Speech Events
Oratorical Declamation
Oratorical Declamation is an interpretation event in which a student performs a speech that was originally delivered by another person. Students may choose material such as professional speeches, public orations, eulogies, or sermons, and must introduce the selection by identifying the work, author, and circumstances of the original speech. The performance is memorized and should communicate the meaning and spirit of the original speech without becoming an impersonation. Cutting the original speech for length is permitted, but the author's words may not otherwise be altered.
This event is open only to freshmen and sophomores. Performances may last up to 10 minutes, including the introduction. Props and costumes are not permitted.
Dramatic Performance
Dramatic Performance is a solo interpretation event in which a student presents a memorized selection from a published play, script, or work of fiction or nonfiction. The performance may be serious or humorous and may involve either a single character or multiple characters portrayed by the same performer. Poetry may not be used.
Students are judged on their ability to use voice, characterization, body language, and interpretation to create characters, conflict, and a compelling story. The emphasis remains on performance rather than scenery or theatrical production: props and costumes are prohibited. Performances may last up to 10 minutes, with no more than one minute devoted to introductory or transitional material.
Extemporaneous Speaking
Extemporaneous Speaking tests a student's ability to analyze current events and construct an original speech under time pressure. In each round, the student draws three questions, chooses one, and has 30 minutes to prepare a response using permitted research materials. The resulting speech must represent an original synthesis of information and opinion from multiple sources and must directly answer the selected question.
The speech is delivered without notes and may last up to 7 minutes. Students are judged on the relevance and accuracy of their information, organization, analysis, speaking ability, and effectiveness in addressing the question.
Oral Interpretation of Literature
Oral Interpretation of Literature combines literary analysis with expressive reading. Each student prepares two substantially different programs: one consisting of published prose and the other of published poetry. A program may contain a single work, a cutting, or several shorter works connected by author or theme.
Unlike the other interpretation events, the student performs with a manuscript or binder and should maintain a balance between reading from the text and connecting with the audience. Vocal variety, facial expression, and thoughtful interpretation are emphasized, while physical movement is deliberately limited. Drama and real-life speeches may not be used.
Each program may last up to 10 minutes, including no more than one minute of introductory and transitional material.
Original Oratory
Original Oratory gives students the opportunity to write and deliver their own persuasive or informative speech. The subject is chosen by the student and may address contemporary issues, although a contemporary topic is not required. Judges consider both the originality of the student's ideas and the effectiveness with which those ideas are communicated.
The speech must be written by the student and memorized. Quoted material from other authors may not exceed 150 words, and extensive paraphrasing of outside sources is prohibited. Visual aids, props, and costumes are not permitted.
An Original Oratory may last up to 10 minutes.
Duo Interpretation of Literature
Duo Interpretation is a two-person performance of published literature. Both performers must represent the same school. The selection may come from a play or another fictional or nonfictional work; a series of poems by a single poet is also permitted. Material may be humorous, dramatic, or a combination of both.
The performers use vocal characterization, movement, focal points, and reactions to create the impression of interaction between characters. However, the event intentionally limits direct physical interaction: performers generally may not make eye contact with one another or deliberately touch each other during the performance, except as permitted during the introduction. Props and costumes are prohibited.
The selection must be memorized and may last up to 10 minutes, including no more than one minute of introductory and transitional material.
Debate Events
Policy Debate
Policy Debate is a two-person team event centered on a national policy proposition. Each team must be prepared to argue both the affirmative and negative sides of the resolution. The event emphasizes research, evidence, argumentation, strategic case construction, refutation, and detailed engagement with an opponent's arguments.
Each team consists of two students from the same school. Constructive speeches may last up to 8 minutes, rebuttals up to 5 minutes, and cross-examination periods up to 3 minutes. Each team receives up to 8 minutes of preparation time during the debate. Visual aids are permitted when they contribute to the presentation.
