One S Mind, Once Stretched by a New Idea, Never Regains Its Original Dimension

Mr. Martin 8/25/08 Room A118 [email protected] Debate 1 - Syllabus “One’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimension.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes Website: www.martinspeechdebate.wikispaces.com

INTRODUCTION Hello and welcome to Debate 1. My name is Mr. Martin and I very excited about working with you this year. Debate is my passion and with your commitment and curiosity debate can open your eyes to worlds and ideas that you never have imagined.

This course will serve as an introduction to competitive forensics. Jack C. Hays High School has a long tradition of excellence in forensics competition and as a member of the speech and debate team you are expected to demonstrate a commitment to excellence in both behavior and academic pursuits at all times.

Debate is a remarkably challenging and demanding activity. However, the challenge involved in mastering the art of argument and public speaking is what makes debate so much fun!

GOALS and EXPECTATIONS The goal of this class is simple: We will work as partners in learning to develop effective argument, organization, and speaking skills. We will pursue this goal through lectures, discussions, small group work, individual research, writing assignments and, finally, tournament competition.

In order for us to achieve this goal, it is my belief that every student must be addressed as a unique person with individual needs, beliefs, backgrounds, and understandings. I also believe that students need to treat one another with respect. To create a classroom environment where we can reach these goals I have the following expectations.

1. BE PREPARED TO LEARN - When we enter room A118 we must commit to the pursuit of academic success and high-quality work. I will be here every day prepared to help guide you in your journey of learning, and I expect the same of level of commitment and preparation from you. The motto of this class is: When we are in Mr. Martin’s class, we are about learning! Please come in with a positive attitude and all work materials.

2. BE RESPECTFUL – Respect is an intangible value, but we can certainly see and feel when we are participating in a respectful environment. Respect means treating your peers, your self, and school property with integrity and dignity. For us to have a class where we feel safe enough to give speeches and present our opinions in this community of learning respect is essential. Thus, put- downs, profanity, name-calling, gossip, and negative criticism of any kind are not allowed.

3. BE RESPONSIBLE – Responsibility is the cornerstone of being active and effective participants in this classroom community. Responsibility means following all school-wide rules including tardiness, dress code, ID badges, cell phones, iPods, and late work. Being responsible also means that you must take control and ownership of your own learning by asking questions, being honest about your needs, admitting when you have made a mistake, asking about makeup work.

MATERIALS Every student must have one 3-ring binder, 5 section dividers, and a blue or black ink pen. 1 Debate 1 syllabus ctd... I. COURSE CONTENT a. All students are required to develop skills in two areas of argumentation and rhetoric: extemporaneous speaking and one debate event (Policy or Lincoln-Douglas). b. All students are required to initiate and participate in original, academic research for extemporaneous speaking topics and one form of debate. c. All students are required to initiate and participate in the written expression of argumentation by developing and constructing debate cases, argumentative positions and briefs, and extempore speech development. d. All students are required to initiate and participate in oral presentations, which include, but are not limited to, oral speaking drills, practice extemporaneous speeches and practice debate rounds. e. All students are required to participate in team activities that include, but are not limited to, classroom discussions, tournament preparation, and after-school practice sessions. f. All students are required to participate in the preparation and administration of the annual Jack C. Hays High School Speech and Debate Tournament. g. All students are required to attend interscholastic competitions that provide the forum for the execution and performance skills being developed in the classroom.

