• Hello to all Debaters and Parents,

    This class is VERY HEAVY in the reading, research, and writing areas. It is also a mandatory performance class.  ALL students will participate in one of the N.E.I.S.D. Speech Festivals or in all three ACADEMIC UIL meets this year. 

    Please ask your student for the code to my Google Classroom for Debate. I have loaded it with multiple documents, videos, and other information for our Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Congressional Debate, as well as, other important dates and information.

    2024-2025 This year our PF topic is:

        Resolved: The primary objective of the United States criminal justice system ought to be rehabilitation.

    2024-2025 This year our LD Debate resolution is:

        Resolved: The United States federal government should forgive all federal student loan debt.

    By the end of term, your students will have learned about:

    • Logic Falacies,
    • Claim, Warrant, and Impact,
    • Impromptu Speaking,

    Criteria, (is a set guideline which tells the judge how I want to be judged) 

    Debate related to Philosophies of

    •  Social Contract,
    •  Denotology,
    •  Utilitarianism.

    Types of VALUES (the theme or motivation for us to take action in the case).

    Written the definitions which help define what their topic is.

    And learned that they must have references (sources) - These must include:

    • books,
    • articles, 
    • web sites.

    They will also learn that:

    • WIKIPEDIA IS BAD AND NOT ALLOWED TO BE USED 
    • Yahoo, Bing, and Google are search engines, not websites.

    GOOD WEBSITES ARE:

    • Google Dictionary
    • Downloading Debate Mobile on their phones will be very helpful for students.

    CONTENTION, which is the main argument (position) used to prove the case's CRITERION.

    • Tagline - the claim position
    • Sub point A - WARRANT of the position and the evidence to support it
    • Sub point B - the IMPACT of the claim and the link to the case's Criterion

    This class is VERY HEAVY in the reading, research, and writing areas. It is also a mandatory performance class.   

     🍁🍂      FALL FESTIVAL 🍂🍁
    December 13-14, 2024 @ Churchill HS 

    Entry Fees: There is a 4.00 entry fee for all individual events and each member of a duet team.                                                Students are responsible for all entry fees once the entry has been submitted.  There are no substitutions or additions made during the tournament. Some schools may choose to pay entry fees for their students rather than collecting from individuals. 

    2024-2025 MODERN ORATORY TOPICS
    Contestants must select one of the following topics for developing the oration. 

     

    1. Should schools ban cell phones?

    2. Does artificial intelligence negatively impact the American workforce?

    3. Can Texas government solve the state's water crisis?

    4. Is achieving the "American Dream" more difficult today compared to previous generations?

        5. Is the fast-food industry to blame for obesity in America?

     

    Modern Oratory Information for parents and students.

    Time limit: 3 minutes minimum – 6 minutes maximum (no grace)

    Topics: Must be from the annual UIL list of approved topics listed above. 

    Contestants will select one of the topics, determine the critical issues in the topic, and acknowledge both pro and con points citing support discovered in their research. Students will choose a side they will defend and support that side with additional evidence. Along with the skills of analysis, research, note-taking, documentation, evaluation and decision-making come those of delivery and the skill of memorization.

    Presentation: In the process of preparing for the contest, the students' speech will need to: define the problem; determine the pro and con issues; research the issue; look at both sides of an issue; reach a conclusion; and support that conclusion with documentation. The speech must be memorized (no scripts or prompting allowed).

    *There is a maximum school entry limit of 30 for Modern Oratory.

    Impromptu Speaking

    Time limit: 5 minutes maximum. (no grace)

    1.  Draw: Each contestant will draw 3 topics, select one, and have 3 minutes to prepare a speech.  

    2.  Topics: may be serious or humorous in nature, will be designed to include subjects that are familiar to the student. 

    3.  Notes: Blank paper may be used to organize ideas during preparation; however, notes may not be used during the speech. Contestants may remain in the contest room.

    4.  Presentation: Judges should be instructed to use the following criteria in ranking the contestants: effectiveness of delivery; organization of ideas; and overall impression of the speech.

    *There is a maximum school entry limit of 30 for Impromptu.

     

    PROSE

    Time limit: 6 minutes maximum. (30 second grace)

    1. Introduction: is memorized, gives the title and author, and includes an attention getter to draw the audience into the presentation.

    2. Selection: must be from a manuscript / folder / binder, not a book. It must be published, have literary merit and correspond with the student's level and ability. NO ORIGINAL WORKS.

    3. Presentation Style: Acting is discouraged, but character voices may be used.

    4. No props, costumes, or chairs may be used.

    *There is a maximum school entry limit of 30 for 6th grade and 30 for 7/8 grade Prose.

    HUMOROUS INTERPRETATION

    Time limit: 10 minutes maximum. (30 second grace)

    1. Introduction: is memorized, gives the title and author, and includes an attention getter to draw the audience into the presentation.

    2. Selection: is humorous in nature. The material is from published works. It may be adopted from a play, novel, poem, story, children's book, etc. NO ORIGINAL WORKS. The scene may involve more than one character.

    3. Memorization: is required; prompting or scripts are not allowed.

    4. No props, costumes, or chairs may be used.

    *There is a maximum school entry limit of 30 for for Humorous.

    DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION

    Time limit: 10 minutes maximum. (30 second grace)

    1. Introduction: is memorized, gives the title and author, and includes an attention-getter to draw the audience into the presentation.

    2. Selection: is serious in nature. The material is from published works. It may be adopted from a play, novel, poem, story, children's book, etc. NO ORIGINAL WORKS. The scene may involve more than one character.

    3. Memorization: is required; prompting or scripts are not allowed.

    4. No props, costumes, or chairs may be used.

    *There is a maximum school entry limit of 30 for for Dramatic.

    POETRY

    Time limit: 6 minutes maximum. (30 second grace)

    1. Introduction: is memorized, gives the title and author, and includes an attention-getter to draw the audience into the presentation.

    2. Selection: must be from a manuscript / folder / binder, not a book. It must be published, have literary merit and correspond with the student's level and ability. NO ORIGINAL WORKS.

    3. Presentation Style: Acting is discouraged, but character voices may be used.

    4. No props, costumes, or chairs may be used.

    *There is a maximum school entry limit of 30 each for 6th grade and 30 for 7/8 grade Poetry.

     

     

     

     

    🌼🌼  SPRING FESTIVAL 🌼🌼

    LINCOLN DOUGLAS DEBATE
    APRIL 11-12, 2025 @ JOHNSON / REAGAN HS