* Peri Kirkpatrick will be available in the Ombudsperson Room (under Home, then Tournament Wide Meetings) on CascadeCommons.org.  If you need help with anything, she is there to help!   

* Update on 1/4:   On Saturday, 1/14, at 11:45am, we will be hosting a question-and-answer session about Debating in College.  WWU's Travis Cram, Gonzaga's Glen Frappier, Womens Debate Institute's Squid Montieth and Rae Lynn Schwart, and Seattle U's Jim Hanson will be available to answer your questions about how to continue debating after high school!

The MV Invitational

Mount Vernon High School

1075 E. Fulton Street

Mount Vernon, WA 98274

Coach Kelley Kirkpatrick

kkirkpatrick@mvsd320.org

(360)421-2154

The Mount Vernon High School Debate Team cordially invites you to attend the MV Invitational on January 14^th and 15^th, 2022. We are pleased to offer Congressional, Policy, Public Forum, and Lincoln Douglas Debate. Additionally, we will be offering all the traditional Washington State Individual Events….plus, Poetry Slam, Editorial Commentary, and SPAR!

We are a NEITOC Bid Tournament! Last year, we were able to give bids in finals for Extemp, POI, DI, DUO, and HI and in semifinals for INFO and OO!!!

We are a TOC Bid Tournament! Bids will be given to TOP 6 in Congress, FINALS for PF, and at least the TOP 3 for Speech events!!!

DEBATE….

Open and Novice divisions will be offered; if fewer than 6 entries in a division are received, we may collapse.

Congressional Debate

We will offer two 2-hour sessions on Friday evening and Super Congress on Saturday. All sessions will conflict with CX, LD, and PF. The top 6 debaters and Top Presiding Officer in each division will receive recognition.  We will primarily be using the WSFA Spring Legislation Packet. Out of state competitors may offer legislation by Saturday, January 1^st, 2022 to be included in this year’s docket.

Policy Debate

We will use the 2021-2022 Policy Topic.  WSFA Novice case areas will not be mandatory. Rounds will follow the 8-3-5 format with 8 minutes of prep time per team. The top 4 teams in each division will receive recognition.  Additionally, the top three speakers will receive special awards.

Lincoln Douglas

We will use the January/February 2022 NSDA LD Topic.  Rounds will follow the 6-3-7-3-4-6-3 format and have 4 minutes of prep time per competitor. All debaters who qualify for quarterfinals and beyond in each division will receive recognition.  Additionally, the top three speakers in each division will receive special awards.

Public Forum

We will use the January 2022 NSDA PF Topic.  Rounds will follow standard PF time format with 3 minutes of prep time per team. All teams who qualify for quarterfinals and beyond will receive recognition.  Additionally, the top three speakers in each division will receive special awards.

INDIVIDUAL EVENTS….

If you are coming from another state, you may want to consult the Washington Forensics Association Rules found here:

https://wiaa.com/ConDocs/Con1144/2019-20%20Bound%20for%20State%20Regs.pdf.

Informative

A speech that is designed to be informative in nature. Visual aids and note cards are permitted but are not required. The time limit is 10:00 with a :30 grace period.

Dramatic Interpretation

Material guidelines follow the rules of the NSDA. This is a memorized event. The time limit is 10:00 with a :30 grace period.

Duo Interpretation

Material guidelines follow the rules of the NSDA. The time limit is 10:00 with a :30 grace period. In Duo, we ask that coaches follow the rules of their individual school districts. So, students may perform live or may submit a recording to be viewed by the judges on the day of the competition. If submitting a recording, students are still expected to be present during the rounds.

Extemporaneous Speaking 

Thirty minutes before speaking time, each speaker will select a topic from a choice of three options. Questions will be based on current events from the last three months. Speakers will be expected to organize and analyze material relevant to the subject area and answer the chosen question. The time limit is 7:00 with a :30 grace period.

Oratory

An original speech designed to persuade—that is, to change or reinforce an existing belief, to eulogize, to cause agreement with speaker’s position, or to motivate to action. The time limit is 10:00 with a :30 grace period. 

Impromptu Speaking

Students will be given a choice of three topics; typically, these choices will include a quotation, an abstract idea, and a current event question. The student will choose a topic and have six minutes to prepare and speak on the chosen topic. Time may be used in any manner the speaker chooses. The time limit is 6:00 with a :30 grace period.

Humorous Interpretation

Material guidelines with follow the rules of the NSDA. This is a memorized event. The time limit is 10:00 with a :30 grace period.

Program of Oral Interpretation

Material guidelines follow the rules of the NSDA. The time limit is 10:00 with a :30 grace period.

In addition, we will offer the following extra events:

SPAR

Format will be 2:00 minute constructive speeches, followed by 2:00 minutes of cross examination, followed by 1:00 minute rebuttals. Topics will be a variety of abstract ideas, current events, and pop culture questions. Top SPAR Finalists will be asked to SPAR before awards assembly.

Poetry Slam

Original work performed by the author; not to exceed 5:00 minutes. Top 3 competitors will get to perform before the general awards assembly. Winner will be decided by the general assembly through the polling feature on Cascade Commons.

