WEST MICHIGAN SPEECH AND DEBATE CLUB
West Michigan now has a speech and debate club to give club members practice in public speaking and listening. Club members speak and debate on various topics. There is a special emphasis on Christian apologetics (i.e., defending the Christian faith).
Club membership and participation is **free**, and is open to homeschoolers 8th through 12th grade. Those who want to participate should contact J. Parnell McCarter. He may be reached by email at info@puritans.net , or by telephone at tel #616-457-8095 evenings after 8 PM.
Most meetings are in the summer at Wedgwood Park on Wilson
Drive in
During the Summer of 2005, meetings have been held most Thursdays from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. At 12:30 in the afternoon, once the meeting has formally concluded, those who have wanted remain and have picnic lunch together.
Speakers and topics are generally assigned in advance. Members who are not speaking are required to write outlines of what speakers have said, in order to improve listening and note-taking skills. Sometimes listening members will be asked to stand and rehearse before the group what another speaker said, or to ask a speaker questions about the speech.
There will be some speech and debate tournaments. Those who are not speaking will quite often be judging. Rating sheets are filled out by judges to determine tournament winners.
Supplies members should bring to Club meetings: Notebook or notepad of 8.5 by 11 inch paper, pen, and lawn chair. (We will line lawn chairs up facing the speaker.)
It is possible to participate as a speaker in either the speech or debate sections, or both.
Time requirements outside of club
meetings: Since it is a club and not a
class, it is being done in such a way that less than 30 minutes per week will
normally be required outside of club time to prepare for club meetings. In order to limit time required for speech
preparation, club members are asked to speak on topics that they are already
familiar with (eg, favorite vacation, book that they have read recently, etc.). For persuasive speeches, club members can
choose a topic they are already familiar with, so significant research is not
required. And evidence cards won't be
necessary like in regular debate. After
someone has given a persuasive speech, then someone may be asked to go up and
ask cross-examination questions (but again, they can be of a nature that does
not require extensive preparation).
Again, the purpose will be to give members
more practice in speaking in front of others, note-taking, etc.
In the debate section, it will be non-team debate. One difference with most high school debate will be that no one will be required to debate for a position they disagree with.
If for vacation or other reasons a student must be away for a certain club meeting, we ask that he or she inform the club coach in advance.
Club meetings will automatically be cancelled if there is rain, or call tel #616-457-8095. to verify a message on the answering machine on the morning of the meeting if there is cancellation due to weather conditions.
Attire: The same rules as apply at Grace Home School Association classes. Their rules are listed at http://homeschoolbuilding.org/grace/grace_policies.htm :
Because we want to exemplify respect for the
classroom situation, encourage an atmosphere of academic excellence, and uphold
an excellent testimony to the world of our Lord and Savior, we have
incorporated the following dress code:
A. Boys are to wear: Nice pants (no jeans, not even black ones, no baggies, and
no sweat pants). Pants should not be dragging on the floor. Shirts must have at
least short sleeves. Shirts which are made to be tucked in should be tucked in.
Earrings, chokers, and chains should not be worn.
B. Girls are to wear: Dresses or skirts which cover the knee or are longer
(slits must not be higher than the bottom of the knee). No slacks or jeans may
be worn under skirts or dresses. Blouses or shirts must have at least
short sleeves. Blouses or shirts must not be tight fitting or have low neck
lines. No bare-midriffs.
C. All Students: No writing
or pictures on any clothing (other than small logos) and no shorts. No extreme
styles or fads will be allowed. This will be left to the discretion of the
GRACE staff. “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”
Philippians 4:5.
Visitors are welcome to attend speech and debate club meetings.
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