Age Range: Junior / middle / primary

Linkbate Debating Championships 2024

Posted on January 22, 2024 by -

Details for the 9th Linkbate Debating Championships 2023:
  1. Dates: Jan 27 to Jan 28 (Sat-Sun)
  2. Tentative Schedule: 4pm-1130pm (GMT+8, HK); 8am-330pm (GMT+0, UK)
  3. Format: BP, 7-minute speeches
  4. Eligibility: Novice-ONLY (broke in ANY category for at most 10 English BP/WSDC debating tournaments excluding Linkbate, with at least 15 rooms. OrgComm can decide on special circumstances)
  5. Competition Structure: Break to Open Quarters; U16 Breaks Tentative
  6. Registration Deadlines: Adjcore – Sat Dec 9 2023; Debater & Judge – Sat Jan 6 2024
  7. Registration Fee: 350HKD/45USD per team (+transaction fees)
No judge requirements, composite teams (speakers from diff institutions) are allowed.
Detailed timetable in *GMT +8* (All briefings will be sent in advance):
  • Day 1 Sat Jan 27
    • 1600 Check-in closes
    • 1615-1815 Round 1
    • 1815-2015 Round 2
    • 2015-2215 Round 3
    • 2215-2330 Round 4 (Silent)
  • Day 2 Sun Jan 28
    • 1600 Check-in closes
    • 1615-1815 Round 5
    • 1815-1845 Break + Linkbate Forum
    • 1845-1900 Breaks Announcement
    • 1900-2030 Open Quarterfinals
    • 2030-2200 Open Semifinals
    • 2200-2345 Open Final
    • 0000- Prize Ceremony

European Debate Academy 2024

Posted on January 22, 2024 by -

Hosted by JCI Scotland, this will be an in-person event that will be held in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Academy will take place from 5pm on Friday 26th January and finishing around 1pm on Sunday 28th January 2024. Our venue for the Academy is the Leonardo Hotel Edinburgh Murrayfield, 187 Clermiston Road, Edinburgh, EH12 6UG.

Why learn debating with JCI Scotland?

JCI Scotland has a long history of competing in debates over the years. In fact, the debating award at World Congress is named after a former JCI Scotland member and 1963 World President, Eric Stevenson, who introduced debating to the congress programme! Not only does this academy focus on debating and all areas associated with it, it also allows you to learn how to speak confidently which can be used in many areas of your personal and professional lives.

JCI Scotland has competed many times on the international stage and has brought several trophies home, including the first online debate at the 2020 European Conference. JCI Scotland is also creating a legacy as trainers of debating and our academy graduates have gone on to win several Local, National, European and World Competitions! Take JCI Ireland’s 2022 debate team as an example, they all attended our 2022 academy and went on to compete and win the 2022 JCI World Congress English debate competition. We also had delegates from JCI France who attended a previous academy compete at both European and World level. Don’t miss out, this could be you!

There are two ticketing options available:

  • European Debate Academy Only – £100.00 + booking fee
  • European Debate Academy & JCI Edinburgh Burns Night Gala Dinner – £160.00 + booking fee

JCI Edinburgh’s Burns Night Gala Dinner is one not be missed. An evening full of lovely food, laughter, music, dancing, whisky and even more drinks. The event will take place on Saturday 27th January from 6pm at the same hotel as the academy, Leonardo Hotel Edinburgh Murrayfield. We are offering a package price allowing you access to their Early Bird rate.

We have been able to secure a limited number of discounted rooms at the hotel where the Academy and Burns will be held. These rooms are available from £80 per room, per night on a bed and breakfast basis for a Single and £90 for a Twin/Double. Further details on how to secure the discounted rate will be shared with you in your confirmation email once you have booked your ticket for the Academy.

Any questions should be emailed to [email protected].

2024 National Speech & Debate Tournament

Posted on December 12, 2023 by -

The National Speech & Debate Tournament marks the capstone of speech and debate activities for more than 140,000 members across the country. The student competitors represent the best and brightest young people across the United States and the globe. The tournament is a moving reminder of how the skills students learn in speech and debate empower them to be changemakers, advocates, and future leaders of our world. Email Angela at [email protected] for more information, to attend the tournament, or book an interview. We ask that each person requesting media credentials complete an application; please complete this form to apply for media credentials.

Frankly Speaking 2024

Posted on December 4, 2023 by -

A Benjamin Franklin House debate competition in collaboration with the US Embassy London and the DAR Walter Hines Page Chapter.

