Debate Events top
Debate hones the ability to speak effectively with little preparation and to use logic to persuade. Preparation for debate involves researching the issue and practicing debating both sides of the issue with teammates. Judging for debate focuses on the case and analysis of the issue, support of the affirmative or negative through evidence and reasoning, and delivery.Lincoln-Douglas Debate, commonly known as L.D. Debate, is the only debate category we have. Two students debate the current resolution, which involves a moral or social issue relevant to current events and issues. There are set amounts for time and a set order for each person to speak.
Interpretation Events top
Interpretation events allow the speaker to enhance the use of their voice and expressions to convey meaning. Judging for all interpretation events focuses on the interpretation of the piece and not on the content of the piece, with the exception of piece choice.Each competitor has once piece of prose and one piece of poetry, each about ten minutes long. They alternate reading one or the other each round during a tournament. Each competitor uses a binder containing their scripts in order to assist their interpretation.
Each person chooses a play or part of a book to memorize and act out. The piece should be about ten minutes long. It can be serious, funny or both. Dramatic and humorous interpretation are usually combined into one event.
Two people present part of a play or dialogue with each person presenting only one character. Like Oral Interpretations, scripts are used to assist the interpreters. The piece should be about ten minutes long.
Rhetorical Events top
Rhetorical events allow the speaker to explore their creativity while learning to persuade and speak effectively.Competitors write their own speech on a topic of importance to them and memorize it. The speech should be about ten minutes long and well organized. Judging will focus on the content and style of the speech as well as the performance.
This category is open to freshmen and sophomores whose chose a speech given by someone else. The speech should be about ten minutes long and must be memorized. The speech may be an old oratory, a public address or anything that has been presented before. Judging focuses on the effectiveness of the interpretation of the piece and not on the content of the piece, with the exception of piece choice.
Each person draws a question and is given thirty minutes to prepare using files of magazine and newspaper articles they have collected previously. After the time is up, each person will present a speech answering the question and using information they gathered. The questions will focus on current events. Judging will focus on the content and style of the speech as well as the performance.
Additional Events top
For an additional opportunity, competitors may also participate in Student Congress and Impromptu.
Student Congress is just that. The delegates (competitors) sit in a large group facing a central chair from which a chairperson, or Presiding Officer (PO), runs the meeting. The skills learned in competition are the same used in virtually every decision making body, from the school board to the corporate board. Experience in parliamentary procedure is gained in Student Congress and is useful in all situations where people seek to agree on a course of action on an issue.
Note: All ballots used by the GVFL are supplied by the National Catholic Forensic League and were last modified in 1999.