Arcadia Speech and Debate Team Application 2011-2012

Debating in high school is the most valuable training whether for politics, the law,
business or community service. . . . I wish we had more debating in our educational
institutions than we do now. President John F. Kennedy (8/22/1960)

Arcadia Speech and Debate Team is one of the most prestigious academic teams
on Arcadia campus, and consistently trains some of the best and brightest competitors in
the state of California and the nation. Every year, Arcadia sends more than a dozen team
members to the State Championship tournament, where we have had several state
champions as well as numerous state finalists and semifinalists. In 2011, sixteen
Arcadians qualified for the State Championship, and, this year, Arcadia Speech and
Debate is sending five competitors to the National Championship Tournament in Dallas,
Texas.

Speech and Debate involves interscholastic individual or team debating and
individual speaking events. Individual speaking events include a range of more specific
activities including limited preparation events (impromptu and extemporaneous speaking
competitions), platform speaking events (oratory, advocacy, or expository) and oral
interpretation of literature (the dramatic or humorous literature, or oratorical declamation
of great speeches).

A 1991 survey of college students involved in competitive individual speaking
events cited the advantages of speech and debate: improved oral communication skills,
improved critical thinking skills, organization, research skills, improved writing skills,
improved self confidence, the capacity to think quickly, development of a sense of ethics
and a sense of personal accomplishment

In order to try out for the Speech and Debate Team, you must do the following:

1) Fill out this application and turn it in to A204 by April 29th, 2011 3:00 p.m. We
cannot accept late applications.
2) Have your (1) history/English teacher and (2) the teacher of your choice fill out the
teacher recommendation and have them return it to Ms. Novaks box by April 29th,
2011. (Total of TWO teacher recommendations)
3) Sign up for an interview/audition time slot the day you turn in your application in
A204. Auditions will take place in A204 from May 2
nd
-May 9
th
from 3:05-4:45.
4) Students MUST be enrolled in the class for at least the FIRST SEMESTER; second
semester is optional but highly recommended.
5) Perform from memory one of the attached Humorous, Dramatic, or Advocacy
pieces, OR debate the attached resolution (memorization for debate not required).
Instructions are on each of the respective pieces.

*If you are an 8
th
grader at present, you may either email the application to anovak@ausd.net and
sign up for an interview slot as well OR turn in your app and sign up for your interview in A-204.
Name: Shannon Liao

Grade (next year): 10
th


Student ID #: 21210

Phone Number: 626-254-9169

Parent Email: p.liao@yahoo.com

Student Email: shannon_j_liao@yahoo.com

1. List your current extracurricular activities:

I am currently enrolled in Arcadia Highs Freshman Orchestra.



2. List all possible extracurricular activities for next year (include all groups you are
planning to try out for):

I am planning to try out for Quiz Bowl next year.



3. Why do you want to be a part of Speech and Debate?


To answer honestly, I can be quite shy sometimes. In actuality, this is ironic because I
love to talk and socialize. I realize shyness is a major disadvantage and can cause me to
miss many great opportunities in life. Public speaking skills are also essential throughout
life. I believe being involved with Speech and Debate will be a step towards overcoming
my occasional shyness, and, in addition to that, strengthen my public speaking abilities. I
also view Speech and Debate as a way to become involved and better connected with
Arcadia High School and its students.


4. What do you think you can add to the team?

Although I have minimal experience in Speech and Debate, I can promise to pledge the
maximum amount of my dedication, time, and mind to the Team. With my competitive
spirit and ability to have strong faith in my teammates, I hope to be a strong source of
motivation and support. I enjoy building confidence in others because I believe everyone
deserves to feel positive about themselves. I have an eager passion for learning and
would be willing to work to my limits to see Arcadia Highs Speech and Debate Team
flourish.



Speech and Debate Teacher Recommendation

To be filled out by the student:
Name:
Student ID Number:
Phone Number:
Grade next year:

Dear teachers,
Thank you so much for taking the time to work on this recommendation. Please
fill out this form to the best of your knowledge and be as honest as possible. We would
appreciate any additional comments or insight into the student. This is absolutely
confidential. When completed, please fold the page in half and return it to Ms. Novaks
box by April 29th.

1. How would you rank the students public speaking skills on a scale of 1 to 5?

Excellent 1 2 3 4 5 Weak Unable to say

2. How would you rank the students work habits?

Hard working/Organized 1 2 3 4 5 Lazy/Unorganized

3. How would you rank the students citizenship and discipline?

No problems 1 2 3 4 5 Problematic

4. What motivates the student?

Self-motivated Grades Parents Other Unable to say

5. Do you find this student to be someone you can trust?
Absolutely 1 2 3 4 5 Not at all
Anything else that will help us make a decision?