Benjamin Franklin exemplified Enlightenment beliefs like the primacy of reason and critical thought. In his role as a colonial agent, and later as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Franklin regularly had to advance his opinions in the face of challenge and criticism, which he did with careful argument and wit.

In that spirit, and to encourage tomorrow’s thinkers today, Benjamin Franklin House proudly holds the annual Frankly Speaking Debate Competition for upper secondary school students, in collaboration with the US Embassy London. The winner joins students from across Europe and the United States at the Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Summer Institute.

We run two debate competitions on the day. Our Junior Competition is for students in Years 10 and 11; our Senior Competition is for Years 12 and 13. All participants must be in the relevant year groups to participate in each respective competition.

Applications for the 2024 competition will open on Monday 13th November at 9am and close on Friday 15th December at 3pm. If you would like more information or would like to apply, please email [email protected] and request an application form.

Applications must be completed by a staff member. If you are a student and wish to participate – please inform a member of staff at your school.

Frankly Speaking 2024 will take place on Friday 23rd February 2024 and will be hosted by the United States Embassy London.

The individual winner of the Year 10/11 category will receive a private tour of the Houses of Parliament. The individual winner of the Year 12/13 category will join students from across Europe and the United States for an all-expenses-paid Summer school at the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship Summer Institute. In 2023, this was held at Purdue University, Indiana, over 4 weeks in June/July.

The 2023 competition took place on Friday 24th February. The heats, semi-finals, finals and awards ceremony were all be held at the United States Embassy London. The debates followed an ‘Extended Mace’ format with 2 students in each team. There is a Year 10/11 category and a Year 12/13 category.

For information about the 2024 competition please contact our Education Manager.

2023 National Speech & Debate Tournament

Posted on May 29, 2023 by -

Schedule
All topics will be released at www.speechanddebate.org/national-tournament-topics.

May 1: Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum topics, United States and International Extemp topic areas, and prepared motions for World Schools Debate will be released May 1.
May 15: The Congressional Debate docket will be released by May 15.
Any high school or middle school NSDA member student, regardless of their national qualification status, was invited to submit legislation to be considered for the National Tournament Docket! Our goal was to open the door to more submissions, more diverse topics, and more student input. If a student’s legislation is selected to be part of the Nationals Docket, they will be recognized in Rostrum, receive a plaque after the tournament is over, and be awarded a $100 scholarship. Legislation will not be tied to its author at the National Tournament; no authorship speeches will be given. Submissions were due February 5, 2023.
The potential legislation will be made available to the public May 1.
National Tournament qualifiers in the House and Senate will be invited to vote on the final docket through Tabroom.com between May 2-5.
The final docket will be released by May 15.

Event Specific Topics

Extemporaneous Debate: Topics will be released 30 minutes prior to each round.
Storytelling: No required theme or topic area.
Policy Debate: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its security cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in one or more of the following areas: artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cybersecurity.
Big Questions: Resolved: Humans are primarily driven by self-interest.

 

The full results can be found here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/tabroom-files/tourns/26661/results/37393/2023-NationalSpeechAndDebateTournament-FullResults.pdf

WSDC 2023

Posted on May 23, 2023 by -

Held in July 2023, Vietnam will be the official host of the World Schools Debating Championship 2023. As the cheapest ever and the first in-person WSDC hosted after the Covid-19 pandemic, we wish to continue to promote the values of educational excellence, awareness, diversity, and inclusion. Our team promises this WSDC to be one of the most memorable there has ever been.

 

 

Results

ROUND 1

Bermuda vs. Poland | ROUND 1 | Vietnam WSDC 2023

Proposition: Bermuda

Opposition: Poland

Motion: This house believes that the World Bank Group should adopt a one-country-one-note system. Opp won

 

ROUND 2

Singapore vs. Thailand | ROUND 2 | Vietnam WSDC 2023

Proposition: Singapore

Opposition: Thailand

Motion: This House supports the use of the nine planetary boundaries framework.

Opp won

ROUND 3

Indonesia vs. South Africa | ROUND 3 | Vietnam WSDC 2023

Proposition: Indonesia

Opposition: South Africa

Motion: This House opposes internet gurus selling their own products and services.

Opp won

ROUND 4

Canada vs. Poland | ROUND 4 | Vietnam WSDC 2023

Proposition: Canada

Opposition: Poland

Motion: This House believes that the feminist movement should promote the maximisation of individual development and empowerment over solidarity among women.

