The Thundering Word, Marshall University's speech and debate team, are students  interested in enhancing their public speaking through competition.  We are members of the National Forensic Association and observe their rules.
 
Team members compete in four basic areas:
 
  • oral interpretation of prose, poetry, and drama
  • prepared speeches (informative, persuasive, after dinner, rhetorical criticism)
  • limited preparation speeches (impromptu, extemporaneous)
  • Lincoln-Douglas debate & parliamentary debate
 
Each semester team members travel to other colleges and universities to compete in speech and debate tournaments.  On average students travel about four times a semester.  In the fall we host the Chief Justice/Alumni Swing Tournament here, at Marshall; in the spring we host the John Marshall Tournament.
 
Click here to see our schedule.  Click here to see our results.
 
For information about the MU Speech and Debate Team, contact Danny Ray, the Director of Forensics, at 304 654-0587 or ray102@marshall.edu.  The team practices Monday 6:30-9:00 pm in SH 269, and there are individual coaching sessions by appointment.  Team meetings are every Friday from 2:00-3:00.
 
 

  

Department of Communication Studies
One John Marshall Drive
Huntington, WV 25755-2632
Phone: (304) 696-6786 Fax: (304) 696-2814
 

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