Be the Light Youth Association | Speech and Debate
  • Home
  • About us
    • Leadership Team
    • Instructors
    • Alumni
  • 2025 Summer Workshop
  • Impact
    • Social Impact Newsletter
    • Our Impact
    • Past Events >
      • Fall Tournament 2020
  • Resources
    • Apply for School Donations
    • Starting a Speech and Debate Club
    • Getting Better at Speech and Debate Guide
  • Donate
  • FAQ
    • Refer a Friend
    • Workshop Refund Policy
    • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About us
    • Leadership Team
    • Instructors
    • Alumni
  • 2025 Summer Workshop
  • Impact
    • Social Impact Newsletter
    • Our Impact
    • Past Events >
      • Fall Tournament 2020
  • Resources
    • Apply for School Donations
    • Starting a Speech and Debate Club
    • Getting Better at Speech and Debate Guide
  • Donate
  • FAQ
    • Refer a Friend
    • Workshop Refund Policy
    • Contact Us

Want to Argue?

Public Forum Debate:
  • This is a form of partner debate - it is two partners vs. two partners
  • You will be debating a resolution - either affirm (agree with) it, or negate (disagree with) it
  • You have to prepare both sides! Be prepared to argue either one.
  • Usually about current events or domestic/global affairs.
  • Rounds typically last 45 minutes
  • Watch a round: 2018 Public Forum Debate NSDA Nationals Final Round - Kodnani/Maunder - Medina/Sheerer


​
Cross-Examination/Policy Debate
  • Like Public Forum, this is a partner event!
  • Prepare to negate and affirm the resolution
  • About creating policy - is more technical than Public Forum and meant for academic audiences
  • Rounds last anywhere from 1 hour 30 mins - 2 hours
  • Watch a round: 2018 Policy Debate Barkley Forum Tournament Final Round​
​
World Schools Debate
  • This is a form of team debate, with 3-5 members per team
  • Meant to be understandable to the general public and more focused on speaking ability.
  • Teams will argue either proposition or opposition regarding a motion (like a resolution) - prepare both sides!
  • Rounds are typically 1 hour long
  • Watch a round: 2020 World Schools Debate HWL Final Round - Greenhill v. Team USA
Congressional Debate
  • This is modeled after Congress! There are around 10+ individuals competing in a round, where legislation is proposed and debated
  • Lists of legislation (dockets) are distributed beforehand, multiple pieces of legislations are proposed in round
  • There is a Presiding Officer (PO) present to call on speakers, keep time, and make sure parliamentary procedure is followed
  • Give speeches that are around 3 minutes advocating for or opposing legislation
  • Rounds can last from 1 hour 30 minutes - 3 hours
  • Watch a speech: 2018 NSDA National Debate  Tournament - Jason Ancheta​​
Lincoln Douglas Debate
  • This is an individual debate event - one person versus the other
  • You still negate or affirm a resolution and have to prepare to debate either side!
  • About values and morality - arguments are often more complex
  • Rounds typically last 40 minutes
  • Watch a round: 2019 Lincoln-Douglas Debate NSDA Nationals Final Round - Chigurupati-Johannes ​
Big Questions Debate
  • Students can compete as an individual OR as a team
  • Either side will (again) be affirming or negating a resolution
  • Opponents will debate topics concerning the intersection of science, religion, and philosophy
  • Rounds are typically 45 minutes long
  • Watch a round: 2017 Big Questions Debate NSDA Nationals Final Round - Roy v. Lewis

Want to learn to think on your feet?

