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Speech & Debate

Why Speech and Debate?

Competitive speech and debate provides students with a means and a reason to develop critical thinking skills, writing skills, and presentation skills. Through debate, students engage in civil discourse and learn to deeply understand both sides of an argument. Their own opinions are honed and polished as are their sympathies towards those of differing opinions. Debate teaches students the power of research and how to persuade with the truth. While preparing and presenting speeches, students learn that their words matter. They do not have to wait for adulthood to enact change. They can speak now and make a difference to their judges and fellow competitors. Most of all, competitors learn to express their own faith and values and how their lives have been changed by them. Speech and debate is the one activity that will benefit students no matter where they go after high school. 

American Speech and Debate Association Eligibility 

A competitor eligible for qualifying competition during the 2023 season must meet all of the applicable criteria listed below:

• Affiliate with American Speech and Debate Association

• Read and abide by the ASDA Standards of Conduct

• Be no younger than 12 years old on January 1, 2023

• Be no older than 18 years old on September 1, 2022

• Not have earned a high school diploma

Eligibility FAQ

Junior Speech and Debate qualifications

A junior competitor is eligible for junior competition during the 2023 season when they meet all of the applicable criteria listed below:

  • Affiliate with American Speech and Debate Association
  • Read and abide by the ASDA Standards of Conduct
  • Be 8-11 year old

Speech Types

Limited Preparation Speeches

Students competing in Limited Preparation Speeches are given a topic and a short amount of time to prepare a speech during a competition round. Not knowing the topic beforehand, competitors quickly analyze a topic, develop a thesis, and prepare supporting materials while they are in a tournament room. 

Impromptu Speaking

In Impromptu Speaking, competitors are given two possible topics to speak on. The students have two minutes to think and make notes about the topic followed by five minutes to present an informative or persuasive speech. Topics may be single words, phrases, quotes, or questions.  

Extemporaneous Speaking

Extemporaneous Speaking topics are drawn from current events. The topics focus on any topic in domestic, international, business, or entertainment and culture news. Competitors are given two possible topics and twenty minutes to prepare a speech. During the preparation time, competitors may use any physical or digital news clippings they have brought. Extemporaneous Speeches are seven minutes long and are supported with verbal citations. 

 

Platform Speeches

Platform Speeches are written, memorized, and presented by the competitors. Because students prepare their Platform Speech scripts throughout the season, they are able to present topics they care deeply about and have researched well. American Speech and Debate believes that young people have voices that matter and perspectives that are needed in the public forum. Platform Speeches give students the opportunity to have their voices heard.

Original Oratory

An Original Oratory is a ten-minute speech written and memorized by the competitor. The topic is entirely of the competitor’s choosing. The speech may seek to inform, to inspire, or to persuade the judges. It may be serious or humorous in tone.

Faith and Values Oratory

A Faith and Values Oratory is a ten-minute speech written and memorized by the competitor. The topic must focus on some aspect of the faith or values of the competitor. The speech may seek to inform, to inspire, or to persuade the judges, but it must not seek to persuade the judges toward a particular religion or creed. Competitors, judges, and audience members come from all religions, and that must be honored when presenting speeches. Appropriate topics include an explanation of some tenet of the competitor’s religion, encouragement in upholding a value of importance to the competitor, a depiction of how living their religion has benefitted the life of the competitor, and any other topic that fits the parameters of the speech category.

Interpretation Speeches

Interpretation Speech competitors choose a published piece of literature, cut the work into a presentation, act all the roles, and direct all the action. Interpretation Speeches provide substantial freedom of imagination to competitors. Without sets, props, or costumes available, competitors use body language, facial expressions, and voice to create rich characters and settings. American Speech and Debate values classic literature and works with high literary merit. Interpretation Speeches give competitors the opportunity to present those works in a dynamic, entertaining way.

Duo Interpretation

In Duo Interpretation Speeches, two competitors perform a piece of literature for the audience. The students perform all the roles and provide an original introduction that explains the theme of their speech. Duo Interpretation Speeches may be dramatic or humorous in tone. 

Open Interpretation

In Open Interpretation Speeches, one competitor performs a piece of literature for the audience. The student performs all the roles and provides an original introduction that explains the theme of their speech. Open Interpretation Speeches may be dramatic or humorous in tone. 

Debate Types

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Lincoln-Douglas Debate is also known as Values Debate. A single debater on each side affirms or negates the resolution using logic, philosophy, and real-life examples to support their side of the debate. A single debate round takes approximately 40 minutes.

Team Policy Debate

Team Policy Debate is also known as CX Debate. A team of two debaters on each side debates a question of policy change. The affirmative team proposes a change in policy that fits within the assigned resolution, and the negative team presents potential problems with the specific policy change. A single debate round takes approximately 75 minutes.

 

Tournament Schedule Speech & Debate:

  • 4 rounds preliminary debate

  • 2 out rounds of debate. Doubled semis allows for top 8 competitors to continue to debate without using a quarterfinals block.

  • Doubled debate semis: 5th-8th rank after preliminary rounds debate each other, 1st-4th rank after preliminary rounds debate each other.

  • Debate finals: winners from 1st-4th semis bracket debate each other for 1-2, losers for 3-4. Winners from 5th-8th semis bracket debate each other for 5-6, losers for 7-8.

  • 2 rounds preliminary speech

  • 6 speakers per speech room

  • 1 finals round speech

Friday

5 pm arrive and check-in

5:30 pm announcements

6 pm Debate Prelim Round 1

7:45 pm Debate Prelim Round 2

Saturday

7 am arrive and check-in

7:30 am announcements

8 am Debate Prelim Round 3

9:45 am Speech Prelim Round 1

11:15 am Debate Prelim Round 4

1:00 pm Speech Prelim Round 2

2:30 pm Debate Semifinals

4:15 pm Speech Finals

5:45 pm Debate Finals

7:30 pm Awards ceremony

 

Tentative Junior Tournament Schedule Speech & Debate:

Friday

5 pm arrive and check-in

5:30 pm announcements

6 pm Speech Practice

7pm Debate Practice

Saturday

7 am arrive and check-in

7:30 am announcements

8 am Junior Activities

9:45 am Watch Senior Speech Round

11:15 am Watch Senior Debate Round

1:00 pm Competition Warm Up Game

2:30 pm Junior Speech Competition

4:30 pm Junior Debate Competition

6:00 pm Junior Finals 

7:30 pm Awards ceremony