Events

DEBATE

For Debate, Stratford will host both Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum, and we will be adding Congressional this year. While this is a Novice tournament, we will not use the Novice topics for either event.

We are now allowing for double entry between Debate and Speech events. If a student wants to enter LD or PF, they may also enter up to 2 speech events.

Coaches may double-enter judges to cover their obligations with one caveat: a judge can only cover one debate event in addition to speech, otherwise, they will be running non-stop to judge the whole weekend. We recommend registering your speech judges first, then double-entering them for one debate category.

Congressional

Congressional legislation will be released on 2/29/2020, two weeks before the tournament.

We are currently planning to hold a maximum of 4 chambers of Congressional debate. If we get enough interest, we will increase those numbers. Do expect Congressional to run simultaneously with PF and LD. Congress debaters may still enter Speech events if they choose.

We are planning for 10-20 students per chamber with an approximately 90-minute runtime for each round, with a 30 minute grace period built in for any runover. If these numbers need adjusting because of intense interest or if we get an odd number of entrants, we will make those adjustments.

Lincoln-Douglas

Lincoln-Douglas will use the March-April 2020 Topic: "Resolved: Predictive policing is unjust." Students will be permitted to use laptops in round, but they are not to use wifi during the round. Students using digital equipment must have some way to present their cards to their opponents if asked in cross, so either bring a paper copy or another reading device to present cards upon request. Failure to be able to present requested information will have repercussions.

Public Forum

Public Forum will also use the February 2020 topic: "Resolved: The United States should replace means-tested welfare programs with a universal basic income." Again, students will be permitted to use laptops in round, but they are not to use wifi during the round; no researching during round. Students using digital equipment must have some way to present their cards to their opponents if asked in cross, so either bring a paper copy or another reading device to present cards upon request. Failure to be able to present requested information will have repercussions.

SPEECH

If students would like to double-enter in Speech events, we will have a protocol for students to enter a maximum of 2 Speech events. Students double-entered will need to speak first, and then they must transfer to their other room to finish out the round.

We are hosting Original Oratory and Impromptu again this tournament, along with How To, Prose/Poetry, and Duo Interpretation. Speeches must be between 6 and 10 minutes in length. The longer your speech, the more opportunities you have to shine, but also the more opportunities to make mistakes. We encourage entrants to scale their speech lengths to fit their ability in this novice-focused tournament. Impromptu speeches will be 5 minutes with a 2-minute prep time. Prose/Poetry speeches will be up to 7 minutes.