- Accounting -- Focuses on the elementary principles and practices of accounting for sole proprietorship, partnerships and corporations, and includes bookkeeping terminology, the work sheet with adjustments, income statement, balance sheet, trial balance, account classification, journalizing, posting, bank reconciliation, payroll and other items related to the basic accounting cycle. Deanna Luning coaches the team. She is in Room CT12.
- Computer Applications -- Focuses on word processing speed and accuracy, computer skills in database and spreadsheet and integration of applications. Skills tested include formatting copy, mail merge, headers/footers, editing, proofreading, spreadsheet, graphs/charts and integration of all applications. Kami Miller coaches the team. She is in Room CT9.
- Current Issues & Events -- Focuses on a basic knowledge of current state, national and world events and issues. The content consists of 40 multiple-choice questions and an essay question that challenges all participants to understand not just what is happening in the world today but why and how it’s happening and what it means to us as citizens of the US. Kiff Wiemers coaches the team. He is in Room 1522.
- Literary Criticism -- Requires knowledge of literary history and of critical terms and ability in literary criticism. Students are tested over material on the reading list, required to select the best answers involving judgment in literary criticism and to analyze literary passages not on the reading list. A tie-breaker is required in which the student must write a short essay dealing with a specified topic about a short literary passage.
- Ready Writing --Students write expository compositions. They are given a choice between two prompts, each an excerpt from literature, publications (past and present) or speeches. Expository writing explains, proves, or explores a topic in a balanced way, allowing the argument and the evidence given to be the deciding factor in the paper. The composition is judged on interest, organization and correctness of style. Rebekah Folse coaches the team. She is in Room .
- Social Studies -- Students are expected to master a primary reading selection as well as specific documents. Students will also need to be familiar with general knowledge social studies concepts and terms. Each year the contest focuses on a selected topic area and a reading list is provided online. Julia Stephens coaches the team. She is in Room 1509.
- Spelling & Vocabulary -- This event promotes precise and effective use of words. The three-part contest consists of multiple choice questions of proofreading and vocabulary and words that are written from dictation. Eighty percent of the words on the test are listed in the UIL publication Word Power, which is based on the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, third, fourth or fifth edition. The vocabulary-building and spelling components of the contest are important complements of the high school academic curriculum and are indicative of vocabulary words contained on standardized tests such as SAT, PSAT and ACT. Molly Arellano coaches the team. She is in room 1204.
STEM
- Calculator Applications -- Includes calculations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, roots, powers, exponentiation, logarithms, trigonometric functions, inverse trigonometric functions, iterative solutions for transcendental equations, differential and integral calculus, elementary statistics and matrix algebra. The contest also includes geometric and stated problems similar to those found in recently adopted high school algebra, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus and calculus textbooks, previous contests and UIL materials related to the contest. Victoria Coleman coaches the team. She is in room
- Computer Science -- Challenges high school students to gain an understanding of the significance of computation as well as the details of Java programming, to be alert to new technology and information, to gain an understanding of the basic principles of computer science and to give students a start in one of the most important fields of the Information Age. JoDee Crain coaches the team. She is in NGC room 416.
- Mathematics -- Designed to test knowledge and understanding in the areas of algebra I and II, geometry, trigonometry, math analysis, analytic geometry, pre-calculus and elementary calculus. Questions are multiple choice. Clara Baker coaches the team. She is in Room 1124.
- Number Sense -- Involves a 10-minute, 80-question mental math test covering all high school mathematics courses. Shortcuts need to be developed and practiced in order to compete and finish the test. Clara Baker coaches the team. She is in Room 1124.
- Science -- Challenges students in the basic fundamental principles of science, to promote learning in biology, chemistry and physics, to foster a sense of enthusiasm about advanced topics and courses in the sciences and to help prepare students for the rigor of college level courses. Flor Valemzuela coaches the team. She is in NGC room 607.
JOURNALISM -- Consists of five contests: News Writing, Feature Writing, Editorial Writing, Headline Writing and Copy Editing.
The purpose of the League’s journalism program is not so much to train students to become professional journalists but rather to stress critical reading, writing and thinking skills that will be useful in college and beyond. It also teaches the basics of communications necessary later in life to intelligently consume information provided by the media.
