Getting Ready for Saturday

Hello everyone!

 

I hope everyone is excited for our debate on Saturday! I just got an email from the head of CDA saying that this is going to be one of the largest tournaments yet. All of the other schools are getting into gear and I am very happy with the amount of teams we have signed up from Staples. Just a couple of small housekeeping things to make sure everyone is on the same page.

We will be debating at New Canaan High School at 11 Farm Road in New Canaan. Dress Code is semi formal. For boys that means khaki pants, button down shirt, and optional jacket, no jeans. For girls that means nice pants or a nice skirt. Everyone who is debating, please arrive before 9 oclock. This includes parent judges. While we are researching the topic at the tournament the judges have a seperate judges workshop. If you haven't already, please send the email of your parent judge to Ms Mac (through roundcube) and she would be happy to answer any questions about what it is like to be a judge.

Next, there are a couple things that everyone should bring:

1)Notepaper. I find big old fashioned legal pads work best for flowing, but regular notebooks do the trick too.

2)Pens/Pencils - in the plural!

3) Highlighters - One for Pro and one for Con is pretty common

4) $5 for pizza and a soda or a bagged lunch. You buy food tickets in the morning that you redeem during lunch.

Assuming that everything runs smoothly, the third round of debate ends at 3:30. While the spectator round after that is optional, I do encourage everyone to attend because there is alot to be learned by watching the best of the tournament do their thing. After the varsity debate they hand out awards and distribute the results. That ends at about 5:30.

 

Good luck!

First Practice Debates Tomorrow

Hey guys!  Hope power is back for everyone and you guys are all ready to debate.  For tomorrow's meeting, just a reminder that everyone should read and make contentions for this cda packet - http://ctdebate.com/PDFs/CDAPacketOct10.pdf

Remember, a contention is just a basic argument, like a thesis statement.  It would also be beneficial if you had a supporting detail and maybe a fact or quote from the packet to back up each of your points.

 

Come in tomorrow with a partner and get ready to debate! 

 

Also, our next CDA tournament is approaching!  It is on Saturday, November 12th.  Please think about if you would like to go, who you would like to go with, and if you can bring a parent judge with you!

 

See you there,

Mark

 

PS - for all of you in players, good luck with your show!

For Next Week

Hey guys! Another good meeting today. For those of you that couldn't make it today, next week you get to try everything we've done so far out for yourselves. Please read this packet: http://ctdebate.com/PDFs/CDAPacketOct10.pdf We'd like everyone to prepare contentions for both sides of the packet with a partner before the next meeting. This will let us jump right into the debate. This is a real CDA topic, both serious in nature and with room for fun. Good luck everyone! Also, everyone please let me know if you can go to the debate on November 12th and if so, if you can bring a parent. Thanks!

Facebook Group!

Hey everyone, I'm excited to announce the new Debate Facebook group.  I know some people don't check their email or this website all that often so we have a new facebook group to keep everyone in the loop and give people to chat about debate, if the would like.

Just search "Staples High School Debate Team" and request access to the group.

I'll still rely on emails and this website as the main sources of communication, so keep checking!  Thanks guys.

First Tournament of the Year!

On Saturday the Staples Debate Team kicked off the competitive CDA debate season.  Heres how we did:

Goldschlager/Vouse 3-0
Stein/Gordon 1-2
Massoud/Susnosky 0-3
Nelson/Liberson 0-3


The topic was about the Death Penalty.  A very interesting, if primarily moral debate topic.

Saturday 10/15 Debate

Hi everyone!

We are registered and ready to go for Saturdays debate.  It will take place at AITE, which is located at 411 High Ridge Road, Stanford, CT.  Driving directions can be found here.  Please arrive between 8 and 8:45 so we can all be signed in before 9.  I won't be with you guys on Saturday, but Ms. Mac and Ryan will be there to help out.

New Members Meeting 10/5!

Thanks to everyone who signed up today at club rush!  If you are one of the super sweet members who signed up for more than the candy, (catch that?) there will be a meeting right after school on Wednesday October 5th in room 2002.

We will be doing some basic meet 'n greet stuff to let new members know whats going on, and possibly some sort of fun speech activity or introduction to the CT Debate Association style.  We might even discuss logowear? I know Ryan is excited for his casual cardigans!

Expect an e-mail from me as soon as I put the ~100 emails into the computer.  Thanks everyone!