II. EVALUATION SPECIFICATIONS a. Each student will have the opportunity to earn a total of 100 points each six-week period. b. Grading Details - Beginning this year all courses in the English Department at Hays High School are required to apply uniform grading standards. The following grading criteria reflect this new district policy. 1. Daily Grades 40% - Daily grades will include debate activities and class assignments a. Class assignments include taking lecture notes, homework assignments, quizzes, file organization and highlighting, and weekly research updates b. Debate activities include practice speeches, rebuttal reworks, and group argument activities 2. Major Grades 60% - a. 1st Six- Weeks – Unit Tests, In-class practice debates b. Each following six-weeks i. Tournament Competition – Each student is required to attend a minimum of two debate tournaments per school year. Students will be provided a tournament schedule. It is the student’s responsibility to determine which tournaments they will be able to participate in. ii. After school practice – Debate 1 students are required to attend one after-school practice session per week after the completion of the first six-weeks. Details provided below. 3. End of the Year Grading - The last nine weeks of each school year will generally be used to begin preparation for the next school year and forensic season. Consequently, oral and written assignments may be substituted by the instructor for normal classroom activities and may change the normal method of evaluation. These substitutions may include, but are not limited to, research assignments on subtopic areas within the new debate topics and reading, analysis and presentation of relevant philosophical constructs. 2 Debate 1 syllabus ctd... III. COMPETITION a. A tournament season calendar is provided to each student in the program at the beginning of the school year. Students are responsible for ensuring they are able to meet the course and team requirements of tournament competition. b. Debate 1 students in the debate program at Hays High School are required to attend at least one tournament per semester. c. Mr. Martin and Mrs. Stage will solely determine participation in out-of-city tournaments. Students are encouraged to share their interests in particular tournaments with the instructor but are to accept the instructor’s decision as final. Students invited to serve as representatives of the Hays Debate team are required to attend unless prohibited in doing so because of religious, education or financial reasons clearly outlined by student to instructor and well in advance of tournament entry due date. Post-entry due date notification will result in student liability for any and all expenses incurred in preparation for the competition. d. All Hays Debate Team policies and guidelines are mandatory and nonnegotiable at all tournament competitions.

IV. After-School Practice – To ensure that all aspects of the course content are successfully completed and that each student contributes to the excellence and success of the Hays Debate Team, students will be required to attend after-school team practice sessions each week with the following stipulations: a. Attendance must be for a minimum of one afternoon (one hour) weekly for novice members. b. After-school team practice for Debate 1 students will begin during the second six-week grading period. This will allow students the opportunity to arrange rides OR register to receive a ride home on the “late bus” which departs from Hays High School at 5:30. c. Attendance must reflect 75% on-task behavior during after-school practice. d. Students will receive credit for only those practices attended for which they have signed in and out. e. Normal practice session hours are conducted between 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm on Tuesday and Thursday. f. Mr. Martin’s and Mrs. Stage’s tournament travel may call for the practice sessions to be adjusted.

V. CONSEQUENCES a. Students involved in the debate course and in team competition have made an informed choice to be a part of program with a deep tradition of excellence and are expected to uphold and continue that tradition. b. You should now consider yourself a member of the Hays Debate Team. Our debate team is only as good as each of its members. If you choose to not abide by the expectations, you are taking away from each member of this class. c. Failure to maintain and advance the Hays tradition and follow the course and competitive requirements will result in a failing grade and removal from the competitive team.

3 Debate 1 syllabus ctd... I understand the expectations, consequences, and grading policies of the Debate 1 class and I, as a student, will do my best to uphold them. Additionally, I, as a parent or guardian, will do my best to support my child in his/her learning in this class.

Student Signature:______Date:______

Parent Signature:______Date:______

Parents Email:______

SIGNED SYLLABUS IS DUE BY FRIDAY, 8-29-08 FOR A DAILY GRADE.

A NOTE TO PARENTS

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Thank you for taking the time to review this syllabus with your child. Debate is my passion and I truly look forward to teaching this course. Competitive debate is an amazing activity that can create worlds of opportunities for students and they can have incredible fun during the journey.

Additionally, I look forward to communicating with you about your child’s progress over the course of the semester. In order to facilitate this communication I have created a website that will include important information about assignments and other information about the course. Please visit: www.martinspeechdebate.wikispaces.com for updates.

Please feel free to contact me at my email address [email protected] at any time with questions, comments, or concerns.

Jeremy Martin Speech and Debate Jack C. Hays High School