Jr BP National Qualifier Tournament

Time: Tuesday, Oct 30. Registration from 2:50 to 3:15. Awards at 8:30 PM

Location: St. John’s-Ravenscourt School, 400 South Drive, Winnipeg

This tournament will use British Parliamentary (BP) format, a style of debate with 2 two- person teams on each side. The reason for this is that this tournament selects the 3 teams that represent Manitoba at the National Jr BP Championships in Toronto at the end of November. Those teams will be chosen based on their ranking in this event subject to the condition that no school may send more than 1 team until all schools that have teams in the top half of the tournament are sending a team, after which selection is based solely on team ranking.

There will be 3 rounds. Resolutions will be impromptu based on general and current affairs topics because those are the sort of topics that will be used at the national competition. Examples of the types of resolutions that have been used at previous national and international events are: This House supports hacking as a form of social protest, This House would prefer a world without religious beliefs, This House would not give development aid to heavily corrupt regimes. Students will prepare all 3 rounds from 3:30 to 4:30. During this preparation time they may not use any outside information sources, the internet, books, etc, or consult with coaches or debaters other than their partner – they may only use their own knowledge. Speaking times for all debates will be a maximum of 5 minutes. Points of information are encouraged. The rules for BP debate are on the MSDA website at https://sites.google.com/site/manitobadebate/resources-for-debaters-and-coaches/rules-and- scoresheets/british-parliamentary-bp-debate-rules

There will not be a novice category at this event because it is a qualifier for a national event. Schools may send a maximum of 3 teams. Depending upon numbers, it may be possible to send additional teams. If you would like to do so, please indicate that and, if you include your email address, I will let you know on Oct 26. Schools must bring at least one judge per 2-person team. If this presents a problem, please contact me about it and we will see if other arrangements can be made. Judges may be grade 10, 11 or 12 students but only if they have experience in BP Debating. Adults may judge.

Please email the information below by Oct 25 to John Robinson at email manitobadebate@gmail.com . Please phone (204-960-1053) if you have any questions.

School_______________________________ Coach______________________________ phone __________________(home) _____________ (school)

(email) _______________________________________________

Number of teams: ___ (open) Additional teams if there is space ____