September 25, 2025
Introduction to Speech Events at PDA
Written by Jason Stansell For new speakers and debaters, understanding the different events can be intimidating. The basic idea of Debate can be pretty self-explanatory as it means you’ll be arguing different points. However, the “Public Speaking”or “Competitive Speech” can seem far more confusing (and downright terrifying). While you likely understand the words within each…
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May 19, 2025
April 2025 Tournament Recap
Congratulations to our hundreds of students who competed this April, winning major awards across several tournaments. April Potomac Intramural ES Prepared Speech – Champion: Myra G. – Runner Up: Ella L. – Third Place: Anjana P. MS & HS Prepared Speech – Champion: Shreyasi S. – Runner Up: Sophie L. – Third Place: Sahathmika N….
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December 11, 2024
November 2024 Tournament Recap
By Kirsten Craft This November our students shifted their focus from border surveillance to military support of Taiwan. With a new topic and a busy tournament semester, they quickly got to work. From their research, they learned there are many reasons the US should and should not decrease military support for Taiwan, but most close…
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November 12, 2024
More Than a Debater: How Dual Passions Build Unstoppable Humans
By Kirsten Craft I have a confession. Growing up I was not just a debater. I was also a competitive dancer. When I was in school this was unusual. None of my debate friends liked my dance friends, my dance friends were constantly frustrated that I missed competitions to attend debate tournaments, and both sets…
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November 4, 2024
Top 100 Debate Terms For New Debaters
Getting started in debate can feel like learning a whole new language. From “constructives” to “cross-examinations,” the world of debate is filled with specialized vocabulary that may be unfamiliar to new debaters. Having a strong grasp of these terms is essential for understanding class concepts and ultimately applying them at tournaments. In this guide, we’ve…
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