DIEFENBAKER XXXI A briefing for debaters and judges Directors: Garrett Richards and Angela Jansen

Introduction  Thank you Successful tournaments depend on the commitment of volunteers and participantsSuccessful tournaments depend on the commitment of volunteers and participants  Equity Everyone at the tournament has the right to be treated with respect and not be discriminated against for any reasonEveryone at the tournament has the right to be treated with respect and not be discriminated against for any reason Any concerns can be brought directly to Garrett or Angela or submitted anonymouslyAny concerns can be brought directly to Garrett or Angela or submitted anonymously

Canadian Parliamentary Debate The Resolution The Government The Opposition (PM + MC) (MO + LO) The Speaker and Timekeeper The Judges

Definitions  Constructive: Points that are new ideas in the debate. They are formed by either side in response to the topic itself.  Deconstructive: Points that attempt to disprove previous arguments. They are formed in response to the other team.  Rebuttals: Summary speeches at the end of the debate. Each side gets one. Constructive arguments are not allowed.

How a Round Runs  Resolution is released 15 minutes before the debate starts, everyone is given an esoteric quote from our theme15 minutes before the debate starts, everyone is given an esoteric quote from our theme Government teams will interpret the resolution to mean something more concrete and formulate their case during this timeGovernment teams will interpret the resolution to mean something more concrete and formulate their case during this time  Everyone goes to their assigned rooms Debaters write up their namesDebaters write up their names Speaker starts reading the scriptSpeaker starts reading the script

How a Round Runs  Prime Minister’s Speech - 5 min explains link to resolutionexplains link to resolution sets up a fair, clear debatesets up a fair, clear debate provides background on topic if neededprovides background on topic if needed constructs most of government caseconstructs most of government case  Member of Opposition’s Speech - 8 min contests interpretation if needed (rare)contests interpretation if needed (rare) deconstructs government argumentsdeconstructs government arguments constructs most of opposition caseconstructs most of opposition case

How a Round Runs  Minister of the Crown’s Speech - 8 min deconstructs opposition argumentsdeconstructs opposition arguments finishes constructing government casefinishes constructing government case  Leader of Opposition’s Speech - 8 min deconstructs government argumentsdeconstructs government arguments finishes constructing opposition casefinishes constructing opposition case last 3 min are official rebuttallast 3 min are official rebuttal no new arguments, summarizes key issuesno new arguments, summarizes key issues

How a Round Runs  Prime Minister’s Rebuttal - 3 min no new arguments, summarizes key issuesno new arguments, summarizes key issues  Conclusion debaters shake hands and leave the roomdebaters shake hands and leave the room judges make decision and complete ballotsjudges make decision and complete ballots in rounds 1 and 2, debaters come back in, the decision is revealed and oral comments givenin rounds 1 and 2, debaters come back in, the decision is revealed and oral comments given in rounds 3, 4, and 5, ballots go straight to the tabs room and no oral comments are givenin rounds 3, 4, and 5, ballots go straight to the tabs room and no oral comments are given

How a Round Runs  Questions (Points of Information, POIs) during a speech, asked by opposing debatersduring a speech, asked by opposing debaters up to the current speaker to accept or denyup to the current speaker to accept or deny expected each person will take 2 during the debate and offer at least 2 to each opponentexpected each person will take 2 during the debate and offer at least 2 to each opponent no protected time, but must be reasonableno protected time, but must be reasonable  Heckling not required but encouraged and beneficialnot required but encouraged and beneficial short and relevant, no constant badgeringshort and relevant, no constant badgering

What Judges do  Watch the debate and take notes PM One Two Three MO  Clash One Two MC   Clash   Clash Four LO  Clash  Three LOR Clever Summary Government Burdens PMR Clash

What Judges do  Assign speaker scores to each person  5 categories out of 5, max of 25, X.5’s OK  Subjective: Construction, Deconstruction, Organization, Procedure, Manner  Average category 3 (2-4), overall 15 (10- 20)  Scores outside range must be justified  Average = nothing wrong, nothing great

What Judges do  Decide which team won (conferral)  First: consider role fulfillment Did every person construct and deconstruct?Did every person construct and deconstruct? Did a team fail to deconstruct major points?Did a team fail to deconstruct major points?  Then: consider who was more convincing Your opinion does not matter, be impartialYour opinion does not matter, be impartial Never decide on what they should have saidNever decide on what they should have said Moving-the-ball theory (burden of proof)Moving-the-ball theory (burden of proof)  Last: consider who spoke better

What Judges do  Providing comments - oral Only in rounds one and two (Friday)Only in rounds one and two (Friday) Reveal winner and reason for decisionReveal winner and reason for decision Do not reveal speaker scores, comments okayDo not reveal speaker scores, comments okay  Providing comments - written Every round (Friday and Saturday)Every round (Friday and Saturday) Sections on your ballot - debaters get laterSections on your ballot - debaters get later Reason for decision should refer to criteriaReason for decision should refer to criteria Not “Opp convinced me they were right”Not “Opp convinced me they were right”

A Note about Cases  Cases must be impromptu (not canned) You cannot have run it beforeYou cannot have run it before You may not have pre-formulated argumentsYou may not have pre-formulated arguments Good links to the resolution prevent theseGood links to the resolution prevent these  Government cases must be debatable! Low burden cases should be punishedLow burden cases should be punished No specific knowledge (Time/Place OK)No specific knowledge (Time/Place OK) Pointless cases should be punishedPointless cases should be punished  Opposition may introduce a counterplan

Speech Rounds  Individuals make 3 minute speeches based on quotes we give them  Come back here after each round, we will re-assign you for public speech rounds  Marked overall out of 25, same range of applies for this, no categories  Debaters are entered into the competition by default, see Angela if you would rather watch

Questions?