Monthly Archives: August 2014

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of August 25th-31st, 2014

[fblike] 1. Should the Federal Reserve raise interest rates? 2. What does Ferguson reveal about the state of American race relations? 3. Sarah Palin: Does she still matter? 4. Should Alaska enact oil tax reform? 5. How should America’s schools … Continue reading

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R&D: Weekly Roundup for the Week of August 18th-24th, 2014

[fblike] Here is our weekly survey of news stories to round out the week of August 18th-24th. Next Friday, Extemp Central will unveil the tournaments and structure of the 2014-2015 National Points Race. Before Foley was killed, ISIS asked for … Continue reading

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R&D: Wisconsin’s Governor’s Race

[fblike] Today’s R&D covers the Wisconsin gubernatorial election.  Republican Governor Scott Walker is fending off a challenge former Trek Bicycle Corporation executive Mary Burke, who is the Democratic nominee.  Burke is the first female gubernatorial candidate to be nominated by … Continue reading

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Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of August 18th-24th, 2014

[fblike] Here is this week’s Extemp Central news quiz.  Good luck! To access a list of all our old quizzes, click here.

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R&D: Iran’s Nuclear Program

[fblike] Today’s R&D covers Iran’s nuclear program.  Iran has been under a cloud of suspicion since 2002 and the United States, France, Germany, Great Britain, China, and Russia – referred to as the P5+ 1 – have been negotiating with … Continue reading

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President Obama’s Iraq Policy

[fblike] Since 2008, Iraq gradually ceased to be a topic in extemporaneous speaking.  This accelerated after the U.S. withdrew its remaining forces from the country in 2011.  Optimists thought that Iraq questions would fade much like Vietnam questions did in … Continue reading

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R&D: President Obama’s Iraq Policy

[fblike] Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany today’s premium topic brief on President Obama’s Iraq policy. Mosul dam in Iraq recaptured from Islamic State militants, President Obama says http://t.co/JvziygR2O0 — BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) August 18, 2014 Antiwar politicians and … Continue reading

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HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of August 18th-24th, 2014

[fblike] 1. Does the U.S. need a manned space program? 2. Is ISIS an immediate threat to the United States? 3. Should online communications enjoy a higher form of privacy protection? 4. Is legal pot a public health menace? 5. … Continue reading

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HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of August 18th-24th, 2014

[fblike] 1. Has the Arab Spring morphed into the Jihad Spring? 2. What effect will the death of Eduardo Campos have on the Brazilian presidential election? 3. Should Nawaz Sharif call for new elections? 4. How can the Colombian government … Continue reading

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Major Champion Interview with Lily Nellans (Part Two)

[fblike] Lily Nellans competed for Des Moines Roosevelt High School In Iowa and holds the all-time record for major championship wins. She is the three-time winner of the MBA Extemp Round Robin and the Extemp Tournament of Champions (TOC). During … Continue reading

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