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Monument PLUS Downloads and Videos

Monument has been publishing source material for speakers and debaters since 1998. You can have access to thousands of downloads, as well as textbooks and audio/video lessons, that have helped speakers and debaters reach the pinnacles of success.

1. Archive Library

After the current year is over, Monument archives all of its briefs, cases and articles from the year and shelves them in our Archive Library. As new resolutions release, chances are you can find valuable content to give you the winning edge:

  • Agriculture - Resolved: That the United States federal government should significantly change its agricultural policy.
  • Agriculture and Food Safety - Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reform its agriculture and/or food safety policy in the United States.
  • Arms Exports - Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce Direct Commercial Sales and/or Foreign Military Sales of arms from the United States.
  • Artificial Intelligence - Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reform the use of artificial intelligence technology.
  • Assimilation vs Multiculturalism - Resolved: Culture ought to value assimilation over multiculturalism.
  • Biomedical Engineering - Resolved: In democratic elections, the public’s right to know ought to be valued above a candidate’s right to privacy.
  • Capital Gains Tax - The United States should abolish the capital gains tax.
  • Catalonia - Spain should grant Catalonia its independence.
  • China - Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reform its policies toward the People’s Republic of China. (NCFCA)
  • Civil Disobedience - Resolved: Civil disobedience in a democracy is morally justified.
  • Civil Rights vs National Security - Resolved: That the restriction of civil rights for the sake of national security is justified.
  • Convicted Prisoners - Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reform the use of artificial intelligence technology.
  • Criminal Justice - Resolved: The United States Federal Government should significantly reform its criminal justice system.
  • Cuba - Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially increase its constructive engagement with Cuba.
  • Democracy - Resolved: Democracy is overvalued by the United States government.
  • Due Process - Resolved: In the pursuit of justice, due process ought to be valued above the discovery of fact.
  • Eastern Trade - Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reform its trade policy with one or more of the following nations: China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan.
  • Economic Growth vs Environmental Protection - Resolved: Developing countries ought to prioritize economic growth over environmental protection.
  • Economic Stability vs Economic Growth - Resolved: Economic stability is more important than economic growth.
  • Economics vs Equity - Resolved: In the realm of economics, freedom ought to be valued above equity.
  • Electronic Surveillance - Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reform its electronic surveillance law.
  • Energy - Resolved: That the United States should change its energy policy to substantially reduce its dependence on foreign oil.
  • Energy Policy - Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reform its energy policy.
  • Environmental Policy - Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should significantly reform its environmental policy.
  • European Immigration Policy - Resolved: The European Union should substantially reform its immigration policy.
  • Extemp Prompts from Season 20 - Zip folder of all extemp downloads from the 2019-2020 school year of competition.
  • Extemp Prompts from Season 21 - Zip folder of all extemp downloads from the 2020-2021 school year of competition.
  • Extemp Prompts from Season 22 - Zip folder of all extemp downloads from the 2021-2022 school year of competition.
  • Extemp Prompts from Season 23 - Zip folder of all extemp downloads from the 2022-2023 school year of competition.
  • Fair Trade vs Free Trade - Resolved: When in conflict, governments should value fair trade above free trade.
  • Federal Court Reform - Resolved: That the United States Federal Court system should be significantly reformed.
  • Federal Election Law - Resolved: That federal election law should be significantly reformed in the United States.
  • Federal Jurisprudence - Resolved: In the United States federal jurisprudence, the letter of the law ought to have priority over the spirit of the law.
  • Federal Revenue - Resolved: That the United States federal government should substantially reform its revenue generation policies.
  • Foreign Aid - Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reform its foreign aid.
  • Gun Background Checks - Resolved: The United States should require universal background checks for all gun sales and transfers of ownership.
  • H-1B Visas - The United States federal government should increase its quota of H-1B visas.
  • Higher Education - Resolved: The United States should significantly reform its policies regarding higher education.
  • Illegal Immigration - Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should substantially change its policy on illegal immigration.
