Dear WVSDA Coaches:

The WVSDA Fall Congressional Debate Tournament will be held at Parkersburg High School, 2101 Dudley Avenue, Parkersburg, WV 26101 on Saturday, 9 October 2021. 

EVENTS:

The following events will be offered:

Section A: Impromptu, Prose Interpretation, Informative Speaking, Humorous/Dramatic Interpretation, Broadcasting, Program Oral Interpretation, Public Forum Debate

Section B: Extemporaneous Speaking, Poetry Interpretation, Declamation, Original Oratory, Duo Interpretation, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, SPAR Debate

RULES:

This tournament follows WVSDA Rules for Events, which are available at the following LINK. SPAR Debate rules are available in a separate document.

ENTRIES:

We are suspending the usual Novice entry restrictions for this year only.

First, a student may enter up to two events in Section A and up to two events in Section B, subject to the following restrictions:

*Debaters may enter one speech event in their section of debate, except that Public Forum debaters may not enter Broadcasting and Lincoln-Douglas debaters must not enter Extemporaneous Speaking due to time constraints.

*Students in Public Forum Debate and Extemporaneous Speaking may not enter another Section A event. Students in Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Broadcasting may not enter another Section B event.

Second, the maximum number of student entries per school is increasing to 7 in all events.

To enter every event EXCEPT Public Forum Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and Extemporaneous Speaking, a student must be a novice. "Novice" means in one's first year of high school competition or never having finaled the event. A non-novice may enter Public Forum Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and Extemporaneous Speaking.

Minimum judge entries per school: 1 judge per every 6 speech entries; 1 judge per every 2 debate entries.

Student entry due date: Monday, 4 October 2021, at 5:00 PM. (Changes may be made through Thursday, 7 October 2021, at 5:00 PM without penalty.)

Judge entry due date: Monday, 4 October 2021, at 5:00 PM. (Changes may be made through Thursday, 7 October 2021, at 5:00 PM without penalty.)

FEES:

Student entry fee: $8.00 per entry for all single-competitor events; $15.00 per entry for all two-competitor events.

Drop fees: There is an additional $5.00 per entry drop fee for any student entry drop after Thursday, 7 October 2021, at 5:00 PM and before Saturday, 9 October 2021, at 7:30 AM. If the drop is made on Saturday morning, it must be phoned into Lori Zyla at 304.483.8431. For any drop after Saturday, 9 October 2021, at 7:30 AM, the entry drop fee increases to $50.00 per entry.

WVSDA dues: $35.00 per school (not applicable for new schools).

NCFL dues: $50.00 per school (not applicable for new schools).

DEBATE TOPICS:

Public Forum Debate - Resolved: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization should substantially increase its defense commitments to the Baltic States.

Lincoln-Douglas Debate - Resolved: The member nations of the World Trade Organization ought to reduce intellectual property protections for medicines.

SPAR Debate - Topics change from round to round.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

7:45 AM to 8:15 AM - Registration

8:15 AM to 8:35 AM - Student Opening Assembly

8:35 AM to 8:55 AM - Judges meeting

9:00 AM to 10:05 AM - Round 1 Section A

10:10 AM to 11:15 AM - Round 1 Section B

11:00 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch

11:20 AM to 12:25 PM - Round 2 Section A

12:45 PM to 1:50 PM - Round 2 Section B

1:55 PM to 3:00 PM - Round 3 Section A

3:05 PM to 4:10 PM - Round 3 Section B

4:30 PM - Awards

AWARDS:

Awards will be presented to students who place 1st through 6th in each event and to the top three schools overall.

LUNCH:

Pizza, soda, and snacks will be sold as concessions during the lunch break for any interested students. Lunch will be provided for coaches and judges.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please reach out and let me know at ldzyla@gmail.com or at 304.483.8431.

Sincerely,

Lori Zyla

WVSDA President