Competitive Speech and Debate

Speech: Competitive speech events offer students the opportunity to practice and refine the skills of communication while developing the self-confidence needed to speak in front of an audience. The added element of competition serves to raise the bar, providing the extra incentive students need to give their best, and in so doing reach their full potential. Participation in speech and debate produces articulate, interesting individuals who know how to defend what they believe, students who possess the confidence and precision of language necessary to make a significant impact on their world. One of the greatest benefits of the individual events is that they teach students how to articulate and support their own worldview and opinions. This is not an add on to an already full curriculum schedule, but can become the very heartbeat of the learning experience.  These skills, build confidence in our young people ensuring that they possess the ability to make a powerful impact on the society in which they live.  A wide variety of speech events, commonly referred to as individual events or I. E.'s for short, can be narrowed down to three main categories: the platform speeches, the interpretive events, and the spontaneous or limited-preparation events.

Debate: 

Beyond being exciting and fun, debate provides the avenue for students to develop critical, lifelong communication skills. Debate requires an ability to intellectually understand complex issues, research and gather information on an issue, analytically construct arguments, think clearly and critically, speak persuasively and refine the art of impromptu speaking. These skills build confidence in our young people ensuring that they possess the ability to make a powerful impact on the society in which they live.

Coaches:

Samantha Nasser is a 16 year old high school senior dedicated to effecting change. Home-schooled since 3rd grade, Samantha enjoys writing and competitive debate and hopes to major in political journalism at Patrick Henry college this fall. Last year, Samantha placed 5th in Team Policy debate at the National Tournament with her partner Alan Carrillo and was ranked 7th place speaker. This year, Samantha has placed in the top 16 Lincoln-Douglas competitors at every tournament, taking 2nd at the first qualifier of the year.

Alan Carrillo is an 18-year old home school graduate and a 4-year speech and debate veteran who has a passion to see truth communicated to those around him. Surprisingly, Alan has not always loved competitive speech and debate. In 2004, at the age of 14, he attended Creative Arts in Action’s first speech and debate summer camp and was interested, but not enthralled. Scared and shy, Alan (in spite of tears of protests) gave competition a try and was immediately overcome by what he calls “The Debate Fever”, and his life has never been the same. 

In addition to his numerous winnings at the state and regional level, Alan has competed four times at the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association’s National Tournament. At the 2007 National Tournament he was blessed to win 5^th place in team policy debate with his partner Samantha Nasser, 4^th place team policy debate speaker, and 1^st place Individual Events Sweepstakes.  

Although he has graduated from high school, his competition days (he hopes) are far from over. In the fall, he plans to begin his studies of International Policy at Patrick Henry College and actively participate on the debate team in order to continue to sharpen his communication skills so that he, and the rest of his generation, can reach the world for Christ – the Truth.

Testimonials:

Marshall Sherman 6/2007

Initially, speech and debate came as a substitute for football camp. Which wasn't what I had in mind. My passion, my drive, my zeal, was football. So, when the time for the speech and debate camps rolled around like a big huge snowball on a dreadfully freezing day, I was less than excited. But little did I know, that snowball would suck me in and take me for one of the wildest and most rewarding rides of my life. Because of speech and debate I have had the opportunity to develop and sharpen my communication skills so I can glorify Christ in all that I say. It has opened up doors for me that would not have been opened otherwise. Due to my involvement in competitive forensics, I was accepted to intern with a communications organization, Communicators for Christ. This fall I will be traveling all across the country and teaching others how to communicate the message God has given them in a clear, concise, and engaging manner. I truly do thank God that I got involved, it has forever changed my life!

Alan Carrillo 6/2007

I began my quest in the world of Speech and Debate during a summer camp at Creative Arts in Action in July 2004 and, as a result of being shy for most of my life, I was terrified! However, the last three years of competitive Speech and Debate has completely turned me around. God, through His grace, has enabled me to become more of a bold, passionate, and effective communicater for His glory. I highly recommend this activity for those who love public speaking and especially for those who don't - yet. There's nothing to worry about! The debate fever will catch you sooner or later.