Student Congress A Brief Introduction to Speech Development, Procedures, and Speaking

What is Student Congress?  Student Congress is a hybrid event that blends the use of public speaking skills used in Forensics competitions, the argumentation strategies from Debate events, and the ability to master procedural methods used by the United States Congress.

What Does It Take to Succeed?  In order to be a successful in Student Congress, the competitor must be able to accomplish the following (1) Speak Clearly and Persuasively (2) Successfully Refute or Support the Arguments of Other Competitors (3) Actively Engage in the Process and Procedures Used to Organize a Session

Developing Student Congress Speeches

On What Topics Do Competitors Speak?  In student Congress competitors speak on a variety of Bills or Resolutions describing a particular course of action to be taken by the model congress.  The students are to approach the session as though the decisions made will become binding parts of American governing policy.  Students will either speak in favor of a particular Bill or Resolution, or will speak against this course of action.

Sample Resolution  Whereas, there are Americans who use guns for recreational sports such as hunting, target practice and professional shooting, and,  Whereas, guns also provide in-home protection for Americans, and,  Whereas, there are thousands of home invasions each year in the United States and guns. can help people protect themselves and their families from these criminals, and,  Whereas, establishing gun control laws would encourage more people to break these7. laws, and,  Whereas, gun control laws would make criminals aware that families have no means to protect themselves,  Therefore, be it resolved, by this student congress here assembled, that all legislation promoting gun control laws be abolished.

Sample Bill  Article I: The United States Federal government shall create an economic stimulus package in which every homeowner is given five thousand dollars every four months for the sole purpose of paying their mortgage.  Article II: A required bank certificate stating that the five thousand dollars was used by that individual to pay for their mortgage, and that a six thousand dollar tax shall be levied on that individual if they do not pay their mortgage.  Article III: This plan shall be implemented immediately upon its passage and last for a minimum of eight months.  Article IV: The Department of the Treasury and the Congressional Ways and Means committee shall both oversee this program and have the right to end it without the approval of the other party at any time after the eight month period.  Article V: All laws and policies in conflict with new law are hereby deemed null and void.

Bill vs Resolution  A Bill presents a very specific plan of action that must be described in detail in the wording of the resolution.  A Resolution suggests a possible general idea for government action without going into detail as to how this action might look.

The A.R.E. Method to Speech Writing  Writing a Student Congress speech is as easy as A.R.E. X 3

Argument!  The Argument is the point the speaker is making about why the bill should be affirmed or negated.

Sample Argument  On the Gun Control resolution: My first point is that gun control laws lead to greater rates of black market gun sales.

Reasoning!  The Reasoning is the three or four explanations of what the argument means and why it is relevant.

Sample Reasoning Gun control laws lead to strict regulation of who can and who cannot buy guns. Often those who seek to purchase a gun are those who would not pass the necessary background checks in order to purchase a gun. As a result, these individuals seek back channel methods to purchase firearms. In turn this helps to support criminal and dangerous groups in our society.

Evidence!  The Evidence is the two sources (minimum) used to support the argument and reasoning of the speaker.

Sample Evidence According to The Future of Freedom Foundation in an article written May 23, 2010, black market gun sellers service “over 2 million customers each year.” Further the Cato Institute contends that the profits made by black market gun sellers leads to “further expansion of illegal gun and drug empires into struggling communities.”

Put it All Together! My first point is that gun control laws lead to greater rates of black market gun sales. Gun control laws lead to strict regulation of who can and who cannot buy guns. Often those who seek to purchase a gun are those who would not pass the necessary background checks in order to purchase a gun. As a result, these individuals seek back channel methods to purchase firearms. In turn this helps to support criminal and dangerous groups in our society. According to The Future of Freedom Foundation in an article written May 23, 2010, black market gun sellers service “over 2 million customers each year.” Further the Cato Institute contends that the profits made by black market gun sellers leads to “further expansion of illegal gun and drug empires into struggling communities.” Without question the well-intentioned gun control laws have had an adverse effect on gun sales and safety in America.

A.R.E. Presented Graphically Argument: Reasoning: - Evidence: -

Therefore A.R.E. x 3 Looks Like: Argument: Reasoning: - Reasoning: - Reasoning: - Evidence: - Evidence: - Evidence: -

A.R.E. Speech Outline Handout Resolution / Bill Title: _________________ Position: Aff or Neg Argument: Reasoning: - Reasoning: - Reasoning: - Evidence: - Evidence: - Evidence: -

Refuting or Supporting the Arguments of Others

The 4-Steps to Refutation / Support  Teaching students to refute or support an argument can be easily done in 4 simple steps!

