Nathanael Yellis

Productive debaters cultivate broad, working knowledge across a wide range of issues. Part of this is research. Creating a comprehensive evidence bank is the first step. By this I mean knowing the US policy towards the Arizonan Toad, the consequences of that policy, how that policy compares to other Toad policies in the US and internationally. Having a brief for every potential case and a few cards for each potential issue demonstrates you know something. But more important is real knowledge, the kind that connects the issues and cases into an intelligent frame of reference. By this I mean being able to place ‘toad policies’ into the larger sphere of environmental policy as a whole and understanding how that set of policies works in the US as compared to other sets of policy issues. Having broad knowledge means knowing what the Toad means to Arizonans.

I'm doing a series of articles on how to build real world skills through educational debate for Ethos Debate. Their blog is one of the most read blogs in the debate community. They've kindly agreed to let me re-post the series.

I responded to the Portsmouth Freecycle ad "free Real Simple mags." A few days later, I picked up 10 issues from the front of someone's garage. Great story about reusing and community, right? No, its a story of lies and deceit. I was not picking up the magazines for "my wife." I wanted them for myself.

Communication starts with telling good stories. Stories start with characters.

I read this Wall Street Journal article per the recommendation of @actonmba. The author chronicles the strategies small businesses use in social networking: from paying consultants to do it for you--to getting training--to doing it on your own. As a consultant working on these projects, I like the article's conclusion: use social networking in a way that works for your needs.