January 20, 2026
Debate Resources for Beginners
By Sherry Lin Hi PDA fam, it’s Student Coach Sherry again! This week, I’m diving into something that I get asked all the time: what resources should beginners actually use to improve their Public Forum debate performance? If you’ve ever typed “how to get better at debate” into Google, you’ve probably already encountered a problem:…
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January 18, 2026
When You’re Losing the Round: A Debater’s Guide to Recovery
Written By Mahek Acharya Every debater has experienced that sinking feeling mid-round when you realize things aren’t going according to plan. Maybe you dropped a critical argument, your opponent just delivered a brutal rebuttal, or the judge’s expression tells you you’re losing them. These moments are inevitable in competitive debate, but how you respond often…
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January 15, 2026
How to Sound Confident When You Have No Idea What You’re Talking About
By Mahek Acharya A Practical Guide to Navigating Knowledge Gaps Let’s be honest: every successful person you know has, at some point, spoken authoritatively about something they barely understood. In boardrooms, interviews, presentations, and debates, the ability to project confidence despite uncertainty isn’t just useful but often essential for survival. It’s about managing the inevitable…
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January 12, 2026
A Step-by-Step Guide to Researching a New Topic
By Sherry Lin When that new resolution drops on the first of the month, it can feel like you’re suddenly expected to quickly understand and become an expert on a policy or organization you’ve never heard of. But, don’t fret! The good news is that effective research doesn’t mean working harder every month; instead, it…
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January 11, 2026
How to Write a Speech for School
Hi PDA fam! It’s Student Coach Sherry again, and for this week’s blog, I’ll be talking about something that every student ends up doing at some point — whether for English class, student government elections, Model UN, or even a club presentation. What could this mystery task be? Writing a speech for school, of course! …
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