  • Immigration (Legal) - Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its restrictions on legal immigration to the United States.
  • Impromptu Prompts from Season 20 - Zip folder of all impromptu releases from the 2019-2020 school year of competition.
  • Impromptu Prompts from Season 21 - Zip folder of all impromptu downloads from the 2020-2021 school year of competition.
  • Impromptu Prompts from Season 22 - Zip folder of all impromptu downloads from the 2021-2022 school year of competition.
  • Impromptu Prompts from Season 23 - Zip folder of all impromptu downloads from the 2022-2023 school year of competition.
  • India - Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should significantly change its policy toward India.
  • Innovation - Resolved: In democratic elections, the public’s right to know ought to be valued above a candidate’s right to privacy.
  • International Conflicts - Resolved: The United States has a moral obligation to mitigate international conflicts.
  • Isolationism - Resolved: That the United States of America ought to more highly value isolationism.
  • Law of the Sea - Resolved: The United States should accede to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea without reservations.
  • Liberal Arts Education vs Practical Skills - Resolved: In formal education liberal arts ought to be valued above practical skills.
  • Marine Natural Resources - Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reform its marine natural resource policies.
  • Media vs Public - Resolved: That the media’s right to protect confidential sources is more important than the public’s right to know.
  • Middle East Policy - Resolved: The United States should significantly reform its policy toward one or more countries in the Middle East.
  • Military Commitments - Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reform its foreign military presence and/or foreign military commitments.
  • Monetary Policy - Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reform its banking, finance, and/or monetary policy.
  • Moral Obligation to Assist Nations - Resolved: That governments have a moral obligation to assist other nations in need.
  • National Security vs Freedom of the Press - Resolved: National security ought to be valued above freedom of the press.
  • NATO - Resolved: That the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should be significantly reformed or abolished.
  • NCAA Fair Labor - NCAA student athletes ought to be recognized as employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  • Parli Resolutions from Season 20 - Zip folder of all parli resolutions from the 2019-2020 school year of competition.
  • Parli Resolutions from Season 21 - Zip folder of all parli debate downloads from the 2020-2021 school year of competition.
  • Parli Resolutions from Season 22 - Zip folder of all parli debate downloads from the 2021-2022 school year of competition.
  • Parli Resolutions from Season 23 - Zip folder of all parli debate downloads from the 2022-2023 school year of competition.
  • Personal Freedom vs Economic Security - Resolved: When in conflict, personal freedom ought to be valued above economic security.
  • Popular Sovereignty vs Individual Rights - Resolved: A government’s legitimacy is determined more by its respect for popular sovereignty than individual rights.
  • Preemptive Warfare - Resolved: Preemptive warfare is morally justified.
  • Presidential War Powers - On balance, the current Authorization for Use of Military Force gives too much power to the president.
  • Preventive War - Resolved: Preventive war is ethical.
  • Privacy Is Undervalued - Resolved: Privacy Is Undervalued.
  • Privacy vs Security - Resolved: When in conflict, the right to individual privacy is more important than national security.
  • Public Needs vs Private Property Rights - Resolved: The needs of the public ought to be valued above private property rights.
  • Rehabilitation vs Retribution - Resolved: Rehabilitation ought to be valued above retribution in criminal justice systems.
  • Right to Know vs Right to Privacy in Elections - Resolved: In democratic elections, the public’s right to know ought to be valued above a candidate’s right to privacy.
  • Russia - Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should significantly reform its policy toward Russia. (NCFCA)
  • South Korea Defense - Resolved: Deployment of anti-missile systems is in South Korea’s best interest.
  • Speech vs Moral Standards - Resolved: When in conflict, an individual’s freedom of speech should be valued above a community’s moral standards.
  • Terrorism - Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reform its foreign policy regarding international terrorism.
  • Transportation - Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reform its transportation policy.
  • Truth-seeking vs Individual Privacy - Resolved: Criminal procedure should value truth-seeking over individual privacy.
  • United Nations - Resolved: That the United Nations should be significantly reformed or abolished.
  • Universal Basic Income - Resolved: The United States ought to provide a universal basic income.
  • US Military Commitments - Resolved: The USFG should considerably decrease its military commitments.

