Welcome to the Extemper’s Bible!

We provide free resources to coaches and competitors in the extemp community. This includes weekly practice questions, topic analyses, novice guides and strategy pieces, a national points race, extemp seminars, podcast episodes, and more!

Latest Articles

  • Coming Back Into the Season
    Here’s a quick start-up guide to kickstart your preparation for the upcoming Extemp season. Learn how to catch up on current events, establish a practice routine, set meaningful goals, and make the most of your comeback!
  • Weekly Questions: October 2nd- October 9th
    Happy Practicing!
  • How Democracies Die
    Steven Levitsky (a professor of government at Harvard University who focuses on comparative government) and Daniel Ziblatt (an American political scientist who specializes in the study of historical economies) remark that democracies have stopped going out with a bang, but rather a whimper. In this article, Akshita Krishnan explores these “whimpers” noted in the book, How Democracies Die.

Read More

Quick Resources

Weekly Questions: April 3rd – April 9th

USX Weekly Questions
  1. Should Trump be prosecuted over hush money payments to Stormy Daniels?
  2. Will the recent shooting in Nashville create legislative change on gun safety?
  3. Will Kamala Harris’s recent visit to Africa help America form meaningful relationships on the continent?
  4. Should developers heed Elon Musk’s call and temporarily pause development of advanced AI systems?
  5. How should the federal government respond to alleged union busting at Starbucks?
IX Weekly Questions
  1. Can grassroots protests save Israeli democracy?
  2. What would be the implications of a Russian victory in Bakhmut?
  3. Will Tsai Ing-wen come to regret her decision to meet Kevin McCarthy?
  4. What policies, if any, could have prevented a deadly fire at a Mexican detention center?
  5. Should the ICJ find Vanuatu’s climate justice lawsuit successful?

National Points Race

You can read the season breakdown here. Check out the current podium standings! (Updated after Cal Invitational)

PlaceNamePoints
1stMcKinley Paltzik, Phoenix Country Day (AZ)10000
2ndSruti Peddi, BASIS Scottsdale (AZ)6200
3rdTheodore Gerken, College Prep (CA)6025

Are you a podcast junkie? We have a podcast as well, with our latest episodes linked down below!

Promises & Podcasts | Interview with Pierce McDade The Extemper's Bible

For the UKTOC's return to an in-person tournament comes a new extemp champion! Kevin and Sruti join Pierce McDade for an interview that's long overdue. But no need to glaze him anymore—iykyk. Meet the Economist addict, PhD-level tag maker (on PhDs), and the embodiment of the HI-to-Extemp pipeline.
  1. Promises & Podcasts | Interview with Pierce McDade
  2. Becoming Cambridge Tour Guides | Harvard Finalists Group Call
  3. Fast Preps and Faster Flights | Interview with Teddy Gercken