Forensics
"The PHC team really fosters a sense of camaraderie and team spirit. I have been struck by how kind, encouraging, and fun each coach and member of the team is. In the end, the debaters and coaches all seem to honestly desire to live a God-honoring life. They want to impact the culture through strong communication and a Christ-like nature.”
– Ian Reid, Debater
Debate goes beyond writing a paper or taking an exam because it both motivates students to exceed the bare minimum knowledge needed for an assignment and it builds the ability to articulate and defend a position against repeated attacks. As a result, many debaters seek beyond knowledge, to application.
Thus, debate educates alongside the classroom, engaging students in a deeper understanding of taught concepts. Every class, from logic and rhetoric to constitutional law, literature, and foreign policy, finds a use in our team’s speeches and arguments.
Because of its rigorous and effective approach to education, forensics at PHC are not extra-curricular but co-curricular, a fully-recognized and vital element of PHC Academics.
Headlines:
Patrick Henry’s Debate Team Competes Internationally | October 20, 2012
Moot Court Team Honored by Virginia General Assembly | April 26, 2012
Students Earn "Outstanding Delegation" at NMUN | April 23, 2012
PHC Moot Court Champions Honored by Loudoun County | March 7, 2012
PHC National Moot Champs for Fourth Consecutive Year | January 17, 2012
PHC Debate Team Competes at Cambridge | December 14, 2011
PHC British Parliamentary Debate Team Competes at Yale | October 21, 2011
Students' NMUN Venture Earns "Outstanding Delegation" | April 28, 2011
PHC Wins Fifth National Moot Court Championship | January 15, 2011
PHC Wins Fourth National Moot Court Championship | January 18, 2010
PHC Wins Third National Moot Court Championship | January 20, 2009
PHC Moot Court Team Defends National Championship | January 24, 2006
Moot Court Team Takes National Championship | January 26, 2005
National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) |
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PHC has competed in tournaments from California to Pennsylvania and has gained national attention by competing with traditional debate powers such as Cedarville, Notre Dame and Point Loma Nazarene. PHC is currently ranked #37 out of 280 schools. |
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American Collegiate Moot Court Association (AMCA) |
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Currently coached by Dr. Mike Farris and Dr. Frank Guliuzza, PHC's moot court team has long enjoyed elite status among undergraduate universities and colleges. At the 2011 ACMA National Tournament, PHC teams swept first, third, fifth, and seventh, as well as top speaker and respondent awards. |
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American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) |
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In Mock Trial, competitors play the roles of their characters, whether witness, attorney, or defense counsel, and often use accents and drama to render appropriate effect. This type of competition is more theatrical than most other public speaking arenas. |
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National Model United Nations (NMUN) |
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PHC’s NMUN club participates in the NMUN conference in New York City every year. In 2009, PHC earned the Outstanding Delegation in NYC, making PHC one of only 18 schools of over 300 participating internationally to receive this highest honor. |
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Since 2008, debaters can receive academic credit for participation in PHC Forensics, with the exception of NMUN.
