The Palomar College Speech Department is proud to announce the inauguration of its Student Forum Series. These forums are designed to provide students with opportunities to build real-world public speaking skills while debating contemporary issues in a moderated format.

Student forum topics, times, and locations
How to become one of the initiating speakers for the forum
The rules, format and ettiquette
Getting credit for the forums

Topics, Times and Location 

All forums will be held in P-32, with the forum beginning sharply at 7 PM. Since it is important for students to hear the opening speeches, students not in the room at the beginning of the debate will not be allowed to attend, it is recommended that you arrive at the forum no later than 6:45 PM. There will only be four student forums this semester -- it is highly recommended that you plan to speak at one of the first two as the last two tend to be overloaded and students occasionally cannot be accommodated.  

THESE DATES ARE TENTATIVE, AWAITING COLLEGE APPROVAL. CHECK BACK THE SECOND WEEK OF CLASSES TO SEE IF THEY HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED.

Forum 1:             Friday, September 13, 2003

Topic: Cruz Bustamonte should be the next governor of California.

Forum 2:             Friday, September 26, 2003

Topic: The war against Iraq was justified.

Forum 3:             Friday, October 10, 2003

Topic: George Bush should be re-elected President of the United States.

Forum 4:             Friday, October 24, 2003

Topic: The Patriot Act, enacted after 9/11,  should be repealed.

How To Become An Initiating Speaker

To become an initiating speaker, you must email Dr. Marc Newman at mnewman@palomar.edu
and submit an outline of your intended 7 minute speech, including bibliography. Outlines deemed to cover the topic with the most depth and organizational clarity will be chosen. Deadlines for submission are 10 days before the forum for which the students wishes to speak. Please provide your name, instructor, and class time. You will be notified by email if you have been selected to be an initiating speaker one week before the forum.

Rules, Format, and Etiquette

Before the forum:

Student forums are a place for you to express your opinion on significant issues of the day. There are two kinds of opinions -- informed opinions and uninformed opinions. The forum is a place for informed opinions, not simply assertions. All students are expected to have done some research on the forum topic if they expect to speak. Statements made at the forum should be backed by evidence from published sources, and those sources should be cited in the context of your speech.

At the forum:

When you enter the room, you will choose where to sit based upon your opinion on the resolution. Those in favor of the resolution will sit on the side of the auditorium furthest from the entrance door. Those opposed to the resolution will sit on the side of the auditorium nearest the entrance door.

The forum will begin by the moderator calling the forum to order. Then two students, chosen in advance, will open the forum. Each student will have 7 minutes to speak. The student in favor of the resolution will begin, and will be followed by the student who advocates that the resolution be rejected. After these opening speeches, the moderator will take control of the forum, and, beginning with the negative side, will alternate sides throughout the remainder of the forum. Once recognized by the moderator, each student speaker will come to the front and will have the floor for a speech not to exceed 2 minutes (to receive credit for speaking, the speech must be at least one minute). Student speeches should be well-organized. Make an outline on the back of a 3x5 card before you raise your hand to speak. The sides will alternate until the end of the forum, at which time there will be a division of the house to decide the issue.

Each student in attendance will receive a priority card. The card will have a place for the student to write his or her name, and the time and day of the Speech class they attend. If students wish to speak, they will hold up their cards. The students will be selected at random by the moderator. Students may speak more than once at any given forum, but priority will be given to students with a card. 

Student speeches might include 1) speeches which introduce new points into the discussion, 2) refute arguments made by the opposing side, 3) rebuild arguments that have suffered attack, or any or all of the above. As a result, it is recommended that you bring a pad and a pen to jot down both the ideas advanced by your side as well as the ideas and attacks of the opposition.

While this is to be a civilized debate, if students agree with what they hear, they may demonstrate approval by “knocking” (tapping on the desktop). If speakers on the opposing side are deemed guilty of grossly misrepresenting their opponents, or engage in name-calling, then the offended side may say “shame.” Humor, in good taste, is welcome.

After the Forum or "How do I Get Credit?"  

At the end of the debate, all students wishing to get credit for their participation in the forum will have to sign in on the attendance sheet at the front of the room. No credit will be offered for partial participation.  Students taking a unit for credit are required to attend two of the three forums and to speak at one of the forums they attend.

The faculty of the Speech Department is happy that you have chosen to hone your communication skills at these forums. We welcome feedback on your experience.