Stoa is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “an ancient Greek portico usually walled at the back with a front colonnade designed to afford a sheltered promenade.”[6] The Stoa was a common fixture of many towns in Ancient Greece and was used as a place where people could debate and discuss their ideas.[7]
Overview
A stoa in Athens. Stoa USA derives its name from this common feature of Ancient Greek architecture.[7]
Stoa was created in 2009 to serve the needs of the growing homeschool speech and debate community.[2] Its website explains that its objective is “to train Christian home schooled youth in speech and debate in order to better communicate a Biblical worldview.”[1]
Stoa USA is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. It is governed by a board of directors who oversee its day-to-day operations and propose rule amendments which affect competitors nationwide.[1] Members vote on important issues, such as debate resolutions and significant rule changes.[1] Judges are usually parents, coaches, alumni, or members of the community.[8]
Stoa sanctions only one tournament each year, the National Invitational Tournament of Champions (NITOC) (referenced below).[9]
Stoa exists to support state and local organizations in running tournaments, but recognizes the autonomy of those at the state and local level to operate in a manner that best serves their particular needs.[10] Some locally-run tournaments attract hundreds of Stoa competitors each year, such as the one typically held in the spring at Concordia University in Irvine, CA.
Because homeschooled students are not typically associated with schools, most affiliates belong to member “Clubs.” Most club members live in the local area around where their club is based.[11]
Logo of Stoa USA, 2012–2016
Speechranks and the Point Recognition System
The National Christian Homeschool Speech and Debate Rankings, also known as Speechranks, is a comprehensive website that ranks Christian homeschooled speakers and debaters around the country who are in high school or middle school.[12] Speechranks was created in 2010 for promoting transparency and fairness in the Christian homeschool forensics community.[12] Results from Stoa tournaments are uploaded onto Speechranks by tournament administrators.[13] Speechranks also allows students to enter their own information if they compete in other Christian homeschool tournaments.[13] The website is monitored to ensure the integrity of the information entered. Viewers may also “Flag” results they believe to be in error.[14] According to its website, there were 1,946 active competitors on Speechranks during the 2016–2017 season.[15]
There are two ways that Speechranks measures student participation: Points and Green Check Marks.[16] Points are awarded to competitors based on the student's percentile finish in each event. Students achieving the same percentile finish in any event and any tournament will be awarded the same number of Points.[17] A student's three best finishes in a particular event are used to sum their total Points for that event.[16] Overall ranking on Speechranks is determined by the total number of Points a competitor has accumulated.[16] Green Check Marks recognize consistent excellence throughout the competitive season. There is no limit to the number of Green Check Marks a student may earn. In general, Green Check Marks are awarded to any competitor who achieves a top 38% finish in debate or finishes in the top 40% of an individual event (IE).[16] The only exception to this is impromptu speaking, which requires a top 25% finish as of the 2024-2025 season.[18] Green Check Marks are unique to each event and students may not transfer checkmarks from one event to another.[16]
Speechranks requirements were drafted by Isaiah McPeak, with development chaired by Dr. Van Schalin and programmed by Connor McKay.[12] It utilizes the Ruby Programming Language, the same language Stoa uses for membership and tournament registration.[19]
National Invitational Tournament of Champions [NITOC]
Each year in late May or early June, the Stoa Board of Directors hosts the National Invitational Tournament of Champions, commonly referred to as NITOC.[20] The process of qualification involves being awarded at least two Green Check Marks on Speechranks in one or more events.[21] Participation at NITOC requires Stoa membership.[1] Students may compete in as many events at NITOC in which they are invited by either of the two invitational models.[22] The 2012 National Invitational Tournament of Champions, held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was regarded as the largest tournament in the history of homeschool speech and debate, where nearly 600 students competed across 13 different events.[23]
Apologetics. "In Apologetics, the competitor is given four (4) minutes to prepare a persuasive and reasoned six (6) minute speech that defends a tenet of the Christian faith and explains why that principle matters."[33]
Extemporaneous. "In Extemporaneous speaking, the competitor answers a given question based on recent events in the news. The competitor researches national and international current events and may create reference files of newsworthy information. Extemporaneous speech should be regarded as a demonstration of personal knowledge on the topic, as well as an original synthesis of numerous sources."[33]
Mars HillImpromptu. "In Mars Hill Impromptu, the competitor uses books, movies, and other genre to discuss the appeal and impact of the theme(s) within the topic, holding them up in light of Christian truth found in the Bible. This event is intended for competitors 14 and older or with the consent of the parents due to mature themes in some topics."[33]
Impromptu. In 2015 STOA removed Impromptu as a national qualifying event, though some states and tournaments continued to coach and allow impromptu competition. In 2022 it again became a NITOC event. The competitor receives three different topics and must choose one topic to speak about during a two (2) minute prep time. When the prep time expires, the competitor is given a speaking time limit of five (5) minutes.
Platform
Expository. "An Expository is a prepared speech written by the competitor which explains and illustrates a topic through both words and visuals (e.g. illustrated boards, physical props, digital and electronic presentations, or any combination)."[33]
Original Oratory. "An Original Oratory is a prepared speech, written by the competitor, on a topic of the competitor’s choice. The purpose of this informative speech is to explain, describe, or expose the topic."[33]
Persuasive. "A persuasive speech is a prepared speech, written by the competitor, which advocates a specific position or course of action."[33]
Team Policy: Resolved: The United States Federal Government should considerably decrease its military commitments.
Lincoln-Douglas: Resolved: Economic stability is more important than economic growth.
2019-2020
Team Policy: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reform its banking, finance, and/or monetary policy.
Lincoln-Douglas: Resolved: Culture ought to value assimilation over multiculturalism.
2018-2019
Team Policy: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reform its foreign aid.
Lincoln-Douglas: Resolved: In criminal procedure, truth-seeking ought to be valued above individual privacy.
2017-2018
Team Policy: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reform its transportation policy.
Lincoln-Douglas: Resolved: Preemptive warfare is morally justified.
2016-2017
Team Policy: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reform its agriculture and/or food safety policy in the United States.
Lincoln-Douglas: Resolved: The needs of the public ought to be valued above private property rights.
2015-2016
Team Policy: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reform its trade policy with one or more of the following nations: China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan.
Lincoln-Douglas:
Resolved: In formal education liberal arts ought to be valued above practical skills. (from October 1, 2015, to January 30, 2016)
Resolved: Developing countries ought to prioritize economic growth over environmental protection. (from February 1, 2016, to April 30, 2016)
2014-2015
Team Policy: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reform its electronic surveillance law.
Lincoln-Douglas:
Resolved: When in conflict, an individual's freedom of speech should be valued above a community's moral standards. (from October 1, 2014, to January 30, 2015)
Resolved: The United States federal jurisprudence, the letter of the law ought to have priority over the spirit of the law. (from February 1, 2015, to April 30, 2015)
Team Policy: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reform its foreign military presence and/or foreign military commitments.
Lincoln-Douglas: Resolved: Privacy is undervalued.
