Department Activities

Malcolm X College’s English, Literature, and Speech Department hosts campus-wide events that provide an opportunity for students to showcase their talents link creative expression with writing skills, literacy, and literature.  These events promote student speech and writing outside of the classroom, as well as exchanges between developmental writers, advanced student writers, faculty, and staff.  Events in the past have included creative writing workshops, open mics, poetry contests, and read-a-thons.   

The Opinion Debate   

The Opinion Debate is a campus-wide event for all students.  It takes place during the 14th week of each semester on the Grand Staircase between noon and 1:45.    

Not only is a college-level debate fun, it exposes students to issues that affect us all, issues that must be discussed, challenged, and solved. Students gain knowledge of and develop (or share) opinions on current topics, such as free tuition, global warming, and censorship, to name a few.    

Participants select a question from a list of issues to debate, and the ten-minute debate begins with one or two participants supporting their views. In some cases, a third debater might join the argument. When time runs out, the audience votes by applause for the winning team.    

Most of the time, there are snacks for the audience and prizes for the winners.    

National Poetry Month   

Every April is National Poetry Month and, in addition to celebrations of cultural diversity that the English Department supports, the department celebrates writing and the many poets we have on campus.  From open mics to poetry contests to guest speakers and literary readings, April bustles with poetic activity.  Be on the lookout for campus flyers and information in your English classes.