8th UP HARONG Tingog nin Rason Debate Tournament

Qualifications for participating schools

• Any debating group representing a high school in Camarines Sur and Naga City
• Must adhere to the contest rules
• Must submit a formal reply to
  
  Rolan Jon G. Bulao
  Molave Residence Hall
  U.P. Diliman, Quezon City 1101
  not later than September 22, 2004.
• Or must reply through acadfest@yahoo.com or 0918-9395379 not later than September 22, 2004

Contest Rules

1. PARTICIPANTS
   A team is composed of five (5) members. Three members will be the official speakers of the team.
   At least three (3) members of the team must be presented during a match.
   Any school is allowed to field up to two (2) teams.
2. CONTEST PROCEDURE
   The tournament employs the knock-out system wherein a single loss disqualifies a participating team. There are three stages: the elimination round, the semi-final round, and the championship match.
3. POSITIONS/STAND
   During the elimination, each team will be given a team number through lottery. All odd-numbered teams shall take the Government side while the even-numbered teams shall take the Opposition. The selection in the semi-final round is similar to the elimination round—by lottery. In the Championship Match, unless the opposing teams agree on their positions/stands, their respective positions will again be determined by drawing lots.
4. DEFAULTS
   A team that does not appear or does not have complement of at least three members within fifteen (15) minutes after the start of a scheduled match shall be considered default and will have to pay a fine of Php200.

FORMAT (The Asian Parliament Debate)

1. Proposition and Sides
   The parliamentary format simulates the House of Parliament, with a Government (usually the majority) which aims to pass a policy or proposal, and an Opposition (usually the minority) which aims to deter and block the passage of the policy.
   A motion or a proposition is the topic that constitutes the subject or issue of the debate. Motions may aim to propose a policy, or ascertain the veracity of a statement. An example of a policy motion would read, “This House Believes That We Should Repeal the Oil Deregulation Law”. A motion investigating truth, on the other hand, would be exemplified by the motion “This House Believes That Philippine Independence is a Farce”.
   
   
2. Burden
   The government, as the advocate of the motion, has the burden of proof. It must be able to prove to the ‘House’ that the motion should be adopted. In doing so, the Government speakers basically aim to demonstrate the tenability and rationality of the proposal they seek to ‘pass’.
   The Opposition, as the opponent of the motion, has the burden of negating the motion and showing a clear opposition to the proposal. Under the parliamentary format, they are NOT required to present a counter-proposal in order to persuade others to reject the policy. They are merely required to prove through refutation and argumentation that the policy does not merit passage in the House.
   
   
3. Speaker Roles
   Under the Asian Parliamentary style, there are three speakers in each side.
   In the Government side, there is a Prime Minister (PM), a Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and a Government Whip (GW).
   In the Opposition, there is a Leader of the Opposition (LO), a Deputy Leader of the Opposition (DLO), and an Opposition Whip (OW).
   
   
   1. GOVERNMENT
      
      1. Prime Minister (PM): 7 minutes
         
         • provides the definition of the motion and sets up the issue for the debate. Lays down the framework for the debate by discussing the background of the policy, the general analysis of the motion, the theme (or central line of argumentation), and the team split.
         • argues the first half of the case in the first constructive speech of the debate.
         • issues a summary at the 6th minute: restates position on the motion and theme, synthesizes arguments presented, and introduces the 2nd speaker’s case.
      2. Deputy Prime Minister (DPM): 7 minutes
         
         • provides a rebuttal of the Leader of the Opposition’s (LO) constructive speech by clarifying points by the LO concerning the PM’s speech. Identifies arguments raised by LO and refutes using further analysis and examples—shows possible flaws in reasoning.
         • argues the second half of the case in the second constructive speech of the debate. Initially states a brief summary of the PM’s case before proceeding to own case.
         • issues summary at the 6th minute: restates position on the motion and theme, synthesizes arguments presented by both PM and DPM, crystallizes rebuttals made by 1st two Government speakers on the Opposition’s case.
      3. Government Whip(GW): 7 minutes
         
         • refutes Opposition’s challenges to the Government’s case. Identifies points of controversy raised by the Opposition against the Government constructive case and issues a direct rebuttal, with reference to earlier refutations made by the Government team. May bring up new examples in the course of the analysis but NOT new arguments.
         • refutes the Opposition’s constructive case by demonstrating the un-tenability, illogical nature, or invalidity of the arguments raised by the Opposition speakers in negating the motion by introducing fresh analysis or further examples to illustrate the weakness of the Opposition’s case. Analyzes the insufficiency or inadequacy of the Opposition’s claims/arguments in attacking the motion propounded by the Government team.

