More than 1,000 students from across the state are converging upon Culver City High School today, tomorrow and Sunday on for the California High School Speech and Debate Championships.
Including competition in debate, public speaking, literary/dramatic performance, and model U.S. Congress, the 52nd annual state tournament helps students learn to work collaboratively, build confidence, improve reasoning, research and organizational skills, and enhance presentational technique.
A 1999 report in the Wall Street Journal cited forensics as the top extra-curricular activity college admissions counselors look for, especially where enrollment is competitive, such as at the Ivy League schools.
Recent data illustrates that participation in high school forensics boosts SAT scores better than enrollment in a test preparation course because students are exposed to critical thinking and an elevated vocabulary, which they put into practice on a regular basis.
“This is where the leaders of tomorrow are coming from,” said Dan Carter, Culver High Speech and Debate coach.
This weekend’s event pits students who have qualified at local and regional events against the best high school speakers and debaters from all over California in a variety of events. Among the events are Humorous Interpretation, essentially stand-up comedy; Impromptu Speech, in which students are given a theme, quote and a current event at random and then are expected to speak immediately for five minutes on the topic; and four different types of debate on current events ranging from alternative energy to ethics in the workplace.
The event, organized by the California High School Speech Assn., is the culmination of a year’s worth of local and regional forensics competitions throughout California.
Recent data illustrates that participation in high school forensics boosts SAT scores better than enrollment in a test preparation course. Students are exposed to the type of critical thinking and elevated vocabulary that they will put into practice on a regular basis.
“These students are really quite talented, aware and articulate,” said Mr. Carter. “You’ll hear high school students get up there and speak better than the politicians you see on TV. It’s pretty impressive.”
To help you understand the abbreviations and terms in the schedule below:
There are three general types of events: Individual Events, Congress, and Debate.
Individual Events (IE) are a 10-minute maximum speech unless otherwise specified:
Original Advocacy (OA) — An original speech about a government policy or procedure you wish to establish or change.
Original Oratory (OO) — An original speech on anything (previous topics include rain and plastic surgery).
Humorous Interpretation (HI) — An interpretive speech with a humorous theme (i.e., Who’s on First?).
Thematic Interpretation (TI) — An interpretive speech based on a theme.
Dramatic Interpretation (DI) — A dramatic interpretive speech. (i.e., dramatic monologue).
Oratorical Interpretation (OI) — An interpretation of a speech given by another person (“Four score and seven…”).
Impromptu (Imp) — The competitor is given a theme (word), a quote, and a current event at random. Then he/she gives a 5-minute maximum speech.
Expository (Exp) — A “how-to” or explanation speech.
Extemporaneous (IX or NX) — A 5- to 8-minute speech on a random current event. Thirty minutes of preparation. Event can be International (IX) or National (NX)
Dual Interp (Duo) — An interpretive speech with a partner.
Original Prose and Poetry (OPP) — 8Eight to 10 minutes of the speaker’s prose or poetry. Can be multiple selections.
Congress is an event that combines speech and debate. As in the U.S. Congress, there are bills that people give speeches on, either for or against, as they wish. The others competitors ask questions about what was said. Parlimentary procedures, based on Robert’s Rules of Order, are followed in congress.
There are four types of debate: Lincoln-Douglas (LD), Policy (Team), Public Forum (PF), and Parlimentary (Parli). In each, the students will alternate which side (Affirmative: for the resolution, and Negative, against it)
Lincoln-Douglas (LD) is one-on-one debate, on ethical issues. All others are partner debates, two against two.
Policy or “Team” debate is about what policy the U.S. government should adopt. In this intensive type of debate, the topic is the same all year. This year the topic is – Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase alternative energy incentives in the United States.
Public Forum (PF) debate can be about ethics or policy. Public Forum topics change monthly. For the championship the topic is – Resolved: That the Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 serves the best interests of the American people.
Parliamentary (Parli) debate is much like Public Forum debate, but the topic is not received until the hour before the debate itself and is a question of Ethics, Policy or Fact.
Tournament Schedule at
Culver City High School
Today
9:30 — Early Registration for Tournament Officials
10 until 12 noon — Registration in Student Dining Hall
12 noon — Congress meeting
1 p.m. — Welcome Coaches’ meeting, for all coaches)
2 p.m. — Team, LD, Rd. 1
3:15 — Extemp Draw
3:45 — IE A Round 1, Congress Round 1
5:45 — Team, LD, Round 2
7:30 — IE B, Round 1, Congress Round 2
Saturday
8 a.m. — Team, LD, Round 3
9:15 — Extemp Draw
9:45 — IE A, Round 2
11:15 — Team, LD, Round 4 , Parli/PF Round 1, Congress Round 3
1 p.m. — IE B Round 2
2:45 — Team, LD Round 5 , Parli/PF Round 2, Congress Round 4
4 p.m. — Extemp Draw
4:30 — IE A, Round 3
6:15 — Team, LD Round 6, Parli/PF Round 3
8 p.m. — IE B Round 3
Sunday
8 a.m. — Team, LD Round 7, Parli/PF Round 4 (SF), Congress Sms 1
9:15 — Extemp Draw
9:45 — IE A Semis
10:30 — Parli/PF Round 5 (single flight)
11:15 —IE B Semis, Congress Sms 2
1 p.m. — Team, LD Round 8, Parli/PF Round 6 (all single flight)
2:15 — Extemp Draw
2:45 — IE Finals
3:15 — Congress Finals, Parli/PF Round 7
4 p.m. — Team, LD Finals
4:30 — Parli/PF Finals
