About Me:
Robert Zhang is a student at Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas, and a dedicated competitor in Extemporaneous Speaking. A two-time national champion, he won the 2025 NSDA U.S. Extemp Championship and the 2024 NIETOC Extemp Championship. As Robert gained more experience, he grew from a competitor into a contributor. He has served as his school’s Extemp Captain and volunteered as a coach with Equality in Forensics since his sophomore year. Through these roles, he mentors students and helps build a vibrant extemp community across the country. Outside of speech, he has practiced and competed in recurve archery for more than two years, bringing the same discipline and precision from the range to the speaking stage.
Videos made by an extemper, for extempers across the country
Interview with Equality in Forensics
End-of-season 2024–2025 interview reflecting on extemporaneous speaking, the skills needed for success, and the emerging role of AI—along with its limitations in analytical thinking. The NSDA final-round speech appears at the start of the video.
Extemp Sub-Structure Lecture
Build well-formulated speeches in Extemp. This lecture links each substructure framework to specific question types and addresses the challenges of comparative and “unanswerable” prompts. It draws on real tournament experience and judge feedback, offering strategies not available through a typical Google search.
Navigating the U.S. Healthcare System Lecture
Excelling in U.S. Extemp requires a solid understanding of the healthcare system and its policies—a staple topic area at national-circuit tournaments. This lecture examines key elements of the field, including insurance mechanics, emerging medical technologies, and the system’s most pressing challenges.
Mastering Research in Extemp Prep
Master efficient research within the 30-minute extemp prep window—the biggest hurdle for many novice extempers. This video demonstrates how to tailor Google searches to specific questions and transform articles into compelling arguments, drawing on strategies used at national-circuit tournaments.
Interview with The Extemper's Bible
This interview was conducted with The Extempter's Bible after I won my first national title at the 2024 NIETOC (National Individual Event Tournament of Champions).