Houston Debate league

Mission Statement

The mission of the Houston Urban Debate League (“HUDL”) is to develop and support competitive debate programs in Houston-area public schools.

HUDL Program Summary

Houston Needs You!

The Houston Urban Debate League (HUDL) has begun planning to assist the students and coaches within HISD and throughout Harris county. Thousands of Houstonians have been displaced and are experiencing significant harm. HUDL plans on being there for Houston’s students, debate coaches, schools, and the larger Houston community throughout it all.

We understand that Houston’s students will have significant needs, from immediate personal needs to the long term need of educational support. HUDL plans on being there for Houston’s students, their schools, and the larger Houston community throughout it all.

HUDL has received pledges of support from our partners at the National Urban Debate League (NAUDL), the Texas Speech Communication Association (TSCA), the Texas Forensics Association (TFA), and numerous community members throughout the country.

HUDL looks forward to working with these partners, and many more including our partners in HISD. HISD and the Harris County Education Department are working together to serve 20 new schools, as we go forward. The outpouring of support has been uplifting and we understand the Houston community can use that support.

How Can We Help?

Coaches, Students and School Employees below is the link for the survey.

If a HUDL student, coach, or school has a need related to the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, we want to know. Please fill out this request form and be as specific as possible when describing what you need and how Harvey has impacted you. HUDL is currently seeking resources to help our community and will try to satisfy each request as best as we can.

We already started to receive responses to the survey and we have taken into account what is needed from individuals. If you wish to remain anonymous, please type NA for your first and last name. Although, if you don’t provide and email or phone number, we will not be able to reach you.

We will not share any of your information with outside organizations.

Calendrier Disneyland Paris

Les dates d'ouverture et les différentes périodes tarifaires du Parc Disneyland de Marne la Vallée peuvent être consultées ici : calendrier du parc Disneyland Paris

Support through Mentorship

Mentors

One of the most exciting and rewarding ways you can volunteer with the Houston Urban Debate League (HUDL) is to become a mentor. During this devastating time with after Hurricane Harvey we are in need and look out for mentors to work closely with a school’s debate team on an average of 1-2 times a month; although, some mentors have the time to meet more frequently. As a mentor, you will have the chance to forge strong bonds with your students as you help them succeed academically and socially.

HUDL mentors travel to their assigned school and work with the resident teacher-coaches to run debate practice sessions. Typically, debate practices last for about an hour and a half. This program is open to persons with and without debate backgrounds. A passion for working with urban youth can take a mentor much farther than years of debate experience. HUDL will be available to provide concise trainings throughout the year to help support all interested mentors.

Expectations

Mentor please remember that you will have to go through a mandatory background check and sign up for VIPS through HISD below are the steps to do so:

Donating

According to HISD an estimated 40% of our students were impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Last year we served over 1000 kids before the expansion to the 20 new schools with the Harris County Expansion. The 40% does not account the new schools in the expansion so anything helps.

The surveys that we sent out indicate that coaches and schools need resources and we started receiving information for it.

You can help sponsor a student or coach for $150 if not that anything helps to support everyone affected.

HUDL will be able to provide with Tournament attire and basic necessities.

No donation is too small.

houstonurbandebateleague.org/donate

Please know that the Houston community is in our thoughts and we are prepared to assist.

Please feel free to contact Eric Emerson at eric.emerson@kinkaid.org with additional questions.

HUDL Program Summary

Student Council

Dominique Mitchell
Milby High School Martinez Francisco

Fransisco Martinez
East Early High School

Yadira Banuelos
Austin High School

Adriana Moczygemba
Westbury High School

Isis Cantu
Houston Academy for International Studies

Syed Raza
Westside High School

Lorenzo Moore
Westbury High School

Young Professionals Council

HUDL’s Young Professionals Council (YPC)* is comprised of young professionals who are engaging a new generation in the culture of philanthropy to help further HUDL’s mission to provide debate to all students in the Houston community despite their socioeconomic status. The YPC is dedicated to promoting HUDL, raising funds through fun and innovative programs, as well as providing volunteer support. Additionally, the YPC provides young professionals the opportunity to socialize, network, and most importantly, make a significant and meaningful impact on the Houston community.

