Rich Mountain Speech + Debate Festival

November 3rd, 2018

Dear Coaches, Parents, and Students,

You are cordially invited to attend the inaugural Rich Mountain Speech + Debate Festival at Elkins High School. This tournament is designed specifically for individuals and teams who are new to speech and debate. It is intended to be a fun and engaging event that will spark interest in students and further the development of emerging speech and debate teams in the highlands of West Virginia.  

To achieve these goals, we will break with the traditional tournament paradigm by offering more low preparation events and by also running non-traditional events. We want students to walk away from this tournament excited and ready to start or grow teams at their own schools. It is our intention that any student who has a basic understanding of the rules of an event will be able to complete and succeed in our tournament.

We will offer the following debate events: 

Parliamentary Debate (CFA Rules)

Extemporaneous Debate (NSDA Rules)

Big Questions Debate (NSDA Rules)

We will offer the following individual events:

Impromptu Speaking (NSDA Rules)

Extemporaneous Speaking (Modified NSDA Rules)

Improvisation Pairs (CFA Rules) 

Slam Poetry

Liars Contest (WV Culture Rules) 

After Dinner Speaking

Programmed Oral Interpretation (NSDA Rules)

Students can elect to enter as many forms of debate as desired, but cannot be entered in both Parliamentary Debate and an individual event. Students may enter a maximum of two individual events.

Entries are $10 per event. Entry fees will be waived for students from Webster, Randolph, Pocahontas, Pendleton, Tucker, Barbour, Upshur, Grant, Mineral, Hampshire and Hardy Counties.  

It is my hope that this the first step in growing speech and debate in this part of the state. 

Best,

Andrew Carroll

Chair, Department of English ||Head Speech & Debate Coach
Elkins High School || andrew.carroll@k12.wv.us