Club Activities and Events:
- Regular club meetings for practicing, coaching, and preparing speeches/debates
- Participation in local, regional, and state-level speech and debate competitions
- Hosting school-wide speech and debate tournaments or exhibitions
Speech Events:
- Informative, persuasive, or demonstrative speaking on a variety of topics
- Interpretive events like dramatic, humorous, or duo interpretation
- Extemporaneous speaking on current events and issues
Debate Events:
- Policy debate on complex social, political, or economic issues
- Lincoln-Douglas style “value” debates on moral/philosophical questions
- Public forum debates on contemporary issues for a lay audience
Skill Development:
- Research, analysis, and argumentation skills
- Public speaking, delivery, and presentation techniques
- Critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication abilities
Coaching and Mentorship:
- Guidance from experienced faculty/staff coaches and team captains
- Opportunities for students to develop leadership and coaching skills
- Peer-to-peer feedback and collaboration
Competitions and Recognition:
- Competing against other schools’ speech and debate teams
- Chances to qualify for regional, state, or national tournaments
- Trophies, awards, and scholarships for outstanding performance
Community Involvement:
- Showcasing student talents at school and community events
- Fundraising and community service projects related to the program
- Connections to local/regional speech and debate organizations