Each team, comprised of 2 debaters each representing the same member school, shall be prepared to debate both sides of the proposition selected by the NCFL. The proposition normally selected by the NCFL shall be the proposition selected by the National Federation Debate Topic Selection Committee (NFDTSC) at its annual meeting. Announcement of the topic shall be made to all member Leagues and Independent School members by the Permanent Tournament Director who shall serve as the NCFL representative to the NFDTSC. The problem area selected by the NFDTSC shall define the context of the debates at the Tournament.
Debaters may use visual aids if they contribute to the presentation.
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Lincoln-Douglas Debate is an individual debate event focused primarily on questions of values and principles. Rather than proposing a detailed government policy, competitors debate a resolution that asks them to defend competing values, ethical principles, or philosophical positions.
Debaters are expected to construct logical arguments, use evidence where necessary, directly engage their opponent's reasoning, and communicate persuasively. Judges are instructed to decide the round based on the arguments actually made by the competitors rather than the judge's own personal beliefs. Plans and counterplans are not permitted because the event concerns a proposition of value rather than policy.
The resolution is a proposition of value, not policy. Debaters are to develop argumentation on the resolution in its entirety, based on conflicting underlying principles and values to support their positions. To that end, they are not responsible for practical applications. No plan or counterplan shall be offered by either debater.
In making the decision, the judges should ask the following questions:
Which debater was more persuasive?
Did the debater support his or her position appropriately, using logical argumentation throughout and evidence when necessary?
Which debater communicated more effectively? Speed, word choice, and delivery all count.
Since this is a debate, clash is necessary. It may be direct clash or clash by opposing principles. Thus, the debate does not have to match point for point.
Good judges make decisions only on what was debated by the contestants. If the judges consider an argument to be flawed, but the opponent does not refute it, the original argument must stand. If, however, there is a clash, then the judges decide which argument is more persuasive.
Judges may not discuss the progress of the debate either with each other or with the debaters.
The judges should distance themselves from the content of the debate. Personal values of the judges should not influence the decision.
Public Forum Debate
Public Forum Debate is a two-person team debate designed around clear, persuasive discussion of a current resolution. Teams advocate either the Pro or Con side and are expected to present logical arguments, support claims with evidence where appropriate, answer their opponents, and communicate in a manner accessible to a general or “lay” judge.
A round includes constructive speeches, periods of direct questioning called Crossfire, summary speeches, a Grand Crossfire involving all four debaters, and Final Focus speeches. Constructive speeches are 4 minutes, Crossfires are 3 minutes, summaries are 3 minutes, and Final Focus speeches are 2 minutes. Each team also receives 3 minutes of preparation time.
Public Forum places particular emphasis on persuasion, understandable communication, effective refutation, and professionalism.
Public Forum Debate is a team event that advocates or rejects a position posed by the resolution. Each team shall be comprised of two debaters, each representing the same member school. The focus of the debate is a clash of ideas in a persuasive manner that can be understood by a “lay” judge. Good debaters should display logic and analysis. They should use evidence when needed. They should win their case and refute that of their opponents. They should communicate effectively, using the fundamentals of good speaking. There are no burdens on either side.
Order and time limits of the debate:
First Pro Constructive: 4 minutes
First Con Constructive: 4 minutes
Crossfire: 3 minutes (Note: the Con asks the first question; thereafter, either debater can ask questions).
Second Pro: 4 minutes
Second Con: 4 minutes
Crossfire: 3 minutes (Note: the Pro asks the first question; thereafter, either debater can ask questions).
First Pro Summary: 3 minutes
First Con Summary: 3 minutes
Grand Crossfire: 3 minutes (Note: one member of the Pro team asks the first question; thereafter, any debater may ask questions).
Second Pro Final Focus: 2 minutes
Second Con Final Focus: 2 minutes
Prep Time: 3 minutes/team
In making the decision, the judges should ask the following questions:
Which team is more persuasive?
Did the debaters back up their assertions with logical thinking and evidence when needed?
Were the debaters fair in their interpretation of the resolution and one another’s statements?
