First tournament

[elizabeth]

Hello,

I am an advanced debater and public speaker and will be competing at the upcoming International Independent Schools' Public Speaking Competition. I have competed in numerous categories including cross-examination and parliamentary debate, dramatic interpretation, interpretive reading, and persuasive, after-dinner, and impromptu speaking, but I have never competed as an extemper.

At first, I thought extemp was simply impromptu with 27 extra minutes of prep time, but after doing a little digging on your wonderful site, I found out I was sorely mistaken.

This upcoming tournament has some strange rules; no competitor may use any outside sources, so I may not bring a tub of research or even a few magazines. Is it really so important that I include citations, and how do I do so when I don't have access to my material?

I currently read and take notes on The Economist, the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, and various local newspapers. Is there anything else I should be reading?

Thanks!

[Logan Scisco]

Those are some VERY strange rules, as I don't really understand how your supposed to do extemp without materials to consult for you to cite in your speech. From what I've always experienced in my 9 years of competing/coaching the event, you always need to include citations, but I am honestly at a loss for how you can do so without materials to consult. You could read a few articles and try to burn their main points into your head with the appropriate citation, although that would be tedious. If this place doesn't let you consult materials, I seriously question whether they even know what extemp is. It seems they are trying to do "extemporaneous impromptu" moreso than extemp.

You've got a good source list but I would also recommend reading the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, a German magazine called Der Spiegel, a bi-monthly magazine called Foreign Policy, and a bi-monthly journal called Foreign Affairs (which costs $30 per year). I'm not sure where you are from, so I don't know what local papers you are using, but usually local papers are not as good unless they are nationally recognized. For example, being from Kentucky I did not cite any Kentucky papers ever in my extemp career.

I'd also look into reading some books about international relations such as Henry Kissinger's Does America Need a Foreign Policy and Diplomacy . Also Thomas L. Friedman's books The Lexus and the Olive Tree and The World is Flat are interesting reads as well. Books come off as a great way to diversify your source material.

Also, look into reading some papers from groups like the International Crisis Group or the Heritage Foundation to increase your knowledge of international/domestic issues. They are very insightful and very useful in extemp.

Great questions and I'm glad to know that your finding the site helpful!

[beachwriter24]

I know this post is old, but if you still need the advice, Christian Science Monitor, USA Today, US News & World Report, Time Magazine, and Newsweek are also very good resources for extemp. They are used almost exclusively in our district as sources. It may also be a good idea to take a quote book or almanac to the tournament, even though you can't take it into your rounds, it will give you something to do between rounds and you may learn something you can use during your speeches. hope this helped!

[Karen]

The Economist is your BEST FRIEND. In Massachusetts, almost every school brings the latest Economist to tournaments, my school included.

Other good sources:
-For Middle East/Israel: Ha'aretz, Jerusalem Post, Al-Jazeera is good but you should read it for reference, not citing.
-General stuff: Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, The Globe & Mail, The Guardian
-Asia Pacific: South China Morning Post, Daily Yomiuri, Singapore Business Times
-The Daily Show (jk)