The Modern World Debates, 2010
Preliminary Rounds: Modified British Parliamentary Debates
A.
Introduction
British Parliamentary Debate is a format of debating used in many Westminster-style
Parliaments. A British Parliamentary Debate involves four teams with two members each. Two
teams will argue for each side of the motion. Therefore there will be eight speakers, four
proposing the motion and four opposing the motion.
B.
The Four Teams
The four teams are as follows:
1.
Opening Proposition
2.
(1st and 2nd Proposition speakers)
3.
Closing Proposition
Opening Opposition
(1st and 2nd Opposition speakers)
4.
(3rd and 4th proposition speakers)
Closing Opposition
(3rd and 4th Opposition speakers)
The Opening and Closing Teams on the same side of the house, while speaking on the same side
of the motion, are still in competition with each other.
C.
Order and Role of Speakers
Speeches shall be made alternately by proposition and opposition, as shown below:
First Propostion speaker:
1. Define the motion.
2. Outline and divide the case which he/she and his/her partner will put forward.
3. Spend some time developing his/her own arguments.
4. Finish by very briefly summarising his/her main points.
First Opposition speaker:
1. Respond to the definition if it is very unfair or has no link to the motion.
2. Refute the arguments made in the first proposition speech.
3. Outline and divide the case which he/she and his/her partner will put forward.
4. Spend some time developing his/her own arguments.
5. Finish by very briefly summarising his/her main points.
Second Proposition & Opposition speakers
1. Reiterate his/her team’s stand
2. Refute the previous speaker’s main arguments.
3. Develop his/her own arguments
4. Finish with a summary of the whole team case.
Third Proposition speaker
1. Introduce new arguments that have not been covered by Opening Proposition.
2. Refute the major arguments made by the Second Opposition speaker.
3. Reiterate those points which were not covered by Opening Proposition, without explicitly
going against the Opening Proposition team.
Third Opposition speaker
1. Introduce new arguments that have not been covered by Opening Opposition.
2. Refute the major arguments made by the Third Proposition speaker.
3. Reiterate those points which were not covered by Opening Opposition, without explicitly
going against the Opening Opposition team.
Fourth Proposition & Opposition speakers
1. Summarise the entire debate without adding any new constructive arguments.
2. Highlight the main points of contention explaining why they have been won by his/her
side.
E. Points of Information
A Point of Information is a formal interjection made by the opposing side during a speech.
Therefore, during a proposition speech, any opposition speaker can offer a point of information
and vice versa. A point of information is offered by standing and saying "Point of information”.
The speaker on the floor is not obliged to accept every point. She or he may ask the interrupter to
sit down, finish the sentence and then accept the point, or accept the point then and there.
The point of information may be in the form of a question to the person making a speech, or it
may be a remark which furthers the interrupter’s case. The point of information must be no
longer than 15 seconds long. When the speaker understands the point, she or he can tell the
interrupter to sit down. The speaker on the floor has complete control of points of information when to accept them, whether to accept them and how long they should go on for.
A point of information may be offered only once every minute by a team. Frequent
interruptions during a speech constitutes barracking and will be penalised at the judge’s
discretion.
F. Time of speeches
Teams will receive forty minutes preparation time.
All speeches are five minutes long.
The first and last minutes of speeches is protected time. A single bell will be rung after one
minute, and after five minutes. Points of information cannot be asked during protected time.
A double bell will be rung at five minutes. Judges will not take account of anything that is said
after the double bell, and will penalize the speaker for going well over the time limit.
G. Adjudication
Each speaker will be marked on the following three categories:
Content
20 marks
Style
20 marks
Strategy
10 marks
Total:
50 marks
Thus, each team can receive a maximum of 100 marks in a debate.
Team total marks are used to assess the rank of a team in the debate:
1st place
3 points
2nd place
2 points
3rd place
1 point
4th place
0 points
H. Overview of the Preliminary Round.
There will be four debates that each team will participate in during the preliminary round. Teams
will be assigned their opponents randomly for the first debate. Following this, the system of
power seeding will be used to assign teams their opponents.
Power seeding refers to a system of assigning opponents where teams at par with each other face
each other. Therefore, the teams in the top bracket after the first debate, will face each other in
the second debate. Similarly, the teams in the second, third and fourth bracket will face each
other in the second debate. This system will continue for the third and fourth debates.
Teams will be ranked on the basis of their team points (depending on what position they came in
the debates). A team can receive a maximum of 12 points after four debates (if they come first in
all four debates). The team total marks will be used only to break a tie between two teams on
equal number of points.
Semi-final Round: Double Deconstruction
A. Introduction
The Double Deconstruction Round tests a participant’s ability to find flaws in a premise and the
related arguments, and in the extensive rebuttal carried out by their opponents.
The Top 4 teams from the Preliminary Round will qualify for the Semi-Finals. Teams will be
ranked on the basis of aggregate score. The team with highest aggregate score will debate the
team with the fourth highest aggregate score, while the teams with the second and third highest
aggregate scores will debate each other. A draw of lots will be carried out to determine the sides
in this debate.
