n o r t h w e s t
Intercollegiate Debate
League
Education Clarity Persuasion
N I D L is an organization of college and university debate programs in the northwest committed to preparing students for the challenges of public speaking in the real world.
League sanctioned tournaments are reserved for styles of debate that stress the importance of mastering a persuasive delivery as well as the non-technical use of evidence and reasoning in forming arguments that are clear and cogent for a general, well educated audience.
We support formats that include traditional versions of two-team and four-team parliamentary debate events as well as other debate formats that are consistent with our principles.
We invite all institutions to join our mission of improving forensics education in our region.
N I D L Charter
Seeing a need
to recognize
students who excel in communicative forms of debate, the League seeks to
partner with other organizations -- such as the Northwest Forensics
Conference and the National Parliamentary Debate Association -- in
providing alternative competitive experiences and to expand
opportunities for diversity of tournament events in our region.
The League will endorse tournaments that offer forms of debate that
combine an emphasis on both content (analysis, refutation, evidence) and
delivery (style, wit, humor, audience adaptation, vocal attributes and
body movement), and which remain consistent with international styles
of parliamentary debate.
Recognizing that the vast majority of platforms that students will stand on after graduation – in politics, law, media, business, education or organizational leadership -- require skills in persuasion and audience adaptation, NIDL sponsored debates seek to help students learn to express an appealing public persona.
We believe that debate should be a practical educational experience and that performance by debaters should reflect the style and analysis that would be rewarded in typical public forums (courts, congress, the media, the classroom, or civic gatherings.)
Because debate is a communication activity derived from principles inherent in the rhetorical tradition that provides the foundation for introduction to speech courses, sanctioned tournaments are viewed as an extension of the speech classroom.
Debaters should not expect competitive success for advancing arguments that would be inappropriate in public forums. Jargon and technical terms will be rejected in favor of forms of expression that are accessible to a well educated audience.
Ideally, members of the general public watching a debate would find the experience comprehensible and enlightening.
Therefore, the League will present sweepstake awards or other recognitions or honors to the member institutions that have succeeded in producing the best public debate speakers.
Tournament directors
should recognize that a diverse judging pool – that includes not only
debate coaches and former debaters, but faculty from a variety of
disciplines and community leaders or professionals -- is crucial in
discouraging negative practices such as very rapid, incomprehensible
delivery or use of technical jargon.
Debaters and coaches
are reminded that the League views debate as a formal educational event.
Conduct during tournaments should reflect respect for others and an
attitude of professionalism, including more formal standards for dress
and decorum -- just as is expected in many professional settings such as
a job interview or court room hearing.
(Note: Some of the
language used for the NIDL Preamble is taken from the NEDA and NPDA
constitutions.)
N I D L
Constitution and
By Laws
n
o r t h w e s t
Intercollegiate Debate League
Education Clarity Persuasion
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