Grand Oaks TFA and NIETOC Tournament

2024 — Spring, TX/US

Topics and Guidelines and Fees

Events will follow all TFA Rules

Policy Debate – 2024-2025Topic

Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly strengthen its protection of domestic intellectual property rights in copyrights, patents, and/or trademarks.

Lincoln-Douglas Debate – 2024 November Topic

Resolved: The United States ought to adopt a wealth tax.

Public Forum Debate – 2024 November Topic

Resolved: The United States should substantially reduce its military support of Taiwan.

**NOVICE DEBATE WILL DEBATE VARSITY TOPICS**

WORLD SCHOOLS MOTIONS:

WSD-Cross enter at own risk...WSD will not wait on IE

(FOLLOW the expectations of this event...NO electronics used in rounds or impromptu prep-timer only-no phones)

Round 1 - Impromptu

Round 2 - This House believes that the acquisition of startups by large corporations does more harm than good.

Round 3 - This House believes that the environmental rights of future generations supersede the economic interests of current generations.

Quarters- Impromptu

Semis - This House prefers conditional foreign aid to unconditional aid.

Finals: Impromptu

NOVICE WORLD SCHOOLS

Round 1 - Impromptu

Round 2 - This House believes that the environmental rights of future generations supersede the economic interests of current generations.

Round 3 - This House believes that the environmental rights of future generations supersede the economic interests of current generations.

Semis - IMPROMPTU

Finals: This House prefers conditional foreign aid to unconditional aid.

Student Congress

Students may run for Presiding Officer.

Prelims: 18, 20, 16, 17, 19 (in agenda order)

Finals: 25, 22, 21, 23 , 24 (in agenda order)

Semis (if needed): 27, 30, 26, 29, 28 (in agenda order)

Poetry and Prose

Readers choice with a 7 minute time limit with a 30 second grace

Sections

Section A: Extemp, Poetry, Novice Poetry, DI, Informative

Section B: Prose, Novice Prose, OO, HI, Novice OO, Impromptu, POI

Tournament Guidelines

1. No smoking on campus

2. Ballots will be ONLINE through tabroom.com

3. Concessions will be available in the cafeteria (list of items available will be emailed prior to tournament)

4 Students may not enter a room without a judge present

5. NO WRITING ON BOARDS IN ROOM PLEASE

6. Students may enter up to two events per section. Students may enter only one debate division and only one extemp division. No student may enter both Varsity and Novice divisions of that event. Student Congress participants may enter IE's, but not debate or duet.

8. World Schools debaters enter IE events at your own risk-WSD rounds will not be held to wait on IE competitors MANAGE your schedule

9. Debate brackets WILL be broken in all debate events.

10. It will be up to each competitor to take care of cross entry conflicts. EXTEMP always keep your speaking order first.

11. A novice is a competitor in their first year of speech or debate competition. Even if you competed in IE last year and this is your first year to debate YOUARE NOT A NOVICE.

National Speech & Debate Association Harassment and Discrimination Policy: The National Speech& Debate Association is committed to providing its participants, judges, coaches, and staff the opportunity to pursue excellence in their endeavors. This opportunity can exist only when each member of our community is assured an atmosphere of mutual respect. The NSDA prohibits all forms of harassment and discrimination. Accordingly, all forms of harassment and discrimination, whether written or oral, based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by any applicable federal, state, or local law are prohibited, whether committed by participants, judges, coaches, or observers. Individuals who are found to have violated this policy will be subject to the full range of sanctions, up to and including removal from the tournament premises.

Awards

Trophies will be awarded to all 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners

Medals will be given for 4th-6th

Team Plaques for World Schools Semis to Champions

Sweepstakes trophies will be awarded in both IE's and Debate, as well as an overall sweepstakes trophy for IE plus Debate points.

Events Pricing:

CX -$50/team

Congress/Novice Congress - $25/entry

LD/NLD - $40/entry

PF/NPF - $40/team

IEs (including Duet/Duo) -$20/entry

WSD/NSDA -$40/team