Editorial Commentary

A scripted speech which is intended to be an analysis of a news event rather that a running synopsis of news. Speakers will read their manuscript from a seated position. The script should be timed to end between 1:45 and 2:00. Any speaker ending before 1:45 or after 2:00 shall be ranked one score lower. 

SCHEDULE…

Please be aware that if we need to add or subtract rounds, we will notify coaches through email. Last year, we chose to add semifinal rounds based on entries so we could award more bids. The schedule will be updates as quickly as possible if that is needed this season. Thank you for your patience on this issue!

Friday, January 14^th

2:00pm…      Registration

3pm…             Round 1- Policy, PuFo, LD; Session 1 Congress

5:30pm…      Round 2- Policy, PuFo, LD

5:30pm…      Session 2- Congress

7:30pm…      Round 3- Policy, PuFo, LD

Saturday, January 15^th

7:30am…       Round 1- Extemp Draw

8:00am…       Round 1- Speech

9:30am…       Round 4- Policy, PuFo, LD; Session 1 Super Congress

11:00am…    Round 2- Extemp Draw

11:30am…    Round 2- Speech

11:45...        Debate in College Session

1:00pm…      Round 5- Policy, PuFo, LD; Session 2 Super Congress

2:30pm…      Round 3- Extemp Draw

3:00pm…      Round 3- Speech

4:00pm…      Quarterfinals for LD, PuFo; Semifinals for Policy (if needed)

5:00pm…      Finals for Speech

6:00pm…      Semifinals for LD, PuFo; Finals for Policy (if needed)

7:00pm…      Finals for LD, PuFo

8:00pm…      General Awards Assembly Begins

FUN ROOM…

During our event, we host a “Fun Room” where debaters can meet each other between rounds.  Last year, this included an Among Us tournament, Team Karaoke, a Scavenger Hunt, and more.  We will post additional details closer to the event.

DEBATE ART SHOW…

For the 3^rd year, we will be having our Debate Art Show.  Competitors are invited to share their best Speech and Debate-themed art to kkirkpatrick@mvsd320.org by Wednesday, 1/12. The best entry will be determined by the votes of those at the Awards Assembly, earning a special award for the winner and a donation in their name to the Women’s Debate Institute.

JUDGING…

Our team goal is to provide exceptionally qualified judging for this tournament. We prefer that all judges be out of high school.  Student judges who are unable to be used because of collapsed divisions will not count toward a team’s judging commitment. If you need to hire a judge, please contact us and we will do our best to help! 

This tournament will be using on-line balloting through tabroom.com. Please have all judges create a tabroom.com account before the tournament.  Additionally, please see below for creating an account on Cascade Commons. Thank you for help with this!

Judges should be available for all scheduled rounds unless indicated while registering for the tournament. Also, judges are committed for two rounds past your team’s last round.  Please meet the following judging requirements to avoid students being dropped at registration:

1 judge for every 2 Policy

1 judge for every 3 Public Forum or LD entries

1 judge for every 5 Individual Event entries

 If judges fail to pick up ballots, a $50 fine will be applied.  

AWARDS…

Awards will be given to the top three in each division; if an event is collapsed, we will recognize the top novice speaker. 

Four years ago, our team began the tradition of the Bulldog Award to recognize members of the debate community that excel in ways that may not be rewarded on debate ballots.   To nominate a student, judge, or coach, please write a letter that includes specific examples; send it to kkirkpatrick@mvsd320.org by Monday, January 10, 2022.  

FEES…

School Fee $30

Lincoln-Douglas and Congress Entries $10

Policy, Public Forum, and Duo Entries $20

Individual Events $10

Please provide a check, cash, or Purchase Order at registration.

If your school needs help with fees in anyway, please reach out to us.  

TOURNAMENT SITE…

We will be hosting this year’s event on CascadeCommons.org… thank you to our friend, Interlake Coach Prabhat Aluri, for creating this affordable, user-friendly platform which allows our tournament to continue. As a Title I school that relies exclusively on our own fundraising to compete, using Cascade Commons saves our team money—and allows the MVHS team to attend more tournaments! Additionally, the system allows for all students to watch FINAL ROUNDS—an incredible educational benefit to our youngest competitors! To use the system, please complete these steps:

1.     Coaches should fill out the spreadsheet on the sidebar and email it to support@cascadecommons.org.  Please include the names and emails of all competitors, judges, coaches, and anyone you give permission to observe.  Only folks who are included on these spreadsheets have access to the site during the competition.

2.     Once Cascade Commons has confirmed the spreadsheet, students, coaches, and judges may create an account on the site.

3.     Before the tournament, students may follow the prompts on the site to upload back-up videos to be used in case of technical difficulties.

4.     On the day of the tournament, after Tabroom releases pairings, participants simply log on to the Cascade Commons site and enter the room indicated on the pairings!

 In all events, we use the Washington State Forensic Association and NSDA rules.  Please contact us if you need any clarifications.

QUESTIONS…

Please contact Coach Kelley Kirkpatrick at kkirkpatrick@mvsd320.org.