OPTIONAL Additional Tournament Information for Judges:

This information is provided to you as interested community members, prepared community judges, or prospective students. We welcome all of you! Remember that you'll receive all the training you need when you arrive 30 minutes prior to your judging slot. However, some may find this helpful or interesting.

Tournament Events:

Remember, No previous judging experience is required! You will receive all the training you need before you judge an event._

Speech

Limited Preparation Speeches
Competitors get a limited time to prepare for a speech on a topic that is given to them at the speech event. Preparation before the tournament is described in the event rules.

  • Apologetics - In Apologetics, the competitor is given four minutes to prepare a speech that defends a tenet of the Christian faith. The speaker crafts a speech to reach those curious, not in agreement, or Biblically uninformed with persuasiveness and reasoning. Competitors will be motivated to study, articulate, and defend the core issues of their faith in a knowledgeable, sincere, gentle, and respectful manner.
  • Mars Hill Impromptu - Mars Hill Impromptu is a speech event that trains students to connect culture and Christianity. Students learn how to identify the universal themes contained in various classic and popular artistic genres (books, movies, songs, etc.) and discuss the relationship of those themes to the Biblical truths of Christianity and God’s work in the world. The name of this event is taken from the Apostle Paul’s speech in Athens in Acts 17 where he uses Greek cultural ideas to find common ground to make a connection to Christ. As this name implies, the goal of this event is to use cultural references to draw the listener to the truths of Christianity.
  • Impromptu Speaking - Impromptu speaking is a very practical speech event in which students draw three random topics from which to choose a topic to speak on in this limited preparation event. They may prepare for two minutes and speak without the assistance of notes or props for a maximum of five minutes.
  • Extemporaneous Speaking - In Extemporaneous speaking the competitor answers a given question based on a recent event in the news. The competitor, alone or as part of a club, researches national and international current events and may create reference files of newsworthy information. Competitor develops themselves a well-informed student who can critically evaluate current issues by expressing his position on a given question.

Interpretive Speeches:
In all interpretive events, competitors write, or select and analyze literature, then bring it to life through the creative use of voice, movement, and facial expression, without the aid of costumes or props.

  • Humorous Interpretation - In Humorous Interpretation the competitor creates an amusing, original rendition from a single piece of literature which captivates and entertains the audience. Stand-up comedy, or telling a series of jokes without a corresponding plot, is not Humorous Interpretation. Speakers select and analyze literature, then bring it to life through the creative use of voice, movement, and facial expression.
  • Dramatic Interpretation - In Dramatic Interpretation the competitor creates a serious, original rendition from a single piece of literature which captivates and moves the audience. Speakers select and analyze literature, then bring it to life through the creative use of voice, movement, and facial expression
  • Open Interpretation - In Open Interpretation the competitor creates an original rendition from a selection or selections of prose or poetry (including unpublished work) which captivates and moves the audience. Speakers select and analyze literature, then bring it to life through the creative use of voice, movement, and facial expression.
  • Duo Interpretation - In Duo Interpretation two competitors create an original rendition from a single selection of literature which captivates and moves the audience. Speakers select and analyze literature, then bring it to life through the creative use of voice, facial expression, and movement without interacting face-to-face.

Platform Speeches:
A prepared speech, written by the competitor with the purpose of informing, exposing, or persuading on a topic.

  • Expository Speaking - An Expository speech is a prepared speech, written by the competitor, which explains or “exposes” a topic usually with the help of visual aids. The goal is to develop a winsome, polished, speaker who can present a creative, well-organized speech while efficiently employing audio/visual aids or props.
  • Original Oratory - An Original Oratory is a prepared speech, written by the competitor, on a topic of the speaker’s choice. The goal is to develop a polished, winsome speaker who can present an engaging, well-organized speech on any topic.
  • Persuasive Speaking - A Persuasive speech is a prepared speech, written by the competitor, which advocates a specific position or course of action. The goal is to develop a polished, winsome speaker who can state a clearly-worded position supported by convincing arguments and well-researched support.

Wild Card Event:
New and unique speech events offered on a rotation meant to challenge competitors in their preparation and presentation skills.

  • Interp in a Box - The Interp in a Box is an original rendition by the competitor of a relatable story from a single published work of literature with a focus on plot and character development which captivates and moves the audience, using props to emphasize the interpretation. The presentation may range from dramatic to humorous genres; however, stand-up comedy or telling a series of jokes without a corresponding plot is not an interpretation.

Debate

Parliamentary Debate - The Purpose of Parliamentary Debate is to train students to employ advanced debate and speaking skills informed by an accumulation of general and specific knowledge on a broad range of topics. The goal is to prepare students to deal with real-world advocacy and argumentation in a manner that exhibits maturity, wisdom, grace, and poise, bringing glory to Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lincoln Douglas Values Debate - Lincoln Douglas Value Debate centers on a proposition of value, which concerns itself with what ought to be instead of what it is. A value is an ideal held by individuals, societies, governments, etc. Debaters are encouraged to develop argumentation based upon a values perspective. The purpose of Stoa Lincoln Douglas Value Debate is to train Christian home school students in the skills of presentation, critical thinking, research, and analysis of basic values in an environment of honorable competition, to cultivate maturity, wisdom, grace, and poise, bringing glory to Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Team Policy Debate - The purpose of Team Policy Debate is to train Christian home school students in the skills of presentation, critical thinking, and research in an environment of honorable competition, to cultivate maturity, wisdom, grace, and poise, bringing glory to Our Lord Jesus Christ.