Recent Exercises

  • Return of the Repressed

    I am very surprised that I am able to teach a debate class this semester. Where I work, a class won’t make unless you have over 10 people…

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    4 min read

  • Book People

    A recent trip to BookCulture, and amazing bookstore I love, reminded me how terrifying a bookstore can be. And insightful. And nostalgic. And cozy. And again raised the…

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  • Activist Judging

    One of the strangest things about competitive debate is the inordinate pressure on the judge to get the decision “right.” Judges are struck, dismissed, sent to “bad rooms,”…

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    4 min read

  • An Open Letter about Communication, from an Ex-Debater to Debaters

    Last week, debaters from St. John’s University (where I teach and learn) and Adelphi University (in Long Island), had a public debate about Black Lives Matter and All…

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    4 min read

  • Composition Studies, Again

    Today the University Press of Colorado is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary with 50% off books. (code: 50for50).  I was led there by a composition scholar and found a…

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    4 min read

  • Public Debate or Debate

    A couple of days ago, we were asked to debate the British National Team for an event held at the English Speaking Union in Manhattan. This sort of…

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    4 min read