Topic: The power of Introverts

RULES FOR THE ENGLISH DEBATE

1. There will be team of 2 people and competition will be inter and intra college Speeches should be of EIGHT minutes in duration. Speakers exceeding this may be penalised but should never be substantially less than this. In general both speaker should speak for at least 4-4 minutes and generally no more than 6:20-6:30. Ideally stay on your feet until you hear the 6th min bell and then finish (i.e. Mr. Speaker sir, I beg to........) and be in your seat by :15. Your times will be recorded by the timekeeper and given to the adjudicators as they leave to make their decision.

2. A bell will be rung after the expiration of one minute and seven minutes. The bell will be rung again at six minutes and at regular intervals after that.

3. Points of information may only be offered after the expiration of one minute and may not be given after the expiration of fifth minutes. Points of information may only be given to opposing speakers and should generally be not more than 15 seconds in duration. The chairman may request a speaker to end a point of information at his/her discretion. Adjudicators also frown upon barracking (constantly interrupting the speaker by offering points) and the chair is expected to control this. Acceptance of points of information is at discretion of the competitor holding the floor.

4. The sequence of speakers will be decide by chit system

5. Speakers must observe parliamentary language i.e. bad language is not permitted.

6. The use of Props is not permitted in a debate.

7. The speakers are evenly divided on both sides of the motion. Speakers for the motion are the "Proposition" or "Government", speakers against are the "Opposition".

8. The opening Prop speaker (sometimes called "Prime Minister") has to define or interpret the motion. If this definition is unreasonable or irrelevant then the opening opposition speaker may challenge the definition. But if the definition is relevant but just doesn't suit the opening opp. speaker attempting to redefine may not go down well with the adjudicators. If a definition is given and all the other speakers or teams completely ignore it then the defining speaker is effectively out of the debate. Definitions must also be fair and debatable "Truistic" or Self Proving arguments are not accepted. (e.g. The sea is full of water is pretty hard to reasonably argue against)For full guidelines as to who can redefine and when please refer to the Rules of British Parliamentary (e.g. the Sydney 2000 Rules).

9. The last speaker on each side is expected to sum up his/her side's argument and rebutt or refute the arguments of the other side.

10. Rebuttal is vital in any competitive speech. Any argument left unchallenged is allowed to stand.

11. Specialised Knowledge should not be used to unfairly define a motion. If you are a Legal, Scientific, Management, Computer etc student then you must remember that others in the debate may be "experts" in another field of study.

12. All debates are usually opened up to the floor after the last speaker and once the adjudicators have retired.

13. Private Members Time, PMT, is a period of time at the start of each debate where members may bring up a motion or issue that they wish to see debated. Speeches here are limited to 3 min.

14. All the members that will use the facts should be correct and should not challenge any content otherwise marks will be deducted

The categories for judging shall be:
Content - 10 marks
Delivery - 10 marks
Points Offered - 5 marks
Points Taken - 5 marks
Teamwork - 5 marks
Time Keeping - 5 marks
Overall Impression - 10 marks
Total - 50 marks

Time Keeping
All speakers in the opening rounds will have five minutes to speak. Speaking too long or too short will cost them marks roughly as follows:
5 minutes exactly - gains 5 marks
up to 15 seconds out - gains 4 marks
between 15 seconds and 45 seconds out - gains 3 marks
between 45 seconds and 1 minute early or late - gains 2 marks
between 1 minute and 1 minute 30 seconds early or late - gains 1 mark
over 1 minute 30 seconds early or late - gains no marks.

Detailed Rules