DEBATE-
There are four debate events done competitively in Oregon. Here are some brief descriptions of what they are like, what kind of preparation you need to do, and what sort of topics there are.
Parliamentary Debate (Parli): Debate with a partner. Teams debate about topics centered around news topics, foreign policy, and domestic politics, with the occasional crazy metaphor thrown in for spice. Teams learn their topic 15 minutes before the debate begins, and have that time to prepare a case either for or against (assigned before you walk into the room). Develops your quick-thinking skills like none other.
Cross-Examination Debate (CX): Debate with a partner. Oriented toward public policy. The topic is the same all year, and teams prepare cases for and against it supported by as much factual evidence as possible. You'll write your cases at the beginning of the year, and then refine them after each competition. Lincoln is home to 2017 State Champions in CX Debate, one of whom is the cx section captain. Although pretty technical, novices get a lot of guidance in developing cases, and for the first few months of the year, they will have a pre-approved case area. The Policy Debate – 2021-2022 Topic - Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its protection of water resources in the United States.
Lincoln-Douglas Values Debate (LD): This is the only individual debate event (i.e. no partner). It's oriented toward philosophy, morals, and values, and can be very abstract. The topics run for two months, and you prepare cases in advance. Great if you like philosophy, abstract thinking, and general creativity. The 2021 September/October LD Topic is - Resolved: The member nations of the World Trade Organization ought to reduce intellectual property protections for medicines.
Public Forum Debate (PoFo): Debate with a partner. Shorter speeches, and the topics run for a month at a time. The format is based on the CNN show Crossfire, and tends to be big-picture analysis of current issues in the news, without going into the same kind of depth as other events.The topics run one month except for the first two months of the season. Lincoln is home to the 2017 State Champions. The September/October 2021 topic is Resolved: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization should substantially increase its defense commitments to the Baltic states.
Worlds Debate: Debate with a team of 3-5 members. This s a unique and dynamic form of debate, unlike any other practiced in the United States. It features a dynamic format combining the concepts of “prepared” topics with “impromptu” topics, encouraging debaters to focus on specified issues rather than debate theory or procedural arguments. This highly interactive style of debate allows debaters to engage each other, even during speeches. This challenging format requires good teamwork and in-depth quality argumentation.
CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE (also known as Student Congress)
A simulation of the U.S. legislative process in the Senate and the House, students generate a series of bills and resolutions for debate in Congressional Debate. Debaters (also referred to as Senators and Representatives) alternate delivering speeches for and against the topic in a group setting. An elected student serves as a presiding officer to ensure debate flows smoothly. Students are assessed on their research, argumentation, and delivery skills, as well as their knowledge and use of parliamentary procedure. Lincoln is home to Oregon's 2017 Student Congress State Champion.
INDIVIDUAL SPEAKING EVENTS (also known as IE's)-
A lot of speech and debate is centered around individual events, and there's a wide range of options for competition. Here's a quick description of the events that we do, the kind of preparation that's required, and how long each speech is (generally). For more details on the events look at the OSAA Speech & Debate Handbook.
Interp IE's
Humorous Interpretation: You present a funny monologue from the source of your choosing, and act it out using no props and only limited gestures. The script has to be from a published source, and needs to contain at least 51% dialogue. (10 minutes) WATCH: 2014 National Finalist
Dramatic Interpretation: Similar to the above, but dramatic instead of humorous (10 minutes).WATCH: 2014 National Champion
Dual Interpretation: Similar to the above, but done with a partner. Can be either dramatic or humorous (10 minutes). WATCH: 2014 National Finalists
Poetry Reading*: You read and interpret 3-6 poems around a theme you select. These can be things like "love," "family," or "death." (8 minutes)
Prose Reading*: Similar to the interps, but contains more exposition than dialogue and requires frequent reference to the text. (8 minutes)
Literary Interpretation for English Language Learners (LIELL)*: Similar to the interp events listed above, but for students enrolled in ELL / ESL classes. This event is for non-native-English-speakers. ELL interp is meant to give ALL students the opportunity to participate. Lincoln is home to the 2014, 2015 & 2016 STATE CHAMPIONs
Program Oral Interpretation ** (POI) POI is a program of oral interpretation of thematically-linked selections chosen from two or three genres: prose, poetry, drama (plays). (10 Minutes)
Prepped IE's
After-Dinner Speaking*: Structured as a funny after-dinner toast about a serious theme. It's not stand-up so much as it is theme-based situational humor. Topics could be like the 2013 Championship ones" "OCD," "how awkward speechies are," etc. (6 minutes) Here's a link to 2015 OSAA Championship ADS Finals.
Expository Speaking*: An informative speech with visual aids. This is good if you're interested in an obscure or unusual subject and want to educate people about it; it is NOT a persuasive speech, but strictly informative. (8 minutes)
Informative Speaking**(INF) An informative speech is an original speech designed to explain, define, describe, or illustrate a particular subject. The general purpose of the speech is for the audience to gain understanding and/or knowledge of a topic. Any other purpose such as to entertain or to convince shall be secondary. The use of audio/visual aids is optional. (10 minutes)
Oratory: A persuasive speech about the topic of your choosing. Thorough research helps form the basis for arguments in favor of change as well as lay the basis for suggested actions. Very straightforward. (10 minutes) Lincoln is home to the 2017 State Champion.
Radio Commentary*: This is only event where you sit down with your back to the judge, and are ranked last in round if you go outside of a narrow time window. This is an event meant to emulate talk radio, where you find a topic about which you're passionate, and interpret or comment on news stories about that topic, while providing some background information for the listener. It can be political, and often is, but is also ripe for some creative topics. (Between 4 minutes 45 seconds & 5 minutes 15 seconds)
Spontaneous IE's
Impromptu Speaking*: Easily the craziest-sounding, most competitive event. Students are given a piece of paper with three topics on it (a noun, a quote, and a concept). From the second you look at the paper, you have 30 seconds to decide on a topic and formulate a 5-minute speech in your mind. You can inform, persuade, comment. (5 minutes) HERE's a link to 2015 OSAAChampionship Impromptu Topics.
Extemporaneous Speaking: You receive three questions about foreign or domestic policy, and have 30 minutes to answer one of your choosing with evidence (news articles, electronically stored articles, books, etc.) that you bring to the tournament. (7 minutes) HERE's a link to 2015 OSAAChampionship Extemp Topics.
*State event only
**National event only