SME ADVANCED DEBATE Handbook
Fall 2014
Each quarter will be broken into grading periods. Most assignments are due at the end of the hour on the day at the end of the two or three-week grading period, unless noted otherwise. NO LATE or UNDOCUMENTED WORK will be accepted. If it’s not in on time, you will receive a zero with no chance to make it up. Any assignment submitted without proper documentation will not receive credit! I am going to try, as much as possible, to be green and have debaters share and turn in files electronically this year. We will use dropbox to turn assignments in.
1. PAPERWORK: ALL ARE DUE Monday, August 18th! According to KSHSAA and district policy, the following must be turned in before you are allowed to compete.
-See Debate packet checklist
-Syllabus Signature
-Debate Contact Form online (see web back pack)
-Season schedule sign up (see web back pack)
2. MATERIALS:
-We charge a mandatory course fee of $25. This fees goes toward the cost of entry fees, room supplies, and materials.
-Dress clothes for tournaments (see below). This will also be discussed in class
-Laptop charged in class every day
-Flash drive
-Writing utensils and spiral or binder with paper for note-taking
-You must download and install Verbatim for mac
ONLINE RESOURCES:
I will be using my web back pack- www4.smsd.org/treywitt, this year with a google calendar of assignments and due dates. Any assignment sheets, templates or work sheets to be completed will be posted as attachments on skyward. Students will use these documents to create their assignments before sharing them with me as “google docs” through google drive. Any evidence or squad files to be turned in must be submitted via dropbox. I would prefer that students NOT email assignments to me.
ELECTRONIC USE POLICY:
1. Respect- Although we will be using the laptops frequently, we will not use them all of the time. If I have the floor, or another classmate, laptops should be closed and phones should be away!
2. Responsibility- You also must be responsible and proactive in terms of taking care of your laptop (keeping it charged, not leaving it behind, etc), but also- making sure you download any attachments before leaving school from skyward or web back pack in case you may not have internet access at home. Be prepared to use a home computer in case of technical problems. Worst-case scenario- turning in handwritten work is better than turning in nothing. Additionally, do not use the multitude of resources as a crutch. You should still take notes, write assignments down in a planner or electronic calendar, and LISTEN in class. Do not expect every detail from class to be available online.
3. Reality- technology is now, more than ever, a part of our culture. I think we all should embrace this, but this will present challenges and temptations. There may be times when you are given time to work on assignments and multi-tasking or internet distractions may tempt you. Ultimately, you are responsible for your education, so do not expect extensions or leniency if you choose to not use class time appropriately.
3. LAB ASSIGNMENTS: Debaters will work in lab groups throughout the semester on various assignments. For the first 4-6 weeks of the semester, 3rd and 4th years will lead the groups through various lectures, skill exercises/drills and practice debates, as well as formatting some of the novices files and assignments as directed by debate officers. Once the season begins, the assistant coaches will be directing each lab with research assignments, file composition, or exercises. The lab leaders and/or coaches will determine which files are assigned and to which students. Each lab member should return his/her copy of the assignment to the lab leader 2 DAYS BEFORE THE FILE IS DUE so the lab leader can format and make any additions to the file. 50 points each grading period! There will be a novice mentor group work night after school on Tuesday, August 26th! This is required for advanced debaters unless there are extenuating circumstances. This will be part of the first lab assignment grade.
4. CASES AND FILES: There are many assignments due at the beginning of first quarter. The debate officers may ask labs to assist with formatting novice cases (with cover letter, extensions and answers) and novice neg files. Each debate team must submit an Aff. Case for their own use at tournaments with extensions and answers.
ADVANCED AFFIRMATIVE CASE ASSIGNMENT
WHAT TO TURN IN: Submit electronic copy on dropbox
Submit final copy on dropbox
PARTICIPANTS: Debate partners
1. ALL cases MUST be typed. NO exceptions.
2. At least one half of your cards must be original research. The case structure must also be your original work. No handbook cases will be accepted. If you turn in a handbook case, you will receive a “zero.”
3. The rough/peer review case must be the complete 1AC. It shouldn’t matter that your extensions aren’t finished. You should have a prima facie case. There should be minimal need for changes. Remember that you are getting points for reviewing the case AND for having the case in complete enough form that the peer review will be beneficial.
4. You will write your case with your partner.
5. You will have some class time to work on your case, however, remember that we have other projects we are working on that take priority in class time. This case is a long-term homework assignment and you should treat it that way. You will need to spend time outside of class to complete this assignment. Remember that the room is open every day after school and you are always welcome to work then.
6. You will start going to tournaments the third week in September, so time spent and the quality of that time are both of importance. Remember that you will also need negative files by that date. If you are not spending at least one day after school each week working on your case/files/skills, you will find it harder to reach your goals for the season.
7. Be sure that I can read the cards, that key arguments/warrants are underlined, and inappropriate language is removed.
8. Your citations must be complete even if you only read/underline the author’s last name and date. Cites that are incomplete will not receive credit. A complete citation is one that meets the NSDA citation criteria. speechanddebate.org always has the most updated rules (you may have to log in), but generally, use MLA.
9. You will receive completion for the file based on the following factors (in addition the #s 1-8): originality, quality of evidence, clear structure, quality and clarity of tags, citations.
10. Make sure to have the following components:
1. Table of contents
2. Extension files, 2AC blocks, frontlines
3. Prima Facie case
4. Complete plan text (mandates, funding, enforcement)…may have alternative version in addition.
5. Attached copies of original evidence or links to original evidence.
5. TOURNAMENT REQUIREMENT: Each debater must compete in 4 tournaments for the semester, two of which must be first quarter. The weekend of OCTOBER 10-11 counts for first quarter. All 4 tournaments must be completed no later than the weekend of DECEMBER 5-6. STUDENTS MUST SIGN UP FOR THEIR ENTIRE SEASON BY MONDAY, AUGUST 18. CHANGES AFTER THIS POINT MUST BE APPROVED BY MR. WITT AND THE REASONS MUST BE GOOD! NO CANCELLATIONS WILL BE ALLOWED AFTER FRIDAY, 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO A GIVEN TOURNAMENT.
