NFL: National Forensic League. Offers nation wide tournaments for public and private schools. In addition to LD and Policy, contests are also held in Public Forum Debate, United States Extemporaneous Speaking, International Extemporaneous Speaking, Original Oratory, Dramatic Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Commentary, Impromptu Speaking, Prose Reading, Poetry Reading, Expository Speaking and Storytelling.

NCFCA: National Christian Forensics and Communication Association. Offers nation wide tournaments for homeschool students. NCFCA believes that formal speech and debate can provide a means for home schooled students to learn and exercise analytical and oratorical skills, addressing life issues from a Biblical world view in a manner that glorifies God.

UIL: University Interscholastic League. Offers Texas-wide competition for public schools only. UIL tournaments tend to emphasize the persuasive, rather than technical, nature of debate. Often, smaller schools find this league more alluring because the less technical nature of the debate practiced in the UIL makes debate more accessible to students that are involved in all aspects of school and community rather than in only one event as in the case in many larger schools. UIL tournaments are generally smaller, more localized, and the entry fees less expensive than NFL tournaments.

The style of LD practiced in each one of these leagues differs slightly. The NFL will be more technical, the NCFCA will focus on a Biblilcal world view and glorification of God, and the UIL will focus on persuasive speaking abilitities. Despite these differences in style, all leagues recognize the same general format and argument structure for an LD debate round. The Little Debate Book focuses on providing an introductory understanding of LD debate common to all leagues. The emphasis is on clarity of writing, note taking, and the particularlized format for argument that makes a multitude of points clear over several speeches by each opponent.

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