Team Handbook
What is Debate and Speech?
High school forensics, competitive speech and debate, is recognized in all 50 states. Programs range from hundreds of students to just a few. Affluent areas and very rural areas sponsor these speech activities. Some programs are completely funded through their school district, while others have to earn every cent they will spend. The North Mecklenburg Debate & Speech Team is funded partially by the school system, partially by fund raising, and partially by fees paid by individual members for each competition.
Competition rules vary from state to state and really don’t follow any uniformity, but most North Carolina tournaments follow the guidelines set down by the Tarheel Forensic League (TFL). The
TFL holds a State Championship Tournament each year. There is also a national “honor society” organization, the National Forensic League (NFL), that many high school programs, including North Meck, participate in. (State finals and national finals are not related). A program is not required to join the NFL, but the NFL sponsors the national championship tournament at the end of every school year (June). As an NFL member, North Meck is also a member of the NFL Carolina West District, through which students qualify for the national championship (there are two NFL Districts in North Carolina). NFL also publishes a monthly magazine (Rostrum) that schools receive free of charge once they have joined NFL; and it awards student competitors for their successes in forensic tournaments. North Meck is also a founding member of the Charlotte chapter of the CFL (Catholic Forensic League), which allows participation in the CFL Grand National Tournament in May.
A school may choose how many tournaments to attend a year. This may vary based on funds, the students’ and coaches’ willingness to be away from home, the distance to tournaments, transportation availability. Students on the North Meck Team are required to attend practices to attend the regular season tournaments (listed as “included” on the schedule), but they may miss up to three (3) practices and maintain their status as regular team members. The TFL publishes a list of tournaments at the beginning of every year, which is available on the TFL website. The North Meck schedule is listed on the calendar tab. The schedule sometimes changes, so always double check the home page for announcements. The head coach will inform members of any schedule schedule changes and tournament cancellations.
So, what does the word forensics mean? The term “forensic” is derived from the Greek Language and refers to courts of law. Aristotle, in dividing speech into three categories, contrasted forensic speaking (in a court of law) with deliberative speaking (in the legislative assembly), and epideictic speaking (in a ceremony or other special occasion). The term is still used today in such a restricted sense. In common usage today, the term has developed a broader meaning. A modern dictionary defines forensic as an adjective meaning “suitable for public speaking or debate.” In many parts of the United States, the plural forensics is used to refer to any extracurricular speech activity in both high school and college.
Now that you have an idea of what speech and debate is, let’s look at the benefits of participating in a forensics program. Students who participate in forensics will:
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learn to overcome and calm speaking anxieties
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receive valuable training for college and future careers
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increase their public communication skills
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develop improved study habits and research skills
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develop time allocation and organizational skills
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advance critical thinking and reasoning skills
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become familiar with current societal issues
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be open to both sides of an issue,
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learn to consider and adapt to different audiences
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be more prepared to speak on their feet
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be more aware of a wider range of people, personalities, and cultures
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learn how to lose gracefully
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learn how to accept criticism and be judged on their performance
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learn how to work with others, as individuals and a team
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learn respect for dissenting opinions
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improve their college and career resumes