Speech and Debate 101
If you've navigated this far, you're probably wondering what types of opportunities Forensic competition can provide the students at your school. To learn more about the profound ways your students can be impacted, check out this video from the National Forensic League, titled Discover the Power of Speech.
If you are left unconvinced, the NFL has compiled a number of captivating arguments for the necessity of speech and debate as educational tools.
The NJFL is committed to excellence in Forensics.
Events
Listed below by category are the Speech and debate events which NJFL competitors may choose to compete in. To learn more about a particular event, scroll below for a description as well as sample ballots, and showcase videos for select events.
National Speech Events
At the State and Scholarship Tournaments, the NJFL runs 6 National Speech Events.
International Extemporaneous Speaking (IX)
Each student shall prepare a speech of not less than four nor more than seven minutes on one of three topics drawn at random. Students will receive thirty minutes of preparation time before being called on to speak. References to books and magazines, but not previously prepared notes, may be made during the preparation period. No notes may be used during the presentation.
Questions in this topic will pertain to the domestic and foreign policies of other nations, as well as the foreign policy of the United States. Cross-examination may be used during the Final Round.
Extemp Sample Ballot
Extemp Master Ballot
NFL Showcase: Extemporaneous Speaking (video)
For now, IX and DX Ballots are identical. FEW TOURNAMENTS MAKE THE SEPARATION BETWEEN DX AND IX.
Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking (DX)
Each student shall prepare a speech of not less than four nor more than seven minutes on one of three topics drawn at random. Students will receive thirty minutes of preparation time before being called on to speak. References to books and magazines, but not previously prepared notes, may be made during the preparation period. No notes may be used during the presentation.
Questions in this topic will pertain United States domestic and foreign policy. Cross-examination may be used during the Final Round.
Dramatic Interpretation (DI)
Each student shall take no less than five nor more than ten minutes to present, from memory, a dramatic reading which may be complete or excerpted from a longer reading. Original selections may not be used, and published selections of merit will be required. In order that this event be correctly understood as an exercise in interpretation and not solo acting, the use of properties is not permitted. A copy of the printed selection must be available for inspection by the Executive Board.
All NFL rules apply to this event, including sources for cuttings.
DI Sample Ballot
DI Master Ballot
Humorous Interpretation (HI)
Each student shall take no less than five nor more than ten minutes, including audience reaction, to present from memory, a humorous reading which may be complete or excerpted from a longer reading. Original selections may not be used, and published selections of merit will be required. In order that this event be correctly understood as an exercise in interpretation and not solo acting, the use of properties is not permitted. A copy of the printed selection must be available for inspection by the Executive Board.
All NFL rules apply to this event, including sources for cuttings.
HI Sample Ballot
HI Master Ballot
Duo Interpretation (DUO)
Each student team shall take no less than five nor more than ten minutes, including audience reaction, to present from memory, a dialogue from a published source. Original selections may not be used, and published selections of merit will be required. In order that this event be correctly understood as an exercise in interpretation and not duet acting, the use of properties is not permitted. Each partner may present one or multiple characters. A copy of the printed selection must be available for inspection by the Executive Board.
All NFL rules apply to this event, including sources for cuttings.
DUO Sample Ballot
DUO Master Ballot
Original Oratory (OO)
Each student shall take no less than five nor more than ten minutes to deliver, from memory, a speech written entirely by himself/herself on a topic of his/her own choosing. The total number of quoted words may not exceed 150. A neat, typed copy of the original oration, with quoted material highlighted, must be brought to the contest by the contestant.
All NFL rules apply to this event
OO Sample Ballot
OO Master Ballot
NFL Showcase: Original Oratory (video)
Debate Events
Debate (sometimes called "Policy Debate" or "Team Debate" or "CX Debate") and Lincoln-Douglas Debate have three divisions--Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Novice; Public Forum will offer Open and Novice Divisions. The qualifications for these Divisions are described here.
Debate
Debate follows the format and rules put forth by the National Forensic League. At the NJFL States and Scholarship Tournaments, we use the National topic published by the NFL for the current school year. The time constraints for Debate competition at these Tournaments are:
* 8 minute constructives
* 3 minute cross-examination
* 5 minute rebuttals.
* 5 minute running prep time
NFL Showcase: Policy Debate (video)
Lincoln Douglas Debate
LD follows the format and rules put forth by the National Forensic League. At the NJFL States and Scholarship Tournaments, we use the NFL Topic for March-April. The time constraints for Lincoln-Douglas competition at these Tournaments are:
* 6 minute Affirmative constructive
* 3 minute Cross-Examination of the Affirmative by the Negative
* 7 minute Negative constructive
* 3 minute Cross-Examination of the Negative by the Affirmative
* 4 minute 1st Affirmative rebuttal
* 6 minute Negative rebuttal
* 3 minute 2nd Affirmative rebuttal
* 5 minutes running prep time
A variety of ballots is available for use in LD tournaments. One possible ballot is this variation of one originally published by Whitman College; if this ballot is used type in the topic before printing. The NFL also sells triplicate forms for use.
Introduction to Lincoln Douglas Debate Textbook
NFL Showcase: Lincoln-Douglass Debate (video)
Public Forum Debate
PF follows the format and rules set by the National Forensic League. At the NJFL States and Scholarship Tournaments, we use the March topic for PF debate established by the NFL. The time constraints for Public Forum, including prep time, are those stated on the ballot.
The official PF ballot describes the coinflip procedures and the time constraints.
Guide to PF DebatePF Protoype Sample Ballot
Public Forum Debate Guide
NFL Showcase: Public Forum Debate (video)
Student Congress
Student Congress emulates the legislative process. Students debate legislation in a group setting under parliamentary guidelines. For full details regarding these guidelines and other details of Student Congress, please consult the official Student Congress Manual
NFL Showcase: Student Congress (video)
New Jersey Forensic League Events
At the State and Scholarship Tournaments, we run five New Jersey Events. Rules and information pertaining to these events can be found below. Additional rules are contained on the Master Ballots
Declamation (DEC)
Each student shall take not less than five nor more than ten minutes to present from memory all or part of an oration prepared and delivered previously by some person other than himself/herself. A copy of the printed selection must be available for inspection by the Executive Board.
The original speaker and the setting of the speech will be stated in the introduction.
DEC Sample Ballot
DEC Master Ballot
Poetry Reading (POE)
Each student shall take not less than five nor more than ten minutes to read poetry exactly as written by a published author. The book or manuscript must be referred to by the contestant during the course of the reading.
Poetry may be a collection of poems by the same poet or a program of poems by different poets around a theme.
POE Sample Ballot
POE Master Ballot
Prose Reading (PRO)
Each student shall take not less than five nor more than ten minutes to read prose exactly as written by a published author. The book or manuscript must be referred to by the contestant during the course of the reading.
PRO Sample Ballot
PRO Master Ballot
Impromptu Speech (IMP)
Each student shall not take more than seven minutes, divided as the contestant chooses betwen preparation, to deliver a scene based on one of three topics drawn at random. The scene may be delivered as a monologue or as a dialogue between multiple characters.
IMP Sample Ballot
IMP Master Ballot
Improvisational Acting (IPV)
Each student shall not take more than seven minutes, divided as the contestant chooses betwen preparation, to deliver a scene based on one of three topics drawn at random. The scene may be delivered as a monologue or as a dialogue between multiple characters.