iMedia: Policy Debate

Being a policy debater, I happen to think that policy debate is the single most intense intellectual activity that a high-school student can join.

This picture epitomizes that which is policy debate.  Two people, each wearing button-up shirts and a tie, staring down a camera.  Evidence lies around the make-shift podium, and expandos are scattered around haphazardly.  The intensity of the coming speech sits in the eyes of the coming speaker.  Even the manner of the picture seems to suggest intensity.

To me, this picture is the stereotype of what I want to be in terms of a debater.  Of course, I don't want to just replicate this situation, but all debaters may want to aspire to be something like this.  The amount of work that went into creating the evidence, highlighting the evidence, and knowing the evidence is all evident in the debaters.  The exothermic nature of their intensity is what should be modeled here.

Of course, not everyone wants to be a policy debater.  Some people have other things they do for fun, and that's okay.  They can at least appreciate the work that goes into the activity.  But those that do want to succeed in a competitive framework should do all they can to learn as many tricks as they can from other people.  Even other competitive activities may be able to extract a few lessons from this activity.  The intensity, preparedness, and practice that goes into debate are all things that should go into every activity.