• The Debate Club will resume at the end of September.  Listen for the morning announcements, check back here, and watch the monitors located throughout the school for the starting date. 

    Horizon Debate Advisor: Jannelle Combs and co-advisor Damian Lund

     

    BPS 2022-23 STUDENT CONGRESS

    Student Congress practices at the Century High School Library Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:15pm. 7th and 8th graders can compete.

    The first competition is Sept 26th in Fargo. We'd leave Sunday the 25th sometime in the afternoon and stay overnight in Fargo. There will be meets in town, and the season ends early November.

    BPS Coach: Jake Thomas (701) 204-3466

     

    HORIZON 2022-23 DEBATE

    Debate is middle/high school competition that is held regionally, and at a state and national level. 6th graders can participate in the practices but cannot compete until in 7th grade. Starting in 9th grade, students could compete for the national tournament. Practices are Mondays and Wednesdays after school starting October 3rd until February. The season has two different topics (one for November/December and another for January/February). 6th graders will be encouraged to time rounds at the Bismarck tournaments.

    There are two categories of debate. Public Forum debate is a two-person team debate while Lincoln Douglas debate is an individual activity. You will learn how to research, evaluate sources, structure arguments, improve speaking skills and to think on your feet. It is a great activity for anyone who wants to improve their skills in speaking, writing and research that are critical to success in school now, high school, college and jobs-no matter what area of work you want to do.

    Practices: Mondays and Wednesdays after school starting Monday October 3rd. Students can start at any time. First meet in mid-November. Topics switch in January with last meet tentatively the weekend of February 4th.

    Students can start with either topic. And students do not have to compete at every tournament. The more tournaments tends to provide the best feedback and improvement in skill, but even one tournament can help a student learn to research, write, speak, think on their feet and use logic to advocate for their side. All of these skills are ones needed in college and life.

     

    Horizon Debate Advisor: Jannelle Combs (jannellesteger@hotmail.com) and cell is (701) 306-0039

    BPS Coach: Jake Thomas (701) 204-3466

     

    https://www.speechanddebate.org/

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O3ppc-UC2s  (example of Lincoln-Douglas debate at nationals, round begins at 5:38)

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdNg3F7aBcM  (example of public forum debate from South Dakota)

    HORIZON/CENTURY 2023 SPEECH

    Speech begins practice after the first of the year and continues to State in April. Practices are at Century High School.