Events and Rules

Events and Rules

Competitors must enter all four categories. The top 4 to 12 will advance to the finals. Competitors may use the same persuasive speech and the same reading in all rounds. Competitors may not use speeches or readings that they have presented at any inter-school competition prior to this school year. There will be time penalties for speeches that do not fall within the time limits. For Interpretive Reading, Competitors will record their readings before the tournament, upload them to their Google Drive, and send a link to the recording to the organizer. The overall ranking (i.e. adding the scores in all events) in the tournament is determined solely by adding the average score for each competitor in each event, but the ranking in each individual event is based solely on the finals for those in finals.

Impromptu Speaking:

Each speaker will draw three topics, which may be a word, a quotation, a phrase or anything not related to current events. There may be 3 phrases, 3 individual words, or any combination. They must choose one of them and then have up to two minutes to prepare. They may write notes but may not bring them up with them when they speak. The speech must last from 3 to 5 minutes. Speakers may speak in favour of, against, in favour of and against, or about the topic. It should be the sort of speech that would be delivered if the speaker were asked to speak on short notice to a general audience on the topic given. They may interpret it within reason, including treating it as a metaphor but must speak about the topic that they have been given. It is strictly understood that competitors will not use prepared material for this event. Wit, humour, logic, philosophy and sentiment are all equally welcome. Judges will be looking for agility of thought, for substance, for organizational ability and, above all, for the ability of each speaker to communicate with style and originality.

Persuasive Speaking:

This speech is designed to persuade and must be about a real problem. It should be serious, although this does not mean that humour might not be useful at points in the speech. 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. Speeches should be prepared beforehand (i.e. prior to arriving at the competition) and should be from 7 to 13 minutes in length. The same speech may be used throughout the competition. Speakers may use a single notecard, although judges are often more impressed by speakers who do not use any notes.

Interpretive Reading:

Each participant should read a passage of prose or poetry ( or a collection of poems), serious or humorous, with an appropriate brief introduction. Published speeches may not be used unless the speeches are part of a novel or published fictional story. Plays or excerpts from plays may not be used. The intent is that you are reading literature. If you are at all uncertain, check with the organizer rather than risk your reading being disqualified. The piece(s) must be selected by the competitor before the tournament. The piece(s) must have been published. Past efforts have included everything from Dr. Seuss to George Orwell. Judges will be concerned with how much the reader's voice and presentation add to the material rather than with the talent of the author. Please note that this is a reading, not a dramatic presentation. Competitors may stand or sit but should not move around excessively. The selection should be read rather than recited, so while competitors can and should look up from time to time to connect with the audience, they do need to look at the text that they are reading. The time limits are from 5 to 11 minutes, including a brief introduction.

Parliamentary Debating:

This is coordinate parliamentary debating. Each competitor will debate with a partner from another province. The resolution will be announced 30 minutes prior to the debate and the government must reveal the definition to the opposition 20 minutes before the debate. Resolutions must be defined in a way that a reasonable person might interpret the resolution and should be in keeping with the intent of the resolution. The tournament organizer will settle disputes about definitions. Each speaker will have 7 minutes for their major speeches and the first speaker on each side will deliver a 3 minute rebuttal. In this style, the Leader of the Opposition is the first opposition speaker and gives a separate 3 minute rebuttal just before the PM does. Points of information are allowed. Plans are not required. Aside from these rules, the tournament will use the MSDA rules of debate and these are available below and on the MSDA website.

Rules of Parliamentary Debate

1) The debate will be presided over by Mr/Madam Speaker.

2) The government team (the side in favour) shall sit on the right hand side of the Speaker. The Opposition (the side against) shall sit on the left.

3) The speaking order will be as follows: the Prime Minister, followed by the Leader of the Opposition, then the Minister of the Crown (second Government speaker) and finally the Critic (second opposition speaker). There will then be a break of 2 minutes. After the break the Leader of the Opposition will deliver his/her rebuttal. Finally the Prime Minister will deliver the Government rebuttal.

4) Speaking times will be a maximum of 7 minutes for the major speeches, and 3 minutes for rebuttals.

5) During the rebuttal speech, members (debaters) may not bring up any new arguments or new evidence except in direct refutation of material which has already been presented.

6) All remarks must be addressed to the Speaker of the House and not to anyone else, e.g. say "Speaker" not " Speaker, honourable judges".The member must address Mr Speaker in his/her first sentence.

7) Other members (debaters and members of the audience) should be referred to by their constituency (e.g. the member for their last name or their city), office (e.g. the prime minister) or as "The Honourable Member" or "The Honourable Gentleman" or "The Honourable Lady". They may be referred to as he or she but never you.

8) Members will speak only when called upon by the Speaker, except for points of information.

9) Points of information are allowed. Heckling is not allowed.

10) The resolution will be announced 30 minutes prior to the debate and the government must reveal the definition to the opposition 20 minutes before the debate. Disputes about definitions will be settled by the tournament organizer. Plans are not required.

11) Props (e.g. drawings, models) may not be used.

12) Courtesy must be shown to all other members at all times.