Signature____________________________________ Date____________________
Speech and Debate Teacher Recommendation

To be filled out by the student:
Name:
Student ID Number:
Phone Number:
Grade next year:

Dear teachers,
Thank you so much for taking the time to work on this recommendation. Please
fill out this form to the best of your knowledge and be as honest as possible. We would
appreciate any additional comments or insight into the student. This is absolutely
confidential. When completed, please fold the page in half and return it to Ms. Novaks
box by April 29th.


1. How would you rank the students public speaking skills on a scale of 1 to 5?

Excellent 1 2 3 4 5 Weak Unable to say

2. How would you rank the students work habits?

Hard working/Organized 1 2 3 4 5 Lazy/Unorganized

3. How would you rank the students citizenship and discipline?

No problems 1 2 3 4 5 Problematic

4. What motivates the student?

Self-motivated Grades Parents Other Unable to say

6. 5. Do you find this student to be someone you can trust?
Absolutely 1 2 3 4 5 Not at all
Anything else that will help us make a decision?






Signature____________________________________ Date____________________

.
Debate

Resolved: The United States federal government should permit the use of financial
incentives to encourage organ donation.

Prepare a 1-2 min speech arguing for or against the following resolution. You do not
need to memorize this speech, but simply be prepared to support your arguments and
refute any arguments that the tryout panel may present against your viewpoint.
Feel free to use the empty space below to draft your argument.
































Dramatic Interpretation
Cutters
By Meghan C. Hakes

Alex: The first time I cut myself I was 12.
Things were pretty crazy with my family back then. My dad was drunk a lot, and he
was angry a lot. Beat my mom you know, typical stuff. But even with the bruise on
moms eye, she still pretended everything was finejust fine.
And I couldnt stand when she did that so that night at dinner I just sliced off a
piece of breadcomfort food I guessand I kept the knife in my hand.
Mom: So dear, how was your day? Did you do well on that math test?
Alex: I got a B. Mom, what happened to your eye?
Mom: Nothing honey, everything is finejust fine.
Alex: It was too much. It was so fake. I felt like everything was out of my control and I
just couldnt handle (accidentally cuts himself/herself with the knife)
I ran into the bathroom and just sort of stood there breathing for a moment. And
then I realized how good I felt. The pain, the adrenalineit was exhilarating. I had
never felt that way before.
But then I did it again. And again. And I started to feel dirty, unclean, like a
monster.
And so I ran into my room. And I shut the door. And I looked at myself in the
mirror. And I tried to wipe the cuts off my wrists but they were there like paint. And
I rubbed, and I rubbedbut they wouldnt come off. So I hit the mirror and it
brokebut I still wasnt clean.
And all I want to do is just to make it stop. I dont want to hurt myself anymore.
Sometimes Im afraid that one day I wont be able to stop. You know, that Ill just
keep cutting and cutting and cutting and cutting and cutting!
But how do we become clean?






Advocacy
The Real War
Every day, women in the United States military are forced to endure something they
did not sign up for: derogatory slurs, sexual assault, and both attempted rape and even
rape, itself. It is unacceptable when two thirds of women across the entire military
establishment, and three-quarters of those serving in our Marines have had to experience
such atrocities. According to Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez the statistics are that
once you have been raped in the military you are likely to be raped over and over and
over again. Something must be done, and done now, to stop the escalation of this culture
of assault against female soldiers. Thus, I advocate the following three part legislative
plan:
Step one: Create a safe haven for women who are assaulted so they can report their cases
without fear of losing their status, seniority or position.
Step Two: Establish a system of punishments based on the severity of the offense.
Step Three: Commanding officers and other high-ranking military officials must strictly
enforce policies already in place against sexual harassment.
Such actions will bring attention to the gravity of the issue and discourage the sexual
assault of military women.















Humorous Interpretation
Legally Blonde
By
Karen McCulluh and Kristen Smith


Elle: Heres to us! (clink of champagne flute)
Warner: The reason I wanted to come here tonight was to discuss our future.
Elle: I am fully amenable to that discussion.
Warner: I mean, we are having a lot of fun nowbut things are going to be different
when I am at Harvard Law. It is a completely different world. I need to be serious.
Elle: Of course.
Warner: I think we should break up!
Elle: I do!.....WHAT??
Warner: Well, the reason is
Elle: Wait, you are breaking up with me? I thought you were proposing!
Warner: Proposing, Elle, if I am going to be a politician by the time I am 30, I need to
marry a Jackie, not a Marilyn!
Elle: You are breaking up with me because I am tooblonde?
Warner: Well, that is not exactly it.
Elle: What, is my figure too developed?
Warner: No, no! It is fine.
Elle: Then what, huh? So, when you said you love me, you were just joking around?
Warner: I do love you, Elle. I just cant marry you. You have no idea the pressure I am
under. My family has 5 generations of senators, my brother is in the top 3 at Yale Law,
and he just got engaged to a Vanderbilt for chrissakes! It is not like I have a choice,
sweetheart!