Debate I and Debate II
Ms. Smith
402-4338 office michsmith@dsdmail.net
Competitive Speech & Debate begins with a basic overview of the events for competition, those that are
individual and debate related. The aspects of logical reasoning and argumentation are studied as well as the
basics of good communication. Students are to research and present arguments on current issues, learn
case construction, refutation, and cross-examination techniques. They will also learn how to make and use
visual aides, how to write an effective speech, and develop interpretation skills. These studies will lead to
participation in tournaments around the state throughout the school year.
Because students are asked to investigate both sides of any given topic, they may be asked to defend
conservative AND liberal stances of said topics. Additionally, debate topics can be controversial in nature
(i.e. the death penalty). Students will never be asked to advocate a position outside of the debate.
Class Rules:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Be in your seat on time each day.
Come to class prepared and ready to learn. This means you need to come to class with pencil or
pen, writing journal, completed homework / reading assignments.
Raise your hand and wait to be called on BEFORE speaking out in class.
All electronic devices must be turned off while in class. Any device seen or heard in class (cell
phones, Ipods, Blackberries, etc.) will be confiscated by the instructor and held until the next class
period. Parents will be contacted prior to release of confiscated materials. The second infraction
will result in the confiscation of the device and held by administration for one (1) week or seven
(7) days. It will be taken to a member of the administration for pick-up.
No food or drink is allowed in class.
Grade Breakdown:
A
A-
95 – 100%
90 – 94%
B+
B
BAnything below 60% is failing.
87 – 89%
84 – 86%
80 – 83%
C+
C
C-
77 – 79%
74 – 76%
70 – 73%
D+
D
D-
67 – 69%
64 – 66%
60 – 63%
Specific Grading Policies:
Make-up work is allowed ONLY if an absence is excused. NO MAKE-UP WORK WILL BE
ACCEPTED IF AN ABSENCE REMAINS UNEXCUSED BEYOND TWO (2) SCHOOL DAYS.
Full credit will be given to approved late work if and when it is turned in the class period after the absence
occurs. Work that is turned in the class period the second day after the absence will be worth half credit.
NO APPROVED LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED BEYOND THE 2 ND DAY AFTER
EXCUSED STUDENT ABSENCE. Each class will be given an assignment sheet with assignment due
dates. If additional assignments sheets are needed at home, please feel free to contact me so that I can
provide those for you. I will do what I can to help you complete your assignments. Your responsibility is
to get them turned in to me on time. Sound fair?
Each competitor will be required to attend a minimum of three coaching sessions before each tournament:
one from the coach, one from a senior member, and one from another team member of your choice.
Missing a coaching session will result in ½ letter grade reduction. Comments and critiques (ballots) from
coaching sessions should be kept and referred to periodically during the debate season. Students may store
their feedback sheets in their binders located in the classroom. I will be checking these files throughout the
semester for participation points.
You are to write an evaluation of your performance after each tournament, for each event you competed in.
This will be done in the form of a ballot analysis. After you have received your ballots, you are to write a
ballot summary and keep it in your file or binder. These should be short (one half to one page).
Management of this task is solely up to the student. In short, I’m not doing it for you.
Tournament Participation:
Competitive Speech class gives students the opportunity to travel to other schools around the state and
participate in debate and individual tournament events. Participation in tournaments is a requirement of
this course. Debate I students will be required to participate at three regular season tournaments that are
determined by the coach. Debate I students are NOT LIMITED to the three regular season tournaments.
Debate II students are required to attend all regular season tournaments, Region tournament, National
Qualifiers, and the 5A State Tournament. Students cannot miss one of their selected tournaments unless a
valid reason is presented and prearranged. If you have a conflict with another sport, we will work
something out. One letter grade reduction AND $50 fine will be assessed for each unexcused tournament
absence. Failure to pay this fine will result in a failing citizenship grade.
Each student must prepare and compete in at least two (2) events for each tournament that allows double
entry. I would suggest selecting one debate event and one individual event. Double entering is a good
way to acquire NFL points, as well as round-out speaking skills. A little drama never hurt a speech, ask
Bill Clinton.
Judges:
Students will need to provide judges for tournaments they will be attending. This means you will need to
include parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, older brothers and sisters, and neighbors in your events. It
would be safe to say that your families have no idea what goes on at debate tournaments, so here is their
opportunity to see what it is that takes you away from home for so long. More on judging requirements as
we continue through the season.
