Wisconsin Forensics Daily

WFCA 2008-2009 Category Topics Released

For those wishing to get an early start on the season:

The Wisconsin Forensics Coaches Association has released the 2008-2009 proposed topics for Special Occasion, Public Address, Storytelling, Moments in History, and Group Discussion. It should be noted that these are merely proposed category topics, not the actual topics. The topics need to be approved by the membership at large in the fall.

(However, since these are coordinated with the WHSFA, they usually don’t change much. But I editorialize.)

You can find the information here: http://www.wfcaforensics.org/content/view/119/143/or below the break.

Moments in History
1450-1650: Reformation, Age of Discovery, and High Renaissance

Public Address
1. Internet Regulation: To what extent, if any, should content on the World Wide Web be regulated?
2. Human Trafficking: What, if anything, should be done to address the worldwide problem of human trafficking?
3. China: What effects did the 2008 Olympics have on the Chinese culturally, economically and/or politically?
4. Origin of Human Life: What should public schools be required to teach with regard to the origin of human life?

Special Occasion
1. Speech to Gain Good Will
2. A “Roast” Speech
3. A Nomination Speech
4. A Wedding or Anniversary Speech

Storytelling
1. A Hans Christian Anderson Story
2. A Story with Numbers
3. A Story with Poverty or Hardship
4. A Music Story
5. A Chinese Folktale

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Live blogging from the Marquette University Debate Institute

Bill Batterman is live blogging from the 29th Annual Marquette University Debate Institute. You can check out their coverage of the camp’s events over at: http://mudi2008.blogspot.com.

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WFD Brewer Game: Redux

Wisconsin Forensics Daily invites all WI debate and forensics coaches to “roll out the barrel” and “take themselves out to the ballgame”!

Brewers v. Nationals
Saturday, August 9th
First Pitch: 6:05p.m.

Especially recently, it’s become very difficult to obtain tickets for Saturday home games. Anyone interested in attending needs to email me at consult.australia@gmail.com BY AUGUST 1ST!

Anyone who doesn’t email me by that time is still welcome to purchase his/her own ticket and come along, but will miss out on the ticket deal WFD works out with the Brewers ticket office.

If agreeable to most parties, we would like to tailgate before the game. More details will be available as we move closer to the 9th.

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Obama Votes Aff on last year’s policy topic

From CNN:

Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday unveiled a plan to create volunteer and service opportunities to help tackle some of the nation’s most pressing issues, part of his weeklong focus on patriotism and national service.

Included in his plan, was pretty much every affirmative in the resolution. CNN writes that Obama’s plan would include:

• Expanding AmeriCorps to 250,000 slots and doubling the size of the Peace Corps;
• Integrating service-learning programs into schools and universities
• Providing new service opportunities for working Americans and retirees;
• Expanding service initiatives that “engage disadvantaged young people and advance their education”;
• Expanding the capacity of nonprofit groups to innovate and expand successful programs across the country; and
• Enabling more Americans to serve in the armed forces

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A Blast from Past Topics

Military deference and ocean policy were in the news today. A New York Times Article briefly described below, details the implications to both the civil liberties and the oceans topics - if only we were still debating them.

The Supreme Court on Monday stepped into a long-running environmental dispute over the impact on whales and other marine mammals of Navy training exercises off Southern California….

The Navy acknowledges that the sonar can cause “behavioral disruptions” and short-term hearing loss in dolphins and whales, but denies that these effects are serious or lasting. But the Natural Resources Defense Council maintains that the high-intensity sonar causes “mass injury,” including hemorrhaging and stranding. The appeals court said the Navy’s own assessment “clearly indicates that at least some substantial harm will likely occur” without the measures designed to mitigate the sonar’s effects.

The justices themselves will not resolve the debate over the extent of the harm. Rather, as presented to the Supreme Court, the case is a dispute over the limits of executive branch authority and the extent to which the courts should defer to military judgments.

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Coaching Opportunities at Brookfield Central!

The athletic director at Brookfield Central High School contacted WFD and asked that we advertise the following two openings for the 2008-2009 school year:

-Director of Debate
-Assistant Coach

Brookfield Central is a well-established debate program with a history of success on state and national levels. If interested, please contact BFC’s athletic director at: andersod@elmbrookschools.org

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Las Vegas Nationals Results

Jenna Huebner of Appleton East placed 5th in Prose at Nationals. This marks the second major accomplishment for Appleton East nationally this year. Earlier this year an Appleton East Duo team placed 4th at NCFL Nationals. Congratulations to Mike and Deb Traas for their amazing achievements at Nationals this year!

For results about other contestants, see our other Nationals thread. For full coverage of the award ceremony, surf over to Victory Briefs Daily and check out their coverage.

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Live from Las Vegas… NFL Nationals 2008

Here’s a place for our WFD correspondents to provide coverage of how Wisconsinites are faring at the Desert Lights Nationals.  In the Congress Senate, Nicolet’s Gabriella Friedman advanced to semifinals.

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TOC stays in Wisconsin

Marquette’s annual Hilltopper Classic was re-newed as National Tournament of Champions qualifier at the final round level for policy debate. Last year’s Hilltopper Classic awarded bids to teams from Glenbrook South and Bellarmine, CA. This year’s tournament promises to be better and much improved from last year. More information will be available as we get closer to the tournament. The National Tournament of Champions is yearly tournament held on the University of Kentucky campus, where debaters qualify by receiving bids to the tournament.

Hopefully some one in Vegas will be providing live coverage of NFL Nationals (The competition begins today at roughly 10am central time). Cough. Bill. Cough. Voss. Cough. Scheffler. Cough. Traas.

Please?

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Brookfield East Alums Announce New Forensics Camp

Wisconsin Forensics Daily is pleased to provide this information:

The Wisconsin Summer Forensics Institute is proud to offer a summer forensics camp! Students from across the state are invited to join us to learn new skills, make new friends and put together a stellar forensics piece. By the end of the week, students will have a speech or piece cut or written, polished and ready to perform.

Camp is in session:
Sun 7/17 1-7pm
Mon-Fri 7/18-8/1 10-4pm
And a showcase of our work Friday evening

Camp location: Camp will be held at Brookfield East High School. Housing and transportation are not provided.

Cost: Camp is $300 for the week. This includes materials, copies, meals and snacks. A $50 deposit is due with registration, the remaining balance is due June 31st.

What to expect: Students will receive one-on-one time with a personal coach while also working with small groups and their peers. Students will be exposed to a multitude of speaking games, techniques and challenges. Camp will be a fun and rewarding experience!

Interested?
To request registration materials, or with any questions about the type of programming we offer at WSFI, please contact Artistic Director Tyler Beattie at tylergbeattie@gmail.com

**Registration deadline has been moved to Monday, June 15st. You will receive a confirmation letter and follow-up packet in the mail.**

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