Speech and debate is one of the hidden gems of the American education system and more than anything else, it changes lives. That’s why the vast majority of coaches coach – because it changed their lives, and because they want the same for the students they coach.
Speech and debate is an academic competition with a structure similar to gymnastics, track and field, swimming, diving, etc. in that students compete in a variety of different public speaking, oral interpretation (acting), limited preparation, and debate events which develop their communication and critical thinking skills. Students spend their time outside of school preparing for tournaments by reading up on current events, finding evidence, writing speeches, and preparing performances which they then test in competitions against students both locally and from all across the world. Tournaments typically have 3 preliminary rounds for speech and 4-8 preliminary rounds for debate, after which the best students compete for awards in elimination rounds. By the time students reach state and national finals, outside observers are blown away by what they see. One young woman just ahead of Mr. Conrad on the USC debate team, for example, was litigating in front of the U.S. Supreme Court before she was 30.
No one starts out that way, of course. In addition to the different competitive events, students also compete against students with similar experience levels. In the same way that 100 pound wrestlers never compete against 300 pound wrestlers, middle school students only compete against middle school students. High school novices compete against high school novices, and experienced varsity competitors compete against experienced varsity competitors. Students move up in level over time which helps to refine their skills and provide additional opportunities for growth.
The long-term effect of speech and debate is that it creates a powerhouse of a person. Students develop the intellect, confidence, critical thinking, and communications skills to be able to take on the world, along with an appreciation for different points of view and a network of high-achieving peers from all across the country who become their friends for life. It is not at all unusual for Duo Interpretation partners or debate partners to marry each other, for friends from different high schools to be roommates and compete together in college, or for those same friends to go into business together.
During their time in the activity, most speech and debate students will typically find a home in one area of the activity (the creative kids go to speech and the analytical kids go to debate) although RLA coaches work to expose students to all aspects of the activity to help develop a broad and deep skill set, regardless of where students choose to specialize.
Public speaking events (Original Oratory, Original Advocacy, Informative Speaking, etc.) teach students to research, write, and deliver a message to an audience. This video also includes limited preparation events (Impromptu Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking) which are contests of wit in which students speak off the cuff on either short, philosophical topics or answer questions on current events.
Oral interpretation events (Dramatic Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Prose, Poetry, Original Prose & Poetry, etc.) have students perform a cutting of a piece of drama (movie script, play, poem, short story, etc.) in which the student or students play all of the characters.
Debate events (Lincoln-Douglas, Policy, Public Forum, Worlds, and Parliamentary Debate) teach students to thoroughly research a topic, evaluate evidence, wrestle with multiple points of view, think on their feet, and to advocate for what they believe is right. Formats range from having 20 minutes to prepare and debate a topic for 45 minutes to having the entire year to debate 2 hour rounds on a topic relating to U.S. government policy.
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