<p>Hey. Just wanted to say that my high school is new and lacking in some money, so that explains why we don't have an established debate team/class. However, we are competing in Texas' UIL L-D debate competitions, but because I've had no experience whatsoever, I'm as nervous as hell. Because I'm a freshman competing against upperclassmen (we don't distinguish between grades), the teacher coaching Debate gave me a pre-written case to compete with, but I feel guilty about that. I want to write my own, but she told me to just use that one for my first competition and see what other cases people are using. Would you recommmend that I compete with a case that someone else wrote? Woudl that be "cheating"? I dont' want to do that. I want to write my own, but then again, I want to do my best. Yes, I'm a freshman, but I still want to the best I can, considering that if I make it to state competition (yeah right. But it's a good dream), I'll get a good amount of a scholarship. Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.</p>
<p>i don't know whether you've posted in the right forum, but I'm an LD debater so maybe i can help...</p>
<p>My first time, I didn't even know what a VP or VC was. I'd written a good case, but the format was not LD. Baptism by fire.</p>
<p>If this tournament is purely for practise, I would recommend trying to write your own case, using this prewritten case as a template (correct format is imperative). </p>
<p>If this tournament is important (earning requisite # of points for qualifiers, or if it is a qualifying tournament itself), then stick with the prewritten case. As a first-time novice, chances are that you will not argue superbly (this is in no way personal. it just takes a long time getting acclimated to LD), so you might as well avoid further handicapping yourself with a less than stellar case.</p>
<p>I doubt that anyone would accuse you of cheating, though if you were competing at state or national finals, it would be inappropriate.</p>
<p>Bear in mind that case-writing is a crucial skill in LD. It is as important, if not moreso, than spoken argument. You will need to work on both skills. If you can afford to, start honing your case-building now. Chances are that you won't practise writing cases in your spare time, so relying on somebody else's case for your first tournament will only delay your development.</p>
<p>Go to <a href="http://www.lddebate.com%5B/url%5D">www.lddebate.com</a> They'll help you there...a lot. I was stuck in the same exact situation (without the prewritten case sadly), but I didn't even know what a V or VC was, or contentions for that matter. All I learned about LD I learned from that site...sad, yeah. Good luck!</p>
<p>and while you're at it, lddebate.org :)</p>
<p>LD is so booooooring.</p>
<p>Extemp is the way to go.</p>
<p>Good advice from ontolome and xyz. Breate deeply.</p>
<p>If you have a stock case, I suggest that you know your arguments well. Make a list of some contentions that might come up and refute them on a separate sheet. Blocks are very helpful, especially if you want to organize your thoughts.</p>
<p>Also, time yourself in front of a mirror. (Remember to look directly at your judge, not at your opponent.) Since judges for novices are often "mommies," presentation is half the battle. Practice some leading lines that will make you feel more comfortable during the round (i.e. My opponent's first contention, which explains _____, falls because....) If you are going in junior varsity or varsity, I wish you the best of luck. Many rounds tend to be jargony and technical when you reach that level.</p>
<p>i forgot to mention this:</p>
<p>NEVER NEVER get advice from the posted cases on lddebate websites. Those kinds of cases are poorly written and flawed in logic. After all, why would people post their good cases, which would allow others to steal their ideas?</p>
<p>my advice is to not just debate for getting a scholarship or getting into "good" college. do it because you enjoy it, otherwise you will come to hate it. </p>
<p>i don't think it's a big deal, especially since you're a novice. don't take it personally, but judges normally don't expect a lot of novices at all. at worst, they'll tell you not to do it again, but i doubt they'll actually take any action against you - if anything, they'd just take it up with your coach and assume ignorance on your part.</p>
<p>just don't let that become a crutch.</p>
<p>I just want to thank you all so very much (especially you, ontolome and ohmywow!. Also to everyone else whose screennames I can't remember). Today's tournament was just for practice, as well as all the following February tournaments. The English teachers have all agreed to focus on us debaters for the whole month of March, and in April we will start District competion, which obviously leads to Region and State. </p>
<p>Being a novice, I'd have to say that I did decently, winning two of the three preliminary rounds. Sure, I got significant speaker points from all rounds, but I didn't win three like those who moved on to finals. I learned so much from losing one round, especially when it comes to additional evidence that I should have prepared and how to deliver better affirmative rebuttals. Judges were very honest and with criticism and encouragement, and for that I am really glad. Thanks you guys! And yes, I wrote my own cases!</p>
<p>And just to clarify: I'm not doing this in sole hopes of getting a scholarship or building a good resume to a "good" college (considering that it's pretty much impossible to have guarantees into an elite college). Yes, that's a slight incentive, but the fact that I indeed enjoy the experience of speaking and constructively arguing overrides that. Debate is a great way for you to personally change your perspectives on major issues. </p>
<p>Because our school currently does not have a debate team/class (not only because we didn't have enough money at the time, but because only five people requested the class), do you have any suggestions as to how I could convince the school into initiating one? My communications teacher and English teacher support me in this, but they haven't given me much advise to do so. How many students would you deem as a quantum for a debate class to be adopted? Again, thank you so much! </p>
<p>*It's not so nerve racking as I thought it would be!</p>
<p>nice job (writing your own cases is the best [only] way to go). Obviously, the size necessary for a debate class/team depends on the number of students at your school.</p>
<p>eg: my school has 800 kids total, and we have an average of 4 LDers and 3 PF teams a year.</p>