Click here to view photos from our recent YPC Happy Hour at the Hay Merchant

Young Professional is a person (A) 36 years of age or under on June 1 of the membership year for which membership is sought or (B) who has been in the person’s respective profession for less than 10 years before June 1 of the membership year for which membership is sought.

Amy Geise
Young Professionals Council Co-Chair
Associate, Porter Hedges LLP
JT Kittrell
Young Professionals Council Co-Chair
Associate, Liskow & Lewis
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Lynn Abell
Associate, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP adeyemi-agnes-li
Agnes Doyle
Associate, Porter Hedges
William Geise
William Geise
Associate, Baker Hostetler godsey-jamie-li
Jamie Godsey
Associate, Porter Hedges
HUDL
Jessica Gonzalez
Associate, Porter Hedges casey-holder
Casey Holder
Associate, Baker Hostetler
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Aparna Koneru
Ernst & Young
Katherine H. Kunz
Associate, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP

Jessica Levy
Associate, Hirsch & Westheimer PC HUDL
Kelline Linton
Associate, Baker Hostetler
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Ryan McBrearty
Briefing Attorney, Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas angela-purple-headshot
Angela Morisette
Consultant, Oliver Wyman
Melissa Munson
Melissa Munson
Associate, Liskow & Lewis
Steven Messer
Associate, Yetter Coleman

Eric Pardue
Eric Pardue
Assistant United States Attorney at United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas fullsizerender
Justin Patrick
Law Clerk, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
HUDL
Suchi Pahi
Associate, Baker Hostetler Jordan Warshauer
Jordan Warshauer
Law Clerk, United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
Poorav RohatgiPoorav Rohatgi
Associate, Haynes and Boone LLP HUDL
Jeff Watters
Associate, Baker Botts
alexander-wolf1
Alex Wolf
Associate, Smyser Kaplan Veselka
Marcos Rosales
HUDL Board Chair and YPC Liaison
General Counsel, The Adam Corporation

Parent and Community Council

Paula-Sauceda
Paula Sauceda
HUDL parent and volunteer baldwin
Christine Baldwin
HUDL parent and volunteer
stephen-jumpGreg Mayo
Teacher at Westbury High School Katina-Thomas
Dr. Katina L. Thomas
Lecturer and Student Teaching Supervisor at the University of Houston College of Education
stephen-jump
Stephen Jump
Houston Independent School District, University Interscholastic League (UIL) Program Specialist and HUDL League Director Shayla-Joiner-Ford
Shayla Joiner Ford
former teacher and doctoral candidate, University of Houston School of Education and Curriculum

Our Board

Board of Directors

HUDL is operated by an internal staff and governed by a Board of Directors.

Marcos Rosales
General Counsel, The Adams Corporation
Heather K. Hatfield – Chair
Partner, Porter Hedges LLP

The Honorable Marvin Isgur – Treasurer
Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
Bradley J. Benoit
Partner, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP

Charles Chafer
Founder & Owner, Space Services, Inc. coconathan1
Nathan Coco
Partner, McDermott Will & Emery LLP
Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper
Counsel, Gerger & Clarke LLP (ret.) University of Texas School of Law - UT Law alumnus Gregg Costa, US Circuit Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Judge Costa was photographed in his courtroom in the Federal Courthouse in Galveston, TX, September 10, 2014.
The Honorable Gregg Costa
Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Eric-Emerson
Eric Emerson- Chair Elect, Secretary
Director of Debate, The Kinkaid School nikki-hill2
Nikki Hill
Associate, Andrews Kurth LLP
sarah-spring
Sarah Spring
Lecturer, University of Houston
Jason M. Powers
Partner, Vinson & Elkins LLP
margaret-tellegen
Margaret Tellegen
Lecturer, University of Houston
Craig Smyser
Partner, Smyser Kaplan & Veselka LLP

Matthew P. Whitley
Partner, Beck Redden LLP

The Board is comprised of the following committees:

HUDL Schools

Thirty Houston ISD high schools and between 650 and 1,000 students currently participate in the Houston Urban Debate League. Follow the links below to learn more about the schools and students of HUDL. For more information on how to join, contact Stephen Jump, League Director, at sjump@houstonisd.org or Mark Niles, Deputy League Director, at mniles@houstonisd.org.

