This tournament is a collaboration between ModernBrain speech and debate and local schools. 

For more information about ModernBrain and the classes that we teach, please go to www.modernbrain.com. 

ModernBrain is an extracurricular K-12 program that trains students for educational competitions. We specialize in communications-oriented categories - Speech and Debate, Model United Nations, Slam Poetry, and Mock Trial). ModernBrain’s coaches are an accomplished group of public speaking educators who prioritize developing skills, not merely winning awards.

Welcome to our FRIENDLIES! Our goal is to provide a productive, uplifting, educational opportunity for students in our shared networks.

CONGRESS TOPICS: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d4AN9cnVcS3GU90qRdnZJ0RMHXmWT-ho/view?usp=sharing

[Dates for the Fall]

10/31 + 11/1 - Speech & Debate Tournament (Sat = Speech/Sun = Debate)
11/21 + 11/22 - Speech & Debate Tournament (Sat = Speech/Sun = Debate)
12/12 + 12/13 - Speech & Debate Tournament (Sat - Speech/Sun = Debate)

[Fees]

ELEMENTARY (3rd to 5th graders)

MIDDLE (6th, 7th, and "true novice" 8th graders - "true novice" means those in their first years of competition in any Speech/Debate category)

HIGH (experienced 8th graders and 9th graders + "true novice" high schoolers - "true novice" means those in their first years of high school competition in any Speech/Debate category)

Older students, at the discretion of the tournament directors, may judge.

[Schedule - the schedule may move up as appropriate; updates will be sent over Tabroom]

[Events Offered]

Students can double-enter in Speech on Saturday--unless they choose Extemp, in which case they can only single-enter.

Students can single-enter in Debate on Sunday.

Students can also enter in Minute to Win It, Fiction writing, and Nonfiction writing.

RECORDED/ASYNCHRONOUS EVENTS (submit by Friday night, 11:59 PM PST):

Minute to Win It (Contestants submit a link to one recorded minute of their performance--a minute of an interp, spontaneous speech, platform speech, debate speech, poetry, anything performative)

Fiction writing...

Directions: Write a short fiction story. Fiction stories are generally narrative in form and observe characters and events that are imaginary, not strictly based in history or fact.
Theme: Arctic adventure. Write about a story that takes place in the arctic tundra! Think lots of snow storms. Hint: how does the environment affect the characters and story?
Rules and formatting: One-inch margins, double spaced, times new roman, 12 pt. font. Elementary: 600 words maximum. Middle School: 850 words maximum.
Tips: Use the story arc, introduce your characters, give your characters depth, and demonstrate a sense of character development, have a clear moral for your story.

Nonfiction writing...

Directions: Write a short nonfiction story or essay. Nonfiction writing attempts to accurately represent people and events. Nonfiction writing can be either an essay or a story.
Theme: The power of being yourself.
Rules and formatting: One-inch margins, double spaced, times new roman, 12 pt. font. Elementary: 600 words maximum. Middle School: 850 words maximum.
Tips: If writing a story, use the story arc, introduce your characters, give your characters depth, and demonstrate a sense of character development, have a clear moral for your story. If writing an essay, write a one paragraph introduction, use body paragraphs to demonstrate your specific ideas/arguments, and write a concluding paragraph that brings resolution to your essay.

For the MINUTE IT TO WIN IT EVENT, coaches can upload the video directly to the entry's tabroom.com entry or email all of the videos in one batch to dorri@modernbrain.com by 10/26 at 5 PM.

For the writing events, attach all documents together to an email. The email should have a list of all attached students for each writing sample with information so we can match the writing samples to the students. For example, if there are 20 students from your team doing writing, include a list of the 20 students + all 20 documents in a single email.  Send it to dorri@modernbrain.com by 10/26 at 5 PM.

DEBATE (Sunday):

Lincoln Douglas (NSDA Rules, September/October Topic)

Public Forum (NSDA Rules, September/October Topic)

SPAR (2 minute of prep, 2-minute AFF, 2-minute NEG, 3 minutes of shared CX, 2-minute NEG, 2 minute-AFF)

Student Congress (NSDA Rules, topics released two weeks before the tournament, judges are Presiding Officers)

Parliamentary Debate (CHSSA Rules, topics released at start of round)

MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL SPEECH (Saturday):

SPAR (2 minute of prep, 2-minute AFF, 2-minute NEG, 3 minutes of shared CX, 2-minute NEG, 2 minute-AFF)

Impromptu (2 minutes of prep, 5-minute speech)

Extemp (30 minutes of prep, 7-minute speech)

Informative (10 minutes, live)

Declamation/Oratorical Interp (10 minutes, live)

Original Oratory/Advocacy (10 minutes, live)

Humorous Interp (10 minutes, live)

Dramatic Interp (10 minutes, live)

Programmed Oral Interp (10 minutes, live)

DUO Interp (10 minutes, live)

Storytelling (5 minutes, live)

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SPEECH (Saturday):

SPAR (2 minute of prep, 2-minute AFF, 2-minute NEG, 3 minutes of shared CX, 2-minute NEG, 2 minute-AFF)

Impromptu (2 minutes of prep, 5-minute speech)

Storytelling (5 minutes, live)

Dramatic Performance [Combined Humorous/Dramatic Interp] (Up to 10 minutes, no minimum time, live)

DUO Interp (Up to 10 minutes, no minimum time, live)

Informative (Up to 10 minutes, no minimum time, live)

Original Oratory (Up to 10 minutes, no minimum time, live)

Declamation/Oratorical Interp (Up to 10 minutes, no minimum time, live)