Rupert's Land 2016

Rupert’s Land Debate and Public Speaking Tournament

Balmoral Hall School

(Grade 10 to 12 Senior Tournament)

November 7th, 2016

Dear Debate and Public Speaking Coaches:

Balmoral Hall School invites you to the annual Rupert's Land Debate and Public Speaking Tournament for Grade 10 to Grade 12 students, to be held Sunday, December 4, 2016.

Each competitor must enter either the Persuasive Speaking or the Impromptu Speaking sections in the morning and the Parliamentary Debating section in the afternoon. The Debating will be coordinate impromptu style. This means that the competitors will have a different partner each round, and they will not be from the same school. There will be awards for the top 3 individuals in each category, the top 3 individuals overall, and the top 3 schools, based on the combined scores of top 3 competitors from each school. The top 4 speakers will represent Manitoba at the National Public Speaking Tournament at SJR, and one alternate will be named as well. Overall individual scores will be the total of the 4 round scores completed by the individual.

Schools must bring a minimum of one judge for every two competitors. If you are able to bring additional judges, please let me know so that I can ensure there are an adequate number of judges for the tournament. Anyone who has graduated from high school is eligible to judge, and no previous debate judging experience is necessary. Conferral judging will take place for both public speaking and debate.

Registration for competitors runs from 8:45 to 9:00 A.M. Registration for judges runs from 8:45 to 9:15 A.M.

Please note that we have asked for $10.00 per student to help cover the costs of snacks, juice, coffee and lunch. There is no cost to the judges and coaches who help with the judging. Please indicate the number of judges and coaches that will be staying for the entire day. This information will assist in our preparation of meals. If you are writing a cheque, please make it payable to: Balmoral Hall School. We will collect the money at the desk for competitor registration.

Please find enclosed:

1. Guidelines for:

a. Persuasive Speaking

b. Impromptu Speaking

2. Agenda

3. A link to the Parliamentary Debating Rules on the MSDA website: https://sites.google.com/site/manitobadebate/resources-for-debaters-and-coaches/rules-and-scoresheets/parliamentary-debate-rules . The speaking time for constructive speeches is 6 minutes and 3 minutes will be allocated for final rebuttals.

In order to ensure your spot at this tournament, please register your students before Tuesday, November 22nd. Please register using the google form at: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Rwj1rnolQUWzlohoX0glMF-Oilgq5E5BobABQrqguW1UQjgzVThYN0tJQkw0Qk5IMEw4RFUwQk5TQi4u

There is a maximum of 6 students per school. Please indicate if you would like to enter more students, and I will do my best to accommodate you.

Please email me if you have any questions, or phone me at 204-784-1600 ext. 637. I look forward to seeing you at the 2016 Rupert’s Land Debate and Public Speaking Tournament.

Sincerely,

Carissa Balcaen,

Coordinator, Debate and Public Speaking Teacher

cbalcaen@balmoralhall.net

AGENDA

RULES OF PERSUASIVE SPEAKING

1. This speech is designed to persuade and must be on a serious topic, although this does not mean that humour and wit might not be useful at points in the speech.

2. A problem/solution approach must be taken, i.e. speakers must identify a problem (it need not be an earth-shattering one) and propose, or at least examine, one or more solutions to it.

3. Speeches should be prepared beforehand and should be from 7 to 13 minutes in length.

4. Notes are not recommended, but may be used if they do not interfere with delivery or the effectiveness of the speech. If notes are used, only both sides of a single 3 x 5 inch index card of notes are allowed.

5. There must be a persuasive element to the speech, although this may take a number of forms. For example, the persuasive aspect might be in convincing the audience that a problem does in fact exist, or in convincing them of the causes of the problem, or that the speaker's proposed solution will solve the problem.

6. There will be time penalty of 10 points for speeches under 7 minutes or over 13 minutes.

7. Salutation is optional.

RULES OF IMPROMPTU SPEAKING

1. Each speaker will draw three topics, which may be words, quotations, phrases, statements or some combination of the four. He/She then has two minutes to prepare, during which time he/she must decided which of the three he/she will speak on and to prepare his/her comments.

2. Competitors may sit or stand while preparing, but must remain in the room. Competitors may make notes, although these may not be used when speaking.

3. Competitors may speak in favour of the topic, against it or about it. They may interpret it, within reason. They must, however, deal with the topic that they have been given and not use a previously prepared speech on a barely related theme. Wit, humour, philosophy, sentiment or absurdity is equally welcome. Judges will be looking for agility of thought, for “meat on the bones”, for organizational ability and, above all, for the ability of each speaker to communicate with style and originality.

4. At the end of the speech, competitors must hand the topics back to the chairman.

5. Each competitor must speak for 3 to 5 minutes. There will be time penalty of 10 points for speeches under 2 minutes and 45 seconds or over 5 minutes and 15 seconds. Salutation is optional