Dear Speech & Debate Community,

It is our pleasure to formally invite you to attend the 2024 Singing River Classic at Pascagoula High School on the beautiful Gulf Coast of Mississippi, October 25-26.

We will offer Novice & Varsity Public Forum, Novice & Varsity Lincoln-Douglas, Policy, and Congressional Debates on Friday evening. Students entered in debate events may enter up to one Individual Event in Flight A and up to two Individual Events in Flight B.

LD and PF will debate five preliminary rounds on Friday with elimination rounds on Saturday during Flight A.

Policy will debate four preliminary rounds on Friday with elimination rounds on Saturday. Congress will debate one two-hour preliminary session and break to a two-hour super session on Friday night.

Individual Events will be offered in two Flights, A & B, on Saturday. Please visit the Mississippi Speech & Debate website for event rules and descriptions.

Flight A: Novice & Varsity Prose, Dramatic Interpretation, Duet Acting, Informative Speaking, Expository*,Program Oral Interpretation, Impromptu

Flight B: Novice & Varsity Extemporaneous Speaking, Humorous Interpretation, Declamation*,Duo Interpretation, Novice & Varsity Poetry, Original Oratory, Storytelling*

*Entry permitted for junior high, 9th, or 10th grade students only

Topics:

Storytelling - Thriller & Mystery

Extemp - U.S. Politics & Elections, Global Conflicts, Education, Economy

Policy Debate - Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly strengthen its protection of domestic intellectual property rights in copyrights, patents, and/or trademarks.

Novice & Varsity Public Forum Debate - Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially expand its surveillance infrastructure along its southern border.

Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate - Resolved: The United States ought to require that workers receive a living wage.

Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate - Resolved: In the United States, national service ought to be mandatory.

The top six schools will be recognized in Overall Sweepstakes.

Cost:

Individual Speech or Debate - $10 per event

Partnered Speech or Debate - $20 per event

Four years ago, our beloved middle school coach, Mr. Larry Bates, passed away. Mr. Bates was a wonderful teacher and mentor; he was passionate, encouraging, and kind. The Classes of 2022 and 2023 established an award in his honor. We would like to recognize a junior or senior forensics student in his memory who exemplifies the qualities of passion, kindness, and exhortation. If you would like to nominate a junior or senior student, please email jwilkinson@pgsd.ms to request a nomination form. All nominations must be received by 2:00 pm on October 11, 2024.

Please email me if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to hosting you!

Sincerely,

Jessica Wilkinson,

Director of Forensics

Kyle Summerall,

Assistant Director of Forensics

Pascagoula High School

1716 Tucker Avenue

Pascagoula, MS 39567

jwilkinson@pgsd.ms

ksummerall@pgsd.ms