Limited notes are permitted. Students will speak in listed order. Posting of topics will be staggered. In this event, the contestant must analyze the argumentative components of selected discourse and demonstrate an understanding of the theories of reasoning. A significant period before the round the participants will be given an argumentative statement.
Students are free to select any argumentative method to analyze the rhetorical event.
The speech should be extemporaneous and notes are allowed. A maximum of seven minutes speaking time is allowed. The contestants will analyze the same discourse, therefore, speakers can only enter the room one at a time. After the speech is given, students are encouraged to stay and hear the remaining contestants. Examples of the type of event we envision are the identification of different fallacies in a letter to the editor, or the discussion of a political campaign speech using Toulmin's argumentative scheme.