Each student must provide at least one judge for each tournament they attend. For example, if a novice
student attends three tournaments, they will bring a judge to each tournament they attend, for a total of
three judges. The same judge can be used for all three tournaments, as long as a student arranges at least
one individual to show up per tournament, I am fine. Judges do not need to be experts in the events they
are judging. The only job of a judge is to declare which student performed or persuaded best using speech
and debate skills. ANYONE can judge, so please reassure parents, family, and friends that judging
requires no prior experience and can be interesting and fun.
Students who do not provide judges will see their grade lowered one (1) letter for each missing judge. The
judging issue will be discussed further in class.
Tournament Dress Code:
Part of competitive speech and debate is learning not only how to speak and communicate in the world, but
how to present oneself in other respects such as dress. For this reason, during tournaments students are to
wear appropriate business attire. Boys should wear nice slacks / pants, collared shirts, ties, or suits. Girls
may wear knee length (or longer) skirts, nice slacks / pants, blouses, or suits. NO DENIM, SNEAKERS,
FLIP-FLOPS, SWEATSHIRTS, HOODIES, OR MINI-SKIRTS MAY BE WORN. If you arrive at a
tournament dressed inappropriately, you will not be allowed to compete, you will miss a scheduled
tournament (and be fined), and your grade will be lowered one full letter grade.
Citizenship:
Being in class daily, on time, prepared to work, and with an attitude of learning are all vitally important to
the success of the student and the class as a whole.
Students will receive an automatic U if they are disrespectful (talking out of turn, off task, using electronic
devices, abusive in any manner, etc.) when a substitute or student speaker is presenting to the class.
Disrespect of any kind will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Bottom line, take those halos out,
polish them up, and behave yourselves.
Your citizenship grade may drop for any of the following reasons:
 Excessive tardiness (4+ is a “U”) and/or unexcused absences (4+ is a “U”)
 Cheating / plagiarism (each is an automatic “U”)
 Disruptive behavior (talking out of turn, disrespectful attitude toward teacher, other
students or self, popping gum, use of prohibited electronic devices, fighting)
 Inappropriate behavior when a substitute is teaching (automatic “U”)
When a discipline problem is identified a sequence of interventions will follow:
 Level One: The student’s behavior will be addressed by the teacher and the student will have an
opportunity to cease and desist.
 Level Two: If the behavior continues, parents will be informed and the student will have an
opportunity to cease and desist.
 Level Three: If the behavior still continues, a parent-teacher conference will be held in which the
student will be put under contract to cease and desist.
 Level Four: If the student violates the contract, an administrator will be called in to mediate the
situation.
Hall Pass:
There are no hall passes in my class. Please attend to personal matters BEFORE class begins.
Computer Use:
Parents and students should be aware of the agreement signed for acceptable use of computers while at
school. Students should never download anything that is not required by a teacher. Students should never
use chat programs of any kind. Students also agree that all other uses of the computer that are not school
related, will result in loss of rights to use ANY computer in the school. In this case, the students will be
required to do all of their computer work at home.
Eligibility:
Students on the ineligible list will not be allowed to compete. Again, competition is a requirement for the
course, so ineligibility may significantly lower grades.
Transportation:
It is occasionally necessary for a student to be a passenger in a private or a rental vehicle being driven by an
adult driver to school activities. The following requirements apply for authorized use of private or rental
vehicles:
1. The activity is approved by the school principal for students who need to leave the school campus.
2. Drivers must have a valid Utah driver’s license in order to qualify for transporting students.
3. Drivers may not drive if they have had a conviction in the last ten years for an alcohol / drug
related driving violation, or they have more than two moving violations in the last twelve (12)
months.
4. Drivers who are district volunteers must have successfully completed a criminal background check
if they will be transporting students without a district employee in the vehicle.
5. Each vehicle must have liability insurance coverage.
6. Drivers must ensure that the vehicle has passed state-required safety inspections.
7. It is the student passenger’s or his / her parents’ duty to confirm that the driver carries the required
insurance. Information regarding the insurance company and policy number can be obtained from
an insurance identification card provided by the company which must be carried in the vehicle at
all times.
8. REMEMBER – the driver and all passengers must wear seat belts. It’s the law.
Parents / guardians, by signing below, you give permission for your child to be transported by an adult
driver to an approved school activity / activities as noted above.
I employ strategies in my classroom that I truly believe to be educationally sound and morally right. I
always appreciate any feedback you can give me about your child’s experience in my class.
By signing below you acknowledge receipt of Ms. Smith’s classroom disclosure. You also acknowledge
that you have read and understand Ms. Smith’s course disclosure.
_____________________________________________________________
Student’s Signature
_____________________________________________________________
Parent’s Signature
Parent’s Email Address: _______________________________________________________________
Please use the space below to make me aware of any relevant information about your student that may be
helpful in the classroom. Thank you for your help and cooperation.