THE WOODLANDS HIGH SCHOOL THEATER DEPARTMENT
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What is Speech & Debate?

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Speech and Debate Tournaments allow for students to perform pieces of their choosing (play, book, anything published, etc.) and receive valuable feedback from a multitude of judges. Tournaments are available for students of every grade; they are a great way to win awards and to meet theater students from other schools in our area!

The types of competition pieces are:
  • Humorous Interpretation (HI): A ten-minute long cutting of a humorous play, scene, or monologue. This is performed solo without a chair.
  • Dramatic Interpretation (DI): A ten-minute long cutting of a dramatic play, scene, or monologue. This is performed solo without a chair.
  • Duet/Duo: A ten-minute long cutting that is performed with a partner; it can be humorous or dramatic. You get 2 chairs to work with. 
Speech Tournaments typically take place on Fridays and Saturdays at various high schools around our area. On Fridays, students will be pulled from fourth period and ride a bus to their destination. Freshman will be bussed over to the senior campus during third period, where they will meet up with everyone else.

There are usually three rounds at tournaments: Prelims, Semis, and Finals. The goal of each tournament is to go to finals so you can earn state points.Once you have earned 10 state points, you have qualified for STATE!

Check these handouts out for some tips about Speech:
Speech Manual
File Size: 1541 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

State Point Chart
File Size: 131 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Intro to HI
File Size: 262 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Intro to DI
File Size: 324 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Duet is the same rules as above but with 2 performers and 2 chairs. Duet can be dramatic or humorous.