Highland Park Speech & Debate

Why Join Speech and Debate?

“I think debating in high school and college is most valuable training whether for politics, the law, business or for service on community committees such as the PTA and the League of Women Voters. … I wish we had a good deal more debating in our educational institutions than we do now.” – President John F. Kennedy1

Of all extracurriculars at Highland Park Speech and Debate offers a unique opportunity to learn how to research, gain critical thinking, practice reading-writing skills, and gain confidence in public speaking.

Research

Research is integral to any debater’s success. Speech and Debate competitively2 incentivizes students to do high levels of research and to engage with literature bases from across the economic, social, and political spectrum. Students may read anything from journal articles, Ph.D. papers, and newspapers to find well-qualified citations for their arguments. The Speech and Debate teaches students how to properly go about the research process, a useful skill both in school but also in life.  

Education and Critical Thinking

Speech and Debate allows students to engage in respectful dialogue with their peers in rounds and to gain new outlooks on the world through research and argumentation. Multiple studies have found that Speech and Debate leads to higher academic achievement3, greater critical thinking4, and better career success. 5 The switch-side aspect of most Speech and Debate formats trains students to understand different perspectives and understand the nuance of every argument. Switching sides on positions in debate leads to deep understandings of important topics in national discourse and creates well informed students.6

Speaking and Self-Advocacy

Public speaking and delivery is a common fear that affects people both in life and in the workplace. Speech & Debate offers students a low-stakes arena to practice their speaking ability and be given helpful feedback by judges. Over time students develop less anxiety around speaking in public7, but also learn how to deliver effective speeches and convince. The ability to self-advocate is enhanced through Speech & Debate as students learn to defend positions and share their thoughts with others in an effective and civil manner.8

Citations:

  1. John F. Kennedy August 22nd 1960:
    https://www.speechanddebate.org/wp-content/uploads/Making-The-Case-NFHS.pdf ↩︎
  2. Benefits of competitive incentives for learning:
    https://doi.org/10.1037/11302-020 ↩︎
  3. Speech & Debate leads to greater academic success: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-competitive-debate-can-improve-public-education/ ↩︎
  4. Speech & Debate leads to greater critical thinking:
    https://doi.org/10.3102/01623737231200234 ↩︎
  5. Speech & Debate leads to greater career success:
    https://coms.calpoly.edu/debate/careers ↩︎
  6. Switch Side Debate and Education:
    https://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/15997/3/Mitchell2010.pdf ↩︎
  7. Speech & Debate helps with Public Speaking:
    https://www.learningleaders.com/insights/the-importance-of-public-speaking-and-debating-for-k-12-students ↩︎
  8. Speech & Debate helps with Self-Advocacy
    https://www.uiltexas.org/leaguer/article/suvey-details-how-speech-and-debate-bolsters-students-confidence ↩︎