Speech & Debate: What is it?

December 2024

By Ernesto Nunez, Staff Reporter

Most KAC students know about our soccer team, the girls and boys volleyball teams, and robotics. But not all students know of our debate team. Started by social studies teacher Amber Corral two years ago, the current Speech and Debate team is led by 12th-grade captain Nancy Perez. Together, they have brought KAC to the world of debate and helped spread diversity in that world where, traditionally, its competitors have been predominantly white. 

The team debates teams from other schools on economic, political, and social topics. One form of competition the team engages in is the Lincoln Douglas-style debate, which is a form of debate where two individuals debate over a topic. KAC has had success in this area, as last year senior Gisselle Vazquez won a Lincoln Douglas award at Westwood High School and Mercedes Alvarez won at a competition at McNeil High School.

According to Corral, debating is a sport and it takes the will of a warrior to join and start a conversation with another individual on topics. But don’t let this deter you from joining as no matter your skills joining is still possible. Corral explained, “I think kids are intimidated because they think debate is for kids who are super smart or get good grades but actually I think anyone could join. The skill I look for the most is commitment.”

Some might still believe that debating is useless and gives no skills for later down the line, but those individuals are wrong. As Corral put it, “Kids are nervous to even sit in front of the class and give a presentation and I feel like the debate team gives you the skills to do that, communication is a soft skill that is not practiced enough in school.”

“It looks good on a college application,” added 11th-grader Theodore Brown. And Jorge Juarez-Lopez said, “I joined the debate team because I was told by one of the debate team members that I had a good voice to debate and that’s why I joined. Also it’s pretty fun.” 

If you wish to join the KAC debate team, Corral explained the process for joining. “You can join the debate team by applying to the applications that go out around March or April and the applications are for the following year,” she said. “You can join either debate or speech. You will fill out 2-3 essays on why you want to join the debate team and what makes you a good debater and what is your commitment level.”