Join the Maine Forensic Association for the 2018 Middle School Debate and Speech Tournament on Wednesday, June 13 at Falmouth High School.
Falmouth High School, Falmouth, Maine
June 13, 2016 3:30 p.m. to approximately 7 p.m.
Join the Maine Forensic Association for the 2018 Middle School Debate and Speech Tournament on Wednesday, June 13 at Falmouth High School.
Contact and questions: Lyndsy Denk, [email protected], 207-659-3017
Eligibility and entry fees
Any student enrolled in grades 6, 7, or 8 for the 2017-2018 academic year may compete.
Each student costs $5. All entries are due by 7 p.m. June 12. Fees are frozen (nonrefundable) at this time.
We will send you home with an invoice. If you prefer, you can pay at the tournament (cash or check made out to Falmouth High School, memo: Speech and Debate).
There are penalty fees for:
- Hiring a judge: $40 each.
- Missing a judge: $50 each. Avoid this fee by requesting a hire through Tabroom or by emailing Lyndsy.
- Drops upon arrival at check-in: $10 each. Avoid this fee by dropping online until 3:30 p.m. or texting your drop to Lyndsy Denk 207-659-3071 prior to arriving at Falmouth High School on tournament day.
Events
Speech
Double entry permitted. See the MFA Speech Handbook for event guidelines and rules.
- Poetry Reading
- Prose Reading
- Oratorical Declamation
- Duo Interpretation
Debate
Single entry only.
Topics
Lincoln-Douglas debate
Resolved: Civil disobedience in a democracy is morally justified.
Public Forum debate
Resolved: Public schools should not be able to punish students for civil disobedience enacted during school hours.
Judge requirements
To help the tournament run smoothly and fairly, schools must provide judges based on the ratios below. Judges are expected to be available for all rounds of competition. Fractional entries round up (i.e., three LD entries = 2 judges).
- Lincoln-Douglas: One judge for every 2 entries
- Public Forum: One judge for every 2 teams
- Speech: One judge for every 5 entries
Finalize all judges Tabroom.com by 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 12. Describe judge conflicts (ex. parent, teacher, knows an individual, student in same district), restrictions, and experience in Tabroom. Email or text any complicated situations to the host.
Judges may be available for hire at $40 each. Request through Tabroom.com or email Lyndsy Denk.
Judge eligibility
High school speech and debate members are encouraged to judge! Those who belong to an NSDA-member school should report their judging to their coach to earn service points.
Coaches, parents, family, teachers, and community members. This is a great opportunity for high school teams to train judges for the next season.
Judges should bring…
- Timer/stopwatch. Apps on mobile devices are appropriate as long as the device remains in airplane mode during rounds.
- Pens
- OPTIONAL BUT ENCOURAGED laptop or mobile device for online ballot entry
Drops
While we are not charging for drops prior to your arrival at Falmouth High School, note:
- Entry fees will be frozen (nonrefundable) 7 p.m. June 12.
- Drops communicated at check-in will be assessed an additional charge of $10 per entry.
Text (or call at your own risk since cell network at FHS is weak) Lyndsy Denk 207-659-3071 once you are en route to the tournament to confirm your team and judge attendance. Drops communicated prior to arrival will be waived the $10 penalty.
Food
A dinner party will follow rounds in the cafeteria. Students should not leave the school.
Those with dietary restrictions or preferences may not be accommodated and should bring their own food.
Awards
Tabulation of awards follows standards adopted by MFA.
Individual awards for first through third place in each category.
Schedule
3:30–4:00 Entrant and judge check-in
4:05 Judges meeting in Judges’ Lounge
4:05 Student meeting in cafeteria
4:15 p.m. Rounds begin
6:30 p.m. Pizza party and awards
We look forward to seeing you on June 13.
Lyndsy Denk, Falmouth High School Speech and Debate
Joshua Denk, Falmouth High School Speech Debate