Welcome to Debate Debate Class Areas of study

Welcome to Debate! Debate Class *Areas of study: We will be working with research, argumentation, speech construction, and delivery, Debate stresses critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and responsibility. It also requires individual and group cooperation. *Materials needed for class: pens, pencils, paper, highlighters, digital timer, jump drive *Students will focus on policy debate in the first semester. We will introduce public forum and Lincoln-Douglas debate in the second semester. Students will also participate in extemporaneous speaking and original oratory. They will study and practice student congress in the second semester. Additionally, we will cover a public speaking unit including demonstrative, informative, persuasive, and interpretive speaking during the second semester. Successful completion of both semesters allows students to exempt the sophomore speech class. *Students who participate in debate will be expected to compete in a minimum of five contests throughout the season. *The debate season runs from November through February. Student Congress takes place in March and April. • -Competition: Students will need to sign up for each contest in the classroom. Signing up is a commitment. Entry fees may cost as much as $20 depending on the event. Entries also dictate judge and transportation requirements. Students and parents should communicate before deciding which tournaments to attend. • -Dress: Students who compete should dress conservatively. This means no jeans or tennis shoes. Guys should wear dress pants, shirts, and ties. Girls should wear blouses and skirts or dress pants. Skirts should not be too short. Shoes should be close-toed. Flip-flops and sandals are discouraged. Suit jackets are always appropriate, but not required for novice performers. • -Medical forms must be filled out and turned in before a student may travel with the team. *Contact Information: school phone: 696 -4138 home phone: 627 -5806 e-mail: sally. pies@k 12. sd. us home page: http: //sp 007. k 12. sd. us *The policy topic for 2014 -15 is: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or development of the Earth's oceans