2018 Summer Debate Institute

Soon, we’ll be announcing information regarding the Summer 2018 Institute! Talk to your school’s coach and keep checking here for details as summer approaches

Donate to HUDL

To offer in-kind support or services of any kind, please contact heather Hatfield at HHatfield@porterhedges.com. To make a financial donation online, please click one of the links below and donate to HUDL using PayPal or Authorize.net.
Make a secure donation via Authorize.net or use the form below to make a secure donation via Paypal

Volunteer with HUDL

HUDL relies on contributions of time and resources from individuals, businesses, foundations, and institutions in order to conduct all league activities. There are many ways to assist. Please contact us at , houston@urbandebate.org to share your interest in supporting our valuable work by volunteering to judge, mentor, etc… Please visit our judging/mentoring sites for more information.

Before you can begin volunteering with HUDL it is required by HISD that all volunteers complete VIPS training (Volunteers in Public Schools). In addition to your registration, a copy of a valid photo ID is required so that a confidential background check can be done by HISD. This confidential background check is to ensure the safety of our students, and should take 5 business days to process.

Click here to download step-by-step directions on how to fill out your VIPS registration

Please upload the copy of your photo ID here. Once your form is submitted,
please click here to visit the VIPS training page.

Mentor

Volunteer to be a Mentor

One of the most exciting and rewarding ways you can volunteer with the Houston Urban Debate League (HUDL) is to become a mentor. HUDL mentors work closely with a school’s debate team on an average of 1-2 times a month; although, some mentors have the time to meet more frequently. As a mentor, you will have the chance to forge strong bonds with your students as you help them succeed academically and socially.

HUDL mentors travel to their assigned school and work with the resident teacher-coaches to run debate practice sessions. Typically, debate practices last for about an hour and a half. This program is open to persons with and without debate backgrounds. A passion for working with urban youth can take a mentor much farther than years of debate experience. HUDL will be available to provide concise trainings throughout the year to help support all interested mentors.

To sign-up to mentor please email for details and information

houston@urbandebate.org

Expectations

HUDL Schools

Below, you will find a map of the schools served by HUDL. We do our best to place mentors at a school that is convenient for them; however, we may ask mentors, if they are willing, to serve at a different school. Finding mentors for some geographic areas (especially on the outskirts of town) has proven somewhat difficult, so flexibility on the part of the mentor is appreciated.

Judge

HUDL debaters have the option of participating in four debate formats: Policy Debate, World Schools Debate, Public Forum Debate, and Lincoln-Douglas Debate. Below, there is a section dedicated to each of these. You will find an overview of each format, informative videos, and demonstration debate videos. If you would like to watch one of these demonstration debate videos and fill out a ballot for practice, we would love to give you feedback. Please visit our tournament schedule page in order to see upcoming tournaments-your help will be greatly appreciated!

General Judging Guidelines

  1. Making a Winning Decision

As the judge, you are the decision-maker in the debate round. You can decide the round however you see fit. The goal of every debater is to convince you that his or her team is right. The students should adapt to you as a judge and not require you to adapt to them.

The goal of the judge is to:

Determine, based on arguments in the round and not personal opinions, which team better proved its position.
Determine which team better used and explained its evidence to support its ideas in the debate round.
Determine which team better analyzed the weaknesses in the opposing team’s arguments.
There are several approaches that judges take in determining the outcome of a debate round. Most debaters will reference this as a judge’s philosophy or paradigm. As a judge, you can develop any paradigm you like to determine the outcome of the round. Each judge will receive a ballot (see example below) to fill out during and after the round is over. The ballot requires three basic pieces of information: the name of the team that won the debate round, a decision about the quality of the speakers, and a short explanation of how you came to your decision. During the round the judge can take some notes about the speakers (i.e. “you made a lot of great arguments, but you should look up more often when speaking.”). The goal of the Comments and Reason for Decision portion of the ballot is to help students learn from their rounds. The more constructive criticisms that you can outline the more opportunities students will have to succeed in new and different ways.