B. Roles of the Speakers
In this round, all participants will listen to a video speech delivered on one side of a given
motion. The motion being debated and the side taken in the speech shall be clearly stated before
the beginning of the speech. The two sides in this Double Deconstruction Round are:
i) The Deconstructive: This side is meant to carry out an extensive rebuttal of the argumentation
and analysis presented in the video speech. They are required to state flaws in analysis,
reasoning, and elucidate any fallacies in the model, and may also point out inappropriate use of
examples as part of the common speaker’s case.
ii) The Defence: This side is meant to defend the side taken by the video speaker, by specifically
highlighting flaws in the rebuttal presented by the Deconstructive. This can be done by
examining the rebuttal in the context of the motion and what the video speaker said.
NOTE: No constructive material is to be made by either team. Teams are not expected to make
arguments.
The roles of the individual speakers are listed below in Schedule 1.
No. Speaker
1.
1st
Deconstructive
2.
1st Defence
Time
4 minutes
Role in brief
To find flaws and carry out a rebuttal of the argumentation in the video speech
4 minutes
2nd
Deconstructive
2nd Defence
4 minutes
To find flaws with the deconstruction presented in the 1st Deconstructive, with
reference to the video speech
To continue the rebuttal of argumentation in the video speech, and respond to
attacks made by the 1st Defence Speaker
To find flaws with the deconstruction presented in the 2nd Deconstructive,
with reference to the video speech, and to respond to attacks made by the 2nd
Deconstructive Speaker
3.
4.
4 minutes
Schedule 1 – Roles of the Speakers
C. Time of Speeches
 The video speech will last for approximately 5 minutes.
 There will be a 90 second time gap between speeches. This will serve as the preparation time for the
next speaker.
 Each participant is required to speak for 4 minutes. A warning bell will be sounded at the end of 3
minutes, and a final bell at the end of 4 minutes.
D. Adjudication
The criteria for judging are :Style and manner of speaking (10 points)
Identification of flaws in logic (10 points)
Method adopted and strategy (10 points)
Effectiveness of speech (10 points)
Overall impression (10 points)
E. Overview of Semi-Finals
The winning team from each semi-final will progress to the finals. Additionally, prizes will be
awarded for to the Best Speaker in each semi-final.
Final Round: Cross-Examination
A. Introduction
The motion for the debate will be drawn one hour before the debate. The Proposition and
Opposition will be decided on the basis of a coin toss. Teams will have one hour to prepare their
cases; they may use reference books or the internet during this period.
B. Time of Speeches
Each speaker will have 5 minutes to present his/her case. A warning bell will be rung at the end
of 4 minutes, and a final bell at the end of 5 minutes.
Each speaker will then be cross-examined by a member of the opposing team for 3 minutes.
Cross-examination or “cross-x” is similar to the cross-examination of a witness in a court room.
A warning bell will be rung after 2 minutes, and a final bell after 3 minutes.
At the end of debate, any one speaker from either side must come up to summarize his/her side’s
case, with special emphasis on the arguments that have been raised .Each summary speech will
last 4 minutes. A warning bell will be rung after 3 minutes, and a final bell after 4 minutes.
The order of speaking is listed in Schedule 1 below.
C. Role and Order of Speakers
SCHEDULE 1- STRUCTURE OF A CROSS-X DEBATE
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Speech
1st Proposition Constructive
Cross-examination of 1st Proposition by 2nd Opposition
1st Opposition Constructive
Cross-Examination of 1st Opposition by 1st Proposition
2nd Proposition Constructive
Cross-Examination of 2nd Proposition by 1st Opposition
2nd Opposition Constructive
Cross-Examination of 2nd Opposition by 2nd Proposition
Proposition Summary
Opposition Summary
Time
5 minutes
3 minutes
5 minutes
3 minutes
5 minutes
3 minutes
5 minutes
3 minutes
4 minutes
4 minutes
D. Cross – Examination (Cross-X)
Cross-examination is akin to a live rebuttal. The aim of cross-examination is to expose flaws in
the premise and related arguments made by the speaker, by asking questions that highlight the
same. Questions may be directed towards faulty reasoning, inappropriate use of examples and
flaws in the model proposed.
Questions and answers during cross-examination must be relevant to the debate, and MUST
NOT contain personal attacks, vulgarity, unparliamentary language or derogatory references.
Debaters will be penalized for the same.
Questions asked during cross-examination must be limited to 15 seconds per question. At the end
of 15 seconds, a bell will be sounded at which point the cross-examiner must stop immediately.
Answers given during cross-examination must be concise. The cross-examiner is allowed to
interrupt an answer after 15 seconds.
E. Adjudication
Style and manner of speaking: 15 points
Structure and coherence of thought: 10 points
Argumentation and analysis: 40 points
Strategy employed: 15 points
Ability to cross-examine: 20 points
Defence against cross-examination: 20 points
In addition to this, 20 points will be accorded for the summary. These points will be added to the
cumulative team total, but will not be added to the individual speaker’s score.
F. Overview
The winning team will be declared the champions of the Modern World Debates 2011.
Additionally, a prize will be awarded for to the Best Speaker in the Final Round.