Junior Debates Prove to be Stressful Yet Fulfilling
The long preparation finall has its rewards
By Kylie Gifford and Erin Parker

The arrival of spring has brought anxiety to the junior honors English students. The infamous debates are in full swing, and the short time the students had for preparation has come to an end. Beginning in early April and lasting through the first week of May, each day two debaters will face their opposing partners to battle for victory.
Students will debate according to the standard process, though each round will be slightly shorter than typical debate rounds. Each 47-minute debate will present the audience with as much information on one specific major societal issue as possible. Students will hear debates on a wide range of topics, from legalizing prostitution to regulating euthanasia. The pairs prepare both the affirmative and negative arguments in order to cover all aspects of the issue, however during the debate they will only present one side. The limited time given for preparation leaves many students feel overwhelmed. “I don’t really feel prepared. I think it’s really beneficial to learn so thoroughly about such prevalent issues; it’s just that getting to be prepared is hard,” said Jana Stocker. Debaters are told a mere week in advance which position they will be arguing, and the panic of fine-tuning for the big day begins. “I don’t have any time to do anything!” stated Susan Myoshi. “I’m still working on all of my papers! I need a vacation!”
While researching and collecting information about their topics outside of class for the first couple of weeks, the students spent class time learning the basics of debate. The “debate box” quickly became the center of their lives as they spent every free moment preparing evidence cards, briefs, and cross examination questions to support their position. For many, this process will continue through spring break, as many debates are not scheduled until the following week. Though this is arguably the most stressful assignment junior honors English students have tackled, it has given them the opportunity to become experts on the major issues in America today. “Debate preparations are very time consuming, with all of the information to gather,” stated Tyler Williamson. “But it should be worthwhile because it prepares us to think about world issues, and to think critically.”