The decision that you make about the round is the right decision.Debaters should be taught how to adapt to a wide variety of judges.

  1. Filling Out the Ballot

Each ballot asks one question regarding who won the debate: “The better debating was done by…” It specifically does not say: “Which team made more arguments?” “The better debating was done by…” is intentionally vague. EXAMPLE BALLOT BELOW

Awarding Speaker Points and Ranks

Part of the role of the judge is to determine both which debater was best among the four debaters (six in World Schools) in the round and determine on a scale between 20 (being a speech that needs a lot of work) and 30 (being a perfect speech) how many points each debater should receive. After the preliminary rounds, debaters receive speaker awards based on the total number of speaker points they’ve received. The speaker points and ranks serve to encourage clear and effective communication.

Speaker points and ranks should represent the quality of each debater’s speech.

Debaters should receive speaker points between 20 and 30. Multiple debaters can receive the same number of speaker points. For example, two debaters in a single round can both receive 27 speaker points.
Each debater should be ranked in the round from 1 (most effective) to 4 (needs the most improvement). Since there are 6 debaters per round in World Schools debate, ranks should range from 1 to 6 in this format. Multiple debaters can NOT receive the same rank in a single round.
30 speaker points should be rare. Speaker points help differentiate between teams with the same number of wins. Thirty speaker points should be reserved for an almost perfect speech.
“Low point wins” (where the team with the lowest total speaker points wins the round) should be rare. A low point win should be confirmed by placing a check mark in the low point win line on the ballot.
Comment and Reason for Decision

The ballot has space at the bottom for comments and your reason for decision. The comments should provide constructive criticism to all of the debaters. The example ballot provides a great approach to outline each speech. The reason for decision can be as elaborate as you would like it to be. The information outlined here will be taken by the students back to the classroom as a learning tool.

  1. A Request for All Judges:

Please turn off all cell phones and electronic devices before the start of the round.
Please do not interrupt speakers once the round has begun except to inform them that their speech or prep time has expired.
Please give a constructive oral critique of the round after you have made your decision and turned in your ballot.
Please do not disclose the outcome of the debate round.
Please inform a tournament director if you receive a ballot for a school where you have prior coaching, mentoring, or debating experience.
If there is a conflict/discrepancy in the round, please contact a tournament director to assist in the resolution of the problem.

General Overview

CX Order and Times.jpgPolicy debate, also referred to as Cross Examination Debate, is a competitive exchange of ideas that center around a single topic. This year, every high school policy debater around the country will be discussing:
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or development of the Earth’s oceans.

Each team in a debate round will be comprised of two students. There is an affirmative team that will defend the resolution by presenting a specific plan in an attempt to prove the resolution true. The opposing negative team will attempt to disprove the resolution by negating the specific affirmative plan and presenting reasons why the status quo (the way things currently are) is perfectly fine.

Division Restrictions: HUDL has two division in Policy Debate: Junior Varsity and Varsity

Junior Varsity Division

Cases can be adjusted and new evidence can be added as long as the changes fit with the basic theme of the case.

*No limits on disadvantages

*No counterplans and critics are allowed

Varsity Division

Cases must be disclosed one week before the tournament

*Varsity CX debaters may use any topic, disadvantage, counterplan, kritique, etc. with no restrictions.

Policy Debate Learning Resources

Online Training: How to Judge Policy Debate by the NFL: CLICK HERE

This is an interactive training course that includes video, text, and quizzes to test your knowledge.

Video: Final Round of HUDL Summer Institute: CLICK HERE

If you are interested, print the ballot below, then watch the debate round and fill out the ballot. We are happy to give you feedback if you send completed ballots to sjump@houstonisd.org or mniles@houstonisd.org.

HUDL Practice Ballot CX_PF.docx

HUDL Practice Ballot CX_PF.docx

Download
12 KB
World Schools Debate:

HUDL: How to Judge World Schools Debate from Houston Urban Debate League on Vimeo.

