Apologetics

Apologetics is the Cornerstone Event of the Austin Rhetoric Club. (Sometimes, ARC even goes street witnessing, as David and Thomas are doing in the picture to the left.) Although, no members of ARC are obliged to go street preaching, all in ARC over the age of 12 are strongly encouraged to study and compete in Apologetics. At the beginning of the year we will be given a set of about 130 questions concerning our Biblical faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This makes for a great Bible study! Our club members divide up the questions & make note cards which may be taken into competition along with your Bible.

Prep time: 4 minutes
NCFCA Maximum Speech Time in Competition: 6 minutes

Links to Apologetics Rules and Questions:
Rules
Topics and Questions

The above links give general rules & criteria used to judge a good defense of your faith.

Impromptu Speaking

The goal of this event is to present an intelligent, well constructed, and creative speech with very limited preparation time. The speaker is given two minutes to prepare a five-minute speech on a quotation or abstraction drawn at random. The speaker draws three topics, chooses one, and returns the other two. Prep time begins when topics are first received. Students may take only blank notepaper and a pen or pencil into the round, but no notes are permitted when delivering the speech. No speakers are permitted to listen to other impromptu speakers before speaking in a given round. Speakers must adhere to and state the topic word-for-word early in the speech. Time signals are to be given in the round.

Prep time: 2 minutes
NCFCA Maximum Speech Time in Competition: 5 minutes

Extemporaneous Speaking

The goal of this limited preparation event is to prepare an intelligent, well-constructed speech on a current events topic. The speaker has thirty minutes to prepare a seven-minute speech on an issue in the news. The speaker receives three topics phrased as questions, chooses one, and returns the other two. Prep time begins at the appointed time and is carefully monitored in the Extemp Prep room. Speakers may refer to published books, magazines, newspapers, journals, and articles, which they or their teammates have brought into the Extemp Prep room during, prep time. Topics are current events, which have occurred in the past ninety days. Speakers must adhere to and state the topic word-for-word early in the speech. Notes, primarily to list evidence, are permitted on a 3 x 5 card, which the speaker may use during the speech. No speakers are permitted to listen to other Extemporaneous speakers before speaking in a given round. Time signals are to be given in the round.

Prep time: 30 minutes
NCFCA Maximum Speech Time in Competition: 7 minutes