Speech & Debate

Participation requires a $12 activity fee; at the moment, the competition is scheduled for Saturday, May 3rd, 2025. The location is still in the process of being confirmed. We are hoping it will be hosted at Unionville High School again!

We will begin practicing this winter in classrooms 135 & 136, most Mondays 3:00-4:00 starting February 3rd until April 28th:

2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24

3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24

4/7, 4/28

Students involved in other Patton or community activities are welcome to be a part of the team and participate in the competition even if they can’t attend our Monday practices. In that case, we’d recommend sticking to the speech categories; however, if students have a partner and want to form a debate team they may still do so, even if they can’t attend most practices together. 

Students can sign up here now!

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A Breakdown of Speech and Debate Events

Here's a breakdown of the events you listed:

Individual Events

• Declamation: A performance of a famous speech or piece of literature. The speaker aims to capture the emotion and power of the original text.
• Impromptu: A spontaneous speech given on a randomly assigned topic. Competitors have a short preparation time to organize their thoughts and deliver a persuasive or informative speech.
• Oratory: A persuasive speech on a self-chosen topic. Competitors research, write, and deliver a speech that aims to convince the audience of a particular viewpoint.
• Poetry: A performance of a poem or group of poems. Competitors focus on interpretation, voice, and emotion to bring the poetry to life.
• Prose: A performance of a prose selection, such as a short story or excerpt from a novel. Competitors focus on characterization, pacing, and storytelling.

Group Events

• Duo Interpretation: A performance of a dramatic or humorous script by two people. Competitors work together to create a dynamic and engaging performance.
• Congress: A simulated legislative debate where students take on the roles of senators or representatives to debate bills and resolutions.

These events offer a variety of opportunities for students to develop public speaking, critical thinking, and research skills. Each event has its own unique challenges and rewards, and the choice of event often depends on a student's individual strengths and interests.