Author: Kenneth BIsbee

RIDGEFIELD  HIGH  SCHOOL
2630 S.  Hillhurst Road
Ridgefield, WA 98642

Dear High School Forensics Coach:

The Ridgefield High School Speech and Debate Team would like to invite you to the Thirteenth Annual Spudder Invitational Tournament.  The tournament will take place on Friday, December 9th  (LD Debate/Student Congress) and Saturday, December 10th  (Individual Events and Public Forum Debate.)  

We are striving to keep the best from past tournaments - free pasta dinner on Friday for competitors, free baked potato bar on Saturday for competitors, real trophies with unusual tops for first place, holiday socks for second, rosette ribbons for third, and duo impromptu (which as far as we know, we originated) which NFL recognizes as an event.  There will still be bingo between the finish of rounds and the beginning of awards with prizes for those who can line up five spaces in a row.  

We offer both novice and open competition.  If we need to collapse an event for competition, we will break out for awards.  Our schedule works.  Extemp is limited to four students in a round to move the tournament along.  Students are free to double enter in either pattern, but should contact both judges before competing.  Students can do both public forum debate and IEs on Saturday.  We attended the Foley Invitational at University HS in Spokane last year and my students so thoroughly enjoyed the Spontaneous Argumentation that we will be offering it is pattern B.  Limit of 16 entries in each division.  

We lost one of our 2009 seniors in a car accident in August of that year.  Aja Gerrity, who was featured on MTV's Made, was a fierce competitor.  In her two years on the team, she earned three district titles and made finals at state three times.  In her senior year, she and her partner earned one of the district's two berths to state in Public Forum debate.  Aja was a wonderful ambassador for our activity and will be greatly missed.  She was anticipating judging for the team when she came back from college in New York.  The Aja Gerrity Award will be presented to the open-level competitor who most helps his or her team in the team standings.  It will be based on four possible events - LD debate or congress on Friday, Public Forum on Saturday, and the competitor's top finish in each speech pattern on Saturday.

DIRECTIONS  TO  RIDGEFIELD  HIGH  SCHOOL
From the south - take I-5 or I-205 north until they merge.  Continue to exit 14.  At the top of the exit ramp, turn left.  Continue for 1.2 miles to the roundabout. You will want to make the equivalent of a left turn onto S. 45^th Avenue which becomes Royle Road.  Follow Royle Road (yes, it has similarities to a roller coaster) to the stop sign.  Turn right onto Hillhurst.  Ridgefield High School is about 0.2 miles on your right.  Coaches check in at the office where you will find headquarters and tab. The judges’ lounge is in the home ec room.  Students congregate in the commons (just look for the only building that is two stories tall.)

From the north - take I-5 south to exit 14.  At the top of the exit ramp, turn right.  Continue for 1 mile to the roundabout. You will want to make the equivalent of a left turn onto S. 45^th Avenue which becomes Royle Road.  Follow Royle Road (yes, it has similarities to a roller coaster) to the stop sign.  Turn right onto Hillhurst.  Ridgefield High School is about 0.2 miles on your right.  Coaches check in at the office where you will find headquarters and tab.  The judges’ lounge will be in the home ec room.  Students congregate in the commons (just look for the only building that is two stories tall.)

SUPERVISION
The WIAA requires the presence, at all times, of a certificated staff member from the school or district supervising your participants. You will not be allowed to compete if you do not comply with this rule.
We will offer the following events:

L-D DEBATE
WIAA Rules of Evidence in Debate will be enforced. 
Novice: Open to those students who have no previous experience in Forensics prior to the current competitive year, or those students who have six (6) or fewer rounds of Forensics competition at invitational, league, or district competition prior to the current competitive year.
The tournament may collapse divisions if not enough students are registered.
       •	Lincoln-Douglas Debate (6373463 format with 3 minutes down time) 
       •       Topic: NFL- November/December Topic  Individuals have a moral obligation to assist people in need.        •	Public Forum Debate (44344322322 format with 2 minutes down time)
       •       Topic:  Resolved: In the United States, current income disparities threaten democratic ideals.

IE’s 
Conflict Pattern “A”

IE’s 
Conflict Pattern “B”

Extemporaneous | Oratory
Expository | Humorous Interp
Dramatic Interp | Interpretive Reading
Dual Interp | Impromptu

Duo Impromptu
 Editorial Commentary

SPAR
(Spontaneous
Argumentation)

INDIVIDUAL EVENTS  

We will offer eleven different individual events.  Each will be offered in open and novice divisions. Washington state event rules shall be enforced. Event rules for state events are found at www.wiaa.com You can register on line any time until December 7 at 6 p.m. at http://www.wa-net.com/~normans/regform.html  

A note to our Oregon colleagues - Washington state forensics has changed Dramatic Interp, Humorous Interp, Duo Interp, and Oratory to ten minutes to align with the NFL and Oregon times.  Registering online is easy.

Extemporaneous:  1. Speaker has one-half hour to prepare one of four topics - two domestic and two foreign. Speaker should announce topic choice as part of introduction. 2. Time limit for this event is seven (7) minutes. If the speaker goes over a 30-second grace period that contestant may not be awarded first place in the round. No minimum time limit. 3. TIME SIGNALS MUST BE GIVEN BY THE JUDGES.