Were the arguments intelligent? Did the debaters try to use many weak arguments instead of a few solid ones?
Did the debaters speak in such a way that their ideas were understandable?
Were the debaters courteous and professional?
Judges may not discuss the debate either with each other or with the debaters.
The judges should distance themselves from the content of the debate. Personal values should not influence the decision.
Legislative Debate
Student Congress
Student Congress places students in a legislative chamber where they debate bills and resolutions contained in a tournament legislation packet. Competitors speak for and against proposed legislation, question other speakers, respond to arguments as the debate develops, and participate in the parliamentary operation of the chamber. Students may also serve as elected Presiding Officers.
At Grand Nationals, competitors participate in three preliminary sessions. Students advancing from preliminaries compete in semifinal chambers, and the top competitors advance to the Grand Final Session. Performances are evaluated by multiple Scorers as well as a Parliamentarian, with advancement based on cumulative rankings.
The event rewards students who can combine research, persuasive speaking, refutation, parliamentary awareness, responsiveness to an ongoing debate, and leadership within a deliberative body.
Student Congress will consist of three preliminary sessions, and a Semi-Final and Final Session.
The goal for the size of preliminary chambers will be 18 members. If there are 216 entries or less, as of 1 week prior to the Grand National Tournament, there will be 12 preliminary chambers. If there are more than 216 entries prior to the Grand National Tournament, then there will be an additional chamber added for every 18 entries above 216, or fraction thereof. Five members will advance from each Chamber to the Semi-Finals. Selection will be as defined in the NCFL Student Congress Manual.
The qualifiers for Semi-Finals will be distributed into approximately equal chambers of 16 to 20 students. There will be four Scorers and a Parliamentarian for each Semi-Final Chamber. Six to eight members will advance from each Semi-Final Chamber to the Grand Final Session of 24 students. Selection will be as defined in the NCFL Student Congress Manual.
There will be four Scorers and a Parliamentarian for the Grand Final Session. Selection to determine the National Champion will be as defined in the NCFL Student Congress Manual.
The chambers will hold three preliminary sessions, meeting for a total of 7.5 hours, preceded by a 30 minute caucus and committee session to set the Preliminary Agenda. Semi-Finals and Grand Finals will consist of two two-hour sessions, with Presiding Officers elected for each.
The bills and resolutions that will be debated by the chambers are placed in a packet by the NCFL Clerk of Congress. The Clerk of Congress attempts to select legislation that encourages educational debate on a wide range of subjects. Each diocese entering students is encouraged to submit legislation, and may submit up to two items. Submission of legislation for the tournament must be done using the templates found on the NCFL website; legislation that does not utilize the templates will not be accepted. A committee established by the NCFL National Tournament Director and the Clerk of the Congress shall select four pieces of submitted legislation for each of the Preliminary sessions, and five pieces of legislation for each of the Elimination sessions. Submitting legislation, and its selection by the committee, does not confer authorship, sponsorship, or other special rights on any student representing the diocese during competition.
At a Glance
Oratorical Declamation: Perform and interpret a speech originally delivered by someone else; freshmen and sophomores only.
Dramatic Performance: Perform a memorized dramatic or humorous literary selection as a solo performer.
Extemporaneous Speaking: Prepare for 30 minutes and deliver an original current-events speech of up to 7 minutes.
Oral Interpretation of Literature: Interpret prose and poetry while performing from a manuscript.
Original Oratory: Write, memorize, and deliver your own speech.
Duo Interpretation: Two students interpret a literary selection together without conventional theatrical staging.
Policy Debate: Two-person teams debate both sides of a policy proposition using extensive research and evidence.
Lincoln-Douglas Debate: One-on-one debate centered on competing values and principles.
Public Forum Debate: Two-person teams debate a current issue in a persuasive format designed to be accessible to a general audience.
Student Congress: Students debate legislation and practice persuasive speaking within a parliamentary chamber.
NCFL does not permit a contestant to double-enter at Grand Nationals: a student may compete in only one speech event, debate event, or Student Congress.
