As the school year begins, clubs and organizations are opening their doors to students, and for one junior at Klein Collins High School in Spring, Texas, that means diving deeper into her passion for Speech and Debate, writes Kamilia Aubain in the school’s student newspaper.
Plano Speech Team, 2012 (Brandon Satterwhite/
Flickr Creative Commons)
Lanaeya Doyle has invested significant time and effort in the activity, finding in it both a creative outlet and an opportunity to develop essential skills.
She originally wanted to be a lawyer, but her involvement in theater introduced her to a new way of channeling her love of public speaking. She now competes primarily in prose, a dramatic interpretation event in which she performs passages from books before an audience. “I love doing it because of my theater groups,” she said. “It feels so comfortable for me.”
Through Speech and Debate, Lanaeya has learned how to
- project her voice,
- control her nerves, and
- maintain eye contact with her audience.
Speech and Debate Activities
Offerings can differ by state or district, but most US high school Speech & Debate programs draw from a common menu of competitive events sanctioned by organizations like the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA). Here’s a sampling of the most common activities:
Interpretation Events (performance-based)
- Prose Interpretation (Prose): Reading and performing a selection from a published work of prose (short story, novel excerpt, essay) with dramatic expression.
- Poetry Interpretation (Poetry): Similar to prose but focused on poetry; emphasizes rhythm, tone, and emotional delivery.
- Dramatic Interpretation (DI): A serious, theatrical performance of a published play or script, performed solo.
- Humorous Interpretation (HI): A comedic performance of a published work, requiring strong timing and character work.
- Duo Interpretation (Duo): Two students perform a piece together, often with creative use of movement and dialogue (without direct eye contact or props).
- Program Oral Interpretation (POI): A mix of prose, poetry, and drama curated by the student into a thematic performance.
Debate Events (argument-based)
- Lincoln-Douglas Debate (LD): One-on-one debate focusing on values and philosophy; often rooted in ethical questions.
- Policy Debate (CX or Cross-Examination): Two-person teams debate a year-long resolution, focusing on detailed policy proposals and evidence.
- Public Forum Debate (PF): Two-person teams debate current events topics in a format designed to be more accessible to a general audience.
- Congressional Debate (Congress): Students simulate the U.S. Congress by debating bills and resolutions, delivering speeches, and practicing parliamentary procedure.
Speech Events (prepared or limited prep)
- Original Oratory (OO): A student writes and delivers a persuasive speech on a topic of their choice.
- Informative Speaking (Info): A researched, explanatory speech (sometimes with visual aids) meant to educate the audience.
- Extemporaneous Speaking (Extemp): Given 30 minutes to prepare, students deliver a 7-minute speech on current events, using only limited notes.
- Impromptu Speaking: Students are given a short preparation window (often 2 minutes) to deliver a structured speech on a random prompt, quote, or topic.
Together, these categories give students multiple pathways: performance and creativity (Interp), structured argument (Debate), or research and extemporaneous skills (Speech).
“Before I was very nervous and had trouble controlling eye contact, and now I know they’re not going to judge me for just talking,” she said. Competing has also taught her to manage stage fright. “When I get up there, I’m up there and it’s time to perform and roll.”
Beyond performance, Lanaeya says the activity has improved her listening and critical thinking skills. “Speech and debate made me sit, listen, and analyze what they’re saying and know exactly what to respond with,” she explained. Those skills, she added, have helped her better understand others and communicate more effectively.
The benefits outweigh the nerves, she has found, and she encourages classmates to give the activity a try. “Just do it. Stop being nervous and just do it,” she said. “If you don’t like public speaking, join speech and debate … it helps so much.”
Plano Speech Team, 2012 (Brandon Satterwhite/Flickr Creative Commons)
