Debate, Public Speaking, and Speech Events

Debate Events: Congressional Debate (aka Student Congress) Lincoln-Douglas Debate (aka LD) Public Forum Debate (aka PF) Policy Debate (aka Cross-Examination Debate, CX)

Congressional Debate aka Student Congress – Docket changes each semester Students act as a congress representative in a room of about 20 students One student acts as a Presiding Officer (PO) to run the session and keep things in order Students give 3 minute speeches either in favor of or against a bill or resolution in the docket Students make motions and vote on whether or not to pass bills and resolutions Sessions last a minimum of 2 hours each

Lincoln-Douglas Debate aka LD – Topic changes every two months A value-based debate One student debates against one other student Students present arguments (contentions) to support why we should or should not do something Each round runs about 45 minutes Students must debate a minimum of 3 rounds per tournament

Public Forum Debate aka PF – Topic changes every month Designed to be understood by the “common man” A team of two students debates against another team of two students Students debate whether or not something should be done on an issue Each round runs about 30 minutes (the shortest of the debate events) Students must debate a minimum of 3 rounds per tournament

Policy Debate aka Cross Examination debate or CX – Topic remains the same all year An evidence-based debate A team of two students debates against another team of two students Students propose a new policy on a topic and debate on why it must be passed Each round runs about an hour and a half (the longest of the debate events) Students must debate a minimum of 3 rounds per tournament

Public Speaking Events: Original Oratory (aka OO) Domestic Extemporaneous (aka Domestic Extemp or DX) Foreign Extemporaneous (aka Foreign Extemp or FX)

Original Oratory aka OO A speech written on the topic of the student’s choosing Usually a social issue that needs to be addressed or a new advancement in something Research must be done/Sources must be cited Speech must be memorized Speech is a maximum of 10 minutes in length (usually no shorter than 8 minutes)

Domestic Extemporaneous aka Domestic Extemp or DX A speech given on a topic having to do with the United States (similar to a current event) Students choose 3 topics from an envelope and then choose the one they wish to speak on Students then have 30 minutes to prepare a speech using only the resources brought by the school (no internet access) Each speech should be a maximum of 7 minutes in length (usually a minimum of 6 minutes) Prelims, Semis, Finals

Foreign Extemporaneous aka Foreign Extemp or FX Follows the same rules and format as domestic extemp except the topics will be on topics outside of the United States

Speech Events: Humorous Interpretation (aka HI) Dramatic Interpretation (aka DI) Duo Interpretation (aka Duo) Duet Interpretation (aka Duet) Prose Poetry

Humorous Interpretation aka HI Student performs a selection of their choice that is humorous in nature The script must be memorized The piece must include an introduction The performance is a maximum of 10 minutes in length (usually a minimum of 8 minutes) Prelims, Semis, Finals

Dramatic Interpretation aka DI Follows the same rules and format as Humorous Interpretation except the pieces selected will be Dramatic in nature

Duo Interpretation aka Duo A performance that can be humorous or dramatic in nature Two students act 0ut a scene without looking directly at each other or having any physical contact with each other No props or costumes can be used The script must be memorized The performance is a maximum of 10 minutes in length (usually a minimum of 8 minutes) Prelims, Semis, Finals

Duet Interpretation aka Duet Follows the same rules and format as Duo Interpretation except students are allowed to look at and have physical contact with each other May use two chairs (but nothing else/no costumes) Maximum of 12 minutes in length (usually a minimum of 10 minutes)

Prose A piece of prose (fiction or non-fiction) Can be cut from a longer work (book, short story – not a play or monologue) The piece will be held in a small black “interp binder” during the performance, but the piece should still be memorized The performance is a maximum of 7 minutes in length UIL categories are used (not a TFA qualifying event)

Poetry Follows the same format as prose except the piece must be published as poetry. More than one poem can be read to fill the 7 minute maximum time