Speech Acronym Guide

Abbreviation Full Name Event description

LD Lincoln Douglas Debate A philosophical debate between two
people.
Policy/Team Policy Debate A partner debate event where both sides
advocate for a plan to solve a specific
problem.
PoFo Public Forum Debate A Partner debate event designed for lay
(i.e. normal people) judges
Parli Parliamentary Debate A partner debate event that is spontaneous
(cases are not pre-written) and modeled
after the British parliamentary debates.
OO Original Oratory A 10 minute persuasive speech
OA Original Advocacy A 10 minute persuasive speech that
advocates a law to solve a problem
Expos Expository A 10 minute informative speech with
visual aids
OPP Original Prose & Poetry A 10 minute speech that recites poetry, or
tells a story. The work is original.
HI Humorous Interpretation A 10 minute speech in which a student
performs a humorous selection from a
movie or play.
DI Dramatic Interpretation A 10 minute speech in which a student
performs a dramatic selection from a
movie or play.
TI Thematic Interpretation A 10 minute Speech in which a student
performs three different pieces( can be a
script, poetry, a play, etc) that explores a
theme.
OI Original Interpretation A 10 minute speech where a students
performs another persons speech.
Imp Impromptu A 5 minute speech where the student is
given two minutes to prepare on an
unknown topic.
Extemp Extemporaneous A 7 minute speech where the student is
given 30 minutes to prepare a speech on a
current event topic.

Mr. Caperton R-23

 Abreviations Full Name Description
T Topicality A debate violation where the
opposing teams is arguing that the
other team is not arguing the topic
Tab Tabulation A room where the tournament is
being run
solvency Debate term that proves a plan
will solve the stated problem
k Kritik A Debate term
disads Disadvantage A debate term that point out the
disadvantages of a specific plan
post A place where a tournament will
display where, when, and who
will participate in events
prep Extemporaneous Prep A room where exempt students
prepare for their speeches
outs N/A Non-advancing students
elims Elimination Rounds Another term for any round that
leads to the final round of an
event
breaks NA A list of people who have made it
to elimination rounds
Picket fence Term used to describe someone
who has one first place in every
round of competition
turns A Debate term: literally means
that the argument of an opponent
has been challenged or defeated
codes Most tournaments give
competitors codes so that judges
will not know the school
affiliation of competitors
po Presiding Officer A person who is running a round
of congress (ie a moderator)
normally is a student, but may be
an adult
warrant A debate term: It is the underlying
assumption of an argument, often
misused as a synonym for
evidence
claim Debate term: An argument (ie
killing people is wrong)
paradigm Debate Term: A specific set of
criteria that a judge uses for a
round. If you don't have a
paradigm, say that you are a lay
judge.

Mr. Caperton R-23

 Value criterion Debate Term: a way in which a
debater can prove that their value
is better than another value.
aff Affirmative The debater that is supposed to
argue in favor of a resolution
neg Negative The debater that is supposed to
argue against a resolution
Block Debate Term: Specific counter to
a argument.

Mr. Caperton R-23