Event: Wasatch Homeschool Debate League Fall Tournament
Location:
Date: Nov. 7 2009
Time: 9:00am- 4:00pm
Competition Fee: $5.00 per student
Contact: Samuel Martineau
sambmartineau@gmail.com 801-244-6577
Register: Oct. 5- Oct 19
Qualification for entry
Student must turn 13-18 years old during the current school year.
Description of Tournament
In this tournament students will choose one event in which they wish to compete. Each student will participate in three rounds wherein they will display their abilities for a judge. Depending on the event, students may perform for several other students as well as a judge. At the end of the three rounds results will be tabulated and awards will be handed out. In Student Congress there will be no rounds, but rather a solid session in which students will call their own recesses.
There will be a novice division (for first year competitors only) and an open division (open to any registrants). In the novice division students may compete in spar and impromptu. In the open division students may compete in extemporaneous, oratory,
Description of Events
Novice Events
Spar Debate- Spar is a one on one debate in which competitors will be given very little time to prepare their cases for the debate. In the debate round, two debaters will present themselves to a judge. The judge will randomly choose one debater to pick a debate topic (called a resolution) from among three options. After the topic has been chosen, the other debater will choose the affirmative case (attempting to prove the resolution), or the negative case (attempting to disprove the resolution). From this point the structure of the debate is thus-
Preparation time for 1 minute
Affirmative speaks for 2 minutes
Negative speaks for 2 minutes
Affirmative and Negative clash for 3 minutes
Negative speaks for 1 minute
Affirmative speaks for 1 minute
The clash is a period in which both debaters are free to speak to each other. This time can be used for making arguments and asking questions. In the debate, debaters are allowed pen/pencil and blank paper. Because of the short preparation time, subjects for spar debate will be less in depth and serious i.e. Resolved: dogs are better than horses. In this debate, debaters will be judged by organization, strength of argument, delivery of argument, and courtesy to their opponent. Debaters should never personally attack their opponent. Also important to remember is that debaters should at all speaking times look at their judge and not at their opponent (even during the clash when debaters are speaking directly to each other). Judges will give debaters time signals to alert them of time spoken.
Impromptu Speaking – Impromptu speaking is speaking with very little preparation time. In this event, several speakers will gather in a room with a judge and will each in turn be given the opportunity to speak. At the beginning of each turn the judge will give the speaker a short list of possible topics. The speaker will then promptly choose a topic. At this point the speaker will have seven minutes to create and deliver a speech. So, for example, the speaker may prepare for 2 minutes, and deliver a 5 minute speech. The judge will give the speaker hand signals to signify time remaining. Speakers will be judged on organization, strength of argument, and delivery. Discourtesy to other speakers in the round will be grounds for disqualification.
Open Events
Oratory- An oratory is a 7-10 minute original persuasive speech written by the speaker. The speaker should persuade the audience of a societal ill and, in most cases, of a solution. Speakers will be placed in a round with several other speakers and a judge. Each speaker will be heard by the other speakers and the judge in turn. Speakers will be judged according to persuasiveness of arguments, organization, writing style, and delivery. Speeches should be memorized and within the time limits (unmemorized and long or short speeches will be judged less favorably but not disqualified). Discourtesy to other speakers in the round will be grounds for disqualification. The speech must be completely the work of the student. Quotes may only comprise 10% or less of the speech. Judges will give hand signals to alert the speaker of their time spoken.
The resolution will be the same for all LD debates held in the tournament. At the beginning of the debate, one debater will be assigned the affirmative case and will attempt to prove the truth of the resolution. The other debater will be assigned the negative case and will attempt to disprove the truth of the resolution. It is important that debaters thoroughly prepare both sides of the argument previous to the tournament. Affirmative and negative debaters will take turns giving speeches and cross examining each other. Cross examination is a period in which one debater may ask questions (and only ask questions) of their opponent. The structure of the debate is thus-
Affirmative speaks for 6 minutes
Negative cross examines Affirmative for 3 minutes
Negative Speaks for 7 minutes
Affirmative cross examines Negative for 3 minutes
Affirmative Speaks for 4 minutes
Negative speaks and concludes for 5 minutes
Affirmative speaks and concludes for 2 minutes
Both speakers will have a total of 10 minutes preparation time for the entire debate which they can use at any point in between speeches or cross examinations. Debaters will be judged on strength of argument, organization, presentation, and courtesy. Debaters are allowed to bring notes and evidence, paper, and pencil/pen into the debate round, but not laptops or other electronic devices used for storing information. During all speaking times (including cross examination) debaters should look at their judge and not each other. Spewing (talking rapidly to the point of approaching incomprehensibility for the purpose of submitting a large volume of evidence) will be judged unfavorably.
