Speech
The Brazos Valley Rhetoric Club participates in these specific speech events:
(Note: Some of these events are not currently available with the NCFCA to be competed in, but are included in our curriculum to maximize the educational value of the club. Also note that we have left out some events. These will be covered during the Spring Semester.)
To see a complete list of the current competitive events and their descriptions, check out NCFCA.org.
Interpretive Events
- Open Interpretation (OI)
An Open Interpretation creatively explores and develops the intellectual, emotional, and artistic embodiment of a single piece of literature for performance.
Example OI Video
- Duo Interpretation (Duo)
A Duo Interpretation creatively explores and develops the intellectual, emotional, and artistic embodiment of a single piece of literature for dual performance.
Example Duo Video
- Biblical Presentation
A Biblical Presentation creatively develops and presents one or two selections of scripture in an effort to foster understanding of God’s word, deepen the speaker’s Christian faith, and encourage the listener.
Example Biblical (None available)
- Original Interpretation
An Original Interpretation creatively explores and develops the intellectual, emotional, and artistic embodiment of literature written by the student for performance. (You write it, then perform it.)
Example Original Video
Platform Events
- Illustrated Oratory (IO)
An Illustrated Oratory is an original platform speech which informs or explains a particular topic with the use of visual aids.
Example IO Video
- After Dinner Speech (ADS)
An After Dinner speech is an original humorous platform speech that informs or attempts to persuade the audience on a noteworthy topic.
Example ADS Video
- Biographical Narritive (BN)
A Biographical Narrative is an original platform speech that focuses on the relevance and/or contributions of a single person’s life.
Example BN Video
Limited Preparation Events
- Apologetics (Apol)
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.
Example Apol. Video
- Extemporaneous (Extemp)
Extemporaneous Speaking is a limited preparation event where the speaker is given twenty minutes to prepare a seven-minute speech on a current event topic.
Example Extemp Video
- Impromptu (Imp.)
Impromptu a limited preparation speech in which the speaker is given two minutes to prepare a five-minute speech on a randomly drawn topic.
Example Imp Video
Debate
See NCFCA’s Website for more details
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 2018-2019 policy debate topic is “Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reform its foreign policy regarding international terrorism.” 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.
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
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 2018-2019 Lincoln Douglas debate topic is “Resolved: When in conflict, governments ought to value fair trade above free trade..” 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.
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.