The 2006-07 Wellington Debate and Forensic Team Novice Class Syllabus is in Microsoft Word format. Click here to review and print the Novice Class Syllabus!

Debate I

Paul L. Gaba, Wellington High School
gaba@wellingtondebate.com
AOL Instant Messenger: Debate Is Life
561-795-4911 (work) or 561-352-0635

OVERVIEW

At Wellington, debate participation begins with a one-year course for students with an interest in developing experience in public speaking through the exploration of a wide variety of areas in debate.
Studies have shown that colleges and universities rank active, competitive debate participation as a valued experience for a college-bound student. Many of the most prestigious colleges in America (including Ivy League schools) offer debate scholarships and preferential admissions consideration to top-flight high school debaters. Wellington debate alumni have received partial or full scholarships to schools such as Miami, Florida State, Florida, Harvard, George Washington, Wake Forest, Duke, Southern Methodist, Northwestern, and Emory because of their debate experiences.
This course will consist of some lectures, much discussion, a great deal of individualized or small group work, and student presentations. Debate is designed for the student who is capable of working well on his/her own, while being able to share a great deal with others through the normal class discussions and presentations.
Throughout the school year, inter-scholastic tournaments are available which high school students from around the county, state and nation gather to display their skills. This also allows students to make friends (from both Wellington and other programs), visit college campuses, win trophies, and have tons of fun!
All students in the Debate I course are strongly encouraged to participate with the Wellington After-School Competitive Debate Team, which meets after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3-6 p.m. This will allow you to interact with experienced varsity debaters and better succeed in the debate program.

THE EVENTS

There are numerous debate and forensic events. You will learn about, and have assignments dealing with, each of the following during the course of the school year:
  • Student Congress: This is individual debate in a large group (20-30 students) setting. Legislative debaters research and write pieces of Congressional legislation that they feel will better the society in which we live. At a tournament, debaters will then speak on the legislation while using proper parliamentary procedure.
  • Lincoln Douglas Debate: This popular style of debating features one person on each side. Propositions of value are debated with the emphasis on developing logical argumentation rather than an accumulation of information. You will learn values analysis, argumentation skills, sound and ethical uses of persuasion, and clear audience-centered communication. Topics change every two months.
  • Public Forum Debate: Public Forum Debate is audience-friendly debate. You and a partner will debate controversial issues that are "stripped" from the newspaper headlines. A Public Forum Debate round begins with a flip of a coin between the competing teams to determine your side and speaker position. Public Forum will test your skills in argumentation, cross-examination, and refutation. The topic changes monthly.
  • Extemporaneous Speaking: A contestant draws three questions on a foreign or domestic topic, selects one, and has 30 minutes to prepare an answer. The contestant utilizes a set of files that he or she has built as a resource for answering the question. Only published materials may be used as resources (books, magazines, newspaper, and on-line resources).
  • Dramatic Performance: This is an individual category in which the selections are dramatic or humorous in nature. Selections are from published-printed novels, short stories, plays, poetry, or any other printed-published materials. Presentations must be memorized and speeches made without props or costumes.
  • Duo Interpretation: This is a two-person category in which the selections are dramatic or humorous in nature. Like Dramatic Performance, selections are from published-printed novels, short stories, plays, poetry, or any other printed-published materials. Presentations must be memorized and speeches made without props or costumes.
  • Oral Interpretation: Students select a piece of prose and a piece of poetry to perform. This performance is unlike Dramatic Performance in that the pieces are not memorized and they are not "acted out" to the degree that DP pieces are. The performer must use vocal imagery and facial expression to convey the emotion of the work.
  • Original Oratory: As orator you will be expected to research and speak intelligently with a degree of originality in an interesting manner and with some profit to your audience about a topic you have chosen. Many orations deal with a current problem and propose a solution. Your oration can also alert the audience to a threatening danger, strengthen its devotion to an accepted cause, or eulogize a person. An orator is given free choice of subject and judged solely on the effectiveness of development and presentation.
  • Declamation: In Declamation, students memorize a previously-given speech. The speech may be an old oratory, a public address, or anything that has been presented before. Judges focus on the presentation of the speech rather than the content of the speech. Speech choice factors into the judging as well. While tournament competition is limited to freshmen and sophomores, all novice students will be introduced to this event.
    MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED

    1. One three-ring binder with pockets (for handouts, etc.)
    2. Ink pens (black or blue ink only)
    3. Loose leaf notebook paper
    4. 8x5 black performance notebook binder
    5. Digital timer

    THE GRADING SCALE

    A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 70-79 D = 60-69 F = 0-59

    40% OF YOUR GRADE WILL BE BASED ON ACHIEVING ONE OF
    THE FOLLOWING "PRACTICAL APPLICATION CREDITS"

