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Is Commentary just fluff? |
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There is a misconception that the use of sources in Commentary are not appropriate or unnecessary.
While it may be true that commentary has a more relaxed style and structure than US or International Extemp, I have found that judges still have high expectations regarding information and synthesis of that information in the round. Students should still have appropriate sources to their topics and they should feel free to use he information to their advantage.
I do not believe, however, that Commentary needs to have as much information traditionally found in the late rounds of Extemp at NFL Nationals. Since emphasis on the speech should be on commenting on the round, too much information in a short amount of time may seem more like and informative rather than a persuasive speech. The topics themselves in recent years have been concepts, with these ideas and issues being both salient and complex. To treat such topics as “fluff” seems to be a miscalculation on the part of the speaker. It is the duty of the speaker to find ways to find the premise and assumptions existing within the subject area and to speak with knowledge and passion. |
