DESCRIPTION OF SPEECH AND DEBATE EVENTS Congress Description: A legislative debate with 15 other people. People per team: 1. You compete on your own, even though other people will be arguing for your side. Topics: A new bill (piece of legislation for debate, typically a national issue) every round. Prep : Prepare prior to tournament AFF 1 delivers speech NEG 1 delivers speech (may attack AFF already) AFF 2 delivers new speech, addressing previous speakers points NEG 2 addresses previous points and introducing new ideas AFF 3 addresses previous points and introducing new ideas NEG 3 addresses previous points and introducing new ideas and on it goes 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. A presiding officer (PO) determines who gets to speak based on priority cards (number 1-5) in addition to number of attempts to speak and number of questions. The presiding officers are also competing against other presiding officers. Public Forum Debate (PoFo) Description: A specific/concrete debate that is performed with prepared cases. Also Known As: Ted Turner and Controversy Debate. People per team: 2 Topics: A new topic every month, announced two months in advance. Prep : 2 minutes for the entire round, which may not be used before cross-fires AFF 1 delivers case NEG 1 delivers case Cross Fire questions between AFF 1 & NEG 1 AFF 2 rebuttal NEG 2 rebuttal Cross Fire questions between AFF 2 & NEG 2 AFF 1 summary of main issues NEG 1 summary of main issues Grand Cross Fire questions among all debaters AFF 2 final focus of key voting issues NEG 2 final focus of key voting issues 2 minutes 2 minutes 1 minute 1 minute
Parliamentary (Parli) Description: An extemporaneous debate that is based on general knowledge. People per team: 2 Topics: A new topic every round. Prep : 20 minutes before the round, no prep time during the debate AFF 1 delivers case NEG 1 delivers case and attack AFF s case AFF 2 rebuttal NEG 2 rebuttal NEG 1 summary and Key Voting Issues (KVI) AFF 1 summary and Key Voting Issues Parli Key Ideas: In place of cross examination or cross-fire periods, your opponents are allowed to ask questions during your speech. The first and last minute of speeches are protected, with all questions forbidden. Lincoln Douglas (LD) Description: A prepared, value based debate on philosophical issues. People per team: 1 Topics: One topic per NFL semester. Prep : Varies depending on the tournament, but most OCSL tournaments allot per debater, to be used after any speech except before cross examination. AFF delivers case NCX NEG cross-examines AFF NEG delivers case and attack AFF s case ACX AFF cross-examines NEG AFF Rebuttal and rebuild NEG Rebuttal, summary, and Key Voting Issues (KVI) AFF Summary and KVI 6 minutes 6 minutes LD Key Terms: VALUE/CRITERION: LD debate is structured around a value/criterion pair. A value is the ultimate goal of your position and comes in the form of generally accepted beliefs and values. Examples of values include justice, societal welfare, or morality. A criterion is how you measure your value or how you reach your value. Examples of criterions include maximization of rights, respect for human dignity, or utilitarianism. Definitions: How you define the resolution will drastically change how the resolution is interpreted and how the debate runs. Pick definitions that help your case, but make sure that you do not choose definitions that are abusive. Even subtly rewording a definition can have a huge impact on the debate. Example: It is morally permissible to kill one innocent person to save the lives of more innocent people.
