Argumentative students from all across Iowa are in the Des Moines area this weekend for the state debate tournament. Craig Ihnen, executive director of the Iowa High School Speech Association, says the event is gathering some 360 students from 30 high schools statewide. Ihnen says this year’s tournament is divided into four segments of debate: the policy division two-person teams, the Lincoln-Douglas individual style debate, the student congress parliamentary debate and an experimental fourth division called controversy. Ihnen expands on that fourth type of debate.It’s a two-person public forum style of debate where individuals argue a point or an idea that changes each month. Ihnen says debate can prepare students for all sorts of careers, not just being lawyers.The competition begins this afternoon at 4 P.M. at Northview Middle School in Ankeny. The finals begin Saturday at 8 AM at Ankeny High School. All rounds are open to the public.
