Stay Tru Invitational

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General information

This is a High School tournament in Missouri.

View manager contact information

Dear Coach and Team:

The Truman chapter of the National Speech & Debate Association cordially invites you and your team to attend our tournament on February 9th and 10th, 2024.  

Entries for the Varsity tournament should be entered online at https://www.speechwire.com/ by registering with the tournament:

Stay Tru Invitational.

Varsity competition will be at Truman High School.  Events at the Varsity tournament will include: Policy Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Champ Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Public Forum Debate, International and United States Extemporaneous Speaking, Original Oratory, Informative Speaking, Humorous and Dramatic Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Program Oral Interp, and Student Congress.

Policy Debate topic:  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase fiscal redistribution in the United States by adopting a federal jobs guarantee, expanding Social Security, and/or providing a basic income.

Lincoln-Douglas topic (NSDA Jan/Feb): Resolved: The United States ought to substantially reduce its military presence in the West Asia-North Africa region.

Public Forum (NSDA Feb): published on speechanddebate.org on Jan 1 at 9 am

The deadline is Monday, January 29th, 2024.  

Entry fees will be $8.00/entry.  

I will guarantee three entries per event per school, then lift the remaining off the waitlist as space allows.  Before 3pm, Wednesday, January 24th, I will email when all waitlisting decisions have been made.  You’ll be able to view that on Speechwire.

Sincerely,

Noah Graham & the Truman speech and debate team

Truman Speech and Debate Coach

Cell:  816-419-6500

Noah_graham@isdschools.org

Friday, Bebruary 9

School lets out at 2:55 pm, we would appreciate it if you could arrive beforehand. If you are going to be after this time please contact Noah Graham at 816-419-6500.

1:30pm - 2:55 pm                                       Registration by the small gym (east lot) 

Traveling south on Noland road, you will turn on to East 32th street south. There is a bus lane on the right that passes by the football and baseball fields leading directly to the back of Truman high school. Keep going straight to the east entrance in the back of the school. When you walk in through the set of doors, the registration table will be right in front of you so you can’t miss it. 

Drop Off Directions For Friday

3:00 Extemp draw Rd. I (auditorium) 

3:30 Rd. I Individual Events / Congress (3:30–4:45)

4:30 Draw for Extemp Rd. II 

5:00 Rd. II Individual Events / Congress (5:00-6:15)

6:30 Rd. I Debate

8:00 Rd. II Debate

Saturday, Feburary 10

7:30am Draw for Extemp Semifinals

7:45am Congress Super Session (7:45 – 9:15)

 8:00 Semifinals Individual Events

 9:30 Rd. III Debate

11:00 Rd. IV Debate

12:30pm Draw for Extemp Finals

1:00 Finals of Individual Events

2:30 Quarterfinals of Debate

4:00 Awards Assembly

4:30 Semifinals of Debate

6:00 Finals of Debate

General Rules

1. A student may enter two individual events and one debate event.

2. Varsity is defined as a student in his/her first year of high school competition.

3. Debaters may not enter more than one debate event: Policy, Lincoln-Douglas, & Public Forum debate.

4. Students may enter only one division of extemp.

5. Each school is asked to provide at least one timekeeper if possible. 

6. A coach or qualified sponsor must be on site at all times.

Individual Events Rules – All MSHSAA rules regarding electronics use apply.

1. U.S. and International Extemporaneous Speaking:  Topics will be based on current events.  Consultation during prep time is prohibited.  Time limit:  7 minutes.

2. Original Oratory:  The speech must be the original work of the student and may contain no more than 150 words of direct quotation.  Time limit:  10 minutes.

3. Informative Speaking: The speech must be the original work of the student.  Time limit:  10 minutes.

4. Humorous, Dramatic & Duo Interpretation:  A competitor may not use the same script in more than one event. Time limit:  10 minutes.

Student Congress

1. Session 1:  3:30 - 4:45.  Session 2:  5:00 - 6:15. Super Session:  7:45am – 9:15am.

2. A permanent presiding officer will be elected.

3. This year’s NSDA January legislation will be used.  The docket will be set as it appears in the attached document.   

4. Advancing to Supersession will be determined by: ranks, reciprocals, total points.

5. Finalists will be determined by SS ranks, reciprocals, SS points, prelim ranks, prelim reciprocals, prelim points.

Cross-Examination Debate Rules - All MSHSAA rules regarding electronics use apply.

1. Time limits will be 8-3-5.  Prep time:  8 minutes.

2. The national topic will be debated.

3. Teams must remain constant in personnel throughout the tournament.

4. Being more than 10 minutes late to a round, through no fault of the tournament, may result in a forfeit.

5. In case of forfeit or bye, the winning team will receive speaker rankings that are the average of the other rounds of debate.

6. The following criteria will be used to determine quarterfinals:

   1. Win/Loss record

   2. Speaker ranks

   3. Record of opponent(s) lost to.

   4. Total opposition record

   5. Oppositions’ opposition record

Lincoln-Douglas Debate Rules - All MSHSAA rules regarding electronics use apply.

1. The topic will be the NSDA January/February

2. Time limits will be 6-3-7-3-4-6-3.  Prep time:  4 minutes.

3. Quarterfinalists will be determined by:

   1. Win/Loss record

   2. Record of opponent lost to.

   3. Total opposition record.

   4. Oppositions’ opposition record.

Public Forum Debate Rules - All MSHSAA rules regarding electronics use apply.

1.  The topic will be the February NSDA Topic.

2.  Time limits will be 4-3-2-2.  Prep time:  3 minutes.

3.   Quarterfinalists will be determined by:

1. Win/Loss record

2. Speaker Ranks

3. Record of opponent lost to.

4. Total opposition record.

5. Oppositions’ opposition record.

4.  In case of forfeit or bye, the winning team will receive speaker rankings that are the average of the other rounds of debate.

Sweepstakes Rules

Best two entries count for sweepstakes.

Individual Events: Semifinals 5 pts

Finals 10 pts

Third Place 5pts

Second Place 10 pts

First Place 15 pts

Debate: Win: 5 pts

Quarterfinals 15 pts

Congress: Super Session 10 pts

Trophy points are the same as IE’s

Manager contact information

Noah Graham
Email address: noah_graham@isdschools.org
Phone number: 816-419-6500 ext 12233

Mailing address

3301 South Noland Road
Independence, MO 64055