Ascent UBI Charity Debate Tournament
2024 — Taipei, TW
Novice SPAR
Event Description:
Novice SPAR Times
Timetable (Mins)
| Case Prep | 10 |
| Pro Case | 2 |
| Con Case | 2 |
| Cross-fire | 1.5 |
| Pro Rebuttal | 2 |
| Con Rebuttal | 2 |
| Cross-fire | 1.5 |
| Pro Summary | 1.5 |
| Con Summary | 1.5 |
| Grand Cross-fire | 1.5 |
| Pro Final Focus | 1 |
| Con Final Focus | 1 |
| Pro Prep Time | 2 |
| Con Prep Time | 2 |
| 31.5 |
This tournament will use SPAR spontaneous debate topics with the Public Forum structure learned in class. There will be 10 minutes to prepare the topic with a partner.
Topic is impromptu debate and rotates each round to a new topic. Check tabroom.com for topic. They will find out ten minutes before the round starts.
Each team has ten minutes before the round to prepare their case. No internet allowed AT ANY POINT. Students should only use offline methods for preparation (e.g. pen, pencil, and paper). During the round, each team has two minutes TOTAL that can be used throughout the entire round. For example, if 30 seconds is used, that means only 1.5 minutes are remaining.
Judges: Do NOT announce winners. You may give verbal feedback but do not mention winners.
Sides are LOCKED for novice. Pro goes first. Make sure teams know their sides. Check the schedule.
Make sure teams are in the right room with correct opponents.
All time requirements must be strictly enforced. Do not allow students or audience to interrupt others during their protected speech. Competitors cannot ask for outside help about the content of the debate during the debate but they may ask for clarification of rules. A student may only speak during their turn and their partner speaking does not count toward their team's arguments if it is not their turn.
Judge based on the team that provided the best and clearest logic to prove their side is preferable. Teams should compare impacts, evaluate examples, and explain why to prefer their warrants. The winning team should have the best logic to substantiate why their impacts are most important. Do not allow your personal bias affect your decision. English issues should not affect your decision. Communication ability can factor into your decision but should not be the primary factor. Superior presentation style should be factored into speaker ranking instead of deciding the winning side.
Judges can give verbal feedback after the round if the round was not delayed and students do not have to go to the next round. Let students who need to begin the speech round go immediately.
Flights
Flight A and B will prepare the topic at the same time.
In Public Forum debate, each Round will typically be further divided into "Flight A" and "Flight B." If Round 1 is scheduled to occur at 2pm, then Flight A (between two teams of students) should occur at that time. Flight B (between two different teams of students) would occur right after the Flight A is completed.
Flight B should watch Flight A quietly and NOT SPEAK.
Do NOT give feedback after Flight A. Only give feedback if time permits at the very end of BOTH flights.
If students in Flight A need to go to speech, they should leave immediately after their flight is over to the speech round. They should not stay to watch Flight B. Other students not in speech should watch Flight B.
Flight B students who need to go to speech should leave immediately after the round to speech.
If there is time remaining, the judge may give brief verbal feedback to ALL flights at the END of the round.
Keep the time strictly enforced!