FGCCFL All Events tournaments, FGCCFL Grand Finals, and the FGCCFL Novice Championship offer competition in the speech and debate events sanctioned by the National Catholic Forensic League.
In all debate events, FGCCFL uses the current NSDA topics.
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Lincoln-Douglas Debate typically appeals to individuals who like to debate, but prefer a one-on-one format as opposed to a team or group setting. Additionally, individuals who enjoy LD like exploring questions of how society ought to be. Many people refer to LD Debate as a “values” debate, as questions of morality and justice are commonly examined. Students prepare cases and then engage in an exchange of cross-examinations and rebuttals in an attempt to convince a judge that they are the better debater in the round. LD topics change every two months.
Policy Debate
Policy Debate is a two-on-two debate where an affirmative team proposes a plan and the negative team argues why that plan should not be adopted. The topic for Policy Debate changes annually, so debaters throughout the course of the year will debate the same topic. One member of each team will perform the “first” speeches, the other the “second” speeches, so the person who reads the 1AC will also perform the 1AR, for example. Note that the debate begins with the affirmative speaking first, and then switches midway through the debate where the negative speaks first, thus giving the affirmative the ability to speak last. The same Policy Debate topic is used for the entire school year.
Public Forum Debate
As a team event, students who compete in Public Forum need to be able to work well with a partner. Balanced teams, both in terms of preparation before debates and contributions within a debate, helps provide a competitive advantage during tournaments. PF looks at current event topics. Students who do Public Forum must be prepared to debate in front of judges without any formal debate training. Being able to persuade a range of judges is a central component to this event. Additionally, PF is focused upon debating varying resolutions that change frequently (every two months in the fall and every month in the spring), which exposes students to a variety of topics during a singular competitive season.
Student Congress
Student Congress is like a simulation of the real United States legislature. A group of 10-20 students, called a Chamber, will compete in a legislative session. A series of bills and resolutions will be proposed by students from various schools. Students in turn will be selected by a Presiding Officer — a student elected to conduct the business of the round — to give speeches both advocating for and encouraging the defeat of the measure in front of them. Following each speech, competitors will be able to pose questions of the speaker. Once debate is exhausted on a particular item, the chamber will vote either to pass or fail the legislation, and debate moves on to the next item.
Bills and resolutions in FGCCFL Student Congress are written by participating students, reviewed by League staff, and published a week before the tournament to facilitate research. It is not necessary for every student to present her/his own bill or resolution, but every school is required to submit legislation if they have Congress entries.
Extemporaneous Speaking
Extemporaneous Speaking, typically called Extemp, is a speech on current events with limited preparation time. A student’s understanding of important political, economic, and cultural issues is assessed along with critical thinking and analytical skills. Students report to a draw room (often referred to as Extemp Prep) where all of the contestants gather at tables, set out their files, and await their turn to draw topics. Students may access research brought with them to the tournament (and online resources, if available) during the 30-minute preparation period. When prep time is up, the student reports to the competition room to deliver a 7 minute speech without notes.
In FGCCFL, Extemporaneous Speaking offers a mixture of U.S. and international topics. In addition, we often include a round in which students pose and answer their own questions using political cartoons as prompts.
- FGCCFL Ballot Text (Ext)
- NCFL Master Ballot & Critique Sheet (Ext)
- Extemp Prep Room Rules & Procedures update pending
Oratorical Declamation
Declamation is a public speaking event where students deliver a portion or portions of a speech previously delivered. The speech the student delivers can be any publicly delivered speech. Commencement addresses, historical speeches, political speeches, and celebrity speeches are common examples that students may use to select their declamation. Speeches are up to 10 minutes in length. As a result, students typically shorten the text of the speech to meet time requirements. The goal of a declamation is to convey a message with clarity, emotion, and persuasiveness. The event is not designed for students to mimic the original author of the speech. Instead, speakers are to develop an oration that delivers the message of the author in an original and engaging manner. Participation in Oratorical Declamation is limited to freshman and sophomore students (grades 9-10).
Original Oratory
Original Oratory is a speech written by the student with the intent to inform or persuade the audience on a topic of significance. Oratory gives students the unique opportunity to showcase their voice and passion for their topic. An Oratory is not simply an essay about the topic—it is a well researched and organized presentation with evidence, logic, emotional appeals, and sometimes humor to convey a message. Topics may be of a value orientation and affect people at a personal level, such as avoiding peer pressure, or they can be more of a policy orientation and ask an audience to enact particular policies or solve societal problems. Speeches are up to 10 minutes in length and delivered without notes or visual aids.
Dramatic Performance
Dramatic Performance, contrary to its name, is not all about drama. Students who do Dramatic Performance may perform serious or humorous selections. While dramatic elements are key aspects of the event, melodramatic, or overly-sad selections are not ideal choices for performance. DP lacks props, costuming, sets, and other luxuries seen in various forms of performance art. There is a set time limit of ten minutes, with a thirty second grace period. Students who choose to compete in DP should focus on suspending the disbelief of the audience by portraying a realistic, emotional journey of a character(s). The performance should connect to the audience. Students should select pieces that are appropriate for them. Considerations for selecting a DP topic should include the student’s age, maturity, and school standards.
Duo Interpretation of Literature
Duo is about balance. Partners need to compliment one another stylistically, have a similar skill set and work ethic. Chemistry is an important element of Duo, but chemistry outside of a practice/performance setting does not always translate to chemistry when practicing or performing at a tournament. Duo is an event that can be dramatic, comedic, or a combination of the two. With a ten minute time cap, and a requirement of an off-stage focus, Duo is one of the most unique forms of performance. The main objective is to maintain a sense of balance between performers that focuses on the relationship(s) between the characters they create.
Oral Interpretation of Literature
In Oral Interpretation, the speaker prepares two programs of manuscript-based literature substantially different in content, author, and/or original source. Each program shall consist of a single piece, a cutting, or a series of short pieces united by author or theme. One program shall be published prose; the other, published poetry. The two programs are delivered in alternate rounds. Contestants hold a manuscript or binder during their performance and maintain the illusion of reading from it.
The events listed below are included in our NSDA District Tournament but are not NCFL-sanctioned events. The Executive Committee may elect to offer them at some All Events tournaments to help students prepare for District-level competition.
Informative Speaking
Informative is a speech written by the student with the intent to inform the audience on a topic of significance. Students in Informative may use a visual aid. Informative gives students the unique opportunity to showcase their personality while educating the audience. An Informative is not simply an essay about the topic—it is a well researched and organized presentation with evidence, logic, and sometimes humor to convey a message. Topics are varied and interesting. Whether it be a new technological advance the audience is unaware of or a new take on a concept that everyone is familiar with, Informative is the students opportunity to teach the audience. Types of topics and structure vary greatly.
Program Oral Interpretation
Program Oral Interpretation relies on the performer’s ability to portray a wide range of characters and literature all held together under a common theme. Each program must contain at least two of the three genres (drama, poetry, and prose) and students are encouraged to include all three. There is a set time limit of ten minutes, with a thirty second grace period. Students who choose to compete in POI should focus on making an interesting argument that is supported in different ways by each piece of literature they select.
Changes in Other Events at NSDA
- Where NCFL assigns sides in Public Forum, with Pro speaking first, NSDA requires a coin toss in every round to determine both sides (Pro/Con) and order (speak first/speak last).
- Where NCFL has a single Congress event, NSDA offers two divisions: Senate and House. (These operate under the same rules; they differ only in the way that students are assigned to chambers.)
- Where NCFL has a single Extemporaneous Speaking event, NSDA offers two divisions: United States Extemp and International Extemp.