Class Syllabus
Course #01278 Competitive Speech and Debate
Lyn Davies
Room B217
Office Hours: 1:45-2:45 PM M-F
E-Mail:
Course Description and Objectives:
The course is exists to offer students an opportunity to compete in one of about ten different forensics events. Students will be expected to choose an event of interest, specialize, develop their skills and have those skills tested competitively at a minimum of 3 tournaments each semester. Tournaments typically occur on Saturdays, are held in metro area high schools and last about ten hours. A basic overview of three types of debate, interpretive events, original oratory and extemporaneous speaking follows. During the first few weeks of school, students will be introduced to all of these competitive areas and be expected to choose one for specialty. The size of the class demands that students have a collaborative spirit and the ability to work independently with student captain supervision. Any student who does not appear capable of working under these conditions will be asked to find an alternative class. This course carries core English credit for juniors and seniors and elective English credit for freshmen and sophomores. Students are welcome to take the class all four years of high school should forensics become a passion for them.
Parent involvement and support is also essential. Parents, please consider donating your time to at least one tournament per semester as a judge.
Interpretive Events Overview
General: Interpretation of literature encompasses several events including Humor, Drama, Poetry and Duo. The competitor selects a piece that is available in the published public realm and presents a short interpretation of the work. The time limit is normally ten minutes with no minimum (NFL Rules). Competitors create and memorize their cuttings in such a way as to maintain the integrity of the work and author’s intent. No props are to be used and other rules of competition may apply depending on the tournament. Competitors are judged on introduction, insight and understanding, Projection of the Dramatic Qualities (mood, transitions, clarity of characters etc), Delivery and Total Effectiveness. Interpretation is different from performance.
Drama (DI): The literature should have a dramatic or tragic theme. Some humor can exist but the main focus should be drama.
Humor (HI): Similar to drama but the piece should have humor as its main focus.
Duo: Two people re-create a piece together. The piece can be humorous or dramatic but must have literary merit.
Poetry (PI): Competitors need to be careful in cutting poetry. Whenever possible the work should be offered in its entirety. Many times, the line between drama and poetry is blurred. Be sure to decide whether or not your piece belongs in PI or DI. POETRY IS NOT AN NFL EVENT.
Original Oratory and Extemporaneous Speaking Events
Original Oratory: Competitors write and deliver an original speech which can be persuasive or informative in nature. The amount of quoted material is limited. The writing is similar to writing an essay or editorial. Students can begin by brainstorming pet peeves, issues (particularly new ones), hobbies, experiences etc. Try to leave the judge enlightened, thoughtful and/or entertained. The speech is a maximum of 10 minutes (no minimum) and must be memorized for varsity tournaments.
Extemporaneous Speaking: Competitors pick a focus of international or domestic current events. Files are created and updated (daily if possible). At the tournament, speakers select three questions blindly and pick one of them from which to give their speech. The questions are “yes” or “no” questions and most are significant current issues. The speech should begin with a catchy introduction, a statement of the question and your answer along with two to three supported points and a clear conclusion. Speeches should be truly extemporaneous (not pre-written and modified). Since the judging pool for this event is so small, you will eventually be caught if you memorize your speeches. There is a 7 minute maximum with no minimum.
Lincoln Douglas Debate Overview (one debater per side)-Value Debate
Timing
Affirmative 6 minute Constructive (Prepared)
Negative 3 minute CX
Negative 7 minute Constructive (Partially prepared)
Affirmative 3 minute CX
Affirmative 4 minute rebuttal
Negative 6 minute rebuttal
Affirmative 3 minute rebuttal
3 minutes prep per debater
Example resolution-Resolved: Public high school students in the United States ought not be required to pass standardized exit exams to graduate.
Terms:
Core Value: Your case centers about a chosen value suggested by the resolution. It is the debater’s burden to convince the judge that his value is superior to his opponent’s. If both debaters pick the same value, the debate becomes about whose criterion best achieves the value set forth.
Example: A core value of Justice drives a society to act and evolve in a certain way.
Criterion: Usually a social contract or philosophy that best achieves the core value. For example, the philosophy put forth via John Locke’s social contract is often used as a blueprint for societal structures that promote Justice. Another example would be a Utilitarian philosophy that uses a standard of greatest good for greatest number as the fairest criterion for determining what is just. These two criterions could clash based on Locke’s attention individual rights over what may be best for the greatest number.
Contention: Major points in the debater’s case that must be supported with evidence or philosophy.
Public Forum Debate (2 debaters per side)
Timing and Procedure
Flip for Choice of Side or First Speaker Position
Team A Speaker 1 4 minutes (prepared)
Team B Speaker 1 4 minutes (prepared or not)
Crossfire A1 & B1 (3 minutes) A1 opens
Team A Speaker 2 4 minutes (refute)
Team B Speaker 2 4 minutes (refute)
Crossfire A2 & B2 (3 minutes) A2 opens
Team A Speaker 1 2 minutes (summary)
Team B Speaker 1 2 minutes (summary)
Grand Crossfire (all speakers) 3 minutes A1 opens
Team A Speaker 2 2 minute (final focus)
Team B Speaker 2 2 minute (final focus)
Debaters argue a different topic every month. The topic is one of contemporary issues the points of which can be understood by a general audience and judges with no particular argumentative expertise or training. Your job truly is to convince the judge that you are right.
