In an effort to gain a feel for what it’s like to perform in front of an audience, the speech and debate team will host a showcase on Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. in the media center. The event also will serve as a fund-raiser for tournament fees and T-shirts.The tickets are $2 and may be purchased from team sponsor Jessica Hartman.

“[The speeches] vary,” said Hartman, who teaches social studies. “Some people are reading passages from novels, some people are going to make up their own, some might deliver a speech that has already been delivered like [Martin Luther King’s] ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.”

Members of the team will debate one another and past team members in order to simulate going against another school’s team. Junior Sergio Carlos is preparing to debate as a veteran.

“We’re debating about the morality of taking organs from the deceased,” Carlos said. “Is it moral to take it from them without permission and use it for scientific research?”

This is the team’s first showcase, but Hartman hopes to do one every year.

” I think it’s really important,” Hartman said. “Debate is really academic, really high-level. A lot of people have misconception that debate is just arguing with people, but it’s so very structured that I think people will be surprised and impressed with how well the people can argue.”