General Overview

World Schools Debate (WSD) is a speaking competition between two teams of three, the Proposition (also called the Government) and the Opposition. Debaters should display solid logic, reasoning, and depth of analysis. Debaters should communicate ideas with clarity, organization, eloquence, and professional decorum with the goal of persuading the everyday “informed citizen” judge.
Points of Information (POI)

During any of the Main Speeches, the team that isn’t speaking can stand up and ask the current speaker a quick (maximum 20 seconds) question or make a statement between minute 2-7 (unprotected time) of the speech. The current speaker has the right to accept or refuse the question, but should attempt to answer about 2 questions per speech. The first and last minute of each 8 minute speech is protected time when POIs can’t be given. One of your primary roles as a judge is to keep time and mark the beginning and end of unprotected time by either clapping or slapping the table at minute 1 and 7 during the main speeches.

Speeches and Time Limits
Main Speeches

1st Prop…………….8 min.

1st Opp……………..8 min.

2nd Prop……………8 min.

2nd Opp…………….8 min.

3rd Prop……………8 min.

3rd Opp…………….8 min.

Reply/Summary Speeches

Opp. Summary…4 min

Prop. Summary…4 min

NO PREP TIME DURING THE ROUND
POI Clap.jpg

What to Pay Attention To (As a Judge)

Did each speech have a clear structure?
Which team did a better job of answering and giving POIs. Did each speaker take 2-3 POIs during their speech?
In World Schools Debate, the debaters must present a reasonable definition of the motion. Ask yourself what is the issue that the two teams are expected to debate? What would an ordinary intelligent person reading the motion (debate topic) think that it is about?
World Schools Debate Learning Resources

Detailed Overview of World Schools: CLICK HERE

Online Training: How to Judge World Schools Debate: CLICK HERE

Video: Demo Debate HUDL Summer Institute: CLICK HERE

If you are interested, print the ballot below, then watch the debate round and fill out the ballot. We are happy to give you feedback if you send completed ballots to sjump@houstonisd.org or mniles@houstonisd.org.

HUDL Practice Ballot Worlds.docx

HUDL Practice Ballot Worlds.docx

Download
13 KB
Please look at how the judge interacts with the debaters by announcing the speakers, clapping when protected time is over and again when protected time starts again. You may also want to pay attention to how the students give the speeches without relying on evidence and how they handle the points of information.

Public Forum Debate:

HUDL: How to Judge Public Forum Debate from Houston Urban Debate League on Vimeo.

General Overview

Public Forum (PF) is popular debate format nation wide. Like World Schools Debate, the goal of the debater is to persuade the ordinary intelligent person. Therefore, excessive jargon, speed reading, and unfairly framing the debate is frowned upon You can find great information from a number of resources on-line.

The Coin Toss: In PF, there are two people on each side of the debate.The round starts with a coin toss; the winning team selects either:

• The side (pro or con) they will argue, or

• The speaker order (begin the debate or give the last speech).

The team that loses the toss will then decide their preference from the option not selected by the winner.

Speeches and Time Limits

Speaker 1 (Team A, 1st speaker )……..4 min.

Speaker 2 (Team B, 1st speaker) ……..4 min.

Crossfire (between speakers 1 & 2)….3 min.

Speaker 3 (Team A, 2nd speaker ) ……4 min.

Speaker 4 (Team B, 2nd speaker )……..4 min.

Crossfire (between speakers 3 & 4)…..3 min.

Speaker 1 Summary…………………………2 min.

Speaker 2 Summary…………………………2 min.

Grand Crossfire (all speakers) ………..3 min.

Speaker 3 Final Focus………………………2 min.

Speaker 4 Final Focus………………………2 min.

Each team may use up to two minutes of prep time.

Topics: The topic for PF changes monthly and is announced by the National Forensic League (NFL). Click here to see the most current topic.

Public Forum Debate Learning Resources

Detailed PDF of Public Forum Judging Instructions: CLICK HERE

Online Training: How to Judge Public Forum Debate by the NFL: CLICK HERE

This is an interactive training course that includes video, text, and quizzes to test your knowledge.

Video: DEMO Public Forum Round: CLICK HERE

If you are interested, print the ballot below, then watch the debate round and fill out the ballot. We are happy to give you feedback if you send completed ballots to sjump@houstonisd.org or mniles@houstonisd.org.