1. Debate Things to know about

2. Requirements of the Class  Novice:  2 tournaments  3 tournaments (A)  Advanced  4 tournaments  5 tournaments (A)  Honors  6 tournaments  7 tournaments (A)  Friday Evenings and Saturdays all day  *Professional dress  Impeccable behavior  Teamwork  Tolerance  Work SMN tournament – October 10-11  Research  Novice -- 5 new cards each week  Advanced -- 10 + cards each week  Honors -- 15+ cards each week  Public speaking  Accept criticism/coaching  Give constructive criticism  Maturity  Responsibility

3. Tournaments  Mostly Saturdays (novice); Friday and Saturday (advanced and honors)  Sign up in advance (you pick your weekends)  Must attend or give notice if emergency  Dropped grade + pay back squad if no notice  Parents take/pick up if in JoCo  Co-curricular...you CANNOT pass if you do not compete (Don’t test it)

4. Professional Appearance  Ladies: professional pant or skirt suit; closed- toe dress shoes, no flip flops, no skin, no short skirts or cleavage, no gaudy jewelry or makeup/nails  Men: suit, dress shoes, TIE, pressed/clean dress shirt with appropriate undershirt, slacks (not khakis), clean/combed hair out of face No exceptions!!! You WILL be sent home from a tournament if you are not dressed appropriately

5. Behavior Requirements  All school/district policies in effect at all times  Above and beyond...if you mess up, you’re kicked off the squad, you possibly fail the class  Your behavior history doesn’t matter to me  Your behavior under my (or an assistant coach’s) supervision is everything

6. Teamwork and Tolerance  You must work with and support your partner  You do not need to be best friends  You must always respect others in class  You must be tolerant of others; the world would be a boring place if we were all alike  We are a family and are entitled to feel safe in Debate

7. SMN Tournament  Does not count as one of your required tournaments  You must be here to help run the tournament  You must provide adult judges for our tournament  Novices – 10 rounds  Advanced – 15 rounds  Honors – 20 rounds  OCTOBER 10 and 11...put it on your calendar!

8. Research  Policy debate is about a critical current event in society (this year...U.S. non- military exploration and/or development of the Earth’s oceans)  Politics and policy change our world on a daily basis; therefore, you must research both casually and for your files on a daily basis  You can lose a round or a tournament because your research is last week’s news  You will learn to read and analyze complicated material

9. Public Speaking  #1 fear (even more than death or spiders!)  This is your chance to develop skills that will get you somewhere great in life!  #1 skill desired by employers  People will admire you  You will need speaking skills  Some more skilled than others at first

10. Criticism  We need it to improve  I’d rather you hear it from me/us first  Constructive vs. Destructive  Don’t take it personally  Not to embarrass  Only to uplift and improve  Repetition and practice is the only way to improve  Be coachable!

11. Responsibility  If you need constant supervision, drop the class  If your mom plans your schedule, grow up  Plan ahead; keep track of your schedule  Be punctual! (on time)  Do the right thing because it’s the right thing  Don’t be a quitter; you’re a winner in more than one way in Debate!

12. Benefits  Speaking skills  Analytical and critical thinking skills  Improve reading comprehension  Looks great on a job or scholarship or college application  Scholarship opportunities for college  Excellent group of students (friends for life)  Everyone will think you’re smart! (and you will be)  Fridays...leave early if you’re debating!

13. Summary  Meet required # of tournaments on weekends (to receive credit)  October 10 and 11 SMN tournament  Professional dress required  Research and speaking necessary  Teamwork and tolerance necessary  Definitely one of the most valuable classes you will ever take!