Competitive Debate: An Introduction

1. Competitive Debate: An Introduction Essential Question – What are the different events available in competitive debate?

2. Speech and Debate • Events are split into two types • Debate – attacking and defending a certain topic or various topics • Policy, LD, PF, Congress • Individual Events – Speech/Performance based competition versus others • US/International Extemporaneous, Dramatic/Humorous/Oral/Duo Interpretation, Original Oratory

3. Policy Debate – “Team Debate” • One pair of debaters face off a second pair of debaters • Affirmative – agrees with resolution • Negative – Agrees with status quo • Aff must come up with plan to solve for problems given in arguments • Use evidence and statistics to prove side is correct • Strict time limits – cannot go over time! • Incredibly demanding and fast-paced

4. Policy Debate • Affirmative must present prima facie case – must make sense to everyday person • Negative must poke holes in Aff. case to show it is not as concrete as it seems • Aff. – burden of proof; Neg. – burden of rejoinder • Topic same all year round

5. Policy Debate Topic • RESOLVED – The United States federal government should substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or development of the Earth’s oceans.

6. Lincoln–Douglas Debate – “LD” • One debater faces off against another individual • Topics involve logic, philosophy, ethics, and morality • Value Premise – the value which the debater wants all arguments to be considered • Value Criterion – how to measure the VP

7. Lincoln-Douglas Debate • Aff. – agrees with the resolution; Neg. – agrees with status quo • Strict time limit • Not as intense as policy, but more focused on philosophy • Winner goes to person able to prove that logically he or she should win • Topics change monthly

8. Lincoln-Douglas Topics – September/October • Varsity • A just society ought to presume consent for organ procurement of the deceased • Novice • Civil disobedience in a democracy is morally justified

9. Public Forum Debate – “PF” • Newest event in competitive debate • Team of 2 debaters compete vs. second team • Topics are more relevant to everyday person • Affirmative may NOT always go first • Use a combination of logic, philosophy, evidence and/or statistics to prove case • No burden on either side – whoever articulates arguments most effectively wins • Very similar to televised debates (i.e. Crossfire) • Topics change monthly

10. Public Forum Topic – September/October • RESOLVED: On balance, public subsidies for professional athletic organizations in the United States benefit their local communities

11. Extemporaneous Speaking – “USX” & “IX” • Competitor is given a question at competition • He or she will have 30 minutes to research and create a 7-10 minute speech on the topic • Using articles and research previously done beforehand • Cannot research during competition

12. Extemporaneous Speaking • Event questions are NOT given in advance • Competitor must constantly research for most up-to-date information for speeches • Student will speak only to judge and/or timekeeper • Round is ranked by judge – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.

13. U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking - Topics • What do new concerns over lethal injection mean for the future of the death penalty? • What explains the US economy’s poor Q1 performance? • Is NASA's Curiosity Mars rover delivering on expectations? • Is Jeb Bush emerging as the GOP frontrunner? • Is Obamacare doing better than expected? • Is Barack Obama already a lame duck? • Would raising the minimum wage successfully reduce poverty? • Should the US continue to cut military spending? • How is inequality in K-12 education affecting the United States? • Should the NBA force Donald Sterling to sell his team? 

14. International Extemporaneous - Topics • How should Ukraine’s government respond to Russian separatists? • Will sanctions against Russia achieve their goal? • What is driving China’s problems with internal ethnic conflict? • Has the world forgotten about Syria? • What does the failure of peace talks with the Palestinians mean for Israel’s future? • Will Thailand’s July elections ease or exacerbate political tensions? • What is at stake in Iraq’s nationwide parliamentary elections? • What are the greatest challenges facing the United States’ foreign policy toward Asia? • Why are DilmaRousseff’s approval ratings slipping? • Why is violence overwhelming South Sudan? 

15. Interpretation – “DI”, “HI”, “OI”, “DUO” • Competitor recreates scene or reads literature for a judge • Compete in flights – group settings up to 7 in a grouping • Judging based on acting and recreation of scene • Competitor MAY NOT USE PROPS OR MAKE-UP • Movement space restricted to one-step in any direction

16. Interpretation • DI – Dramatic Interpretation; dramatic pieces w/o humor • HI – Humorous Interpretation; scenes with humor • OI – Oral Interpretation; dramatic or humorous reading of prose AND poetry – dependent on the round • DUO – Duo Interpretation; dramatic or humorous scenes with a partner

17. Rules of Interpretation • Time Limit – 7 to 10 minutes • Editing extremely important for time restraints • OI – Need both prose and poetry; alternate in each round • Focus on tone of voice, facial expressions, body movement in small space • DI/HI/DUO require memorization of the script; OI may have a folder with story and poem(s) in it • Some authors/playwrights are off-limits (ex. – Neil Simon) • Stay within time constraints – points can be deducted for going UNDER time • Competitors are ranked at end of the round

18. Original Oratory • Competitor competes against a group of other orators • Competitor writes an original speech on any topic of his or her choosing • Time limit – 7-10 minutes • Judging based on content of speech and effectiveness of delivery • Competitors ranked at end of round

19. Student Congress • “House” competitors simulate a session of U.S. Congressional proceedings • Competitors given a list of potential topics that can be debated in the session • Competitor selects one side to argue for – use logic and facts • Strict adherence to parliamentary procedure

20. Student Congress • One competitor is selected as presiding officer – oversees the decorum of the chamber • Presiding officer selects who will speak in the chamber • Competitor can speak as often as the P.O. selects him or her to speak • Judging based on effectiveness of speech – NOT ranked against other competitors directly • Time limit – 3 minutes • End of session – Up to 3 are nominated for best speaker • Popular vote determines winner • Usually 2 sessions in each chamber (morning/afternoon) • MUST FOLLOW PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES LAID OUT IN ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER

21. Writing a Bill/resolution • Bill – Proposed law with executive force • Resolution – Proposed suggestion; something that “should” happen, but has not executive force of law • Competitors can submit bills and resolutions to be debated in chamber • Writer will always given opportunity to speak first if in chamber • After speaker delivers speech, rest of chamber is given opportunity to cross-examine • 1 question per competitor • Any topic can be “tabled” – put off from debate • Must be motioned by chamber and passed by a vote of the chamber • If not tabled, debate continues • If tabled, move to next topic