Policy Debate (CX) Description: People per team: Two teams of two in a round. Affirmative vs. Negative. Topics: One topic/resolution per school year; depth over breadth. The United States Federal Government takes action. 1st Affirmative Constructive (1AC) Cross-examination of 1AC by 2NC (CX) 1st Negative Constructive (1NC) Cross-examination of 1NC by 1AC (CX) 2nd Affirmative Constructive (2AC) Cross-examination of 2AC by 1NC (CX) 2nd Negative Constructive (2NC) Cross-examination of 2NC by 2AC (CX) 1st Negative Rebuttal (1NR) 1st Affirmative Rebuttal (1AR) 2nd Negative Rebuttal (2NR) 2nd Affirmative Rebuttal (2AR) Policy Key Terms Constructives: es where you can bring up new arguments/read new pieces of evidence. Rebuttals: es where you go deep into the line-by-line and analyze the arguments presented. Generally don t have time to read new arguments Cross-Examination: This is the time where you get to clarify, break down, and otherwise criticize and show holes in your opponents arguments. Important things you should keep in mind about policy debate: (among other things) 1. EVIDENCE: To be effective in any type of debate, but especially policy, a good argument should not only have to be warranted, but there should be credible EVIDENCE to support your ideas. The role of evidence is crucial in policy 2. Jargon: Shorthand used by policy debaters to make their point faster. 3. Flowing: Very important in policy debate because everybody is going so fast. 2 different colored pens for each team and well spaced out. 4. Spreading: Speed + Reading
Humorous Interpretation (HI) Turn a book, a play, or a published monologue into a humorous, one-man show. No props can be used, pantomime is allowed. You cannot change any of the words, but you can cut and move the sentences/paragraphs around as you wish. Give the characters of the story whatever personality you seem best fit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjr97oebor4 Dramatic Interpretation (DI) Turn a book, a play, or a published monologue into a serious, one-man show. No props can be used, pantomime is allowed. You cannot change any of the words, but you can cut and move the sentences/paragraphs around as you wish. Give the characters of the story whatever personality you seem best fit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jah-fsevcpm Duo Interpretation (DUO) Similar to what is listed above, but you perform with a partner! The catch is you cannot look/touch your partner during the entire performance, but even without looking at or touching each other, the chemistry between you and your partner must be flawless! http://vimeo.com/3009758 Oratorical Interpretation (OI) Performance of a speech given by a famous individual, for example...martin Luther King Jr, Maya Angelou, Hilary Clinton, etc. Although you are speaking the words already once stated by a famous individual, your ORIGINAL interpretation of those words is the KEY to OI! Thematic Interpretation (TI) Compile 3-4 short stories, poems, etc. on one theme. Topics can be on anything like Dreams, War, Love, etc. Perform with a black binder, these can be purchased at www.blackbookdepot.com Original Oratory (OO) Write an original speech on any topic, preferably about society in general, memorize it, and perform it for your judges. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klrc9x30lw4 Original Advocacy (OA) Write an original speech on a topic that advocates a bill or a piece of legislation to be passed by congress. For example We should implement stricter gun control. OA usually tends to be more serious and formal than OO, but both are original pieces written by you to PERSUADE. Original Prose and Poetry (OPP) Instead of using the work of another author, write your own script and turn it into a one-man show! It can be funny, serious, somber, etc.
Impromptu (Imp) Description: A speech on one of a choice of three topics. Impromptu is like a spoken essay, with a thesis that your entire speech should revolve around, an introduction, body paragraphs (your main points), and a conclusion. Preparation: 2 minutes : (no notes) Sample Topics: Quotes: They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. Andy Warhol It's kind of fun to do the impossible. Walt Disney People: Britney Spears, Michael Jordan, Mother Theresa, Steve Jobs Abstract Ideas: Fear, Peace, Jealousy Concrete Objects: Computer, Clocks, Lamp Extemporaneous (Extemp) Description: A speech on one of a choice of three topics. Extemp is like a spoken essay, with a thesis that your entire speech should revolve around, an introduction, body paragraphs (your main points), and a conclusion. Preparation: 30 minutes : (no notes) Sample General Topics: Is Pakistan a friend or foe of terrorism? What does Sarah Palin s resignation mean for the future of the Republican Party? Should Roe v. Wade be overturned? Foreign (or International) Extemp (IX): With an increase in military presence, could Mexico finally get a grip on drug cartels? Why are voters in a virtual deadlock over Nicolas Sarkozy and Ségolène Royal? Is China doing enough to stamp out corruption? National (or Domestic) Extemp (NX): Is the war in Iraq "lost" as many in congress believe? What is the DoD doing to review the quality of outpatient care in VA hospitals? Expository (Expos) Description: An explanatory speech with visual aids. Preparation: You may use the same speech all year., including set up and take down of visual aids. Expository Key Ideas: Visual aids should be explanatory and entertaining. Several posters should have moving parts, lights, or other complex designs. You should have between 7 and 12 posters, to make sure that there are no long periods where you don t have a switch and to ensure that you aren t flipping posters every thirty seconds. Many expos-ers use cheesy puns throughout their speech. You can choose to use puns or try for a bit of wit. The most important thing is that there is some humor in your speech.