when the tournaments are held. We students choose the events we want to compete in
(sometimes with advice from a coach) and which tournaments to go to.
Most of the work is done on our own - researching topics and resolutions, finding pieces for interpretive events, copying articles for the externp files, cutting interps,
writing speeches and debate cases, memorizing, practicing. Sometimes we work in pairs
or small groups, like when we research Congress bills or write debate cases.
The team meets on Wednesday nights from 7 to 9 for announcements, instruction,
and feedback on our performance. Along with the coaches, we give each other feedback,
so even if you're not the one "on stage" at the moment, there's something to do.
Sometimes you might want to meet with a coach for one-on-one work outside of
meetings, and they'll make themselves available for that.
(Santa Clara County). League tournaments have just one kind of event (Individual
Events, Congress or Debate). We also go to a few invitationals at colleges - Santa Clara,
Stanford, Berkeley. Those have more than one kind of event and take up a whole weekend, starting on Friday afternoon for the debaters. Think of a track meet, with different events going on at different times and some people competing in more than one thing-- only all speaking. Berkeley is the coolest invitational, because it's the biggest
tournament in the U.S., with students from all over the country, plus we stay overnight
in a hotel. Each round we compete in gets judged by an adult, usually somebody's parent,
(but never your own!). At invitationals you'll get college students and coaches for
judges as well. The judge fills out a ballot for each student and decides where you ranked
in the group or whether you won or lost the debate. Hopefully, you'll also get some
helpful comments about why they gave you that rank or win/loss. Winning a round is
mostly about appealing to the judge. That's the main reason why we dress up for
competition - to make the best possible impression.
at tournaments, so they don't always have to compete with the people who have years of
experience. If you do well as a Novice, you move up to JV (in debate) or Varsity (all
other events) sometime during the year.
silver trays at qualifiers and invitationals (sometimes semi-finalists get trophies, too).
It isn't all talent - be persistent and you will improve and eventually "break" (advance
beyond preliminary rounds).
We also accumulate National Forensic League points each time we compete. We
earn first membership, then advanced standing, and wear NFL cords at graduation.
around with, the fun of doing the events, and when you do well, the knowledge that you have really accomplished something.
The current theory is Rose Wei.
