Author: Savannah Scott
You slowly enter the room while a nervous, yet excited expression overcomes your face. You lay down your briefcase and remove all the necessary items from your case as the intimidating judge confidently walks to his table. You rise from your seat to greet your competitors, and then you form a line to meet your judge. A single drop of sweat drips from your forehead as you quickly pull yourself together before meeting the person who determines your fate. A debate tournament is the most exhilarating yet scary experience.
At the beginning of this year, Scholars Guild established "Insight Speech & Debate," Scholars Guild's first-ever debate team! Mrs. Allison Wright, SGA's most long-standing teacher, began this club. The members include Daniel Wright, Nancy Marie Glasscock, Adam Douglas, Christian Haynes, Samuel Wright, Avery Yates, Shyloh Rice, and myself. Earlier this school year, Mrs. Wright informed us about a tournament happening at the beginning of 2020. This event was an opportunity too exciting to dismiss, so every person in our club participated! We all competed in Team Policy Debate, which is when a team of two people argues a case based on the resolution for the year. This year's resolution is "Resolved: The Federal Government should substantially reform its banking, finance, and or monetary policy." In team policy debate, you have three rounds that you are an affirmative team, and then three rounds that you are a negative team. The insane thing about team policy debate is that you never know what case you'll be up against when you're the negative team. However, when you are the affirmative team, you bring the case to argue.
The debate tournament took place from January 2-3, 2020. Everyone was required to wear business attire. For the girls, this meant formal shirts, blazers, skirts, or jeans, and heels. For the guys, this meant full suits and formal shoes. Here is how the tournament works: when you first arrive, you sign in, then you go to student orientation, and then you have your first round. The judges determine whether you are affirmative or negative for that round. They write you, your partner's, and your opponent's last names down on a sheet of paper along with whether you're AFF or NEG for that round, and they put it on the wall. At a tournament, we call that a posting. Once you have your room assignments, you go to that room and set up for your round. Once you are finished setting up, you greet your partner, and then you meet your judges.
In a round, you have a first affirmative speaker, who gives the first eight-minute speech of the round, followed by a three-minute cross-examination given by the first negative speaker. After that, the first negative speaker gives the second eight-minute speech followed by the three-minute cross-examination given by the first affirmative speaker. Next, you have the second negative speaker who gives another eight-minute speech, followed by yet another three-minute cross-examination given by the second affirmative speaker. Finally, the second affirmative gives the last eight-minute speech, followed by the final cross-examination given by the second negative speaker. After the addresses, there are five-minute rebuttals given by each speaker. I know what you're thinking, and yes, it is exhausting but so worth it. When you get caught up in the round and are truly passionate about your case, the time flies by, and it is the best feeling ever. Once the round is complete, you go back to the student center and socialize with the different people that you have met. You usually get an hour and a half break before you go to your second round, and you typically have six rounds at a tournament. The first day has four rounds, and the second day has two followed by the awards ceremony.
In conclusion, a debate tournament is one of the best experiences ever. Nothing compares to getting to speak about something that you are passionate about and engaging with other people who love debate as much as you do. I hope this inspires you to try debate, and I promise you won't regret it!
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