Debate auditions to be held Friday, Sept. 7

Post date: Aug 14, 2018 7:12:15 PM

The MHS Debate Team will hold auditions for the 2018-19 season on Friday, September 7 beginning after school in room 396. Students interested in trying out for the team should read the following information thoroughly. Additionally, a mandatory informational meeting will be held after school on Wednesday, Sept. 5, also in room 396. Any questions can be directed to the head coach, Andrew Tichy, at atichy@moorheadschools.org.

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Last year, the MHS Debate Team returned to competition after a ten year hiatus. Eleven speakers represented Moorhead at the local, state, and national level. One student advanced to the MSHSL state tournament and four students competed at the NSDA national tournament in Ft. Lauderdale, FL last June, helping the program win its first national championship.

This year, we return nine debaters and are excited to continue the expansion and growth of our team. We’re adding more competitive, metro-area tournaments and will also compete in Lincoln-Douglas debate in addition to Public Forum and Congress. Because of the large number of students expressing interest in joining our team, we will hold auditions on Friday, September 7 beginning after school and running until all are heard. Students should come prepared with all necessary materials and should expect an audition/interview lasting about five to ten minutes. Please note that, while the coaching staff and team captains will make every effort to stay on our very ambitious schedule, some delays are to be expected.

One brief note: Students also attending the Fall Musical information meeting are encouraged to sign up for an audition slot later in the afternoon. We encourage all students with a passion for crafting well-informed arguments to join us, and we will do our best to accommodate your schedule should you choose to participate in multiple fall activities. In short, you can “do debate” AND successfully participate in another another activity.

First, all auditioning students must attend an informational meeting on Wednesday, September 5 at 3:30 in room 396. There, the audition resolution options will be announced. This is to ensure a level playing field in which all students have the same amount of preparation time before their audition. Audition sign ups will be available during the meeting and open until Thursday, Sept. 6 at 5 pm.

At the meeting, we will cover how to prepare for your audition and what to expect during the interview. Returning debaters will also discuss team expectations and other pertinent details including travel costs, tournament requirements, and a review of the 2018-19 schedule. Students who wish to audition but cannot attend this meeting must email Mr. Tichy immediately.

Returning debaters will also host an audition workshop on Thursday, Sept. 6 from 3:30-5 in room 396. This is a fantastic opportunity for all those auditioning to receive help crafting their speeches. While this is optional, we strongly encourage your attendance!

During the audition, you will be asked to present a two minute prepared speech either affirming or negating the resolution. The remaining time will be spent conducting an informal interview in which you will also be encouraged to ask any questions you may have.

Students are also asked to review the rules and policies for Public Forum, Lincoln-Douglass, and Congressional debate prior to your audition. While the coaching staff and captains will ultimately determine category placement, we value your informed input on that decision. Resources can be found by visiting the National Speech and Debate Association website (www.speechanddebate.org) and the MSHSL website (www.mshsl.org). A simple YouTube search will also yield several live debates for review.

On behalf of the coaching staff and team, I sincerely hope you consider joining us for what promises to be an excited, competitive, and above all, educational season!

Thank you,

Mr. Tichy

Head Debate Coach