Old Rochester Regional Senior Annie Smith (contributing writer for The Wanderer) ranked as the top Varsity Affirmative Speaker at the Eastern Massachusetts Debate League Finals last week in New Bedford.
And there is no debate that her victory was well deserved, according to ORR teacher Colin Everett, who has served as ORR’s debate coach since 2000. Smith was one of 15 ORR students debating at the finals; the league includes about a dozen schools from the South Shore, New Bedford, Somerset and up to Foxboro.
“Most impressive of all, [Smith] and her partners [Senior Julia LaLiberte and Junior Rebecca Johnson] took part in the most prestigious moment in the EMDL season and engaged in a debate before a crowd of hundreds in New Bedford,” Everett said.
The victory came as somewhat of a surprise to Smith, as after finishing eight rounds at the finals, she recalled, “the odds were slim.”
“It was one of those situations you can’t predict what’ll happen,” she said, but soon enough by Round 9 she ascended to the top as a Varsity Affirmative Speaker (debater who speaks in favor of a resolution). She did not win the final debate (against the resolution).
“She lost on one stock issue,” said Everett.
The debate finals had explored the topic: “The United States federal government should substantially increase its exploration and/or development of space beyond the Earth’s mesosphere.” According to Smith, she had dug up evidence on the topic since October, looking for quotes and other research to substantiate her arguments. As opposed to using a debate book, she said a lot of the material presented came from the ORR students’ own research.
The debate club meets weekly although members spend additional time delving into topics on their own, she said.
In the end, her victory as Affirmative Speaker stemmed from a complex plan she developed about anti-matter fuel as a source for space travel.
“[Smith] is a natural leader on the team who is excellent at simplifying complex ideas and presenting them concisely,” Everett said.
“At the debate finals she riveted the large crowd of debaters while simultaneously presenting her constructive and launching a fierce attack on her opponents. It was clear to everyone why she was the league’s top Varsity Affirmative Speaker,” he added.
Smith, who has been debating since her sophomore year, said the ability to speak before an audience plays a limited role in becoming a good debater.
“I never liked public speaking,” she admitted. “You don’t have to be skilled at speaking well. You can learn how to frame an argument. Anyone can learn.”
“We were having so much fun. [Everett] teaches how to debate in a well-mannered way,” she said, describing one of the reasons her team came out on top. “I was very pleased.”
By Laura Fedak Pedulli