FAQs
Q: What is Hanover High School? A: Hanover High School is an interstate public high school serving the students of the towns of Norwich, VT and Hanover, NH. The school also serves students from other interstate communities including Hartland, VT, Strafford, VT, Lyme, NH, Cornish, NH and Piermont, NH. In 1963, Hanover High School became the first interstate high school in the country by joint acts of the state governments of Vermont and New Hampshire and as part of a bill that was signed into federal law by President John F. Kennedy.
A: The Hanover High School Debate Club was founded in 2009. See our Club's History.
The Hanover High School Debate Club provides an excellent opportunity for students who are interested in current events to engage in the art of civil discourse and discussion. While we take the preparation of our cases and our participation in debate tournaments very seriously, our Club's emphasis is on respect for others, learning and fun. As a member of the Vermont Debate and Forensics League (the "VDFL"), we regularly meet at tournaments with teams from 14 other high schools.
VDFL tournaments use a form of debate known as Public Forum Debate as sponsored by the National Forensic League (the "NFL"). Public Forum Debate is team-based advocacy either for or against a position described in a monthly resolution topic. Teams are composed of two partners: a first speaker and a second speaker. Cases are argued from either the PRO side or the CON side.
Although there are a limited number of team slots available at each VDFL tournament, all students are welcome to participate in our Monday activity period meetings in Ms. Cluff's Room 203 as well as occasional evening and weekend training sessions. A: Look for our table at the Activities Expo each September. Come to our Monday activity period meetings in Ms. Cluff's Room 203. Send us an email at info@hanoverdebateclub.org.
A: As described by the NFL, Public Forum Debate is a team event that advocates or rejects a position posed by the monthly resolution topic as announced by the NFL (the VDFL typically follows the NFL resolutions, however, the VDFL may substitute resolutions for scheduling and other reasons). The clash of ideas during a debate must be communicated in a manner persuasive to the non-specialist or “citizen judge”, i.e., a member of the American jury. The debate should:
-- Display solid logic, lucid reasoning, and depth of analysis;
-- Utilize evidence without being driven by it;
-- Present a clash of ideas by countering/refuting arguments of the opposing team (rebuttal); and
-- Communicate ideas with clarity, organization, eloquence, and professional decorum.
Teams are composed of two partners: a first speaker and a second speaker. Cases are argued from either the PRO side or the CON side.
Q: What is the "season" for the Debate Club? A: Each academic year, VDFL debate tournaments typically start in October and run through January. The state championship tournament usually occurs in February with the NFL regional district tournament in March. For more details, see our Club's Calendar.
A: The VDFL typically offers around ten statewide tournaments each academic year. There is a state championship tournament and an NFL regional district tournament at the end of the debate season.
A: At a typical regular season tournament, two-person debate teams from various member schools of the VDFL engage in three debate rounds making the case for either the PRO or CON side of the designated resolution for that tournament. Teams conduct research and prepare both PRO and CON cases ahead of time. A coin flip will determine which side a team argues in any given round. A judge (often a "citizen judge") presides over and evaluates the cases, teams and speakers in each debate round.
During a debate round, there are opening speeches laying out the cases for each side, rebuttal speeches refuting the other side's arguments, and summary and "final focus" speeches where debaters work to convince the judge of the relative merits of their position. Interspersed, there are opportunities for the opposing sides to engage in "crossfire" question and answer sessions, where they actively defend positions and cross-examine the contentions of the opposite team.
At the end of the three rounds, awards are typically given to the best teams and best speakers at the tournament based upon an aggregation of team round wins and speaker point tallies from the judges' ballots.
A: Topics are determined and announced by the NFL. Typically, the VDFL follows NFL resolutions, however, the VDFL may substitute resolutions for scheduling and other reasons. To see current and past debate topics, please see our Club's Debate Topics page.
Q: What criteria do judges use to evaluate the performance of debaters? A: In VDFL tournaments, judges evaluate the performance of speakers along five categories: (1) analysis and reasoning; (2) evidence; (3) crossfire and rebuttal; (4) delivery; and (5) teamwork and civility. See Sample VDFL Judge's Ballot. Much like the American jury system, judges in Public Forum Debate have wide latitude to weigh their decisions as they determine best.
A: Select conservative attire that you would choose for a college or job interview. At a minimum, wear professional or business casual attire. Jackets and/or ties are optional for men.
Q: What is the VDFL? A: The VDFL is the Vermont Debate and Forensics League. Hanover High School is a member of the VDFL and participates in VDFL debate tournaments. For more information on the VDFL, please see their website at http://www.vermontforensics.org/.
A: In our context, the NFL is the National Forensic League. VDFL member schools are in the Iroquois District of the National Forensic League and compete in the regional tournament in that District in order to qualify for the National Tournament sponsored by the NFL. For more information on the NFL, please see their website at http://www.nflonline.org/.
A: The NCFL is the National Catholic Forensic League. The NCFL is a national membership organization similar to the NFL which welcomes all public and private schools. As of the 2010-2011 debate season, VDFL member schools formed their own district within the NCFL. The NCFL sponsors a Grand National Tournament in May of each year. Results of the state championship tournament are used by the VDFL to determine qualification for the Grand National Tournament. For more information on the NCFL, please see their website at http://www.ncfl.org/.
Q: I have been asked to be a judge at a debate tournament, what do I do? A: Judging public forum debate tournaments is incredibly fun and designed specifically for the "citizen judge." No experience necessary! There are judge training sessions at the beginning of every VDFL tournament. If you are interested in judging, please ask the coach to check with the tournament directors to see if they would like us to bring any judges to that tournament. When you get there, be sure to attend the judge training session and write down your affiliation with Hanover when you fill out your name on the list of judges. For additional information, please see this one-pager from the NFL: Judging Public Forum Debate; this one-pager from the VDFL: Judge's Outline - Public Forum Debate; as well as this sample judge's ballot: Sample VDFL Judge's Ballot.
A: Our Club always appreciates, in fact we depend upon, parent volunteers. Most importantly, we need carpool drivers to get us to the debate tournaments. Occasionally, tournament directors ask us to provide citizen judges, and parents are welcome to serve in this role. Parent help will also be greatly appreciated when we host VDFL tournaments at Hanover High School starting with the 2010-2011 debate season and going forward.