Debate Club

24-25 Meridian High School Debate Club 

Steps to Register a Student for Competitive Debate Club


Membership and Participation Dues

Students are required to pay a $104.60 membership fee through My School Bucks (4.60 is credit processing fee) or pay by check to Meridian World School for $100 with a memo line for Debate Club.  Invoices will be sent out after the Student Interest Meeting and should be paid by the end of September.  This is required in order to help cover the fees associated with registration and resources for Texas Forensic Association and National Speech and Debate Association as well as extended work week for the coaches at tournaments. This means all fees must be paid by the club/organization's deadline(s) to maintain eligibility and continue to participate. Financial assistance is available to those who need it. Please email financialaid@mwschool.org to inquire. 


Additionally, students will have to pay a tournament registration fee for each tournament, approximately $15-25 per person.  Meridian School Debate Club will choose 5-6 tournaments throughout the year to attend in the local Austin area. Please see the tentative debate tournament schedule. Parents/guardians are responsible for providing transportation for their students to all Austin area tournaments. 

Description of Debate Club

Debate club is designed to teach students how to compete in debates against other schools in the Texas Forensic Association and National Speech Debate Association events focusing on public forum format. Public Forum debate is a form of debate where two teams of two people compete against each other on a topic that is related to current events or public policy. Each team consists of two debaters, one for the pro side and one for the con side.  Students will learn how to research, articulate arguments, and clarify ideas and will develop their skills in research, reasoning, and organizational skills. 


Goals of Debate Club:


Weekly Meeting Time

Thursday from 4:10-5:00 in Mrs. MacFarland's room, HS 1.11. 


Public Forum Debate

Public Forum debate is a team event where students compete with a partner against another team, advocating or rejecting a position. Students debate a topic that changes every two months. Students prepare to debate both the affirmative and negative sides of the topic. At the competition, sides will be determined by a coin flip. 


Topics rotate every two weeks and are posted on the NSDA website: https://www.speechanddebate.org/topics/. 

Rules for Public Forum Debate


Sept/Oct Topic:

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially expand its surveillance infrastructure along its southern border.


Possible Meridian Tournament Schedule

See google doc link. Subject to change. Tentative ideas for now. 


NSDA and TFA Tournament Schedule

Tabroom (search for Texas--includes both NSDA and TFA)

TFA Schedule




Student Interest Presentation

 Interested students should attend the Student Interest Presentation  on Thursday, September 5th from 4:10-5:00 in Mrs. MacFarland's room, HS 1.11.  Parents and students should also review the Terms for Participation. 




Google Classroom

Once students register in My School Bucks (specific link not in store) and review the  Terms for Participation,  students will be invited to the Google Classroom where curriculum and tournament information will be available. Parents will need to fill out a Permission  Form for EACH tournament granting permission for students to attend a tournament. 


Public Forum Examples

Examples of Public Forum Debates: 2018 Nationals, 2020 Example Public Forum Finals

Video


Judging

Parents can judge if they do a little training. If parents are interested in judging, they can reach out to Mrs. MacFarland or Ms. Radebaugh and visit the NSDA's short online course:  https://www.speechanddebate.org/learn/judge-accreditation/.

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