The focus of the debate can be practical, philosophical or both. Some evidence should be used but no policy need be proposed.
Teams are responsible for responding directly to arguments made by the opposing team.
Policy Debate (CX) (2 Debaters per side)
This is an extremely demanding form of debate that uses one year long topic that is released the previous season. Students must research the topic and create cases that include policy proposals. The debate often involves competing plans, philosophical paradigms and much more. Evidentiary rules and burdens are quite rigorous. Students interested in this form of debate should speak with our CX captains immediately and expect to spend significant outside time preparing for novice season.
Class Requirements:
1) Assignments will be posted on my contact site. (20% of semester grade)
2) All students will be required to explore debate in the early weeks of the course and may be required to help with debate research regardless of their chosen event.
3) All students with the exception of CX debaters will be required to regularly contribute to the extemporaneous speaking research file. (10% of grade)
4) Students must attend 3 tournaments each semester for standard credit and 4 tournaments each semester for Honors credit. (60% of semester grade)
5) Students will be given a philosophy paper assignment that will have a presentation component. This will be (10% ) of the first semester grade.
Grading (by percentage) Please see district policy for point value:
Scale: 90 and above A (90-92 A-)
80-89 B (87-89 B+; 80-82 B-)
70-79 C (77-79 C+; 70-72 B-)
60-69 D (67-69 D+; 60-62 D-)
Below 60 F
In Class Procedures:
1) No outside food or drink except water in container with a cap.
2) Cell phones should be kept in the vibrate position and concealed.
3) Minor discipline problems including, class disruptions and off task behavior that interferes with the offender’s learning will be handled on a case by case basis in the following manner:
- (1st offense) Talk to the student(s) involved.
- (2nd -3rd offense) E-mail to the parent
- Repeated offenses may be handled with referral and/or parent conference.
4) Severe discipline problems such as bullying, extreme disruption and/or behavior that interferes with the learning process for more than just the offender will be dealt with immediately by referral and possible removal from class via short term suspension if necessary in accordance with DPS tiered discipline ladder..
5) Late work:
- Students have 48 hours per excused absence to hand in late work.
- Work that is turned in late without prior extension or excused absence will be penalized in the following way:
- 20% penalty for 1-2 days late
- 50% penalty for 3+ days late.
Attendance:
Success in the class demands attendance. Unexcused absences will result in a zero for any research, writing or performance oriented expectation for the day in question.
Failure to show up at a tournament for which you are registered without communication shall result in a zero for that tournament credit. (This includes arriving after the required meeting time at the tournament location regardless of event posting time).
Habitual absence or tardiness of any kind may result in dismissal from the team.
Detailed Course Requirements for Everyone Regardless of Competitive Focus
1) Each non CX student must choose an area for research from the following:
DOMESTIC:
Education and Youth Issues
Social Welfare and Health
War on Terrorism
Constitutional Issues and Courts
Military and Defense
Culture, Media, Sports, Leisure
Technology, Science, Environment
Labor, Trade, and Economy
Politics and Politicians
American Foreign Policies: US
FOREIGN:
American Foreign Policies: World
Western Europe
Middle East
Africa
Central and South America
Russia and former Soviet Republics
Asia and the Indian Subcontinent
International Agencies
China, Japan, Korea
Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean
England, Ireland, Scandinavia
World Economy and Environment
United Nations
Students will be expected to stay on top the headlines and provide evidence share for domestic and foreign issues files. Students who compete in extemporaneous speaking will need to be familiar with all of these areas and will need a sectioned notebook for competition.
A minimum of five cards/articles each week, will be required. Cards must be shared electronically.
2) Each student must choose a philosopher for a focal paper from the following list or other approved choice:
Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Confucius, Epicurus, Sun Tzu, Augustine, Aquinas, Machiavelli, Bacon, Hobbes, Descartes, Locke, Spinoza, Berkeley, Hume, Rousseau, Kant, Bentham, Hegel, Mill, J.S., Kierkegaard, Marx, Nietzsche, Peirce, James, Rawls, Keynes, Adam Smith and Thomas Malthus, Milton Friedman (economics-Univ. of Chicago), John Dewey, Jean Piaget, Paulo Friere, Blaise Pascal, Ayn Rand
Papers must include:
a. A brief biography
b. A literature review of the philosopher’s works. Use this section to establish what the philosopher believed. Try to compare and contrast one or two competing philosophies.
c. Provide an overview of the political climate of the time. Discuss how the person’s philosophical ideas were reflected in this environment or how the ideas were a reaction to it.
d. A conclusion of your personal feeling about the philosopher’s position. Do you agree or disagree with him and why? Do you think his ideas resonate with a large group of people today? Why or why not.
Paper should be in standard MLA format using 12 point times new roman font double spaced. No more than ten pages.
Due date is one week before the final exam time for the course. There is no other end of course assessment for the course.
3) Students will be expected to present an argument to the team that would have been advocated by their chosen philosopher. Extemporaneous speakers and debaters may simply use the philosophy with a competitive resolution or question in a class mock round.
Presentations will need to have been made by the end of the first quarter.
4) All students will be expected to serve as judges during mock rounds and practice interp sessions.
5) All students must attend at least 3 tournaments per semester.
6) Honors level students must attend at least 4 tournaments per semester.
Please e-mail to confirm that you have read and understand this information (include the student’s name). Feel free to include questions you have.