This is individual debate in a large group setting. Legislative debaters research and write pieces of Congressional legislation that they feel will better the society in which we live. At a tournament, debaters will then speak on the legislation while using proper parliamentary procedure. Judges score each competitor based on argumentation ability, speaking technique, knowledge of parliamentary procedure, and overall participation.
This popular style of debating features one person on each side. Propositions of value are debated with the emphasis on developing logical argumentation rather than an accumulation of information. You will learn values analysis, argumentation skiils, sound and ethical uses of persuasion, and clear audience centered communication. You will have the opportunity to debate several topics during the school year.
LD Online Instructional Text
The Policy topic shall be the current national question.
You and a partner will debate both sides of an interesting and controversial proposition for the entire season in the "Oregon" style, which includes constructive argument, cross examination, and refutation. Skills you will learn include research, policy analysis, case construction, refutation, questioning, organization and communication.
Public Forum Debate is audience friendly debate. You and a partner will debate controversial issues that are "stripped" from the newspaper headlines. A new topic will be announced the first day of each preceding month at www.nflonline.org. A Public Forum Debate round begins with a flip of a coin between the competing teams to determine your side and speaker position. Public Forum will test your skills in argumentation, cross-examination, and refutation. Public Forum Debate Guide
A contestant draws three questions on a foreign topic, selects one, then has 30 minutes to prepare an answer to the question. The contestant utilizes a set of files that he or she has built as a resource for answering the question. Only published materials may be used as resources (books, magazines, newspaper, and on-line resources). At the completion of the 30 minute preparation time, the student will speak on the topic for 7 minutes.
A contestant draws three questions on a domestic topic, selects one, then has 30 minutes to prepare an answer to the question. The preparation, resources, and speech time is the same as International Extemp.
As orator you will be expected to research and speak intelligently, with a degree of originality, in an interesting manner, and with some profit to your audience, about a topic you have chosen. Although many orations deal with a current problem and propose a solution this is not the only acceptable form of oratory. Your oration may simply alert the audience to a threatening danger, strengthen its devotion to an accepted cause, or eulogize a person. An orator is given free choice of subject and judged solely on the effectiveness of development and presentation.
This is an individual category in which the selections are dramatic in nature. Selections shall be cuttings from published-printed novels, short stories, plays, poetry, or any other printed-published materials. Presentations must be memorized, without props or costumes. Actors will utilize stationary blocking to enhance the interpretation. The time limit is 10 minutes which includes an introduction.
This is an individual category in which the selections are humorous in nature. All other rules are the same as Dramatic Interpretation.
This is a two-person category in which the selection may be either humorous or dramatic in nature. All other rules are the same as Dramatic Interpretation.
Contestants eliminated from the main events after Round 6 of the National Tournament (or the runoff round in debate and L/D) may participate in supplemental and consolation events if pre-registered. There are four supplemental events; expository address, extemp commentary, poetry, and prose. There are two consolation events; impromptu and storytelling.
