the Chronicle of Higher Education is an excellent resource for this round.
- Will efforts to unionize adjunct university professors succeed?
- How should universities respond to market saturation for humanities Ph. D.s?
- Is Bill DeBlasio’s focus on universal pre-k warranted?
Topic Area #7: Foreign Economics
The only topic not spoken on at the 2013 NCFL tournament, this round presents the opportunity for truly top speakers to distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack. Expect questions about the impact of Federal Reserve policy on emerging markets, the possibility of economic reform in India under a potential BJP government, China’s economic transition, international trade deals such as TPP and TTIP, and the future of the European project. Each of these areas could be the subject of round in and of itself, but the wealth of excellent questions is what makes this round so much of a favorite. Thomas Friedman’s books are almost always ubiquitous as sources in these rounds, as is Fareed Zakaria’s The Post-American World. However, speakers looking to stand out should use the theories found in these books as a framework, and expand by going deeper with more current, local sources. Other areas of interest include Brazil’s economic slowdown, Abenomics, and Mexico’s reform efforts.
- Will Matteo Renzi’s shakeup of Italian state owned firms strengthen the economy?
- Should the European Central Bank be concerned with Eurozone inflation in light of the continent’s continued economic weakness?
- What effect will Hukou reforms have on China’s economy?
Topic Area #8: Foreign Leaders
Foreign leaders questions are something of a grab bag. Depending on the leader, these questions can lend themselves to economic or geopolitical concerns. As a result, much of this area has already been covered in this review. However, leaders certain to be mentioned here that might not make an appearance elsewhere include Daw Aun San Suu Kyi, the Dalai Lama, and Pope Francis. Leaders of international institutions like the IMF and World Bank are also likely to be in the mix. Because of the variability of the topic, general sources are best for this round, with a few briefs from think tanks thrown in for depth.
- Should Shinzo Abe fear losing supporters to the far right Japan Restoration Party?
- Has Catherine Ashton succeeded as EU foreign minister?
- Should the next head of the IMF be from a global south nation?
Topic Area #9: International Conflicts and Civil Unrest
This topic has a great deal for informed speakers to sink their teeth into. The world is full of conflict, but areas most likely to see some questions are the internal conflicts in Ukraine, Venezuela, Colombia (including their negotiations with FARC), South Sudan, Syria, Pakistan, and Iraq. International conflicts also include China’s incursions into the South China Sea and Russian assertiveness. Local sources are key to setting speakers apart in this round. Because of the wide ranging nature of the area, it pays for speakers to develop an expertise for in one or two topics, and try to draw questions on them. In depth knowledge is the name of the game, as all the speakers are generally well informed. The trick is to tell the judges something they had never thought of before. This round is an opportunity for speakers to show off their skills in analysis and speaking.
- How can the international community stop the violence in South Sudan?
- What can Pakistan do to tame the Tehrik-i-Taliban?
- Should Nigeria increase or decrease its military’s involvement in the fight against Boko Haram?