   2. OPPOSITION
      

      1. Leader of the Opposition (LO): 7 minutes
         • accepts or rejects the Government definition. If the opposition rejects the definition, it must of necessity issue a DEFINITIONAL CHALLENGE. Issues the Opposition negation of/ clash against the motion.
         • refutes the main arguments of the PM’s case by the analyzing possible logical flaws, errors of fact, and supposed misrepresentations.
         • argues the 1st half of the Opposition case in a constructive speech, introduces the theme, the team split, and a possible framework {only if necessary} in forwarding the Opposition case.
         • issues a summary at the 6th minute: reiterates position, clash, main points of rebuttal, theme and main arguments. Briefly introduces the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s case.
      2. Deputy Leader of the Opposition (DLO): 7 minutes
         • issues a direct rebuttal of the Deputy Prime Minister’s case. Summarizes the LO’s rebuttal of the PM’s case and stipulates points left un-addressed by the Government.
         • argues the 2nd half of the Opposition case in a constructive speech. Summarizes LO’s case, reiterates theme, discusses main arguments and provides salient examples.
         • issues a summary at the 6th minute: reiterates position, main points of rebuttal of the Opposition, theme, and main arguments.
      3. Opposition Whip (OW): 7 minutes
         • refutes the Government’s case by analyzing its merits, the quality and accuracy of substitution, possible inconsistencies made by the Government in terms of affirming its position and theme. Exposes possible contradictions made by the Government team.
         • refutes challenges made by the by the Government to the Opposition’s constructive case. Discusses points raised by the Government side concerning the Opposition’s case as dealt with by the Opposition team and methodically demonstrates consistency in reasoning.
         • issues a summary at the 6th minute: reaffirms clash from the Opposition, synthesizes rebuttal of the Government case, reaffirms Opposition’s theme and case.
   
   

   Reply Speakers

   • selected representatives of both teams. The Opposition Reply Speaker delivers his reply speech immediately after the Government Whip’s speech, followed by the Government Reply Speaker who closes the debate. The standard length of the reply speech is four minutes.
   • a reply speech is a form of BIASED ADJUDICATION, where the speaker analyzes what transpired in the debate, identifies the points of controversy and how each side dealt with such points, and logically shows that his side deserves the laurels of the debate.
   • IT IS NOT A REBUTTAL SPEECH. At this point, there will be no introduction of new arguments or examples, merely a summary and analysis of the clash of arguments in the debate and the refutations provided by each side.
   • THERE WILL BE NO POINTS OF INFORMATION DURING REPLY SPEECHES.

CRITERIA FOR ADJUDICATING

Matter refers to points, examples, arguments and reasoning brought up by the speakers.
Manner is concerned with the mechanics of public-speaking such as the use of voice, language, eye contact, gestures, stance, humor and personality as a medium for making the audience more receptive to the argument being delivered.
Method consists of the effectiveness of the structure and organization of each individual speech, the effectiveness of the structure and the organization of the team as a whole, and the extent to which the team appropriately reacts to the dynamics of the debate.
Distribution of marks will be: Matter-40%, Manner-40%, and Method-20%.

PRIZES

*A revolving trophy will also be given to the champion of the tournament. This shall be returned to UP Harong in the following year for the next Debate Tournament. In case the participating school wins as champion for 3 consecutive years, the revolving trophy will then be permanently awarded to that school.

PROPOSITIONS

The adjudicators will be giving the common proposition 30 minutes before the start of a match.

ATTIRE

Participants are required to wear semi-formal attire during the matches.

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