Student Congress
This is individual debate in a large group setting. Legislative debaters research and write pieces of Congressional legislation that they feel will better the society in which we live. At a tournament, debaters will then speak on the legislation while using proper parliamentary procedure. Judges score each competitor based on argumentation ability, speaking technique, knowledge of parliamentary procedure, and overall participation.

Lincoln/Douglas Debate
This popular style of debating features one person on each side. Propositions of value are debated with the emphasis on developing logical argumentation rather than an accumulation of information. You will learn values analysis, argumentation skiils, sound and ethical uses of persuasion, and clear audience centered communication. You will have the opportunity to debate several topics during the school year.

Policy Debate
The Policy topic shall be the current national question. You and a partner will debate both sides of an interesting and controversial proposition for the entire season in the "Oregon" style, which includes constructive argument, cross examination, and refutation. Skills you will learn include research, policy analysis, case construction, refutation, questioning, organization and communication.

Public Forum Debate
Public Forum Debate is audience friendly debate. You and a partner will debate controversial issues that are "stripped" from the newspaper headlines. A new topic will be announced the first day of each preceding month at www.nflonline.org. A Public Forum Debate round begins with a flip of a coin between the competing teams to determine your side and speaker position. Public Forum will test your skills in argumentation, cross-examination, and refutation. Public Forum Debate 16 page Guidelines & Past Topic List

International Extemp
A contestant draws three questions on a foreign topic, selects one, then has 30 minutes to prepare an answer to the question. The contestant utilizes a set of files that he or she has built as a resource for answering the question. Only published materials may be used as resources (books, magazines, newspaper, and on-line resources). At the completion of the 30 minute preparation time, the student will speak on the topic for 7 minutes.

U.S. Extemp
A contestant draws three questions on a domestic topic, selects one, then has 30 minutes to prepare an answer to the question. The preparation, resources, and speech time is the same as International Extemp.

Original Oratory
As orator you will be expected to research and speak intelligently, with a degree of originality, in an interesting manner, and with some profit to your audience, about a topic you have chosen. 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: 8-10 minutes.

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. Actors will utilize stationary blocking to enhance the interpretation. 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.

 

This is an individual category in which the selections are a mix of short story/prose and brief poetry.  The short stories and poetry should be related thematically in some way and the student reads the pieces from a binder.  The time limit is 10 minutes.