Plan Ahead: It is your responsibility to schedule participation in tournaments in order to receive the number of tournament participation points that are necessary for you to achieve the grade you desire. The number of teams that we are allowed to take to a particular tournament is limited by the school hosting the tournament. Furthermore, we have a large squad and often, we are spread out at as many as 4-5 locations in one weekend. I WILL LET TEAMS KNOW ASAP WHICH WEEKENDS ARE FULL AND WHICH TEAMS WILL HAVE TO SELECT LATER WEEKENDS. Mr. Witt reserves the right to not enter teams in tournaments (even if you need the tournament for your grade) if you have not completed a practice round during the last grading period. In any sport, you can’t play if you don’t practice. Teams who would like to compete at tournaments during December and January will have the opportunity to express interest to Mr. Witt later in the season.
Signing up and cancelling: Debate is a partner-based activity and students compete on teams of two. Students may not debate “maverick” or solo. Students may sign up with a partner or individually. If you sign up individually, you will be paired with someone who may or may not be in your class. Please be sure not to sign up a partner to debate with you until you have DISCUSSED this with your potential partner and confirmed that they are available and have not agreed to debate with a different partner that weekend. Because you select the weekends on which you debate, you may not cancel your participation later than the Friday two weeks before the tournament. If you do cancel after the close date (without finding a substitute), you are required to go to two tournaments to make up the one you canceled or take a “0”. Please remember that you are a member of the team. When you sign up for a tournament, it means that one of your teammates will not be able to go to that tournament. By the time you cancel, they may have already made other plans for the weekend; therefore, they can no longer attend the tournament. It also means that we end up paying for an entry we have cancelled. If your partner backs out of a tournament at the last minute and no substitute is found, you must still compete in the same number of tournaments. In other words, you will not be penalized for your partner bailing, but you will not have the tournament waived. Please take your commitment seriously and be responsible. Make sure to let Mr. Witt know if you come across any problems/questions and check your personal and family calendars before signing up for a tournament.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION:
Most tournaments follow the same schedule, although there is some variety. Regardless, when you sign up to compete on a given weekend, you will have the option to sign up for either a Saturday-only tournament or for a two-day tournament. If you are strongly opposed to debating on Fridays, or if your schedule makes debating after school on Fridays very difficult, you may indicate this on the sign-up sheets. Please keep in mind that I cannot always accommodate these requests. At the advanced level, the majority of the tournaments are Friday-Saturday, so expect to miss some school. Please do not come to me and ask to switch tournaments once I have posted the newsletter. This is a co-curricular activity so you are excused (not counting toward your total allowed absences) when you miss for a school-sponsored activity. I take care of this with your teachers so there is no need to worry.
Two-Day Format: These tournaments are traditionally more competitive than Saturday-only tournaments, partly because these tournaments have “out-rounds” or elimination rounds. You will usually be excused from school between 1:00 to 2:00 (unless we are traveling overnight) in order to change and travel to the tournament site. There will usually be 2-3 rounds on Friday after school and students should be finished between 6:30 and 8:00 pm. Students will then need to be back at the tournament site at 7:30 am Saturday morning for 2-3 additional prelim rounds. There are 5 preliminary rounds- half affirmative and half negative. Prelims should be finished between 11:00 and 12:30. If other SME debaters have advanced to out-rounds, however, advanced students must stay as long as their peers are still in the tournament if they wish to receive class credit. Out-rounds work just like a basketball bracket, with quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. Out-rounds may last until 7-8 pm. Students are responsible for providing their own dinner on Friday. They may give $4 to the sponsor or coach for pizza on Saturday or they may bring their own lunch.
One-Day Format: These tournaments are all day on Saturday with 5 rounds followed by awards. Typically, students must show up in their dress clothes at the tournament no later than 7:30 a.m. There will typically be 5 rounds- half affirmative and half negative- 8:00, 9:30, 11:00, lunch at 12:15, 1:00, 2:30, and a brief awards ceremony around 4:00 to 4:30 pm. Students will be finished no later than 5:00 pm.
Travel Logistics (Locations, Cost, Transportation, Materials, Overnights): Most tournaments that debaters travel to are in the Johnson County area. Directions can be found on my web back pack site and they will be posted on the newsletter as well. According to Shawnee Mission rules, the district must provide transportation to tournaments outside of Johnson County. Otherwise, if a tournament is within Johnson County, students are typically responsible for their own transportation. We will try to arrange carpools as often as possible for Friday-Saturday tournaments within the area, but typically for Saturday-only tournaments, students are responsible for finding a ride to and from the tournament location (if it is within Johnson County). Students must stay at the tournament as long as they are still competing and for the award ceremony to support the squad. Specific times can be found in the weekly newsletter. Please see the transportation form in the co-curricular packet for more details.
Some advanced debaters often travel on overnight tournaments in Kansas and throughout the Midwest. Students must have money for meal expenses. If students travel on an overnight trip, there is often an overnight fee (usually $20 per night) to contribute to the cost of gas, van rentals, and lodging costs. Entry fees are paid for out of the debate budget and course fee account. When debating at tournaments, students are encouraged to plan in advance in terms of getting tubs and evidence out of the debate room. Make sure to take your tubs home with you before a tournament unless you are leaving directly from East for the tournament. Some students take their files home with them to study throughout the week and on weekends. This is totally optional.