Debate is open to all students at any time during their high school years. Many students begin the program during their freshman year, but it is not unusual for a student to decide to join the debate team during his/her sophomore or junior year. The H-F team focuses primarily on 2-Person Policy Debate. Participation is also offered on three levels of experience: Novice (first year), Junior Varsity (second), and Varsity (third and/or fourth year).
Debaters participate in 15-20 tournaments, both local, state and major national, from September through May. Most tournaments are two-day, Friday afternoon/evening and Saturday, consisting of 5 preliminary rounds (1 1/2 hours each) and 3 or 4 elimination rounds. This includes the Invitational Tournament hosted by H-F. Through participation in tournaments, the debaters earn points which are recorded and submitted to the National Forensic league (N.F.L.) for membership.
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CURRICULUMTo participate on the Debate Team, it is not necessary to enroll in Debate courses. Sixty percent of the class members do not debate competitively. One course is offered in the Debate curriculum:
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Initially starting with approximately 60 students each year, the program will operate with somewhere around 30 active debaters. |
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The Homewood-Flossmoor Debate Program is affiliated with the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), the National Forensic League (NFL), the Illinois Speech and Theatre Association (ISTA), and the National Debate Coaches Association (NDCA).
IHSA AWARDS
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Homewood-Flossmoor High School has qualified debate teams to the IHSA State Debate Finals 28 of the last 30 years. Each time the school has finished in the top 16 debate teams (many times the top 8) in the state. H-F also has won 1st Place two times and 2nd Place three times, most recently in 2007. In one year H-F was 1st and 3rd simultaneously. |
NFL AWARDSIn NFL District Debate competition, H-F has won 1st place three times and in NFL Student Congress has taken 1, 2, and 3 team school awards along with numerous 1st and 2nd place speaking awards. H-F has qualified 17 students at the NFL National Tournament. |
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ISTA AWARDS
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Over the past 12years of ISTA history, H-F has qualified at least two to four Novice debate teams and at least two Junior Varsity teams to their state final. In 2008, H-f reached the Novice Tournament's semifinals. |
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Last Revised 10/23/00.