    Students are to earn at least three "practical application credits" per semester. At least one "practical application credit" must be earned every marking period.
    You have three options to achieve this portion of the grade:
    OPTION 1: TOURNAMENT PARTICIPATION: "Participation" means more than just "showing up" and observing the action; it means doing your own research, practicing your presentations, and taking an active role at a tournament. To earn full "practical application credit" for weekend competition, you must participate in all competitive rounds. For example, in Congress you must present at least one speech per session. Don't worry, we will teach you everything you need to know; then, you choose the event you wish to perfect and use that at the competition. At the end of the tournament day, you will attend an awards ceremony to find out where you placed. If you are among the top competitors, you could win a certificate, ribbon or trophy.
    There will be six "local" Palm Beach Catholic Forensic League debate tournaments (one each in September, October, November, December, January and February), the PBCFL "Grand Finals" national qualifier, plus the Florida Forensic League Region IV tournament, within Palm Beach and Martin counties during the course of the school year. There will also be tournament opportunities in Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Gainesville, other parts of Florida, and out of state. Each complete tournament counts as one "practical application credit."
    OPTION 2: OUTSIDE PUBLIC SPEAKING: We understand that there might be conflicts surrounding tournament weekends, due to family obligations, scholastic obligations, financial concerns, etc. Because of this, students have alternative public speaking options. They include the following:
  • Palm Beach County Youth Court takes place Tuesdays from approximately 5-8 p.m. at the Palm Beach County Courthouse on Gun Club Road. Here, students participate in the legal system, act as jurors, clerks, prosecuting attorneys or defense attorneys, in the sentencing of youthful offenders who have pled guilty to crimes such as shoplifting. Two Youth Court attorney roles are equivalent to one "practical application credit." Four Youth Court jury/clerk assignments are equivalent to one "practical application credit." Written verification is needed from the Youth Court.
  • Speeches before an adult audience. Speeches must be a minimum of four minutes before an audience with a minimum or 25 adults (individuals over the age of 18 who are no longer in high school) present. Examples include Rotary, Kiwanis or other service clubs, Church, Synagogue or Temple, adult community clubs (such as Toastmasters International), or adult political organizations. Two such speeches are equivalent to one "practical application credit." Written verification is needed.
  • Participation in public speaking competitions for other organizations such as DECA, FFA, Model U.N., Mock Trial, etc. is allowed. See Mr. Gaba for details if involved in these activities. Written verification is needed.
  • Performing during Wellington Debate's Dessert Theatre is equivalent to one "practical application credit."
  • Any other public speaking performance must be approved in advance. See Mr. Gaba for details.
    OPTION 3: DEBATE RESEARCH PAPER: A 6-8 page typed research paper on one of the following topics (each paper counts as one "practical application credit" and is the equivalent of a complete affirmative and negative debate case):
  • The current Public Forum Debate topic, which changes monthly. See Mr. Gaba for the topic language.
  • The current Lincoln Douglas Debate topic, which changes every two months. See Mr. Gaba for the topic language.
  • A current national or international news event of your choice, approved in advance by Mr. Gaba.
  • Ancient & Medieval Philosophers: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Augustine or Aquinas.
  • Early Modern Philosophers: Hobbes, Descartes, Locke, Hume or DaVinci.
  • Recent Modern Philosophers: Kant, Rousseau, Benthem, Mill, Marx or Engels.
  • Humanitarianism, ethics, reality, identity, idealism or virtues.
  • Freedom, morals, objectivity, reason, innate goodness or innate evil.
  • Government, God and religion, the democratic society, egalitarianism or meritocracy.
  • Science, knowledge, mysticism, art, censorship or equality.
  • Social contract theory, categorical imperative theory or state of nature theory.
  • Students who choose to write research papers must choose different topics for each practical application credit.
  • Papers must follow MLA format. (Papers must have 1" margins, double spaced lines, and in 10- to 12-point Times New Roman font.) You must include a cover page for your paper. USE SPELL CHECK!
  • Research paper deadlines are the end of each quarter.
    THE REMAINING 60% OF YOUR GRADE WILL BE
    BASED ON A POINTS SYSTEM

    Points will be awarded for weekly current event assignments, in-class practice rounds and performances, quizzes, tests, papers, and any other type of assignment that is presented. Points will be converted to a percentage grade.

    Make-up policy: Refer to the student handbook.
    Late performances: Students will be assigned specific "speech days" for in-class presentations. Failure to present on this day will result in a 50-percent deduction of the grade. Remember, missing a scheduled in-class debate performance also affects many people other than you. If you have an excused absence, your work is due the day you return.
    Debate involves extensive research, writing, and cooperation, as well as public speaking. You might not care for every step of the process, but they are all needed to perform at your best.