Expository:  1. Expository (informative) speech is to describe, clarify, explain, and/or define an object, idea, concept, social institution, or process. 2. The speech must be the original work of the speaker. No more than one hundred fifty (150) words of quoted and/or paraphrased material may be included in the expository. This speech may not have been used in forensic competition by the student prior to the current competitive season. 3. Responsibility for choosing a worthwhile topic rests with the contestant. The use of humor will not be penalized. No costumes are allowed. Any demonstration should enhance, not be the focus of, the information presented. 4. Speech must be delivered extemporaneously, with or without the use of notes. The contestant will not be penalized for using notes or visual aids, unless they interfere with the ability to communicate with the audience. 5. The time limit for this event is eight (8) minutes. If the speaker goes over a 30-second grace period that contestant may not be awarded first place in the round. No minimum time limit.

Dramatic Interp:  1. A serious program using material from ONE or more pieces (title) of prose, poetry, or drama (monologue’s permitted). The title and author must be identified. This program may not have been used in forensic competition by the student prior to the current competitive season.        2. The presentation must be memorized. Props, makeup, and costumes are not permitted. The contestants should be evaluated on poise, quality and use of voice, physical expression and, especially, the ability to interpret characters correctly and consistently. This allows full body movement (bending, kneeling, turning, and minimal singing). 3. The time limit for this event is ten (10) minutes, which will include audience reaction time. There is no grace period  If a speaker goes over the ten minute limit, that contestant may not be awarded first place in the round.  No minimum time limit.

Dual Interp:  1. A dual program using material from ONE or more selections of prose, poetry, or drama. The title(s) and author(s) must be identified. This program may not have been used in forensic competition by the student prior to the current competitive season. Multiple characters are acceptable. 2. The presentation must be memorized. Props, makeup, and costumes are not permitted. The contestants should be evaluated on poise, quality and use of voice, physical expression and, especially, the ability to interpret characters correctly and consistently. This allows full body movement (bending, kneeling, turning, and minimal singing). 3. The two contestants will have off stage focus. Interaction (eye contact) may occur during the introduction/transition. There will be no physical contact. 4. The time limit for this event is ten (10) minutes, which will include audience reaction time. There is no grace period.  If a speaker goes over the ten minute limit, that contestant may not be awarded first place in the round.  No minimum time limit.

Oratory:  Although many orations deal with a current problem and propose a solution, you are expressly reminded that this is NOT the only acceptable form of oratory. The oration may simply alert the audience to a threatening danger, strengthen its devotion to an accepted cause, or eulogize a person. Give the orator free choice of subject and judge him/her solely on the effectiveness of its development and presentation. The composition should be considered carefully for its rhetoric and diction. The use of appropriate figures of speech, similes and metaphors, balanced sentences, allusions, and other rhetorical devices should be noted especially, as they enhance the effectiveness of the oration. Use of English should be more than correct; it should reveal a discriminating choice of words and altogether fine literary qualities. It should be specially adapted to oral presentation. Delivery should be judged for mastery of the mechanics of speech; poise, quality, and use of voice and bodily expressiveness; and for the qualities of directness and sincerity. 1. The presentation must be memorized. 2. The speech must be the original work of the speaker. No more than 150 words of quoted and/or paraphrased material may be included in the oration; and must be so designated in the manuscript. This speech may not have been used in forensic competition by the student prior to the current competitive season. 3. A copy of the oration must be available from the student upon judge's request. 4. The time limit for this event is ten (10) minutes.   There is no grace period.  If a speaker goes over the ten minute limit, that contestant may not be awarded first place in the round.  No minimum time limit.

Humorous Interp: 1. A humorous program using material from only ONE or more pieces (title) of prose, poetry, or drama (monologue is permitted). The title and author must be identified. This program may not have been used in forensic competition by the student prior to the current competitive season. 2. The presentation must be memorized. Props, makeup, and costumes are not permitted. The contestants should be evaluated on poise, quality and use of voice, physical expression and, especially, the ability to interpret characters correctly and consistently. This allows full body movement (bending, kneeling, turning, and minimal singing). 3. The time limit for this event is ten (10) minutes, which will include audience reaction time.  There is no grace period.  If a speaker goes over the ten minute limit, that contestant may not be awarded first place in the round.  No minimum time limit.

Interpretive Reading: 1. The format will be a thematically integrated program of two or more selections in which the contestant will use a balanced program of both published prose (NO DRAMA) and poetry as a presentation requirement; the speaker will use an introduction and transition in which the authors, titles and theme will be stated. 2. The authors of the prose and poetry portions must be different. The same author may be used more than once within the prose or poetry portion of the program. The interpretive reading shall be the original of the student using it in competition program. This program may not have been used in forensic competition by the student prior to the current competitive season. 3. Manuscript is required. No penalty for eye contact as long as the illusion of reading is maintained. No costumes, makeup, or props. The use of full bodily movement (bending, kneeling or turning) is not permitted in interpretive reading. Bodily movement should be limited to a one step radius. 4. The art of interpretation is regarded as recreating the characters and/or mood in the material presented and making them seem real to the audience. No penalty for using humor. 5. The time limit for this event is eight (8) minutes. If the speaker goes over a 30-second grace period that contestant may not be awarded first place in the round. No minimum time limit.

