debaters briefing

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• debaters briefing

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briefing

• format of tournament
• rules
• how to debate in worlds style

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tournament format

• 9 rounds
• round 1 is randomly drawn
• rounds 2-9 are power matched
• top 32 teams break through to knockout rounds
• esl break top 8 esl teams outside top 32

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rules

• points of information
• definitions
• matter the content of a speech
• manner the structure and style of a speech
• the role of different teams in the debate
• marking scheme

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positions in the debate

• 1. prime minister 2. leader of
  opposition
• 3. deputy prime 4. deputy leader of
• minister opposition
• 5. member of govt 6. member of opp.
• 7. govt whip 7. opposition whip

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basic format

• 15 minutes preparation time
• printed or written material permitted
• electronic equipment prohibited
• 7 minute speeches

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points of information

• first and last minutes of speech are protected
• time signal to indicate these points
• member offering POI should stand
• speaker may accept or decline

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points of information

• POIs should not exceed 15 seconds
• the speaker may ask the offering member to sit
  where the offeror has had a reasonable chance to
  be understood
• members should attempt to answer at least 2 POIs
  in their speech
• there are no points of order or points of
  personal privilege

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points of information

• may take any form the offeror wishes
• questions, clarification, facts, challenges,
  rebuttal, even jokes
• POIs assessed as matter see later

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how points of information are assessed

• effectiveness and persuasiveness
• member offering point of information
• speaker answering point of information
• participation in debate as a whole

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motions

• open motions
• e.g. this house believes the glass is half
  full
• semi-closed motions
• e.g. this house would alter its genetic code
• closed motions
• e.g. this house would bomb Iraq

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definitions

• the definition should state the issue(s) for
  debate arising from the motion, stating the
  meaning of any terms in the motion which require
  interpretation
• PM should provide the definition at the beginning
  of his/her speech

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definitions

• the definition must
• (a) have a clear and logical link to the motion
• (b) not be self-proving /truistic
• (c) not be time-set
• (d) not be place-set unfairly

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(a) clear and logical link

• average reasonable person would accept the link
  between motion and definition, as explained by
  the speaker
• semi-closed motions treat the motion as an issue
  for debate
• e.g. this house would alter its genetic code
• closed motions take stricter approach
• e.g. this house would bomb Iraq

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(b) self-proving definitions

• x should / should not be done, and there is no
  reasonable rebuttal
• e.g. were going to argue that murder should be
  illegal
• x is already the case, and so there is no
  reasonable rebuttal
• e.g. were going to argue that the murder rate
  in the US is higher than in Scotland

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(b) self-proving definitions

• status quo cases are not necessarily
  unreasonable
• e.g. were going to argue that the european
  union should adopt the single currency
• its a fair definition, because there is a
  reasonable rebuttal

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(c) time setting

• ...its 1936. Youre about to be introduced to
  Adolf Hitler, youve got a gun in your pocket,
  and youre not particularly pleased to see him.
  Were going to argue that you should shoot him
  and save millions of lives...
• all debates must take place in the present

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(d) unfair place setting

• the members should debate the motion in the
  spirit of the motion and the tournament
• have regard to the issue being debated
• have regard to the teams in the debate

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definitional challenges

• the leader of the opposition may challenge the
  definition if it violates one of the four
  criteria above, and he should clearly state that
  hes doing so.
• only the leader of the opposition may challenge
  the definition no-one else
• the leader of the opposition should substitute an
  alternative definition

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definitional challenges

• the onus to establish that the definition is
  unreasonable is on the members challenging it.
• where the definition is unreasonable, the
  opposition should substitute an alternative
  definition that should be accepted by the
  adjudicator provided it is not also unreasonable.

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matter

• matter is the content of a speech
• matter includes arguments and reasoning,
  examples, case studies, facts and any other
  material that attempts to further the case
• matter includes points of information

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the elements of matter

• matter should be
• relevant to the debate
• logical
• consistent within your speech, with your
  partner, and also with the other team on your
  side of the debate

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the elements of matter

• all members (except the last two in the debate)
  should present positive matter
• the govt whip may choose to do so
• the opp whip may not do so
• all members (except the prime minister) should
  present rebuttal

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manner

• manner is the presentation of the speech
• style
• structure

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style

• any element which affects the overall
  effectiveness of your presentation
• eye contact
• voice modulation
• hand gestures
• clarity of language and expression
• use of notes

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structure

• structure of the speech should
• include an introduction, conclusion, and a series
  of arguments
• use the allotted time properly
• teamwork

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the role of teams in the debate

• 1st govt
• definition
• justification of case
• rebuttal of 1st opp (deputy prime minister)
• 1st opposition
• rebuttal
• alternative where appropriate

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the role of teams in the debate

• 2nd govt
• anything which makes you stand out from the
  debate
• job is simply to be better than 1st govt
• how does a team do this?

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the role of teams in the debate

• 2nd govt
• introduce new material consistent with 1st govt
• e.g. new lines of argument
• e.g. different focus to the case
• e.g. widening / narrowing of debate
• repetition of 1st govt isnt enough

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summary speeches

• summarise debate as a whole, with particular
  emphasis on your own team
• responsive to dynamics of debate -spend more time
  on the more important issues
• no one correct way of doing this
• speaker by speaker
• issue by issue
• thematic

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ranking teams

• 3 points for 1st place
• 2 points for 2nd place
• 1 point for 3rd place
• 0 points for 4th place
• (Note judges will fill out their ballots 1st,
  2nd, 3rd, 4th and the tab system will convert
  into points)
• teams may receive 0 points where they fail to
  arrive more than 5 minutes after the scheduled
  time for the debate

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being rude and abusive

• ...dont!
• teams may receive 0 points where the adjudicators
  unanimously agree that the member has harassed
  another debater on the basis of religion, sex,
  race, colour, nationality, sexual preference or
  disability

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marking scheme

• A 90-100 excellent to flawless
• the standard of speech you would expect to see
  from a speaker at the semifinal / grand final
  level of the tournament. this speaker has few, if
  any, weaknesses.
• B 80-89 above average to very good
• the standard you would expect to see from a
  speaker in contention to make the break. this
  speaker has clear strengths and some minor
  weaknesses.

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marking scheme

• C 70-79 average
• the speaker has strengths and weaknesses in
  roughly equal proportions.
• D 60-69 poor to below average
• the speaker has clear problems and some minor
  strengths.
• E 50-59 very poor
• the speaker has fundamental weaknesses and few,
  if any, strengths.

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feedback and complaints

• oral adjudication
• queries and clarification
• polite and non-confrontational
• adjudicator evaluation form
• adjudication team
• all complaints will be followed up