What is Congress Debate? |
Full Congressional Debate video |
The National Speech and Debate Association defines Congress as "A simulation of the U.S. legislative process, students generate a series of bills and resolutions for debate in Congressional Debate. Debaters alternate delivering speeches for and against the topic in a group setting. An elected student serves as a presiding officer to ensure debate flows smoothly. Students are assessed on their research, argumentation, and delivery skills, as well as their knowledge and use of parliamentary procedure."
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Congressional Debate National Champions (2019-2020 House and Senate)
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Speech Breakdown |
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Interview with former NSDA Point Leader for Congressional Debate Tina Tarighian
Tina Tarighian is a very accomplished debater. Some of her accomplishments include: being the #1 Ranked Congress Debater in the USA, Champion of the Yale tournament, finalist at Grand Nationals, 3rd place finish at NYC invitational. Former team president. Her exact words are colored red.
1. How did you get involved in Speech and Debate?
My brother who is a lot older than me did some PF in high school and I always remember him talking about how much he loved it. I look up to him a lot and wanted to follow in his footsteps, so I just saw a flyer in high school and went with it!
2. What part of Speech and Debate hooked you in?
Definitely the chance to get better at public speaking. I was always talkative and a little argumentative, so I wasn’t going to waste an opportunity to put it to good use instead of annoying my friends and family.
3. Did you try any other events besides Congress?
My brother tried to coach me into being a PFer but I never liked it much. Besides that, I competed at a World Schools local once and did impromptu one time too. Nothing clicked the way that Congress did.
4. What practices do you do off-season for Speech and Debate?
On-and-off season I like to just practice old speeches and think about how I could’ve worded or presented things differently. I especially like to experiment with introductions and rhetoric so that when the season comes, I’ll have a whole new, relevant tool box for persuasion.
5. What preparation do you do for a tournament?
I like to read the bills a few days before I start researching anything. Considering that most of the topics are things I have heard about, I can organically produce some argument link chains without any outside sources. This helps prevent stock arguments and allows for you to stand out in round (from my experience).
6. Are you stressed before a tournament? Or nervous for a speech?
I do a good job not getting psyched out before a tournament or speech, especially if I am well prepared. I always like talking to my teammate or circuit friends before round if I am feeling a little anxious. It’s the moment between the end of a round and before the start of awards that makes my head spin. But, at the end of the day, it’s all for fun and no one should put their mental health at stake for a trophy.
7. How do you stand out in a Congress Chamber?
Be yourself. It’s easy to blend in if you’re trying to act like every other congressional debater in the room. Find your style and show off.
8.What would you tell a novice Speech and Debate member?
BE NICE TO EVERYONE YOU MEET! It is so easy to feel as though you need to act like an a**hole to be respected, especially because so many top debaters have acted like that in past. But trust me (or anyone else who has had a little bit of success in congress) being nice will get you so much further the event and life.
9. What is your strategy to do so well in Speech and Debate?
I spent a lot of time trying to be someone else— a canned debater, an emotional speaker, maybe even a competitor in the room— just to feel like I fit in the Congress world. As cheesy as it sounds, I never did well until I finally started doing my own style. For me that meant being a little sarcastic and a little creative when it came to speech structure and refutation, for you it might me something completely different.
10. What is your favorite thing about Speech and Debate?
The knowledge I gained from it. One of congress’s virtues is that you have to know new topics inside and out every tournament. Whether those topics are as important as voting rights, or as mundane as lost luggage, it helps you relate to people from all walks of life. I love being able to spark up a conversation due to the secondary education I got from Congress.
11. What is your greatest accomplishment?
Personally, recruiting a larger team for Millburn meant the world to me. When I started doing congress, it was a small team with little to no recognition. We would get bullied by other larger schools on issues like docket, poing, etc.. To build the team up is a tangible reminder of me and my teammates’ successes. Rankings and trophies could never compare to the happiness my baby novices bring me (and they know that). Even after I quit in January, I continued to coach them through the year and summer.
12. What would you like to tell the Speech and Debate community?
Stand up for what you believe in, even if it sometimes means going against the adults in charge. Many use this event for self-aggrandizing reasons and will try to credit themselves for things that you did by yourself.
If anyone is struggling with anything on their team or need any congress help, please feel free to reach out to me!
1. How did you get involved in Speech and Debate?
My brother who is a lot older than me did some PF in high school and I always remember him talking about how much he loved it. I look up to him a lot and wanted to follow in his footsteps, so I just saw a flyer in high school and went with it!
2. What part of Speech and Debate hooked you in?
Definitely the chance to get better at public speaking. I was always talkative and a little argumentative, so I wasn’t going to waste an opportunity to put it to good use instead of annoying my friends and family.
3. Did you try any other events besides Congress?
My brother tried to coach me into being a PFer but I never liked it much. Besides that, I competed at a World Schools local once and did impromptu one time too. Nothing clicked the way that Congress did.
4. What practices do you do off-season for Speech and Debate?
On-and-off season I like to just practice old speeches and think about how I could’ve worded or presented things differently. I especially like to experiment with introductions and rhetoric so that when the season comes, I’ll have a whole new, relevant tool box for persuasion.
5. What preparation do you do for a tournament?
I like to read the bills a few days before I start researching anything. Considering that most of the topics are things I have heard about, I can organically produce some argument link chains without any outside sources. This helps prevent stock arguments and allows for you to stand out in round (from my experience).
6. Are you stressed before a tournament? Or nervous for a speech?
I do a good job not getting psyched out before a tournament or speech, especially if I am well prepared. I always like talking to my teammate or circuit friends before round if I am feeling a little anxious. It’s the moment between the end of a round and before the start of awards that makes my head spin. But, at the end of the day, it’s all for fun and no one should put their mental health at stake for a trophy.
7. How do you stand out in a Congress Chamber?
Be yourself. It’s easy to blend in if you’re trying to act like every other congressional debater in the room. Find your style and show off.
8.What would you tell a novice Speech and Debate member?
BE NICE TO EVERYONE YOU MEET! It is so easy to feel as though you need to act like an a**hole to be respected, especially because so many top debaters have acted like that in past. But trust me (or anyone else who has had a little bit of success in congress) being nice will get you so much further the event and life.
9. What is your strategy to do so well in Speech and Debate?
I spent a lot of time trying to be someone else— a canned debater, an emotional speaker, maybe even a competitor in the room— just to feel like I fit in the Congress world. As cheesy as it sounds, I never did well until I finally started doing my own style. For me that meant being a little sarcastic and a little creative when it came to speech structure and refutation, for you it might me something completely different.
10. What is your favorite thing about Speech and Debate?
The knowledge I gained from it. One of congress’s virtues is that you have to know new topics inside and out every tournament. Whether those topics are as important as voting rights, or as mundane as lost luggage, it helps you relate to people from all walks of life. I love being able to spark up a conversation due to the secondary education I got from Congress.
11. What is your greatest accomplishment?
Personally, recruiting a larger team for Millburn meant the world to me. When I started doing congress, it was a small team with little to no recognition. We would get bullied by other larger schools on issues like docket, poing, etc.. To build the team up is a tangible reminder of me and my teammates’ successes. Rankings and trophies could never compare to the happiness my baby novices bring me (and they know that). Even after I quit in January, I continued to coach them through the year and summer.
12. What would you like to tell the Speech and Debate community?
Stand up for what you believe in, even if it sometimes means going against the adults in charge. Many use this event for self-aggrandizing reasons and will try to credit themselves for things that you did by yourself.
If anyone is struggling with anything on their team or need any congress help, please feel free to reach out to me!
Other Congress Resources:
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