2. Camp Library

Camp audios and videos from some of our most valuable speech and debate camp sessions. Check out our current library selection of resources to learn from:

  • Advanced Analysis and Refutation - Analytical thinking is a necessary skill when engaging in argumentation and debate. However, debaters often fail to dig in deeper to truly challenge the claim. In this camp session, “Coach Vance” Trefethen explains how to truly think analytically and refute claims in debate.
  • Advanced Values - Lincoln-Douglas debaters should learn to advance to a higher-level understanding values in a debate round. Matthew Erickson, the 2012 Stoa National Champion in LD, gives his understanding of how to run advanced values in this camp session.
  • Alternative Policy Case Structures - Not all policy cases follow the traditional "harms-solvency" structure. In this camp session, "Coach Vance" Trefethen explains other case formats that help make stronger winning cases.
  • Apologetics Foundations - This camp session is a great start to understanding apologetics in Christian speech and debate leagues. Undefeated national champion Luis Garcia explains this popular and unique speech event.
  • Case Construction - The traditional "harms-solvency" case is the most basic and arguably most successful debate case format in policy debate. "Coach Vance" Trefethen explains how this case format is structured and how it is used to win debates.
  • Caution and Craziness Part 1 - Debaters assembled in Colorado in 2014 to cast a greater vision for academic speakers and debaters at our only "For Action" camp. Keynote speaker Andrew Pudewa encourages students to ask, "Who am I? Why am I here? What am I supposed to do in this life?"
  • Caution and Craziness Part 2 - Keynote speaker Andrew Pudewa continues his charge to For Action Conference attendees.
  • Caution and Craziness Part 3 - Keynote speaker Andrew Pudewa continues his charge to For Action Conference attendees in Part 3 of this presentation.
  • Clashing Worldviews - Just as Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas debated "worldviews" in the 19th century, so do value debaters today in Lincoln-Douglas debate. Cheyenne Ossen explains the different motivations to supporting and negating value resolutions.
  • Cross-examination for Lincoln-Douglas Debate - Perhaps the most common problem for new debaters is coming up with helpful and effective cross-examination questions. Matthew Erickson shares his champion-level strategies to asking strong CX questions, particularly in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
  • Cross-examination for Policy Debate - Cross-examination is a favorite skill for debaters, but the hardest for debaters to master. Vance Trefethen explains how to ask good questions and avoid bad ones, particularly for policy debate.
  • Economic Concepts in Extemp Part 1 - Economics carries a lot of weight when presenting winning extemporaneous speeches. In this camp session, economist Greg Rehmke of Economic Thinking teaches basic principles of economics specifically for extemp competitors.
  • Economic Concepts in Extemp Part 2 - Economics sounds difficult, but basic concepts of economics are less difficult to understand than extempers think. Economist and author Greg Rehmke continues is explanation in this camp session.
  • Ethical Evidence (by Matthew Baker) - What creates unethical evidence? Two-time NCFCA national finalist Matthew Baker gives his rundown of reasons as well as solutions to combat unethical evidence use in academic debate.
  • Ethical Evidence (by Vance Trefethen) - Unethical evidence is a huge problem across all leagues. Vance Trefethen educates debaters to understand what fraudulent evidence is as well as teach debaters how to identify and beat debaters who use unethical evidence.
  • Evidence - Evidence is the best way to provide support to policy debaters' claims they make in a debate round. "Coach Vance" Trefethen explains the purpose and applicability of evidence in debate rounds.
  • Extemp Basics and Champion Analysis - Champion extempers know that the key to successful extemp speaking is giving champion-level analysis of the headlines. Extemp champion Shane Baumgardner explains in this Extemp Camp session.
  • Extemp Ethics - Extemp (as well as other limited-prep events like Apologetics) often allows for unethical use of evidence and research. Listen in to the discussion made at Extemp Camp about ethics in extemporaneous speaking.
  • Flowing Lincoln-Douglas Debate - "Flowing" is the process debaters use to take notes in a debate round. Much strategy is involved in the technique. Brook Wade, NCFCA national champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate, explains best practices in flowing LD rounds.
  • Focus on Nationals - If you made it to your national tournament, you're about to enter the most academically challenging tournament of your year. Multi-winning champion Shane Baumgardner explains the focus to have to make the most of your experience.
  • Generic Negative Briefing - Generic arguments are strategic pivots that negative debaters can bring into the debate round to turn the narrative against their affirmative opponents. Matthew Baker gives his list of how to write solid generic briefs for competition.
  • Government Documents for Research Part 1 - The government has excellent sources to study and use when researching the league's policy debate topic. Matthew Baker covers everything from the US Constitution to modern repositories that debaters can use in their research.
  • Government Documents for Research Part 2 - Matthew Baker continues his discussion with Research Camp participants on using government documents (starting with Supreme Court decisions) in their Policy Debate research.