- Copy Editing -- Copy Editing teaches students the vital skills of proofreading and editing to create accurate, clear and succinct writing. Emphasis is placed on the ability to find and correct grammatical, spelling, punctuation, AP style and factual errors.
- Editorial Writing -- Teaches students to read critically, to digest and prioritize information quickly and to write clearly, accurately and succinctly. Emphasis is placed on mechanical and stylistic precision, news judgment and the ability to think deeply, to compare and contrast and to argue or defend a point of view persuasively.
- Feature Writing -- Teaches students to read critically, to digest and prioritize information quickly and to write clearly, accurately and succinctly. Emphasis is placed on the same writing skills as other UIL journalism contests, as well as the ability to write descriptively.
- Headline Writing -- Teaches students to read critically, to digest and prioritize information quickly, and to write clearly, accurately and succinctly. Emphasis is placed on the ability to discern key facts and to write with flair and style in order to tell and sell a story.
- News Writing --Teaches students to read critically, to digest and prioritize information quickly and to write clearly, accurately and succinctly. Emphasis is placed on mechanical and stylistic precision, lead writing, use of direct and indirect quotes and news judgment.
SPEECH & DEBATE -- Heather Byars coaches the speech and debate teams. She is in Room 1206.
- Extemporaneous Speaking -- Informative and Persuasive
- Informative speaking stimulates an active interest in current affairs at the state, national and international levels, and teaches the student to present extemporaneously in a clear and impartial manner the facts about a subject as they appear in the best available sources of information. This speaking contest is an exercise in clear thinking and informing the public on the issues and concerns of the American people. The objective is to present information in an interesting way and an attempt should not be made to change the listener’s mind beyond presenting the information.
- Persuasive speaking trains students to analyze a current issue, determine a point of view and organize and deliver extemporaneously a speech that seeks to persuade listeners. The objective is to reinforce the views of listeners who already believe as the speaker does, but even more so, to bring those of neutral or opposing views around to the speaker’s beliefs or proposed course of action. This contest should especially appeal to those who have a strong argumentative urge and who wish to advocate reforms or outline solutions for current problems.
- Oral Interpretation -- Prose and Poetry
- Prose encourages the student to understand, experience and share prose works through the art of oral interpretation. It encourages the contestant’s exploration of a variety of literary selections and to enhance the performer’s and audience’s appreciation of literature through the performer’s oral interpretation of the work.
- Poetry encourages the student to understand, experience and share poetry through the art of oral interpretation. The goals of this contest are to encourage the contestant’s exploration of a variety of literary selections, and to enhance the performer’s and audience’s appreciation of literature through the performer’s oral interpretation of the work.
- Cross-Examination Debate -- CX trains students to analyze a problem, conduct thorough and relevant research and utilize principles of argumentation and advocacy in orally presenting the most effective case for or against a given proposition. Debate provides invaluable training in critical thinking, quick responses, defending worthy ideas and attacking invalid ideas. It teaches students to tolerate other points of view. Debate exists only in democratic societies and no democratic society can exist without debate. The CX resolution is posted online.
- Lincoln-Douglas Debate -- LD provides excellent training for development of skills in argumentation, persuasion, research and audience analysis. Students are encouraged to develop a direct and communicative style of oral delivery. LD debate is a one-on-one argumentation in which debaters attempt to convince the judge of the acceptability of their side of a value proposition. One debater shall argue the affirmative side of the resolution and one debater shall argue the negative side of the resolution in a given round. Fall and spring resolutions are posted online.
- Congress -- This event models the legislative process of democracy, the United States Congress. Within this mock legislative assembly, students draft legislation, research bills and resolutions dealing with real-world social and political policies, deliver speeches and vote to pass or defeat the measures they have examined. Parliamentary Procedure forms structure for the discourse.
WRITING COMPETITIONS
- Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition -- Provides students an opportunity to explore the contributions of African Americans to Texas history, as well as honoring the legacy of its namesake, Barbara Jordan. The theme of the competition is “African Americans in Texas: Past and Present.”
- Latino History Essay Competition -- Provides students an opportunity to explore the contributions of Latinos to Texas history. The theme of the competition is “Historical and Cultural Legacies of Latinos in Texas History.”
