NCFCA offers events in different styles of communication.  Debate provides students an opportunity to compare and contrast ideas while learning logic, critical thinking, and research skills.  Policy debate focuses on governmental actions and allows students to extensively research a particular policy area.  Value debate hones in on philosophical issues and provides a forum to discuss underlying foundational paradigms.  Speech events (IEs) give students the chance to develop the skills of rhetoric by giving numerous speeches.  Overall, NCFCA allows students to develop their communication skills by speaking to many different audience types.

The 2004-2005 year of NCFCA Competition promises to be quite exciting.  The Policy debate topic deals with the United States policy toward its protectorates while the Lincoln-Douglas value debate topic contrasts cultural diversity with cultural unity.  Speech will again provide a stepping stone to debate competition and an additional outlet for developing the skills of communication.  10 speech events are being offered this year including interpretive events, platform speaking, and limited preparation categories.

Debate

• Team Policy Debate

  • Policy debate offers a cross-examination style of argumentation for a team of two debaters.  Debaters research a topic set by the national topic selection committee and voted on by NCFCA affiliates.  The topic for the following season is announced during the banquet at the NCFCA national tournament.  Team debate deals with government policy and forces debaters to find problems with policy-oriented solutions.  Through analyzing the topic and debating students around the country, policy debaters are able to expand their knowledge base regarding the United States government, economics, current events, and public policy.

• Lincoln-Douglas Value Debate (LD)

  • Value debate offers argumentation experience for individuals who argue for a particular paradigm in their speeches.  Debaters analyze a topic also set and voted on by the national topic selection committee, chosen by NCFCA affiliates, and released at the national tournament.  While policy debaters focus on the nuts and bolts of public policy, value debaters spend their time understanding philosophies and the ideas behind actions.   Value debates employ historical anecdotes, discussion of philosophers, and deliberation over the effect ideas have on the world.

Speech (IEs)

• Interpretive Events
  These events involve the interpretation of the work of an author.  While not theatre, interpretation attempts to draw the audience into an imaginary scene created by voice and body of the speaker.  In college the categories are divided by genre of literature (dramatic must be a script, prose must be a book, etc.) but in NCFCA the mood of the piece determines its classification.  NCFCA currently offers four interpretive events.  All selections are ten (10) minutes and memorized.

  • Dramatic Interpretation (DI)

    • Dramatic pieces typically have a somber mood.  While dramatic does not have to mean "sad," most dramatic interpretations allow for reflection and provoke thought.

  • Duo Interpretation (Duo)

    • Duo interpretations allow two students to interpret a piece of literature together.  This creates a unique scene and interaction of the characters often makes these pieces "come alive."  Duo interpretations may be of either humorous or dramatic nature.  The duo is an exciting event which draws the entire audience into the scene.

  • Humorous Interpretation (HI)

    • Humorous pieces are intended to delight the audience.  Typically humorous pieces involve character "pops" (changing quickly between characters) and will provide comic relief.  Humorous is not a stand-up comedy routine, but is instead an interpretation of literature which makes the audience laugh both inside and out!

  • Open Interpretation (OI)

    • Open interpretation take two distinct paths.  First, they may revolve around a common theme - growing up, friendship, patriotism - and involve more than one piece which attempts to convey that thematic message to the audience.  Second, they may be pieces which do not seem to fit into either the humorous or dramatic category.  Any piece with some humor or drama, but not an extensive amount may be entered into this category.  Also, Open Interpretation is the ONLY category of interpretive events in which NCFCA allows original, non-published material to be performed.

• Limited Preparation Events
  Speaking with little or no time to prepare is a very valuable skill and is taught through the limited preparation events.

• Extemporaneous Speaking (extemp)

  • Extemporaneous speaking presents students with a question on current events which must be answered using citations from periodicals.  Students are given three questions regarding current events (a sample of questions is available on the Great Debate Website).  The student must select one question and has thirty (30) minutes to prepare a 7 minute speech to answer the question.  The student uses the thirty minutes to look over the research he/she has compiled and formulates a response to the question.  Students in NCFCA may use one note card when giving their speech.

• Impromptu Speaking

  • Impromptu speaking allows students to speak with the most limited preparation.  Speakers are given three quotations or abstract terms and must select one.  The student has two minutes to prepare a 5 minute speech on the selected topic.  Students give examples and address the topic from different angles in order to successfully communicate the message they intend.  No notes are allowed to be consulted during the speech.

• Platform Speaking Events
  Platform events allow original works to be presented to an audience.  The speaker is presenting a message which he or she intends to share with those listening.  These memorized speeches are all ten (10) minutes in length.

  • Expository Speaking (expos)

    • Expository speaking is a forum for students to inform an audience through language as well as the use of visual aids.  The speech will focus on any topic and aims to present information to the listener while increasing interest and informative ability through visual means.  Expository speeches incorporate humor, visual stimuli, and presentation to communicate to the viewers.

  • Original Oratory (OO)

    • Original Oratory allows speakers to discuss any topic in a unique way.  This speech can be informative or analytical as it addresses topics ranging from American history to the English language.  No visual aids are allowed and the speech must be original work of the student.  OO provides a venue for students to communicate their message to the audience.

  • Persuasion

    • Persuasive speaking has as its main objective moving the listener to action.  The persuasive speech presents the audience with a compelling reason to change something they are doing, to support a change in governmental policy, or to take some action. 

  • Oratorical Interpretation (ORI)

    • This event is a wildcard event for 2005.  Event descriptions are available on the NCFCA website.
      

For more detailed information regarding the different categories including rules and requirements, visit the NCFCA website listed on the links page.