BRIEF DEFINITIONS OF EVENTS
LINCOLN DOUGLAS DEBATE Coached by Ivanna Fritz. Also known as LD Debate or Value Debate.
LD Debate is modeled after the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates during the Civil War period. LD Debate involves one-on-one debating about topics of moral, political, or social significance. The national topic changes monthly. Competitors research each topic and construct cases and arguments. LD Debate requires a moderate to heavy research load and the ability to speak with both prepared and impromptu presentations. Until January, there is a novice division of this event for newcomers. For the current debate topic, please click on the link: https://www.speechanddebate.org/topics/
LEGISLATIVE DEBATE Coached by Josh Munro. Also known as Legi Debate, Parli Debate, or Student Congress.
Legi Debate is an individual debate modeled after congressional debate. The topic area changes monthly. Competitors research each topic and construct bills and arguments. Moderate to heavy research commitment and the ability to speak in persuasive, prepared, and impromptu presentations is essential. This is a “varsity-only" event (meaning that it is not offered at one-day invitational JV tournaments). For the current debate topic, please check with the squad coach.
PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE Coached by Chris Adamcyk. Also known as PF Debate, Forum Debate. Public Forum Debate is a team event that advocates or rejects a position posed by the resolution. A central tenet of the debate is that the clash of ideas must be communicated in a manner persuasive to the non-specialist or "citizen judge". This event originates from the popular CNN TV show Crossfire. The topic area changes monthly. Competitors research each topic and construct positions and arguments. Moderate to heavy research commitment and the ability to speak in persuasive, prepared, and impromptu presentations is essential. For the current debate topic, please check with the squad coach.
POLICY DEBATE Coached by Josh Munro. Also known as Team Debate, CX Debate, or Partner Debate.
Policy Debate involves a “team” of two competitors who debate another “team” of two competitors. Policy Debate involves discussions of policy-orientated issues. For the current debate topic, please check with the squad coach.
Competitors research the topic and construct cases and arguments. Policy Debate requires a moderate to heavy research load and the ability to speak with both prepared and impromptu presentations. Until January, there is a novice division of this event for newcomers.
EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING Coached by Dwight Camillucci. Also known as Extemp or EXT.
Extemp is a short prep event focusing on social, political, and international, and national current events. The speaker has thirty minutes to prepare a seven-minute persuasive speech using a number of current periodicals and student-created files. Extemp requires a moderate research commitment and the willingness to remain up-to-date on current issues.
IMPROMPTU SPEAKING Coached by Dwight Camillucci. Also known as Impromptu or IMP.
Impromptu is a short-prep event that focuses on current social issues. The speaker is given three minutes to prepare a five-minute speech. The topics are presented in the form of either quotations or editorial cartoons. Impromptu requires a light research commitment and the ability to improvise.
ORIGINAL ORATORY Coached by Kerrie More & Chris Adamcyk. Also known as Oratory or OO.
Speech is memorized and is intended to persuade the audience. Oratory requires a willingness to do extensive writing and research. The time limit is ten minutes.
INFORMATIVE SPEAKING Coached by Kerrie More & Ivanna Fritz. Also known as Expos, Expository, and Inform.
Speech is a memorized speech intended to inform or enlighten the audience. Visual aids, usually posters, are strongly recommended. Expos, like Oratory, requires a willingness to do extensive writing and research. The time limit is ten minutes.
MEMORIZED PUBLIC ADDRESS with ANALYSIS Coached by Sara Menssen. Also known as MPA or "mumpa”.
Students present, analyze, and address previously given in an audience-speaker situation. The speech must be memorized and requires dramatic skills. Analysis requires writing skills. The time limit is ten minutes.
HUMOROUS INTERP & DRAMATIC INTERP Coached by Greg Adkins. Also known as HOI or HI is also known as SOI, DI, or Serious Interp.
Memorization and dramatic skills are essential (although manuscripts are allowed, but not recommended). These events are stylized acting. Dramatic Interp themes should be “dramatic” while Humorous Interp themes should be “humorous”. The time limit is ten minutes. The time limit is ten minutes.
DUO ORAL INTERP Coached by Sara Menssen. Also known as DUO or DOI or Duo Interp.
Two students (partners) are to perform a published piece of literature that has a humorous or dramatic theme. Memorization and dramatic skills are essential. This event is stylized acting. The time limit is ten minutes. This is a “varsity-only" event (meaning that it is not offered at one-day invitational JV tournaments)"
PROGRAM ORAL INTERP Coached by Ivanna Fritz & Sara Menssen. Also known as POI, Programmed Oral Interp and PROGRAM. Program Oral Interpretation is a 10-minute performance that can include some combination of Prose, Poetry, and Drama. All students must have at least two out of the three genres included in their performance. The use of a manuscript is required. The focus of the event is the development of a theme or argument through the use of narrative, story, and/or characterization.