| Subject: DEBATE |
Author:
sibo
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Date Posted: 14:12:52 05/15/02 Wed
In reply to:
MikeKnight
's message, "Debate vs Extemp" on 13:43:08 05/15/02 Wed
First, a resolutional analysis, I'd like to define "better". In the sense of extemp vs debate, my idea of better is what helps me most in life. Obviously if 'better' were defined by funess, no one could make a convincing argument that one event is better than the other. Also, I will be comparing policy debate to foreign extemp, since they are the most similar. Otherwise it'd be like 'comparing apples and oranges'(cliched, oh well). Finally, both extemp and debate are great, but I'm not going to pull the "they are equally cool" BS. Now, on to my justifications that debate is better than extemp.
1) Extemp has non-unique benefits.
Debate is basically extemp with further analysis. Extemp requires making and memorizing a speech in 30 minutes about a topic that you have some control over (you get to pick one out of three drawn topics) and can prep for ahead of time(the questions won't be random, they'll be based on world events that aren't TOO obscure).
Debate is making a constructive, then impromptuing a CX, and finally extemping rebuttals with limited prep. Moreover, the "topic" is more unpredictable, forcing more analytical development than simply canned facts. For example, although the debate is about a resolution, many "squirrel" cases can be run, as Lem and Kim's Laskar Jihad case proved. Also, negative strategies vary widely, further forcing more analytical skills to be practiced.
So although extemp requires pre-round preparation AND good on the spot skills AND good analysis, debate exercises all those skills to a greater extent.
2) Debate has the unique benefit of interaction with competitors. A successful debater can't give canned speeches...but fxers can *cough*cough*amyreitz*cough* A good debater adapts to his/her competition's points. Conversely, the most adapting one does in extemp is to make sure that you don't try to contradict a teammate if you have the same judge in a round.
In real life, which as my resolutional analysis stated determined what was "better", most speaking skills must be exercised with outside interference. You want to convince your g/f to move in with you? Gotta use debate skills, since in an argument it is highly unlikely that the "opponent" will let you give a 7 minute speech uninterrupted to make your point.
3)I'm too lazy to make a third one.
In conclusion, although both extemp and debate are awesome, debate is better applied in life, which is really what matters.
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