Extemporaneous Speaking: 
  • Draw three speech topics to choose between
  • 30 minutes to prepare and memorize
  • 7 minute speech time with 30 seconds grace
  • Covers a range of topics, from domestic to international issues, but is mainly about current events. For example:
    • ​The Trump Administration
    • East Asia
    • The Middle East​
  • Watch a speech: 2017 International Extemporaneous Speaking NSDA National Champion - Connor Rothschild​​
Impromptu Speaking:
  • Like extemp, you will draw three topics to choose between
  • 2 minutes to prepare and memorize
  • 5 minute speech time with 30 seconds grace
  • The topic you draw can come in many different forms. It can be:
    • ​A quote/proverb
    • A date
    • A word
    • A question
  • Watch a speech: 2017 Impromptu Speaking NSDA National Final Round - Spencer Schumacher

Want to speak your mind?

Original Oratory:
  • You choose your own topic! Speak about something you are passionate about. Oratories are generally advocacy speeches regarding a social issue.
  • 10 minute speech with a 30 second grace period
  • Write the speech before tournament, on your own time
  • Watch a speech: 2019 Original Oratory NSDA National Champion - Haris Hosseini

Want to Act?

Program Oral Interpretation
  • Solo event!
  • 10 minute performance with 30 second grace period
  • This is a woven collection of a range of  ALREADY WRITTEN media. You do not write your own material. POI’s can include excerpts from, but are not limited to:
  • Prose
  • Poetry
  • Songs
  • Articles
  • Revolves around a central theme or societal issue, such as racism, sexism, etc.
  • Binder event - all your material will be in a 8.5” x 5.5” black binder which you will perform with
  • Doesn’t require memorization!
Watch a performance: 2019 Program Oral Interpretation NSDA National Champion - Ella Schnake
Duet Acting
  • Partner event!
  • 10 minute performance with 30 second grace period
  • A piece can be, but is not limited to, excerpts from a range of ALREADY WRITTEN media, such as:
  • Play scripts
  • Books
  • Your piece can be either dramatic or humorous in nature
  • 2 chairs to block/choreograph with and use as props
  • Watch a performance: 2019 Duet Acting CHS Speech and Debate Showcase - Banda/Colwell
Informative Speaking:
  • Just like Oratory, you choose your own topic. Choose something you find interesting!
  • Can use visual aids
  • 10 minute speech with a 30 second grace period
  • Write the speech before tournament, on your own time
Watch a speech: 2017 Informative Speaking NSDA National Final Round - Jordyn Allen
​


Dramatic Interpretation
  • Solo event!
  • 10 minute performance with 30 second grace period
  • A piece can be, but is not limited to, excerpts from a range of ALREADY WRITTEN media, such as:
  • Monologues
  • Play scenes
  • Books
  • Dramatic in nature - meant to center around a societal issue
  • Watch a performance: 2019 Dramatic Interpretation NSDA Nationals Final Round - Sema’j Lee
Humorous Interpretation
  • Solo event!
  • 10 minute performance with 30 second grace period
  • A piece can be, but is not limited to, excerpts from a range of ALREADY WRITTEN media, such as:
  • Monologues
  • Play scenes
  • Published stand-up routines
  • This event is meant to be funny - make your audience laugh!
  • Often involves multiple characters
  • Meant to have a moral/lesson at the end
  • Watch a performance: 2019 Humorous Interpretation NSDA National Champion - Connor Sherry


​

Duo Interpretation
  • Like Duet Acting, this is a partner event!
  • 10 minute performance with 30 second grace period
  • A piece can be, but is not limited to, excerpts from a range of ALREADY WRITTEN media, such as:
  • Play scripts
  • Books
  • Can be humorous or dramatic in nature
  • You CANNOT TOUCH or MAKE EYE CONTACT with your partner
  • You do not get chairs to use as props
  • Watch a performance: 2017 Duo Interpretation NSDA Nationals Final Round - Doty/Sanders
PREVIOUS: Understanding S&D
NEXT: HOW TO START A CLUB
ABOUT US
Our Mission
Meet The Team
​Our Impact
OUR PROGRAMS
Past Events
College Seminar
Summer Workshop
SUPPORT
Starting a Speech and Debate Club
Donate
Contact Us
​Frequently Asked Questions

​

Be the Light Youth Association