WinSome​
​Speech & Debate
Club
208-375-5048​
DO YOU WANT TO DO SPEECH, OR DEBATE, OR BOTH?
As a Stoa-affiliated club, we teach Stoa's speech categories (see below).
Students NOT wishing to compete in tournaments but who do want to take a speech class may enroll in WinSome's speech class. Content is taught online and students meet monthly to deliver / get graded on speeches. Call (208) 375-5048 or inquire via email for more information.
SPEECH: Students who wish to compete in speech will be "club members," and meet every other Wednesday from 1:30 - 4:30 [see the WinSome calendar]. Only competitors (and parents) may attend club meetings. Competitors will construct at least two types of speeches listed below, but may create speeches for as many categories as they like. Speakers will have their speeches "polished" by the end of December to be ready for January competition. Students should plan on participating in at least TWO competitions during the season.
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New (first-year) students who wish to be in club and compete in tournaments will need to take the speech class (online), the Worldview class, AND participate in club meetings.
DEBATE: Students who wish to compete in debate will be "club members," and meet every other Wednesday from 1:30 - 4:30 [see the WinSome calendar]. Only competitors (and parents) may attend club meetings. For 2018-2019, WinSome will coach only in "Lincoln-Douglas" Values Debates (one-on-one debating). Parliamentary Debate (for students 16 or older) will be considered only if there is sufficient interest.
Students wanting to compete in debate must attend a debate camp before September 12th, 2018. We recommend the National Institute for Homeschool Debate camp in the Seattle area:
Alternatively, a July NIHD camp will be held in Irving, Texas:
For students who cannot attend any of the NIHD or other Stoa or NCFCA camps, WinSome is hosting a three day mini camp to be held in Boise:
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August 28 - 30 [3-day camp] Call (208) 375-5048 to register.
Other debate camps can also be accepted. We simply want Debate Club members to have a solid grounding in the protocol for Christian Debate.
During club meetings, debaters will be coached for competition, analyzing and constructing arguments for the Lincoln-Douglass resolution (Resolved: Criminal procedure should value truth-seeking over individual privacy). Club meetings will include practice debates with other club members. Debaters will have their arguments "polished" by the end of December to be ready for January competition. Students should plan on participating in at least TWO competitions during the season.
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Below is a brief description of the different speech and debate categories. Links about rules take you to the Stoa website; Video links take you to YouTube.
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Platform Speeches
Expository Speaking is an original platform speech that informs or explains a particular topic with the use of visual aids [Expository Rules].
An Original Oratory is an original speech on any topic the speaker chooses. The primary goal of the speech can be to inform, instruct, eulogize, entertain, and/or inspire [Original Oratory Rules]. video
A Persuasive Speech is an original platform speech that attempts to persuade the audience to adopt a particular point of view or course of action based on well-researched support [Persuasive Rules]. video
Limited Prep
Speeches
Apologetics is a limited preparation event in which the speaker is given four minutes to prepare a six-minute speech defending a tenet of his or her Christian faith [List of 2018-2019 Apologetics questions] [Apol Rules]. video
Extemporaneous is a limited prep event in which the speaker is given 30 minutes to prepare a seven-minute speech on a current event topic [Extemp Prep Room Protocol] [Exemp Rules]. video
Mars Hill Impromptu is a limited prep speech for ages 14+ in which the speaker is given four minutes to prepare a six-minute speech bridging the themes of a culturally popular topic with the truths of Christianity [Mars Hill Overview] ] [List of 2018-2019 Mars Hill Topics] [Mars Hill Impromptu rules]. video
Wild Card Event
A Demonstrative Speech (7 mins) allows students to teach the audience a skill - anything from tying knots to emergency tracheotomies to dressing for success – & everything in between. Props are allowed but not required.
Interpretive Speeches
A Dramatic Interpretation creatively explores and develops the intellectual, emotional, and artistic embodiment of a single selection of literature for performance [Dramatic Interpretation Rules]. video
A Duo Interpretation creatively explores and develops the intellectual, emotional, and artistic embodiment of a single selection of literature for dual performance [Duo Rules]. video
A Humorous Interpretation creatively explores and develops an amusing and artistic embodiment of a single selection of humorous literature for performance [Humorous rules]. video
An Open Interpretation creatively explores and develops the intellectual, emotional, and artistic embodiment of multiple selections of literature linked by a common theme through personal narrative analysis [Open Interpretation Rules]. video
Lincoln-Douglas Values Debate
Lincoln Douglas Debate centers on a proposition of value of what ought to be instead of what it is. A value is an ideal held by individuals, societies, governments, etc. Debaters are encouraged to develop argumentation based upon a values perspective. This one-on-one style of debate is named after the famous debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. [Lincoln-Douglas Debate Rules] video
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NOTE: The L-D debate resolution for 2018/2019 is "Resolved: Criminal procedure should value truth-seeking over individual privacy."
Team Policy Debate
Currently WinSome is not participating in Team Policy Debate.
Team Policy Debate focuses on the core elements of a policy issue having to do with the US Government. This two-on-two style of debate places emphasis on evidence, with one team proposing a plan for improve the specific government policy, and the other team opposing the change (or proposing an alternative policy). [Team Policy Debate Rules] video
Parliamentary Debate
Parliamentary Debate requires students 16 or older to have general and specific knowledge on a broad range of topics and speak with persuasiveness, logic, and wit. This limited-prep style of debate requires no evidence, and prepares students to deal with real world advocacy and argumentation in a manner that exhibits maturity, wisdom, grace and poise. [Parliamentary Debate Rules] video