What's The Res?

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

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

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

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

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

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 

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  

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

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

Why do we follow laws? What moral imperative do we have to obey laws, just or unjust? These questions and more are the subject of this episode, where Josh discusses the development of the principle of Rule of Law across western civilization, and then how it as applies to Lincoln-Douglas debate! This paradigm has a lot of applications, but it is usually deployed in the Novice LD resolution at the beginning of each competitive season - "Resolved: Civil disobedience in a democracy is morally justified." Check it out, and let us know what you think! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

Should the EU join the Belt and Road Initiative? That's the question Josh and Ethan analyze in this episode. They focus on major studies, articles, and resources for both Pro and Con. Pro's case will be largely economic, while Con should focus on the human rights and values clash between the EU and Chinese Communist government under Xi Jinping. This episode was a lot of fun to put together - check it out, and let us know if our suggestions on"Resolved: The European Union should join the Belt and Road Initiative" worked! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

Personalism is a 20th-21st century philosophy grounded in the axiomatic dignity of the human person. Articulated in the aftermath of the horrors of WWII, Personalism seeks to help form a society that seeks the good of each human person as a dialogical creature possessing inherent dignity. Josh has written on personalism for the Acton Institute; that article can be found here. This paradigm may be helpful for prepping the 2019 Sept/Oct LD resolution (Resolved: In the United States, colleges and universities ought not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions). If it helps, let us know! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

The Sept/Oct 2019 resolution for varsity LD reads, "In the United States, colleges and universities ought not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions." In this episode, Josh and Ethan join forces to interview Ms. Courtney van Kleeck, the college admissions counselor for Thales Academy Rolesville. Courtney has helped four classes of Thales graduates get into college, and she lends us her expertise on what colleges are looking for in the application, how the standardized test fits into the picture, and why she thinks the SAT/ACT reinforces harmful stereotypes with impressionable students. We hope this episode is helpful for your preparation! Let us know how it goes! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

Josh and Ethan analyze the 2019 Varsity LD resolution; they offer definition thoughts, strategy suggestions, and contenders for value/value criterion combinations for both Aff and Neg cases. Should colleges have objective standards for admissions? Do the SAT/ACT really fulfill those roles? What about the racial issues surrounding the SAT/ACT? Where does the Adversity Score enter this debate? What exactly is the purpose of college? Find out in this episode! Let us know what you think! Email - WhatTheRAes@gmail.com Twitter,  Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Faceboom.com/Whatstheres www.WhatstheRes.com  

Josh and Ethan discuss the resolution for the first Luddy Debate League tournament of the 2019-2020 season - Resolved: The state of North Carolina should offer targeted tax incentives to businesses that relocate major parts of their operations to North Carolina. Tax incentives, business plans, crony capitalism, resource suggestions, affirmative and negative strategy - we cover all the bases! If you're interested in learning more about the Luddy Debate League, check out the website at https://www.coolidgefoundation.org/debate/luddy-schools/ - we'd love to see you at the Sept. 7th tournament! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

Josh describes "flowing," the debater method of taking notes in a round. While there are lots of modifications and advanced ways to flow, the basics are simple and described in this episode. Josh then lists three key burdens: Burden of Definition, Burden of Clash, and Burden of Evidence, and he goes over how those burdens play out in a debate round. Enjoy! And let us know what you think! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Instagram, Twitter, Reddit - @whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

Tyler Bonin (@tylermbonin) returns to What's the Res to help with the NSDA Public Forum Sept/Oct resolution - "The EU should join the Belt and Road Initiative." What exactly is the Belt and Road Initiative? Tyler has published on the topic (that article is here), and defines the goals and efforts of the Chinese government in understandable English. Josh and Tyler discuss the nature, history, potential advantages and harms of Chinese lending policy to create global infrastructure. Does this count as predatory lending? Listen in, and let us know what you think!  WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Instagram, Twitter, Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Faceboom.com/Whatstheres

Bob Luddy is the founder and president of Captivaire, and the educational entrepreneur behind St. Thomas More Academy, Franklin Academy, and Thales Academy. He is also a great supporter of debate through the Luddy Debate League, the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, and specific debate programs at Thales Academy. Josh asks Bob about a variety of topics: leadership, his entrepreneurial journey, economics, and why he supports debate. Join us for this episode, and let know what you think! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

In this episode, Ethan breaks down three debate formats, and discusses the nuances of each style. If you are having trouble choosing a format, this episode should help out! Enjoy! Email: whatstheres@gmail.com Instagram, Twitter, Reddit: @whatstheres_ Facebook: What's the Res? Website: https://www.whatstheres.com/

Ethan and Josh describe Lincoln-Douglas debate, discuss traditional vs. progressive debate, value and value criterion elements of the LD case, and then launch into resolution analysis. They break down the resolution into three key terms, and then discuss research strategies and values for the Novice case. This episode is perfect for Novice debaters figuring out LD for the first time. Ethan and Josh also discuss important changes in Martin Luther King, Jr. scholarship in 2019, and suggest good avenues for research in international politics and the Civil Rights Movement! Enjoy! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres Intagram, Twittter, Reddit - @Whatstheres_