  • Habit of Debate - The activity of debate is much like music: When you start learning to play music, you need to master the basics by habit before improvising into greatness. Isaac McPeak explains how to building habits in debate make you a better debater.
  • Harms-Solvency Case Structure - The "Harms-Solvency" case is the traditional policy debate case where the problems are defined and a plan is proposed to solve them. "Coach Vance" Trefethen explains how to build the strongest harms-solvency case.
  • Improving Delivery - "Delivery" is the use of verbal and non-verbal communication to persuade your judge in a debate round. National Lincoln-Douglas debate champions Jon Bateman and Matthew Baker present campers with five delivery techniques to improving delivery.
  • Interview with Scott Wunn of NSDA - The National Speech and Debate Association (formerly the National Forensic League) is the largest speech and debate league in the nation. Chris Jeub interviewed the Executive Director, Scott Wunn, to list the events the league has to offer students, particularly homeschool students.
  • Introduction to the SCORRE Method - "SCORRE" is an acronym for a detailed formula for developing consistent and impactful professional speeches. Chris Jeub gives a summary of the method as well as how to apply them to impromptu and platform speeches.
  • Judge Expectations in Apologetics - Apologetics judges enter a room with a job to do: fill out ballots of everyone they judge. Undefeated Apologetics champion Luis Garcia gives the roadmap of how to structure your speech to deliver an award-winning speech.
  • Making Yourself a Credible Speaker - Building credibility is one of the best strategies for extemporaneous speakers in competition. Champion extemper and debater Isaac Harris gives his steps to building credibility in extemp.
  • Nonverbal Communication - Nonverbal communication is what you communication when you're NOT speaking. Cody Herche explains why this is so important, the queues of nonverbal communication, and how to improve yours in competition.
  • Organization and Time Management - Lincoln-Douglas debate has a very tight timeframe for its speeches. Organization and time management are very important. LD champion Jon "De" Bateman gives his ideas on how to best organize your speeches and manage your time in an LD round.
  • Organizing Your Platform Speech - Organizing a platform speech takes building a strong thesis and extracting errors of analysis. Cody Herche, a national champion back in his high school days, gives "Cody's Rules" on organizing platform speeches.
  • Pre-scripting Arguments - Debaters make a claim, support it, and give impact in why it matters. National debate champion Matthew Erickson shows how to pre-script popular arguments to prepare for your next tournament.
  • Primary Research - Where are debate rounds won and lost? Larry Sparks believes it is in the research that debaters put together. Mr. Sparks explains the processes he follows to train his debaters for success.
  • Principles of Great Refutation - Understanding the format of an argument is the basis for preparing a strong refutation. Lincoln-Douglas debater Lydia Williams explains to novice debaters how to attack basic arguments and build the rebuttal that will win rounds.
  • Revising Your Speech - There are principles to great editing. Chris Jeub is a professional editor with extensive experience in editing. He explains how to best edit speech and debate pieces and goes through an example for you to follow.
  • Speaking Drills for Debate - Several strategies are applied to make you a better debater, but drills help you prepare for difficult competition. Lincoln-Douglas title winner Matthew Erickson explains his favorite speaking drills that he used to prepare to win.
  • Strategic Negative Debating Part 1 - All debaters will take the negative side of policy debate rounds at least half of the time. Rob Parks gives you techniques, strategies and tools that will help yo be a strong negative debater.
  • Strategic Negative Debating Part 2 - How do you beat pirates? By thinking like a pirate. This is much the same mindset that expert debaters utilize in bringing affirmative cases down. Rob Parks continues his advice on how to be strong negative debaters.
  • Strategies for Negative Policy Debating - Affirmatives have a definite starting and ending point, a predetermined course to follow. Negatives, however, have to adapt to every possible affirmative case out there. Vance Trefethen explains how to think like Affirmatives to best attack them for the win.
  • Stripes of the Champion Apologist - The "Red Zebra Theory" is an idea introduced by Apologetics champion Luis Garcia that differentiates winning apologetics speeches from the rest of the pack.
  • Supply and Demand - Supply and demand is the basic principle to all economics. "Coach Vance" Trefethen explains how this basic principle can (and should!) be used to win policy debate rounds.
  • Tactical Negative Debating - After establishing how a negative debater should be thinking (like a pirate!), "Coach Vance" Trefethen explains how negative debaters can strategically and tactically blow up the affirmative case.
  • Topicality - In policy debate, "topicality" helps keep the debate within the boundaries of the resolution. In this camp session, "Coach Vance" Trefethen explains what topicality is, how it is used, and how to impact it in a debate round.
  • Using Logic in Debate - Logic is used to build arguments as well as attack your opponent's arguments. Brooke Wade, national NCFCA champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate, gives her ideas on how to apply logic in the round.
  • Value of Library Research - In the world of online debating, it is tempting to write off traditional libraries. They are actually the best place to start your research. Matthew Baker explains.