Impromptu:  1. A good impromptu speaker will discuss intelligently and with adequate speaking skills his/her chosen topic. Each contestant will have a different choice of topics. 2. Contestant has six (6) minutes to choose one of three topics, organize thoughts and speak on the chosen topic. No notes may be prepared or used. Speaker must identify the chosen topic as part of introduction. 3. Time limit: preparation and speaking time shall be a total of six (6) minutes. Contestants may use the time as they wish. If the speaker goes over a 30-second grace period that contestant may not be awarded first place in the round. No minimum time limit. 4. Time signals must be given by the judge: oral signals at 30-second intervals for preparation time and hand signals for the remaining minutes.

Editorial Commentary:  1. A scripted speech that is intended to be an analysis of a news event rather than a running synopsis of the news. 2. Speakers will read the manuscript from a seated position. 3. The script should be timed to end between 1:45 and 2:00 minutes. Any speaker ending before 1:45 or after 2:00 minutes shall be ranked one score lower. No Grace Period (students may take their own timing devices to the front of the room with them)

Duo Impromptu:  1) Team will have one minute of prep time and up to five minutes of speaking time.  2) A good duo impromptu will evince teamwork in thought and speaking with balanced speaking time being expected.  3)  There is a 30 second grace period.  Any team going beyond that time may not receive first in that round.

Spontaneous Argumentation (also known as SPAR): A brief, ten-minute debate performed without advanced preparation on a subject of interest. At this tournament, the format will be as follows: The affirmative and the negative will be given two topics. At the end of a one minute preparation period, the affirmative will begin to debate on one of the two topics. The affirmative is allotted a two minute constructive speech followed by a one minute cross-examination. The negative will then have one minute to prepare a two minute constructive speech which will be followed by a one minute cross examination. Both speakers will then be allowed one minute for rebuttal without preparation time.  Topics are quite varied.  For example a student may get to debate either a) Pirates vs. Ninjas  OR  b) Women should be required to register for the draft.  Limit of 16 entries per division.

Student Congress/Congressional Debate
Student Congress: Student Congress is a realistic approach to the democratic idea of cooperative discussion.  It is designed to get representative student leaders to consider some of the problems that actually confront our lawmakers by debating bills and resolutions using parliamentary procedure.  Student Congress serves as an excellent demonstration of Democracy at work.   Pre-selected WIAA approved bills will be used at the tournament.  The docket will be set with the school traveling the furthest getting to place the first bill and so on.  The pattern will follow until all schools have placed one bill on the docket

FEES

School Fee			$25.00
Individual event fee per event			$5.00 
Duo Interp Fee			$10.00
Student Congress Fee			$5.00
Debate Fee 			$10.00
Uncovered Debate Judging Fee			$25.00 per uncovered debater/team
Uncovered Student Congress Judging Fee		$20.00
Uncovered I.E. Judging Fee			$10.00 per uncovered entry

Fees will be assessed Wednesday, December 7 at 6 pm.  Any drops after that time or at registration will be included in the fees.  We cannot guarantee adds at the tournament.

Please make payment to RHS Speech and Debate.  
JUDGING
Each school is to provide one judge for every 2 Debate entries. Each school is to provide one judge for every 6 I.E. entries.  One student doing two events counts as 2 entries.  A dual interp pair is counted as one entry. Please bring one judge to cover all student congress entries.
There will be a $25.00 fee for every uncovered debate entry. This fee covers one LD debater or one public forum team per fee. There is a $10.00 fee for each uncovered individual event entry.  We have no judging pool for hire. Please note additional judging needs on the registration forms. 
NO STUDENT JUDGES WILL BE ALLOWED. A qualified judge must have graduated from high school for this tournament..

REGISTRATION GUIDELINES
Awards:    Open and Novice - 1st, 2nd, & 3rd.

SCHEDULE

          Friday December 9				Saturday December 10

3:15 pm	Registration (Office)
3:30 pm	Round 1 Debate
3:30 -5:30     Student Congress Session 1
4:30 pm	Round 2 Debate           
5:30-6:00 pm	DINNER
6:00 pm	Round 3 Debate
6:00 – 8:00    Student Congress Session 2
7:00 pm	Round 4 Debate

7:30 - 9:00am 	Registration (Office)
8:00 	Public Forum  Round 1
9:00 	Pattern A  Round 1 
10:15            Pattern B  Round 1
11:15 	Public Forum  Round 2	
Noon –1:30 pm   LUNCH                                   
12:15	Pattern A  Round 2           
1:30	Pattern B  Round 2
2:30 	Public Forum  Round 3
3:30 	Pattern A  Round 3          
4:45 	Pattern B  Round 3
5:45 	Public Forum  Round 4
7:00              Finals (as needed)/Bingo 
                   Awards to follow ASAP

Registration Closes at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7, 2010