CMST 38

speech & debate team

Hello and welcome to Forensics!

By enrolling in CMST 38 you are joining CCSF's Speech & Debate team! According to the CCSF the catalog, in this class you will work on the:

“Development of speaking and argumentation skills through participation in intercollegiate speech and debate tournaments. Course repetition allows mastery of communication skills through the recursive process of researching, writing, practicing, and delivering speeches.”

This class prepares students for intercollegiate debate competitions. You will develop your public speaking and argumentation skills through participation in classroom practice debates with your peers and in intercollegiate speech and debate tournaments with students from other community colleges and universities. Members of the class/team may travel throughout California and the nation to compete in forensics tournaments. Course repetition develops self-confident communication skills through the recursive process of researching, writing, practicing, and delivering speeches. CMST 38 is a 3-unit course that can be repeated 3 times (4 semesters of competitive eligibility total).

Students will learn how to participate in 1 or 2 formats of debate and compete in at least one tournament. For each of the debate events listed below, you will find resources in our Canvas course. We will also provide support for students interested in individual events (IE) competition. IE events include platform speaking (informative, persuasive, speeches to entertain), oral interpretation of literature (poetry, prose, dramatic interpretation, poi), and limited preparation (impromptu and extemporaneous). Students may compete in both debate AND IE events at tournaments if sufficiently prepared.

Debate Formats

Individual debate events
1. Lincoln Douglas Debate (NFA-LD) is an evidence-based format of debate with a single, yearlong topic and cross-examination. Each debate takes about 45 minutes to complete. The resolution for 2022-23 is: Resolved: the United States federal government should substantially increase restrictions on political campaigns for public office in one or more of the following areas: political communication, campaign spending, interest groups.
2. IPDA is a limited-preparation format with different topics in each round and includes cross-examination. Each debate takes about 30 minutes to complete. After the topic is selected, both debaters have thirty minutes to prepare a case for their assigned side. IPDA debate often utilizes lay judges to adjudicate the round and emphasizes conversational rhetoric.
Team debate events
1. Parliamentary Debate (PARLI) is a limited-preparation format with different topics in each round between 2 teams of 2 debaters each. Participants have approximately 20 minutes to prepare their arguments on the affirmative or negative sides of a resolution.

To earn your grade in this class you will complete a combination of practice debates, competitive debates, and written debate briefs. Your competitive success has no impact on your grade.

For more information you can find the syllabus here.

Email me at alitzky@ccsf.edu with any questions!

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