The resolution for this tournament will be “Resolved: The
Extemporaneous Speaking- Extemporaneous speakers will be given a speech topic in the form of a question (such as “What is the meaning of the tea party movement?”). They will also receive one or more informational articles (such as explanatory articles from US News and World Report or The Wall Street Journal) which will give the students the necessary information abou the subject to form an opinion and construct a speech. They will then be given 30 minutes to write an up to 7 minute speech which convincingly answers the given question. Speeches which exceed the 7 minute limit will not be disqualified, but will be judged less favorably. The speech should answer the given question, but may also go beyond the scope of the question. Speakers will be given a quiet place to prepare and will be allowed to use paper and pen/pencil. No electronic devices will be allowed either for research or preparation. Students may bring hardcopies of any material which they think might aid them in their speech (such as a copy of the constitution). During their speech, students will be allowed to use their notes made during the preparation time. They will not be allowed to carry in their articles or extra material brought for research (in effect, students will have to write down on their notes any quotes they would like to use). In this event speakers will be judged by organization and clarity, strength of argument, and delivery. After each speaker has finished their own speech they will be asked to stay in the room and listen to the speech of the next speaker. It is imperative that speakers not create facts to support their speech. Falsification of evidence will be grounds for disqualification. Judges will give speakers hand signals to alert them of time spoken.
Student Congress- Student congress is a simulation of a session of the national congress. In the congress students will act as senators or representatives and consider, debate, and pass or reject legislation. Students will also have the opportunity to run for and be elected to the office of chairperson. Because of the length of instructions for student congress, instructions will be given to students upon registration.
Tournament Schedule
Orientation----- 9:00- 9:15
Lecture by
Round 1---- 9:45- 11:00 Congress Round---- 9:30- 1:00*
Round 2---- 11:30- 12:45
Lunch----- 12:45-1:45
Round 3---- 1:45- 3:00
Tabulation
Awards----- 3:30- 4:00
*students will be responsible to call their own recesses.
We will do our best to stay on schedule; however, the schedule may need to be amended during the tournament
Judges
In order to hold the tournament we will need to have judges for the students who will compete. Each group that wishes to enter into the tournament will need to supply one judge per five students, or any part thereof. Judges need not have any experience in speech and debate, must not be contestants, and should be 18 years old or older. For individuals wishing to compete, you may be asked to supply a judge if possible. Parents, siblings, and friends are all excellent sources for judges. In order to avoid skewed judgments, judges representing any group or individual will not be assigned to judge any student from that group or that individual in all cases possible. Of course, in a community as closely connected as ours, some judges will inevitably recognize some students. It will therefore be asked of the judges that in all cases they apply the strictest standards of honor and fairness to their efforts in judging. Students who bring a judge will not be required to pay the entrance fee.
Registration
Registration will open October 5 and close October 19. Each person wishing to register should submit his or her name and email address, and the event in which they would like to compete to Samuel Martineau at sambmartineau@gmail.com. Once a person has submitted their name they will receive information on providing judges, paying the tournament fee, and any necessary preparations for the tournament. Late registrations may or may not be accepted, and should be avoided. Barring major family or medical emergency, students should indicate their desire to withdraw from the tournament before Nov. 1.
Once students and judges have been registered they will receive via email, unless otherwise requested, all necessary information to prepare for the tournament.
Space is limited, so students are encouraged to register as soon as possible.
In order to register, please email Samuel Martineau at sambmartinea@gmail.com. For questions write to the same email address, or call Samuel at 801 244 6577