WHAT IS SPEECH AND DEBATE?
Speech & Debate is made up of different events that are competed in at tournaments. Think of it like Track & Field - there are track events and field events, you can compete in one event or several each with different sets of rules, you attend practices and compete at meets. For Speech and Debate, you have speech events which are more performance based, and debate events which are more argumentation based. At the bottom of this page are the descriptions for most events offered in Oregon.
PRACTICES:
Every Thursday after school until 4:45 in Mr. Meeuwsen's room (in the Library)
At practice, we run events in order to get feedback and prepare for tournaments, and go over any updates for members
Practices are not mandatory, but are strongly encouraged. We mostly do tournament sign ups at meetings. As we get into the busier months of January and February, we may have to do some via email.
DUES/FEES:
To participate this year: $30
If you signed up and don’t show up to a tournament, you are expected to cover the full cost of your attendance.
Sweatshirts: undecided fee depending on what’s in our budget (optional purchase)
If money will be an issue, please let us know so we can work something out!
For those of you who can afford to throw an extra couple dollars on, please do. It helps cover tournament costs, and/or go anonymously towards those who may not be able to afford it
COMMUNICATION:
We communicate primarily through email so it is important that you are checking your email regularly.
Speech & Debate is made up of different events that are competed in at tournaments. Think of it like Track & Field - there are track events and field events, you can compete in one event or several each with different sets of rules, you attend practices and compete at meets. For Speech and Debate, you have speech events which are more performance based, and debate events which are more argumentation based. At the bottom of this page are the descriptions for most events offered in Oregon.
PRACTICES:
Every Thursday after school until 4:45 in Mr. Meeuwsen's room (in the Library)
At practice, we run events in order to get feedback and prepare for tournaments, and go over any updates for members
Practices are not mandatory, but are strongly encouraged. We mostly do tournament sign ups at meetings. As we get into the busier months of January and February, we may have to do some via email.
DUES/FEES:
To participate this year: $30
If you signed up and don’t show up to a tournament, you are expected to cover the full cost of your attendance.
Sweatshirts: undecided fee depending on what’s in our budget (optional purchase)
If money will be an issue, please let us know so we can work something out!
For those of you who can afford to throw an extra couple dollars on, please do. It helps cover tournament costs, and/or go anonymously towards those who may not be able to afford it
COMMUNICATION:
We communicate primarily through email so it is important that you are checking your email regularly.
Below are the different types of events offered in Oregon
SPEECH EVENTS
MEMORIZED Oratory: generally a persuasive speech about a ‘significant or worthy’ topic, generally a current event or social issue. (10 min, up to 150 quoted words, self-written) Expository: informative speech about anything—though audience application can help (8 min, up to 100 quoted words, self-written, optional visual aids) After Dinner Speaking (ADS): funny, but purposeful, ‘toast’ to something (6 min, self-written) Duo Interp: partnered dramatic or humorous interpretation/performance (10 min, published piece) Humorous/Dramatic Interp: individual performance of a humorous or dramatic piece (10 min, published piece) REFERENCE SCRIPT Radio: commentary on current events of the current school year. (4:45-5:15 min, up to 75 quoted words, self-written) Poetry: poetry collection of three or more poems centered around a common theme (8 min, published) Program Oral Interp (POI): two to three lit-types (DI, prose, poetry) following a story like flow (10 min, published) Prose: an excerpt from a book is read in a dramatic way and has a story like flow to it (8 min, published) UNSCRIPTED Impromptu: speech created and delivered at the time of round with 30 seconds of preparation (5 min) Extemporaneous: speech about current events and created 30 minutes before the round and delivered, students may use prep materials (7 min) |
DEBATE EVENTS
Public Forum (PF): partners debate a monthly topic with prepared cases and looks at government policies as well as morality (4-4-3-4-4-3-2-2-3-2-2) Lincoln Douglas (LD): individuals debate a topic which changes every two months with prepared cases and focuses more on morality and philosophy (6-3-7-3-4-6-3) Parliamentary (Parli): partners debate a topic chosen during the round referencing each other and a dictionary; topics range from current events, to moral action, and more (7-8-8-8-4-5) Policy (CX): partners debate a yearly topic trying to pass a plan for policies with prepared cases (8-3-8-3-8-3-8-3-5-5-5-5) Student Congress: individuals try to pass bills or resolutions in a congressional setting; bills/resolutions are known in advance. Big Questions (BQD): individuals or partners debate a yearly philosophical question, uncommon at Oregon tournaments (5-5-3-4-4-3-3-3-3-3) |