Welcome to the West Sylvan Speech and Debate Club! WSSD is a program run by the Lincoln High School Speech and Debate Team that teaches students how to give powerful speeches and create structured arguments. We offer tournaments throughout the year to let the students show off and compete with middle schoolers from other schools. Meetings are Wednesday 6:00 - 7:30 through Zoom. All middle school students are welcome!
2020-21 Season: October 13th, 2021 - Mid-Spring 2022
Coaches:
Bailey Armstrong: barmstrongpdx@gmail.com
Owen Adams: oadams9572@gmail.com
Kate Bingham: kate.b.bingham@gmail.com
Middle School events and descriptions:
Public Forum (PF or Pofo): Prepared partner debate. Times: 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1, 2, 2 with 2min prep.
Parliamentary debate (parli): Spontaneous partner debate. Ten minute prep. Times: 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 3.
Impromptu: Given three prompts (word, phrase, quote), the student chooses one, prepares for one minute and then speaks for 3 minutes. Grace period of 30 seconds with no minimum time limit.
Interpretative Reading: The student extemporaneously introduces a theme and then, from a binder, presents any published literature (poem, prose, play, song, novel...), or a mixture to exhibit that theme. 4 minutes with grace period of 30 seconds with no minimum time limit.
Oratory: Students present a prepared informative or persuasive speech about a topic of their choice. 4 minutes with grace.
Radio Commentary: Speech of original news/event/situation commentary dealing with current events of the current school year facing away from the judge and sitting down. Student is not required to memorize the speech but rather encouraged to present as if broadcasting. 2:45 - 3:15 minutes with no grace period.