Step 1 – “They say…”  Briefly restate the point the speaker just made and the point you are about to answer.  For example:  “They say that gun control laws lead to increases in gun sales made through the black market”

Step 2 – “But…”  Make your counter assertion!  For example:  “But eliminating gun control laws would cause greater hikes in crime as almost anyone would be able to purchase firearms.”

Step 3 – “Because…”  Offer reasoning and evidence to support your counter-assertion.  For example:  “This is because it becomes easier to purchase firearms after laws are eliminated. According to a Mayors Against Illegal Guns study, over half of the violent gun crimes in America occurred with guns purchased legally from states with relaxed gun control laws”

Step 4 – “Therefore”  Conclude your point by comparing you point to the point you’re answering.  For example:  “Therefore while gun control laws may lead to greater sales in black markets, eliminating gun control laws all together would drastically increase violent crime even further.”

Put it All Together They say that gun control laws lead to increases in gun sales made through the black market, but eliminating gun control laws would cause greater hikes in crime as almost anyone would be able to purchase firearms. This is because it becomes easier to purchase guns after laws are eliminated. According to a Mayors Against Illegal Guns study, over half of the violent gun crimes in America occurred with guns purchased legally from states with relaxed gun control laws. Therefore while gun control laws may lead to greater sales in black markets, eliminating gun control laws all together would drastically increase violent crime even further

Outlining the 4-Step Plan RefutingSupporting 1.They say… 2. but…2. and… 3. because… 4. Therefore…

Actively Engaging in the Process and Procedures of Student Congress

Procedures for the Novice Competitor  Beginning student congress competitors should consistently strive to take part in three key procedures used in all sessions: (1) Make Motions (2) Ask Questions (3) Vote!

Motions  A motion is a verbal cue presented by a member of the Student Congress in order to advance the flow of the debate in the session.  There are numerous motions used in every Student Congress session.

Three Motions for New Competitors  Move the Previous Question  Translation: by saying “I move the previous question” the student is saying “Lets vote on whether to pass or fail this resolution!”  When to Use It: The student should “move the previous question” when it appears that debate on a resolution or bill is over or has become one-sided  Move to Lay on the Table  Translation: by saying “I move to lay this resolution on the table” the student is saying “Lets put this aside and come back to it later!”  When to Use It: The student should use this motion when debate is not conclusive on the issue and there are other matters needing to be addressed.  Point of Information  Translation: by saying “Point of Information…” the student is asking the chair person to clarify either a procedure or specific wording that the Congress in taking into consideration.  When to Use It: The student should request a point of information when an unclear step is being taken by the Congress.

Asking Questions  At numerous points in a Student Congress session, the speaker will need to respond to questions from the rest of the chamber.  Your student should strive to ask poignant and pertinent questions related to the speech or the speaker’s position.  These questions can be:  Clarifying  Supportive  Setting up an Argument

Sample Questions  Clarifying Question  Your bill recommends that we as a Congress vote to increase financial support of the Stimulus package, where would that capital come from?  Supportive Question (Softball Question)  In your speech you explain how the Stimulus package benefits the economy, do you think this would help those experiencing the greatest poverty?  Setting Up an Argument (Hardball Question)  You stated that in order to support the stimulus we can draw money from other domestic programs, how would this impact the effectiveness of those programs?  (Then in your speech you hit them with the harms of their proposed plan!)

VOTE!  At numerous points in the session, competitors will be asked to contribute to the flow of debate by voting on motions and resolutions.  Students should always vote whenever it occurs in order to show their presence and participation in the session.  Voting one way or another can also influence the course of debate in the remainder of the session.

Mini-Session

Student Congress Mini-Session  For the remainder of our time, we will participate in a sample Student Congress session. In this session I will play the role of the Presiding Officer and each of you will be active participants in the competition.  The resolution we are going to discussion has the following Therefore clause:  “Therefore the United States military should withdraw its forces from Afghanistan and Iraq, instead sending them to Darfur, Sudan as peacekeeping agents.”

Preparation  In small groups of 3 or 4, use the ARE x 3 outline to develop either a speech in support (affirmation) of the resolution or in (negation) of the resolution.  You won’t have evidence right now, so just focus on the Arguments and your Reasoning  In 10 minutes, we will begin our sample session with a speech in affirmation followed by a speech in negation. There will be time for questioning after each speech.

Mini-Session

A Resolution to Send Troops to Darfur  Whereas…  Therefore the United States military should withdraw its forces from Afghanistan and Iraq, instead sending them to Darfur, Sudan as peacekeeping agents.

Congrats!  You just participated in the very activity your students would like to master!  If you have any questions, comments, or for a copy of this presentation, contact me at:   347 – 328 – 4773 (Cell)  Thank you for your time and your participation!