How To Participate

Work with your debate coach or English teacher to put your team together. Prepare a Qualifying Round essay on the 2008–09 NPPF topic:

“Resolved:  The United States federal government should substantially increase alternative energy incentives in the United States.”

 

Essays are limited to 2,800 words and may be written from an affirmative or negative perspective. Participating teams can be comprised of any number of students. Only one essay is allowed per high school.

 

Submit your essay by 2 p.m. CST on Wednesday, October 29, 2008, to Sarah Marshala at sem@bickelbrewer.com or call (214) 653-4035 for additional information.

 

Entries are divided into seven  regions, and then reviewed by members of the NYU Speech & Debate Team.  The best essay from each region advances to the Elimination Rounds, along with 9 other top cases nationally.  These top 16 teams are announced on Wednesday, November 5, 2008, and continue in a written debate tournament.  Individual matches begin immediately, with one school affirming the resolution and the other negating it.

 

All submissions are reviewed by a panel of judges. Schools are labeled as “School A” (affirmative) and “School B” (negative) for each round to remain anonymous before the panel during the entire debate process. Winning teams advance to the next round. The process continues for two more rounds until the final four teams are determined.