    TOURNAMENT COSTS AND FUNDRAISER OPTIONS

    The goal of the Wellington debate class is to provide all members an opportunity to succeed in the public speaking venue. As such, there are numerous competitive tournament opportunities available in all events we cover in the classroom and for all novice debate students. Should you wish to compete, you will need to know the following information:
  • We ask for a $125 competition/dues donation from each student competitor. This covers tournament registration fees and meals for all Palm Beach Catholic Forensic League tournaments (which take place one Saturday a month in September, October, November, December, January and February) during the current school year, individual and program membership fees in the National Forensic League, National Catholic Forensic League, and Florida Forensic League, and subscriptions to magazines, newspapers, script purchases, literature, and other materials needed for the program. Of this amount, $90 is dedicated to tournament expenses and $35 to research, script purchases, and other debate related expenses.
  • Other out-of-area tournaments (non-PBCFL) may have additional costs associated with them due to tournament-imposed fees, hotel stays, transportation, meals, etc.
  • In order to help alleviate tournament expenses, Wellington Debate offers a 50/50 fundraiser "credit line" opportunity to each member of the program. Any credit earned can be applied to debate-related expenses during tenure in the program. We attempt to keep fundraising to a minimum, but it is necessary to allow our team to travel and be competitive at the local, regional and national level. Fundraising is not factored into the grade.
  • No penalty of any type will be imposed against a student based upon a failure to pay. No student shall be denied the right to participate for failure to pay. The principal may forego a planned activity or use of a particular item based upon the collection of insufficient funds to cover the cost of the item or activity. This monetary request is voluntary.
  • All competitors are encouraged to help recruit judges for tournaments. Judges can be parents, adults, siblings, adult friends of the family, former high school or current college debaters, etc. Our team is required to provide a certain number of judges per tournament in order to be eligible to compete. We ask that each student provide a judge for two tournaments during the year. There will be training seminars provided by both Mr. Gaba and the PBCFL during the year. We will train these individuals to judge, and I guarantee they will be impressed with the experience.

    THE GABA RULES

    1. Clean up after yourself. Trashing the room results in an unhappy instructor. Leave all food, drink and gum outside the classroom - yes, this includes gum!
    2. Raise your hand before asking a pertinent question. No inappropriate remarks of any sort shall be tolerated. Failure to respect another speaker (including the instructor) by talking, sleeping, gesturing, doing homework for other classes, playing guitar or Uno, putting on or taking off makeup, etc. results in an unhappy instructor.
    3. Do not leave the classroom without an official pass for emergency bathroom use only.
    4. Write down information the instructor presents. Your instructor guarantees it will be important to you.
    5. Do not throw objects in the room as it is dangerous. Writing on desks is a form of malicious destruction of property and is prohibited. Swearing, sexual references, use of hateful language toward or about gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, etc., and any other verbal, written or physical language that can be interpreted as any of these by students or the instructor are prohibited. All additional prohibited behaviors are listed in your student handbook.
    6. Do not have visible cellular phones, pagers, personal compact disc players, or any other devices as outlined in your student handbook. If they are visible or audible, they will be confiscated and turned in to Student Services.
    7. Do not cheat or plagiarize for these are prohibited behaviors (see previous commentary).
    8. Show proper respect for yourself, your instructor, your peers, and everything around you. You are embarking on your future as a thinking, functioning member of the adult human society; as such, your attitude, attire and ability to achieve and exceed guidelines are important.
    9. Unexcused absences, continual tardies, and an overabundance of early-release passes will not be tolerated.
    10. I expect 100% participation from 100% of the classroom for 100% of the class time each day.

    CONSEQUENCES FOR BREAKING RULES

    1st Offense: warning - You will receive a verbal warning.
    2nd Offense: personal conference/contract - You and I will discuss your behavior. Then, you will sign a written contract acknowledging your second offense and the consequences thereafter. I will also inform your parents/guardians of the problems with your behavior.
    3rd Offense: detention - You will serve a 30-minute detention with me after school.
    4th Offense: referral - You will be sent to Student Services with a referral.
    * The instructor has the option of bypassing this process and writing a referral if he believes such action is warranted. *

    MR. GABA'S ROLE

    I pride myself on being a fairly reasonable person. I have high expectations of you, but if you ever have a problem with the way I do things or with the way you are graded, please do me the courtesy of coming to me after class or after school, and I assure you we can work things out to satisfaction. Seriously, don't waste class time with needless arguments.