ATM Speech & Debate A Commitment to Excellence

What is Competitive Speech? Speech is a program designed to teach the fundamentals of public speaking primarily through competition. Competitive speech is more than the traditional giving a speech, much more.

How Much More? Are you interested in current events and politics? Then you may be interested in extemp Have you been told that you argue a lot? Or that you should be a lawyer? Then you may like debate Do you like to perform for others or secretly want to be a stand up comic? Then you may like Interp Do you like to be creative and write your own stories? Then you may like OPP

Why choose speech over other programs? Flexibility Speech is offered during two periods and has minimal after school practices, making it ideal for student athletes. Speech offers over 15 different events appealing to a wide variety of interests

Why choose speech over other programs? Travel Speech and Debate travels extensively throughout Florida and the country. There will be plenty of opportunities to travel both locally, domestic, and possibly internationally.

Why choose speech over other programs? College / Career Advancement Workplaces look highly on people with public speaking skills. Improved confidence in interviews Colleges like speech as an elective Many scholarship opportunities in public speaking Tradition of excellence Annual qualifiers to the national tournament Countless individual awards

Why choose speech over other programs? Speech is fun!! No one will deny that speech is a lot of work, but overall it is fun.

Areas of Competition There are many different areas of competition. In class we will practice both speech and debate areas for these competitions. When you go to compete you will pick two areas (although you will probably only compete in one).

Congressional Debate This is individual debate in a large group setting. Legislative debaters research and write Congressional legislation they feel will better the society in which we live. At tournaments, debaters speak extemporaneously in defense of or against legislation submitted by attending schools. They listen to other members' speeches in their chamber, refute opposing arguments, and contribute new arguments to their own side. A student presiding officer facilitates the debate, recognizing speakers, questioners and ruling on motions. Judges evaluate legislators based on argumentation ability, speaking technique, knowledge of parliamentary procedure, and overall participation.

Lincoln Douglas Debate Lincoln Douglas Debate centers on a proposition of value, which concerns itself with what ought to be instead of what is. A value is an ideal held by individuals, societies, governments, etc. One debater upholds each side of the resolution from a value perspective. To that end, no plan (or counterplan) should be offered. A plan is defined by the NFL as a formalized, comprehensive proposal for implementation. The debate should focus on logical reasoning to support a general principle instead of particular plans and counterplans. Debaters may offer generalized, practical examples or solutions to illustrate how the general principle could guide decisions. Topics change every two months.

Policy Debate Debaters work in pairs (teams) to address the school year's topic, either from the affirmative side (to propose a plan to solve a problem with the topic), or the negative side (to prove how the affirmative’s plan is flawed). Argumentation includes a constructive case, cross-examination, and refutation. Skills learned include research, policy analysis, case building, refutation, questioning, organization and communication.

Public Forum Debate Public Forum Debate is audience friendly debate. Two pairs (teams) debate monthly controversial topics ripped from newspaper headlines. Rounds begin with a coin toss between the competing teams to determine side and order (Pro-Con or Con-Pro). Public Forum tests skills in argumentation, cross-examination, and refutation.

Extemporaneous Speaking (United States and International) A contestant draws three questions, selects one, then has 30 minutes to prepare a speech in response. The contestant utilizes files of published materials (books, magazines, newspapers, online sources) s/he has compiled as a resource for answering the question. At the completion of the 30 minute preparation period, the student speaks on the topic for up to 7 minutes. The NFL divides extemp. into two separate events: United States (dealing with domestic issues), and International (issues beyond US borders).

Original Oratory Orators are expected to research and speak intelligently, with a degree of originality, in an interesting manner, and with some profit to the audience, about a topic of significance. Although many orations deal with a current problem and propose a solution this is not the only acceptable form of oratory. Your oration may simply alert the audience to a threatening danger, strengthen its devotion to an accepted cause, or eulogize a person. An orator is given free choice of subject and judged solely on the effectiveness of development and presentation.

Dramatic Interpretation This is an individual category in which the selections are dramatic in nature. Selections shall be cuttings from published-printed novels, short stories, plays, poetry, or any other printed-published materials. Presentations must be memorized, without props or costumes. The time limit is 10 minutes which includes an introduction.

Humorous Interpretation This is an individual category in which the selections are humorous in nature. All other rules are the same as Dramatic Interpretation.

Duo Interpretation This is a two-person category in which the selection may be either humorous or dramatic in nature. All other rules are the same as Dramatic Interpretation.

Supplemental/Consolation Events Contestants eliminated from the main events after Round 6 of the National Tournament (or the runoff round in debate and L/D) may participate in supplemental and consolation events if pre-registered. There are four supplemental events; Expository Speaking, Extemporaneous Commentary, Poetry, and Prose. There are two consolation events; Impromptu Speaking and Storytelling.

Expository Address Expository speeches are original compositions of the contestant. The Expository speech is a speech to inform, not a performance. It should describe, clarify, illustrate or define an object, idea, concept, or process. A fabricated topic/subject may not be used. In Expository, a student may not use any portion of his/her original oration entered at any NFL tournament. Maximum time of presentation is five minutes.

Extemp Commentary Commentary is a combination of both extemporaneous and persuasive speaking. It can be both informative and advocative. It requires a knowledge of current events as well as some history. Interestingly, it can frequently require the speaker to have a knowledge of local and regional issues. Frequently, TV and radio station managers offer 'commentary' on some trend or community problem. Editorial writers offer similar 'commentaries' of a journalistic nature.

Extemp Commentary continued Twenty minutes prior to the beginning of the round, the contestant will draw three topics, select one, and prepare a speech of no more than five minutes, consulting sources pursuant to the same rules governing materials and evidence in Extemporaneous Speaking. The presentation will be delivered seated at a table or desk, striving for a delivery similar to that suitable for public commentary before community groups and/or media audiences. The contestant should speak clearly, persuasively, and conversationally. Word choice should be precise for accuracy and clarity. The contestant's content is to be judged on the general effectiveness of the delivery, the depth of the position developed, and the evidential, logical, and emotional support for the position taken. Contestants are not required to take a specific stance, but could choose any one of several possible positions, e.g., advocacy, criticism, concern, balanced objectivity, commendation, etc.

Impromptu Speaking The Impromptu speech should be regarded as an original interpretation by the speaker of the designated topic as supported by varied materials and gives a contestant opportunity to be creative and imaginative. An impromptu speech should reveal the student's ability to organize her/his thoughts in a logical manner.

Poetry Reading Poetry is writing which expresses ideas, experience, or emotion through the creative arrangement of words according to their sound, their rhythm, their meaning. Poetry may rely on verse and stanza form. Only published, printed works may be used. No plays or other dramatic materials may be used. A student may not use the same source used in Duo, Dramatic or Humorous at any NFL tournament.

Prose Reading Prose expresses thought through language recorded in sentences and paragraphs: fiction (short stories, novels) and non-fiction (articles, essays, journals, biographies). A student may not use the same source used in Duo, Dramatic or Humorous at any NFL tournament.

Storytelling Storytelling rules state a single published, printed story, anecdote, tale, myth or legend must be retold without notes or props. The student may not tell a story used previously in any NFL district and/or national tournament. The delivery must be extempore, not read. No book or script may be used. The contestant must not add original material or materially change the content of the story.

What you need to do… Introduce yourself to the class with two interesting facts about themselves or something they have done. HOMEWORK: Go on the National Forensics League website and print off the guidelines: - About the league, competition events, PDF file named NFL's Official Competition Events Guide