What do we do?

Introduction

This page includes information on all of the events that are offered at the various tournaments (contest) we attend. While our teams focus is on the three form of debate and the three forms of public speaking, we offer space and opportunity for all of the events listed here. All of these events allow you to qualify to compete at the state level and national level.

If you are interested in an event please come by and talk to the coaching staff and we will get you started.

DEBATE EVENTS

Overivew to the Debate Events

At Westwood we focus on four (4) specific debate events: Lincoln Douglas, Public Forum, Policy and Congressional Debate. The following is a deeper dive into these formats with along with examples of each in full.

Lincoln Douglas Debate

LD Debate is a one on one format of debate. This style of debate focuses on philosophical questions about how and why we should organize our society in the way we do.

If you are interested in Lincoln Douglas start with our google classroom. As the district recently moved away from google classroom you will not be able to access this code if login with your RRISD account. CLASSROOM CODE: ofehl4l

Policy Debate

Policy Debate or CX Debate is a two on two forum with cross examination periods following each constructive speech and rebuttals to conclude the debate. This format centers on a single resolution that is debate for the entire academic year.

. As the district recently moved away from google classroom you will not be able to access this code if login with your RRISD account. CLASSROOM CODE: COMING SOON

Public Forum Debate

Public Forum Debate is a two on two forum with cross fire period with back and forth questions. This format centers on typical two sided political, social and policy choices.

If you are interested in Public Forum Debate start with our google classroom. As the district recently moved away from google classroom you will not be able to access this code if login with your RRISD account. CLASSROOM CODE: rqexrhr

Congressional Debate

CD is a mock congressional debate format where student debate legislation on current events and issues. While students compete individually, they are competing with 10 to 20 competitors. In this format student learn parliamentary procedure and vote on and amend written legislation. Congressional debate are approximately 2 hours in length due to the number of students involved in the debate. Thus we do not have a sample posted here.

If you are interested in Congressional Debate start with our google classroom. As the district recently moved away from google classroom you will not be able to access this code if login with your RRISD account. CLASSROOM CODE: 3od4diq

PUBLIC Address EVENTS

Overview to the Public Address Events

Extemporaneous Speaking

Extemporaneous Speaking or what we call Extemp is a public speaking event that centers around answer questions about current events and issues. The following is a strong example of a high level extemp speech.

Informative Speaking

Time Limit: TFA: 10 min NSDA: 10 min

This is a public speaking event based on an original manuscript on subject issues that tend to be practical and/or uniquely informative. Informative Speaking is very similar to Ted Talk. This sample is a very good example of a strong informative performace.

Original Oratory

Time Limit: TFA: 10 min NSDA: 10 min

This is a public speaking event based on an original manuscript on subject issues that tend to be more conceptual than practical. This video provide both an introduction to the event and a sample oration

oral interpretation EVENTS

Overview to the Oral Interpretation Events

Dramatic INterp

Dramatic Interpretation, contrary to its name, is not all about drama. While dramatic elements are key aspects of the event, melodramatic, or overly-sad selections are not ideal choices for performance. DI lacks props, costuming, sets, and other luxuries seen in various forms of performance art. There is a set time limit of ten minutes, with a thirty second grace period. Students who choose to compete in Dramatic Interpretation should focus on suspending the disbelief of the audience by portraying a realistic, emotional journey of a character(s). The performance should connect to the audience. Students who do Dramatic Interpretation may perform selections on topics of serious social subject matter such as coping with terminal illness; significant historical situations, events, and figures; as well as racial and gender discrimination, suppression, and oppression. Students should select pieces that are appropriate for them. Considerations for selecting a DI topic should include the student’s age, maturity, and school standards.

humorous INterp

Humorous Interpretation, as its name indicates, is humorous. Competitors often use multi-character selections to tell relatable stories using humor as a device to connect with the audience. Think about your favorite comedian’s latest stand up routine, or something funny that recently happened. Ask yourself why it’s funny. Then ask yourself if that joke would be funny to, say, your mom, or great-great Uncle Joe. Humor is a complex human quirk. Each individual’s sense of humor is unique. However, other aspects of humor are more universal in nature. So, when choosing an HI, it is imperative to consider not only the humorous elements of the selection, but also to keep in mind how the story itself will appeal to the audience. Not everyone will laugh at the same joke, but if a character’s plight is relatable, the audience will identify with him or her.

Program oral interp

Program Oral Interpretation relies on the performer’s ability to portray a wide range of characters and literature all held together under a common theme. Each program must contain at least two of the three genres and students are encouraged to include all three. There is a set time limit of ten minutes, with a thirty second grace period. Students who choose to compete in POI should focus on making an interesting argument that is supported in different ways by each piece of literature they select.

duO INTERP

Duo. The event everyone wants to do with a best friend. In truth, while the appeal of Duo might be performing with a friend, this approach may not be best. Duo is about balance. Partners need to compliment one another stylistically, have a similar skill set and work ethic. Chemistry is an important element of Duo, but chemistry outside of a practice/performance setting does not always translate to chemistry when practicing or performing at a tournament. Be sure to share your goals with your coach as they help you through the process of getting started in Duo. Duo is an event that can be dramatic, comedic, or a combination of the two. With a ten minute time cap, and a requirement of an off-stage focus, Duo is one of the most unique forms of performance. The main objective is to maintain a sense of balance between performers that focuses on the relationship(s) between the characters they create.

