Sonoma Family Life Magazine March 2010 : Page 22
What is Speech & Debate? F orensics, also known as speech and debate, is comprised of several categories of competitive events, which are designed to better high school students’ argumentation, speaking style, and performance abilities. Tournaments are held throughout the school year, during which students typically focus on the same areas throughout the year in order to continue improving their skills. You may or may not want your teen to get better at arguing. On the other hand, learning to debate may be just the way to channel that energy. There are 16 different events for students to choose from, divided into four areas of competition. The Argumentation area includes four events: Team Debate and Parliamentary Debate are two events for individuals or teams of two debating for 45–60 minutes. In the Lincoln-Douglas event individuals debate based on a question of philosophical value. The Congress Debate is a type of group discussion where individuals choose to affi rm or negate a proposition in individual three minute speeches, with one minute cross-examinations, over a 90 minute session. Original Composition is performed individually in one of the four styles: Oratory, Advocacy, Expository, Prose/Poetry. In these events students prepare and memorize a ten minute speech that might be persuasive, informational, or creative. Oratory style consists of topics which are philosophical and are usually the students’ personal refl ections on a current controversial topic. The topic of the Prose/Poetry event covers a short story, essay, or play. Gordon Allen, NFL President, qualified individually for state debate tournament for the 2nd year in a row! For the Interpretation of Literature event competitors must memorize a ten minute speech on the topic of a monologue or characters from a literature work. In this competition there are four events: Dramatic, Humorous, Thematic, and Oratorical Interpretation. In the style of Humorous Interpretation students must focus on humor in their chosen topic. And in the Thematic Interpretation style students base their presentation on a particular theme shared in three separate works of literature. Bennett Valley Union School District Registration for the 2010–11 School Year Now accepting Kindergarten Registration and a limited number of interdistrict enrollments Kindergarten Tours at Yulupa School Library: Mar. 1 & Apr. 12: 9–10:15; Mar. 5: 2:45–3:45. Yulupa Primary School Preschool–Third Grade 2250 Mesquite Drive, Santa Rosa 707 542-6272 Strawberry Intermediate School Fourth–Sixth Grade 2311 Horseshoe Drive, Santa Rosa 707 526-4433 Your child’s joy of learning is nurtured with our: • Excellent Teachers • Reduced Class Size (K–3) • Extended Day Kindergarten • Fully Staffed Libraries and Technology Labs • Visual and Performing Arts Programs • Band, Percussion and Chorus (4th–6th) • Interscholastic Basketball (4th–6th) • Emphasis on Environmental Stewardship • Gifted and Talented Education (4th–6th) On-site child care is provided at both schools by YMCA Call for more information and to arrange a tour 2250 Mesquite Dr., Santa Rosa CA 95405 22 Sonoma Family Life 707 542-2201 • Visit us at www.bvusd.org March 2010 Lastly, in the Personal Commentary event three styles of competing are organized for the competitors: Foreign Extemporaneous, National Extemporaneous, and Impromptu. In both the Foreign and National Extemporaneous students are given 30 minutes to prepare and seven minutes to present upon their choice of three topics prepared by the tournament host. Research materials are allowed in the prep room. However in the Impromptu event students are given two minutes to prepare for a fi ve minute presentation and the judge presents the topic while in the competition room, no research materials are allowed. ¶ www.sonomafamilylife.com
