Writing the Description
Most schools have a course catalog of sorts where short descriptions of each class are listed. Your course description should be exciting to parents and students alike and should communicate that speech and debate is both fun and highly academic. Most administrators would be willing to at least list your course description to gauge interest.
Examples are included here. In all cases, we recommend a student-centric approach that begins by assessing reading levels and critical thinking skills. Reference our competition events page for short event descriptions to help craft your messaging.
NSDA Samples
Intro to Speech and Debate
Students will learn mastery of three distinct categories: public speaking, interpretation, and debate. Public speaking will teach students to deliver original, researched speeches with both limited and extensive preparation time designed to inform or persuade. Interpretation teaches students acting skills as they bring characters to life by performing a story. Debate teaches students to research and write persuasive arguments, to listen and question opponents effectively, and to think critically. Combined, these elements increase student confidence and create strong communicators. Speech and debate is a co-curricular class and student grades will be partially based on outside participation in addition to classroom work. Students will be expected to attend three tournaments.
Intro to Argumentation and Debate
In debate, students learn to research and write persuasive arguments, to listen and question opponents effectively, and to think critically. The course will cover three debate formats: Public Forum, which involves teams of two debating current events, Congressional, which is modeled after the U.S. Congress and involves students writing and debating legislation, and Lincoln-Douglas, which involves one-on-one debates focused around ethics and values. Students in debate come to thoroughly understand both sides of an issue, having researched each extensively, and learn to think critically about every argument that could be made on each side. This course is recommended for students who are interested in writing, learning about current events and the world around them, and persuasion. Debate is a co-curricular class and student grades will be partially based on outside participation in addition to classroom work. Students will be expected to attend two tournaments.
Intro to Public Speaking
In speech, students develop portable communication skills for life after graduation. The course will explore three public speaking formats: Original Oratory, in which students write and deliver speeches about an subject important to them, Extemporaneous Speaking, in which students have limited preparation time to deliver a speech on a current event, and Informative Speaking, in which students use visual aids to deliver an original speech. This course is recommended for students with a strong point of view, love of writing, or an interest in current events. Students will build their confidence, become strong communicators, and increase their critical thinking skills.