3. Modeling Library

“Modeling” the champions is a key to success, and these videos are “models” of champion speeches and debates that students can watch and learn from. This is our newest library that will be building through Season 21.

4. Textbook Library

All textbooks currently available from our publishing website as well as some out-of-print texts. Our current inventory includes:

  • Blue Book for Policy Debate - Master the structure and strategy to winning policy debates with the trusted Blue Book.
  • Blue Book for Policy Debate: Teachers Edition - Teaching policy debate? This teacher edition gives answers, teacher prompts, activities, drills, and much more for teachers of Blue Book.
  • Easy Entry to the World of Speech and Debate - Easy Entry is written for students and educators to build a foundation for speech and debate competition.
  • Green Book for Public Forum - Master the structure and strategy to winning public forum debates with the trusted Green Book.
  • Green Book for Public Forum: Teachers Edition - Teaching public forum debate? This teacher edition gives answers, teacher prompts, activities, drills, and much more for teachers of Green Book.
  • Jeub’s Guide to Speech & Debate (5th Edition) - Chris Jeub lays out the particulars in his 5th edition of Jeub’s Guide to Speech & Debate.
  • Keys to Cross-Examination - Master cross-examination, advance consistently in competition, and become a better communicator for life.
  • Keys to Extemp - Competitive extemporaneous speaking (“extemp” for short) is a most rewarding—albeit demanding—sport. Are you up for the challenge? After selecting one of three extemp questions, you have only 30 minutes to prepare a 7-minute speech for a panel of judges.
  • Keys to Interp - Master interpretive speaking, advance consistently in competition, and become a better communicator for life.
  • Keys to Lincoln-Douglas Debate - Lincoln-Douglas debate is a 1-on-1 format of debate that centers on philosophical values. Learning to craft a winning strategy takes diligent effort, which is why award-winning coach Travis Herche set out to layout his winning strategies.
  • Keys to Team-Policy Debate - The key to winning debates isn’t found in boxes and boxes of evidence, a “flawless” case, or being lucky enough to win the judge’s favor. The key to winning is in strategy, which is exactly what this book, authored by recognized debate coach Vance Trefethen, covers in detail.
  • Red Book for Lincoln-Douglas Debate - Master the structure and strategy to winning value debates with the trusted Red Book.
  • Red Book for Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Teachers Edition - Teaching Lincoln-Douglas debate? This teacher edition gives answers, teacher prompts, activities, drills, and much more for teachers of Red Book.

5. Video Library

Video archives of lessons, tutorials, camp sessions and more — all designed to give individual help to speakers and debaters. Our current listing includes:

  • Cross-examination (2007) - Vance Trefethen gives his ideas on how to deliver and receive outstanding cross-examinations in policy debate.
  • Flowing Lincoln-Douglas - This video is part of a larger 12-lesson course on Lincoln-Douglas Debate. Mr. Jeub teaches the structure of a typical LD debate round through understanding the flow. Once the flow is understood, so much of the entire debate round is understood.
  • Flowing Policy Debate - This video is part of a larger 12-lesson course on Policy Debate. Mr. Jeub teaches the structure of a typical policy debate round through understanding the flow. Once the flow is understood, so much of the entire 1.5 hour debate round is understood.
  • Flowing Public Forum - This video is part of a larger 12-lesson course on Public Forum Debate. Mr. Jeub teaches the structure of a typical PF debate round through understanding the flow. Once the flow is understood, so much of the entire debate round is understood.
  • Flowing Techniques of Champions - This small library of short videos give several techniques for mastering flowing.
  • Policy Case Construction (2007) - This video focuses on the First Affirmative Constructive (1AC). The 1AC is very important, making your debate case strong, prima facia, and will win the round. Coach Vance shares the tools you need to develop a strong 1AC.
  • The Policy Debate Round (2007) - As you go through the policy debate round, after giving the 1AC all the way to the final rebuttal, there are different responsibilities for each and every speech. Open your flowsheet and mark down exactly what those responsibilities are.

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