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What's the Res? is an ongoing conversation between a debate coach and a high school debater about the current high school debate resolutions (PF, LD, Coolidge).
Episodes
Friday Sep 27, 2019
Friday Sep 27, 2019
Josh interviews Bryan Brooks, debate coach for Grace Academy in Georgetown, Texas. They discuss the unique format of policy debate, the kinds of analysis pertinent to this debate, k-debate, spreading (with a demonstration of Bryan spreading), and the 2019-2020 policy resolution, "The United States federal government should substantially reduce Direct Commercial Sales and/or Foreign Military Sales of arms from the United States." Bryan describes the major arguments he sees on Affirmative and Negative, and he closes with advice for novices. Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebooks - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Wednesday Sep 25, 2019
Wednesday Sep 25, 2019
In early September, Josh found two new books to read at the Knightdale Public Library - Empire of Silence and The Howling Dark, each by Christopher Ruocchio. Christopher graduated from North Carolina State University with a major in English rhetoric and a minor in classics. In this interview, Josh and Christopher discuss The Sun Eater series, the relationship between past literature and present writing, wisdom, and what it takes to be an excellent writer. Christopher is well connected, and shares about encounters with George R.R. Martin and Jordan Peterson. Enjoy! And let us know what you think! You can find out more about The Sun Eater at https://sollanempire.com/.
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Faceboom.com/Whatstheres
Monday Sep 23, 2019
Monday Sep 23, 2019
Dr. Kelly Fitzsimmons Burton is a philosophy professor at Paradise Valley Community College, and the founder of both the Public Philosophy Society and Public Philosophy Press. She is a graduate of Faulkner University's doctoral program in humanities, and is the author of Retrieving Knowledge: A Socratic Response to Skepticism and Reason and Proper Function. In this interview, Josh asks Dr. Burton about the role of reason in the aftermath of the postmodern turn in philosophy; they discuss LD, philosophy, Plato, Aristotle, Nietzsche, and a lot more! Check it out! Click here to support Dr. Burton's work through the Public Philosophy Patreon Page, and here to access her website
Friday Sep 20, 2019
Friday Sep 20, 2019
Ethan and Josh take an episode to think back on What's the Res?, think about what's worked and what they've changed, favorite interviews, and funny moments. Tune in to hear some of the behind the scenes thoughts about where we've been, and where we're going!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Wednesday Sep 18, 2019
Wednesday Sep 18, 2019
Josh describes the philosophical framework, first articulated by Aristotle, called teleology. This framework looks at the nature of a thing, and from that nature derives a purpose; that purpose then becomes the measurement of goodness (or badness). A thing is good to the extent that it achieves the given purpose. This paradigm could be helpful for those preparing for the Sept/Oct 2019 Varsity LD Resolution (In the United States, colleges and universities ought not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions) by considering the purpose of collegiate education and/or the purpose of standardized tests. Good luck! And let us know if this idea is helpful!
Email: WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit: @whatstheres_
Facebook: Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Monday Sep 16, 2019
Monday Sep 16, 2019
Josh and Ethan discuss the exciting new format their team is exploring this years, Worlds Schools Debate! Modeled on British parliamentary debate, Worlds format is an international way of debating prepared and impromptu resolutions. They discuss the NSDA's way of doing Worlds, and the implications of some past international Worlds resolutions. Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/whatstheres
Wednesday Sep 11, 2019
Wednesday Sep 11, 2019
For Sept/Oct 2019, the NSDA LD resolution reads, "In the United States, colleges and universities ought not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions." In this episode, Josh and Ethan discuss two changes that came out in the first week of September that have direct bearing on the arguments for this resolution: The College Board announced it will not deploy the Adversity Score system. Instead, they will use a new program called Landscape. Also, the NYC public school system announced a major change in their admissions procedure for arts-oriented schools - no performance or proficiency requirements in the name of increasing equity. How will these changes effect LD? Listen and find out! Be sure to let us know how your arguments go!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Monday Sep 09, 2019
Monday Sep 09, 2019
Ethan interviews Donald Bryson, president and CEO of the Civitas Institute, a Raleigh-based state level policy think tank. Donald was the Content Lecturer at the September 7th Luddy Debate League tournament focusing on North Carolina tax incentives. Donald is a former policy debater, and he explains how his debate years prepared him for a career that has gone in a variety of directions. He and Ethan discuss tax policy, the relationship between state, local, and federal dollars, education, and more! This is one of our best interview episodes yet - check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Friday Sep 06, 2019
Friday Sep 06, 2019
Josh interviews Thomas Starchia to get the college admissions perspective on the 2019 Sept/Oct LD resolution, "Resolved: In the United States, colleges and universities ought not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions." Thomas worked for five years in the Liberty University Admission department. He explains what admissions officers are looking for in the application, outlines a psychological harm argument, and points to a potential disadvantage where the Affirmative side loses access to scholarships that are tied to standardized test scores. Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Reddit, Instagram - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Faceboom.com/Whatstheres
Friday Aug 30, 2019
Friday Aug 30, 2019
In this episode, Josh goes over one way to structure an argument. This episode will be a helpful review to varsity debaters, and a good introduction to the Toulmin model of argumentation for novice debaters. It's a short episode (13 minutes) - enjoy! And let us know if this one help you write stronger cases!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres