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Debate Syllabus 2008-2009
Text:
- A Guide to Public Speaking and Debate
Source Books:
- Blue Book and Blue Book Advanced
Materials:
- Debate Starter Kit provided
Description:
- This class is designed to help students learn the skills needed for policy debate and prepare for competition in NCFCA speech and debate tournaments
- Students will learn the art of team policy debate. Skills in critical thinking, defending worthy ideas, attacking invalid ideas, persuasion and research will be developed. Participation in TWO TOURNAMENTS IS REQUIRED. It is strongly recommended that students attend as many tournaments as possible. Tournaments are the best way to practice what has been learned and to further develop debating skills.
Goals:
- Gain poise and confidence when speaking before an audience or defending an opinion
- Improve skills in research, logic, organization, and writing
- Learn essential debate terminology
- Learn the structure of a policy debate
Requirements:
- Participate in practice debates in class
- Participate in NCFCA tournaments (2 tournaments are required each year)
- Prepare an affirmative brief for the current debate topic
- Prepare five negative briefs for the current NCFCA debate topic and post them on the debate team user group site
- Research a minimum of 10 web sites pertaining to the current resolution and post information on the debate team user group site
- Participate in writing and collecting cross-examination questions for current cases
- Participate in collecting a list of Region IV cases and typing flows of cases debated at tournaments
- Students will prepare a Persuasive speech and an Expository Speech according to NCFCA rules to be presented in class. Students are encouraged to take their I.E. to tournaments.
- Comply with all discipline rules
- Complete all assignments on time and according to instructions
- Students participating in tournaments must meet all eligibility requirements and deadline requirements
- Join NCFCA (www.ncfca.org) Membership is required to participate in tournaments at the region qualifying level and beyond. Registration deadlines and fees for 2007-08: The affiliation fee is $45 per family regardless of the number of competitors in the family. Affiliation before September 15th will result in a $15 discount (net $30 per family). Affiliation after December 31st will result in a $15 late penalty (net $60 per family).
Resources:
- Podium Power website: www.podiumpower.net
- Podium Power Forensics Club user group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/podiumpower. Students will need to go to this site and request permission to join. Membership is open only to Podium Power students.
- NCFCA: www.ncfca.org
- Students need access to the Internet
Evaluation: Students will be graded on the following:
- Tests over general debate knowledge and the current resolution
- 5 negative briefs on the current resolution
- Presentation of persuasive speech according to NCFCA guidelines
- Presentation of expository speech according to NCFCA guidelines
- Participation
- Contributions of debate related information to be shared by team members
Field Trips: Debate students will join the government class to lobby the Texas Legislature. They will also have the opportunity to tour the Governor’s Mansion and Capitol with my other classes.
- Tour the Texas Governor’s Mansion (fall)
- Tour the Texas State Capitol (fall)
- Texas State Capitol to lobby the Texas Legislature (spring)
Course Schedule: To be posted on the yahoo user group site.
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