HARKER DEBATE 2015-2016

Attributes of a Public Forum and Congressional Debate Captain

In order to be a captain next year, you must agree to:
1. Follow the rules and guidelines set forth in the Harker Speech and Debate Handbook/Bylaws,
such as dress code, tournament preparation and behavior, and in-round protocol.
2. Lead by example, even when such a position is unpopular. Such leadership involves setting a
good example with attendance, punctuality, academic performance, homework responsibility
form completion, permission slip submission, and tournament behavior.
3. Be a spokesperson for the coaching staff for the coaching staff when such action is warranted
and requested.
4. Actively participate in the Harker tournament (the Howard & Diana Nichols Invitational), the
awards ceremony, mentoring of novice students, and any other activities as requested by the
coaching staff.
5. Be enrolled in Competitive Forensics and attend all classes unless dismissed by your respective
coach.
6. Participate in a minimum of four tournaments throughout the year with at least one tournament
occurring prior to December 1, 2015.
7. Attend Preview Nights and Open Houses as deemed necessary by Admissions and the coaching
staff.
8. Understand and promote the notion of team unity and support for all members within the
forensics community.
9. Attend a monthly captains meeting. These will take place during the first Wednesday Extra
Help of every month unless it is determined by the coaching staff that there is a campus-wide
conflict at which time it may be rescheduled.
In addition, in order to complete the application process for becoming a captain, you must, BY 5PM,
MAY 12, turn in a completed application.
I agree, as a condition of being considered for captaincy, to abide by the above requirements, and to
complete the above assignments on time. I also recognize that failure to uphold the contract above may
result in being removed as a captain and the proper notification will be sent to involved parties
including, if needed, colleges where you have applied.
__________________________________
Student Signature
Date

__________________________________
Student Printed Name

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Parent Signature
Date

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Parent Printed Name

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Advisor Signature
Date

__________________________________
Advisor Printed Name

HARKER DEBATE 2015-2016

Attributes of a Public Forum and Congressional Debate Captain
1. What'has'been'the'highlight'of'your'debate'experience'here'at'Harker?'How'do'you'plan'on'
bettering'the'experience'of'others'on'the'team?'
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2. What'are'the'biggest'problems'you'see'on'the'debate'team'right'now'and'what'would'you'propose'
to'help'solve'it?'
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3. Given'the'amount'of'work'that'junior'and/or'senior'year'has,'how'will'you'balance'your'
responsibilities'as'a'captain'along'with'your'schoolwork?'Please'include'in'your'answer'how'many'
AP'classes'you'are'taking'along'with'any'other'sport/performing'art/or'other'club/extracurricular'
you'plan'on'participating'in'next'year.'
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HARKER DEBATE 2015-2016

Attributes of a Public Forum and Congressional Debate Captain
4. List'three'things'you'did'this'year'that'demonstrate'your'commitment'to'improving'the'debate'
team'(e.g.$when'you'went'above'and'beyond'your'required'responsibilities,'moments'you'showed'
leadership,'etc.).'Choose'one'and'write'a'paragraph'discussing'how'it'shows'your'ability'to'be'a'
great'captain'next'year.'
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5. What'can'and'will'you'do'to'make'Harker'debate'not'just'a'collection'of'partnerships'broken'into'
cliques'but'a'collaborative'community'instead?'
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6. How'will'you'help'ensure'a'peaceful'transition'with'the'new'teacher'next'year?''
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7. Historically,'we'have'divided'the'leadership'board'into'committes'with'captains'serving'on'various'
committees.'While'this'may'still'occur,'I'would'like'each'captain'to'commit'in'your'application'to'
one'area'you'would'like'to'develop'next'year'on'the'team.'Please'describe'the'area'that'you'would'
like'to'focus'on'and'develop'a'plan'of'action'on'how'you'will'support/develop'this'area.'Include'
summer'and'school'year'deadlines'for'each'step'of'your'plan.'Use'no'more'than'two'sheets'of'paper'
to'develop'this'plan'of'action.