Competitors immerse themselves in the subject, soaking up every bit of literature available. They also have a one coach, who assists them with research and debating style. Most college national debate teams have up to 10 coaches, said Almanzor. While parliamentary emphasizes persuasive speech skills, national relies more on technical, policy-oriented arguments, said Matt McDonald, captain of Berkeley s national team. Another difference, says McDonald, is speed.
National debaters talk fast.
Though clocked at up to 300 words per minute, McDonald s rate is considered moderate among those in the field. For the uninitiated, it can be difficult to follow, he said. Most debaters hail from the rhetoric or political science departments, which contributes to their success, team members say. The academic strength of these departments, says Barak, is directly related to the strength of our teams. Though the debate season is officially over, the team will get one more chance to flex its rhetorical muscles, as Cal meets Stanford in a Big Game redux, Wednesday, May 2, at San Francisco s Commonwealth Club.