Lynbrook Speech & Debate

Speech and Debate Event Summaries

Below you'll find a summary of all the different Speech and Debate events offered by Lynbrook Speech and Debate. This is a brief outline of the differences between the types of events and is meant to help you decide which event(s) to compete in this year. I would highly suggest that you come to our practices to learn more, as the following summary is relatively brief.

Spontaneous Speaking: It is a speech made "on the spot". You are given very little time to prepare for a speech that must be given eloquently and smoothly. Topics range from domestic politics to foreign affairs, but can also be random and abstract. Spontaneous Speaking includes both Extemporaneous and Impromptu Speaking events.

Original Oratory/Advocacy: The more "classic" style of speech - you prepare a 10 minute long speech ahead of time on a moral or political issue facing the country and indicate why such an issue should be considered in modern society. With Original Oratory, you discuss an issue that needs to be resolved or discussed; with Original Advocacy, you also propose a specific plan to resolve such an issue.

Interpretation Events: In the Interpretation Events (Humorous Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Thematic Interpretation, Original Prose and Poetry), you use a script from a play and "act" out a part of it in front of people. This is done in an extremely special way using "popping" effects and is one of the most creative events in competitive speech.

Expository Speaking: In this type of speech, you use poster boards (in which you can use your creative skill) to enhance your speech. This type of speech usually involves informational speeches about things or events (ex. Fire, Time, September 11th).

Student Congress: In Student Congress, students imitate the style of the United States Congress by debating bills and resolutions in a room with about 20-30 other students. Participants are allowed to choose their side of a bill and are allotted a specified amount of time to support their side. The round is done in Parliamentary Procedure format, as it is in the actual United States Congress.

Parliamentary Debate: Parliamentary debate is a spontaneous debate. Topics are given 15 minutes before a debate round, and cases are written in that time. Topics thus change for every round debated. Debates can be on things from current events to television shows, but there must be clash between debaters. Parliamentary debate consists of two-person teams- a government team and an opposition team. Debaters use the time before the round starts to write a case for the given resolution. Topics can be debated literally or metaphorically,as long as proper defining of the resolution is given before a case is debated. One unique aspect about Parliamentary debate is that debaters may stand up and ask a question to their opponent during their speech.

Public Forum Debate: This is a team event that advocates or rejects a position posed by the resolution. A central tenet of the debate is that the clash of ideas must be communicated in a manner persuasive to the non-specialist or "citizen judge", i.e. a member of the American jury. Resolutions change monthly and are usually centered on controversial current events. Teams do not know which side they will argue until the beginning of the debate. There is also no preset order of speaking. In addition, Public Forum includes the always entertaining 'cross-fire' period. During this time, the debaters stand up and aggressively question each other about their arguments.

Lincoln-Douglas Debate: This style of debating features one person on each side. You will have the opportunity to debate several topics during the school year as topics change bi-monthly. These topics tend to focus on philosophical ideals and value-based resolutions. Since this event deals with propositions of value, the debates do not advocate establishing a new policy or changing an existing policy. In addition, there are a few periods of 'cross-examination.' This is when a debater is interrogated by the other on things such as how the debate should be decided and whether certain arguments are applicable to the majority of people. Many times, a Lincoln Douglas debate will come down to what is morally correct.

Policy Debate: Policy debate is a form of debate pitting two teams of two students against each other. It is currently the longest format of high school debate. Unlike other debate events, policy debate uses only one resolution throughout the entire year. The resolution is usually something that is part of an ongoing effort by the United States government to pass a law or bill. The Affirmative team is required to uphold the resolution and they will usually provide their 'plan' for how to go about it. The Negation will attempt to disprove the arguments which the affirmative provides. A large part about high school policy debate is the use of tubs. Most teams will print hundreds of pages of evidence from several sources to substantiate their arguments and logic, and keep those pages in large tubs.