SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM

WHAT IS SPEECH AND DEBATE?• Speech and Debate is a combination of several events that involve public

speaking, writing, listening, researching, acting, and interpreting skills, just to name a few.

• This is a competition event: We compete regularly (typically twice a month) against schools from all across South Texas.

• All events are split into two categories: Debate and Speech (Individual) events.

WHAT IS SPEECH AND DEBATE?

Speech Events• Poetry• Prose• Dramatic Interpretation• Humorous Interpretation• Duet Interpretation• Duo Interpretation• Original Oratory• Impromptu

Debate Events• Lincoln-Douglas Debate• Public Forum Debate• Policy Debate• Student Congress

• Domestic Extemporaneous• Foreign Extemporaneous

TOURNAMENTS

• Our current schedule is as follows:

• Oct. 17-18 — Bellaire HS• Oct. 24-25 — Lamar Consolidated

HS• Nov. 14-15 — Katy Taylor HS*• Nov. 21-22 — Cypress Creek HS• Dec. 5-6 — Alief Taylor HS°• Jan. 16-17—Mayde Creek HS

• Jan. 23-24 — Lamar HS OR• Jan. 30-31 — George Ranch HS• Feb. 6-7 — Seven Lakes HS• Mar. 5-8 — TFA State Tournament• Mar. 28-29 — UIL District

Tournament• TBD — National Qualifier

Tournament

• We compete about twice a month. Tournaments take place at high schools around the Houston area.

TOURNAMENTS• Concessions will be offered at tournaments. Don’t expect 5-star meals;

pizza is the norm.• You will need to bring money to tournaments (unless you don’t want to

eat)!• $5-10 should be enough for Friday• On Saturday, we typically go to Whataburger for breakfast if time permits,

and sometimes we go to lunch and/or dinner. We recommend anywhere from $10-$25

• If you don’t want to bring money, you can always bring your own food.

RIDES• Buses are provided to and from most tournaments, but you are

responsible for getting to the bus on time and arranging a ride home.• We typically leave school during 7th period on Friday and return home

anywhere from 10 pm to midnight.• We return to school anywhere from 6 am to 7 am on Saturday.• Tournaments typically end around 9 on Saturday depending on how well

we do. We should be home before 10:30 on most Saturdays.• Don’t forget to tell your parents to pick you up!

COMPETING• In tournaments, you will compete in several rounds of whatever event

you are participating in. After a set number of preliminary rounds, you might “break”, or advance to elimination rounds, depending on how well you have done in your preliminary rounds.

• Elimination rounds continue until the finals, and all members will stay at tournaments until all members are done competing.

• If you miss any round resulting in a drop fee, you will be responsible for paying the fee.

• If there are any outstanding circumstances for which a student needs to miss a round or leave the tournament early, Mrs. Owens needs to know ASAP.

MEETINGS• Meetings will take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:40 to 3:45 at

the earliest. We typically practice until 4:00 or later.• Meetings are mandatory. If you are unable to come to any meeting, we

must have a 2+ day warning. • Meetings are very important. They are where we will deliver any

important information, write cases, find pieces, and get ready for competition. Thus, it is vital that you are at all meetings. (They’re also a lot of fun, and we don’t want anyone to miss out )

CASES / PIECES• You will be responsible for writing your own cases, finding your own

pieces, and doing your own research.• We will help you, but you must do your most of your own work.• NO PLAGIARISM! We know what it looks like, and it is considered cheating.

If we catch you with a plagiarized case, there will be serious repercussions!

• Cases must be submitted to Jeremy by the second Wednesday of every month. Pieces will be submitted to Tyler by the same date (even if your piece hasn’t changed!).

• All pieces must be published in a book or article. Otherwise, they will not be allowed in competition.

DUES• Sadly, this all costs money (as most good things do).• Dues will be $125 for the first semester• Students will be allowed to compete in the first two tournaments. After

they compete, they must decide whether or not they will stay on the team. If so, they must pay their dues by Thursday, November 13th. If not, they must pay the tournament fees they incurred before they can leave the team.

• Checks can be made payable to Ridge Point Activities Fund.• Please speak to Mrs. Owens if there are any issues that prevent you from

paying your dues.

DRESS CODE• Boys must wear a shirt, tie, black slacks, a belt, dress shoes, and

preferably a black jacket.• Girls have a few options:

• A black pantsuit with an appropriate blouse• A business-formal black dress, or a colored dress with a black blazer• A colored blouse with a black skirt of appropriate length

• Tennis shoes, jeans, T-shirts, overly tight or short dresses, stilettos, and ankle socks will not be permitted during competition.

• You can change into anything you like after you are done competing so long as it’s school appropriate.

DRESS CODE

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DRESS CODE

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COMMUNICATION• A majority of our resources will be placed on our website. Please visit us!

This PowerPoint will be available on our website so you can view it again.

www.pantherdebate.weebly.com

COMMUNICATION• We will also text you from Remind101

Please text@rpdebate

to903-206-4297

ONE LAST THING…• Please go to our website (See! We told you that you would need it!)

• Print out the Honor Code• You can find it on the Parents page• Please read it, have your parent sign it, and sign it yourself• We need it back Thursday, October 2nd!

Thank you!

Welcome to the Ridge PointSpeech and Debate Team!