Prop won

ROUND 5

Japan vs. Korea | ROUND 5 | Vietnam WSDC 2023

Proposition: Japan

Opposition: Korea

Motion: This House believes that African countries should recognize the sovereignty of Somaliland.

Prop won

ROUND 6

Zimbabwe vs. Czech Republic | ROUND 6 | Vietnam WSDC 2023

Proposition: Zimbabwe

Opposition: Czech Republic

Motion: This House regrets the professionalisation of sports.

Opp won

ROUND 7

Scotland vs. Malaysia | ROUND 7 | Vietnam WSDC 2023

Proposition: Scotland

Opposition: Malaysia

Motion: This House would replace agricultural companies with farmers’ cooperatives.

Prop won

ROUND 8

USA vs. Sri Lanka | ROUND 8 | Vietnam WSDC 2023

Proposition: USA

Opposition: Sri Lanka

Motion: This House believes that developing countries should drop local languages in favor of a world language as the primary medium of instruction in schools.

Prop won

Partial Double Octo Finals

Australia vs New Zealand | Partial Double Octo Finals | Vietnam WSDC 2023

Proposition: Australia

Opposition: New Zealand

Motion: This House regrets depictions of veganism as trendy.

Opp won

Quarter Finals

Quarter Finals | Vietnam WSDC 2023 Malaysia vs Zimbabwe

Proposition: Malaysia

Opposition: Zimbabwe

Motion: This House believes that offensive art should not be commissioned for public spaces (Museums, Parks, Squares, etc.)

Prop won

Semi-Finals

Malaysia vs USA / Semi-Finals / Vietnam WSDC 2023

Proposition: Malaysia

Opposition: USA

Info Slide: A typical nuclear family is composed of two partners with children. In some countries a significant and vocal part of the LGBTQ+ movement are actively advocating settling down and forming nuclear families.

Motion: This House believes that the LGBTQ+ community should actively embrace the nuclear family ideal

Opp won

Grand final

This House Prefers a world ruled by a benevolent AI programmed to maximize utility by calculating the actions most guaranteed to reduce the greatest global suffering

Proposition: USA

Opposition: Canada

Prop won

 

International Debating Championships 2022

Posted on August 30, 2022 by -

The tournament will be held entirely online via Zoom on Friday nights during term 4 of the 2022 NSW school term.

It is open to students in years 5-10 around the world and will be conducted in three divisions:

  • Primary (year 5-6 or ages 9 – 11)
  • Junior (year 7-8 or ages 12 – 14)
  • Senior(year 9-10 or ages 15 – 16).

The tournament will be adjudicated by qualified and experienced debating adjudicators. Schools can register multiple teams per division.

Results

 

Primary Division

Champion
Leaders Academy
Primary 1

Runner-up
Cranbrook School
Junior Blue

Semi-finalist
Dialogy
Angela Davis

Semi-finalist
Ten Feet Tall
Team 3

Junior Division

Champion
Dialogy
Ida B. Wells

Runner-up
Nanyang Girls’ High School
Team 1

Semi-finalist
Knox Grammar School
Team 7B

Semi-finalist
Pymble Ladies’ College
Team 6

Quarter-finalist
Nanyang Girls’ High School
Team 3

Quarter-finalist
Kambala School
Year 8 Blue

Quarter-finalist
Pymble Ladies’ College
Team 7

Quarter-Finalist
Knox Grammar School
Team 8A

Senior Division

Champion
Speakers’ Corner
SG Team

Runner-up
Leaders Academy
Senior 1

Semi-finalist
Knox Grammar School
Team 10B

Semi-finalist
Nanyang Girls’ High School
Team 4

Best Speaker

Primary Division
Ethan
Cranbrook School
Junior Blue

Junior Division
Kevin Lu
James Ruse Agricultural High School
Team 1

Senior Division
Jason Lin
Speakers’ Corner
SG Team

Frankenstein Debating Tournament

Posted on June 14, 2022 by -

After having sent Teams to Best International Debating Tournaments across Harvard, Oxford, Prague and many more, the Indian Debating League, the biggest debating tournament in India, is organizing Mega Debate on the most important topic that we face as a human race – ‘Sustainability of our Livelihood, our Global Community & our Planet’ in collaboration with Planet X.

Come join us and debate on how we can destroy the Monsters we have created with “Frankenstein Debating Tournament” this June.