Speech & Debate Terminology and Event Descriptions

NSDA – National Speech and Debate Association – Formerly the National Forensic League, NSDA is the nation’s oldest and largest speech and debate honor society. Since its founding in 1925, over 1 million members in all 50 states have joined the NFL. We compete in the Heart of Texas (HOT) NFL District that allows us to qualify for the NFL National Tournament held in June each year at a different location each year. This year, the NSDA National Tournament is in Birmingham, Alabama.

TFA – Texas Forensic Association – The Texas Forensic Association is an organization that was started in 1972 by the Texas Speech Communication Association and gives students from large and small, public and private, schools an opportunity for competition in many events that are also offered at the NFL National Tournament. We compete at TFA sanctioned tournaments throughout the year and we host our own TFA sanctioned tournament. In March, TFA holds a State Tournament in which the members of the TFA compete against each other. To qualify for the TFA State Tournament, an individual or pair must accumulate 12 TFA State Points in one or more events.

UIL – University Interscholastic League – The University Interscholastic League was created by The University of Texas at Austin to provide leadership and guidance to public school debate and athletic teachers. Since 1909 the UIL has grown into the largest inter-school organization of its kind in the world. We compete at the UIL District, Regional, and State tournaments. The speech and debate events offered by UIL are Poetry Interpretation, Prose Interpretation, Persuasive Speaking, Informative Speaking, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and Policy Debate.

TOC – Tournament of Champions – The Tournaments of Champions is a group of national caliber high school speech or debate tournaments held annually at the University of Kentucky for debate, Northwestern University for extemporaneous speaking, and, in Lincoln, Nebraska for interpretation events. These are the most prestigious invitational tournaments on the “national circuit,” representing the most competitively successful speech and debaters from the nation’s most successful schools.

LD – Lincoln-Douglas Debate – Event in which two competitors argue opposite sides of one resolution (the affirmative or the negative). Competitors weigh values within the round and their arguments usually focus on philosophical or social issues. (Offered at NFL, TFA, TOC, and UIL tournaments.)

CX – Cross Examination or Policy Debate – Event in which four competitors argue opposite sides of one resolution (the affirmative or the negative). Competitors advocate one policy versus another and attempt to persuade their judge that their policy solves better than their opponents. (Offered at NSDA, TFA, TOC, and UIL tournaments.)

PF – Public Forum Debate – Event in which four competitors argue opposite sides of one resolution (the positive and the negative). This event is similar to a crossfire of sorts in which competitors are given the opportunity to argue at unique times. (Offered at NSDA, TOC, and TFA tournaments.)

IE’s – Individual Events – Typically, the phrase individual events refers to events that are outside of debate. These events are as follows:

Extemp – Extemporaneous Speaking

FX or IX – Foreign or International Extemporaneous Speaking – A seven minute event focusing on international current events in which a student is presented with a limited number of topics and must choose one, prepare a speech within 30 minutes and must present a seven minute speech. (Offered at TFA, TOC, and NSDA. UIL extemp. is called persuasive or informative.)

DX or USX – Domestic or United States Extemporaneous Speaking – A seven minute event focusing on U.S. current events in which a competitor is presented with a limited number of topics and must choose one, prepare a speech within 30 minutes and must present a seven minute speech. (Offered at TFA, TOC and NSDA. UIL extemp. is called persuasive or informative.)

CD – Congressional Debate – Event in which competitors present short speeches responding to bills or resolutions, similar to the U.S. Congress. Students may affirm or negate a resolution or bill. (Offered at TFA, TOC and NSDA tournaments.)

OO – Original Oratory – A ten minute event in which competitors identify a societal problem or concern and write their own speech and perform it in an attempt to persuade their audience that this societal problem exists and that the solutions proposed are legitimate. (Offered at TFA, TOC, and NSDA tournaments.)

IMP – Impromptu Speaking – The time limit for this event varies based on the tournament. A competitor is presented with at least three topics (usually quotations) and the student has a limited amount of time to present a short speech about the topic. (TFA, TOC, and NSDA often offer impromptu as a consolation or a supplemental event.)

Postings/Sectioning – The lists at tournaments that tell competitors in which room they are competing, the order in which they are competing, and against whom they will be competing. Sometimes, usually at large tournaments, students are given codes and postings/sectioning has these rather than their names, so as to encourage anonymity.

Round – A session of competition. Individual events may have up to 8 competitors in one round.

Break – To place high enough in a preliminary rounds to advance to the next level of competition. The breaking point at a tournament often varies, based on the number of competitors and the type of tournament.

Cume – Cumulative ranks in a competition. If the cume to break is 10 after the preliminary rounds, a competitor must have ranks that add up to 10 or lower in order to break to the next level of competition.

Flighted – One judge will evaluate back-to-back sections or rounds.

Prelims – The first rounds of a competition. In debate, there will almost always be three or more prelim rounds, but often tournaments will have four or more. In Individual Events, there is always at least one prelim round, but often tournaments will have two or more.

Outrounds – Any round of competition that is beyond prelims. Outrounds can be referred to as octos, quarters, semis, or finals.

Qualified, Qual, or Qualled – To earn enough points to qualify to compete at a tournament, or tournaments, at a higher level.

Bid – Many large tournaments all over the United States offer bids to the TOC tournaments. The TOC tournaments usually require two bids to compete at their tournaments. However, if a competitor has one bid and has had a successful year, they may be allowed to get into the tournament at-large

Lay Judge – A judge who does not have much experience in speech and debate.

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