Our workshops were established by career speech & debate educators
who have committed their lives to helping students find and cultivate their voice.
Speech and debate play vital roles in developing students' public speaking,
written expression, research skills, organization, and self-confidence.
Experience in speech and debate improves standardized test scores and
college admissions opportunities.
Every student's journey will be different, and the greatest benefits of speech and debate come from long-term participation. Continued growth is always the goal.
Our classes are led by a combination of award winning classroom educators
alongside champion upper class high school and collegiate competitors.
This model ensures instructors are able to develop positive relationships
to help us meet learners where they are and walk alongside them in their individual journeys.
We believe that preparation for and subsequent competitive experience
is uniquely situated to provide an outstanding speech and debate education.
Competition encourages a marketplace for expression, exposes students to expert judges, builds confidence, and teaches values associated with learning through mistakes and loss.
For the school year 2023-24, we will offer four competitive events.
As always, classes are divided among skill and experience, and students will
work with multiple instructors. Students will spend the first few weeks
being introduced to these events followed by their non-permanent event selection.
These events have been chosen based on our instructors'
collective expertise in these areas.
World Schools Debate
Recently, Team USA captured the World Championship in this event for the first time. Coppell High School won the State Championship in 2023.
The event offers teams of 3-5 students the opportunity to debate
prepared and impromptu motions in an internationally formatted parliamentary style.
Cross Examination Debate
Coppell High School has been a dominant figure in national-level CX for years.
Also known as policy debate, this fast-paced event is the format most commonly
chosen by elite colleges offering competitive scholarships.
Debaters research one topic the entire year in great depth.
Competitors often speak at a rapid speed as priority is typically
given to information exchange and strategy.
Lincoln Douglas Debate
Modelled after the Abraham Lincoln & Stephen Douglas debates of the 1800s,
this event has origins in propositions of value and philosophy. A 1:1 format,
this event has taken on many of the attributes of Policy Debate in the last two decades. In 2023, Coppell High School advanced a student to the elimination rounds of the Tournament of Champions, one of the most prestigious tournaments anywhere.
Competitive Speaking
This division offers students an opportunity to select from a range of individual events, including Congressional Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking, Original Oratory, and Oral Interpretation (Competitive Acting). Students in this division often become multiple-event experts and well-rounded competitors.
Regardless of their initial selections, students are never prohibited from trying other
events or changing their selections later. Tournament Participation is offered
and highly encouraged for all of our students regardless of their experience level.