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Revised November 2009 

Platform Speeches

Illustrated Oratory

An illustrated oratory is an original platform speech which informs or explains a particular topic with the use of visual aids.

Original Oratory

An original oratory is an original speech given on any topic the speaker chooses.

Persuasive Speech

A persuasive speech is an original speech intended to persuade the audience to adopt a particular point of view or course of action.

Interpretive Speeches

Dramatic Interpretation

A dramatic interpretation creatively explores and develops the intellectual, emotional, and artistic embodiment of one work of literature for performance.

Duo Interpretation

A duo interpretation creatively explores and develops the intellectual, emotional, and artistic embodiment of one work of literature for dual performance

Humorous Interpretation

A humorous interpretation creatively explores and develops the intellectual, emotional, and artistic embodiment of one work of literature for performance.

Thematic Interpretation

A Thematic Interpretation presents prose and/or poetry from more than one source, woven together around a common theme.

Limited Preparation Speeches

Apologetics

Apologetics is a limited preparation event in which the speaker is given four minutes to prepare a six-minute speech on a topic related to defending his/her faith.

Extemporaneous Speaking

Extemporaneous speaking is a limited preparation event where the speaker is given thirty minutes to prepare a seven-minute speech on a current event topic.

Impromptu Speaking

Impromptu is a limited preparation speech in which the speaker is given two minutes to prepare a five-minute speech on a randomly drawn topic.

Debate

Team Policy Debate

In policy debate, competitors either advocate or oppose a resolution that calls for a change in policy regarding a current political issue. The 2009-10 policy debate topic is “Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should significantly reform its environmental policy.” During a round of debate, a team of two debaters will advocate the resolution by proposing a specific plan to accomplish the goal stated in the resolution while another team of two debaters will oppose the resolution and the specific plan of the first team. In a debate tournament, each team will take turns advocating and opposing the resolution in a series of different rounds so that competitors thoroughly learn all the issues involved in the debate as well as the skills to either advocate or oppose a proposition.

NCFCA debate encourages a conversational style of debate and utilizes judges from the community (as well as debate coaches and teachers) in order to ensure that competitors learn how to communicate to a general audience.

Lincoln Douglas Debate

Lincoln Douglas debate is similar to policy debate in that competitors will take turns advocating or opposing a resolution throughout a series of rounds during a tournament. However, the Lincoln Douglas debate format in one-on-one debating, named after the famous debates between Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln.

Although Douglas and Lincoln debated matters of policy, the core of their advocacy always involved a clash of values. Thus, in NCFCA, Lincoln Douglas debate resolutions are always constructed to create a clash of competing values rather than the adoption of a specific policy. The 2009-10 Lincoln Douglas debate topic is “Resolved: That competition is superior to cooperation as a means of achieving excellence.” Rather than arguing about a specific course of action the government should take, Lincoln Douglas debaters look at the values that always underlie policy decisions.