2011 Muslim Youth Debate Tournament.

This document includes:

• Debate Topics
• Workshop Schedule
• Debate Adjudicators Schedule
• Debate Guidelines.

Topics for 2 of the preliminary rounds and the semi-finals are given below. The topic for the third preliminary round and the finals will be impromptu and be given on the day of the debate.

2011 Debate Topics.

Each team is required to prepare for both sides (for and against the proposition). This would allow the participants to see the arguments on both sides and get well versed with both. The sides be given on the spot at the flip of a coin or some other random method decided by the committee. The proposition always goes first. This random selection of sides is for the semifinals. The proposition always goes first. (TBD) As for the two preliminary rounds, sides will be given prior to the debate once all the teams are registered and confirmed.

For questions on the debate format, please contact Debate@Mafiq.org

Debate Workshop Schedule 2011

The Muslim Youth Debate Tournament Committee has arranged a series of workshops taught by experienced and skilled instructors to teach basic skills of debating to our participants. We encourage all participants to take advantage of this skill-enhancement trainings on the suggested dates and time listed below. Although an overall review of the debate will be given in each workshop emphasis will be on the following topics.

Note: Date and time subject to change, so please contact the POC

Debate Adjudicators Orientation Schedule 2011

*It is an honor for one to serve as an adjudicator/judge in the Muslim Youth Debate Tournament. We are asking prospective judges to attend one orientation session, then view one judging, and read up some on-line material posted on our website. If there is a schedule conflict or issue with timings, but a sincere commitment to participate, then let either Br. Kashif, Sr. Faiza, or Br. Mostafiz know and we can work on an alternate method of training, insha’Allah.

2011 Muslim Youth Debate Tournament Guidelines.

Visit http://debate.mafiq.org/ for complete details.

Category: High School (HS) and Middle School (MS), separately.

Features:
• Each team consists of 3 members. Each member has a role to play. Fourth reserve member allowed.
• Proposition defines the topic and unless not debatable, the opposition should accept the definition.
• The burden of proof lies with the proposition. The opposition does not have to necessarily prove the opposite rather negate the proposition’s case.
• Each speaker has a role and must be judged based on the fulfillment of that role. Thus the rubric will have a section that reflects this.
• Every speaker must refute the arguments from the previous speaker and not delay it till the next speaker of their team. However, if a speaker did not address a point, the next one must do so to make sure all the points of the other team are addressed.

Individual roles of speakers:
• 1st speaker defines the topic, which includes defining the key terms and the stance of the proposition, introduces the argument and lays down the structure of the argument. He/She may also argue one aspect/point of the topic.
• 1st speaker opposition will accept or contest the definition. If the opposition decides to contest the definition they should have a solid reason to do so and to prove why the proposition's definition is inadequate, inappropriate, unfair or undebatable. Further, the 1st speaker of the opposition should lay down the structure of their argument and lay down their case. He/She must provide rebuttal for the 1st proposition's argument.
• 2nd speakers on both sides will have to first offer rebuttals to the speakers before them and then lay down any arguments of their own. They should also reiterate their 1st speaker’s points to strengthen the structure of the argument of their team. Their's will be the bulk of the argument or case.
• The 3rd speakers will be concluding the speech for their side. In this case the 3rd speaker opposition will go first. The primary job of the 3rd speaker will be to summarize the case. They should ideally summarize both sides, crush the case of the opposite side and consolidate their own side. The 3rd speakers may not bring anything new and there may be no interjections in their speech.
• Each speaker in their own time must give a complete argument for their stance. An argument may not be spread out over two speakers. In other words, each speaker must prove their stance on their own.
• There must be a clear structure to the team’s argument and the division between the two speakers for their points must be clear.
• After the first minute, interjections are permitted by the opposing team. To interject, one may stand and say “Point of information”. The speaker is then free to either accept or reject the request. If acknowledged, the questioner may then ask his or her question; if however the speaker does not allow the interjection he or she must immediately be seated. Repeated interjections are allowed; however, no interjections are permitted in the final minute of a speech. The interjection must not last more than 15 seconds and there should be not back and forth arguing.
• Accepting and answering an opponent’s interjections is strongly recommended. This demonstrates the strength of one’s case and self-confidence. However, one is advised against taking too many questions; this drives the speaker off track. The judges should be able to see that the speaker has the command of the floor.

OVERALL FORMAT
• Each school may enter up to four teams.
• All teams are involved in the preliminary rounds. There will be 3 preliminary rounds. The teams will be paired at random for the first round. However, in the second and the third round, the teams will be paired according to their scores to make the debates more balanced and allow for improvement within compatible teams. This will help increase the quality of the debates and help individual teams to improve their performance. The top four teams for each the middle and high school debates will be selected as semi-finalists according to the cumulative scores achieved in the three preliminary rounds. They will not be selected according to how many wins or losses they had. The two Semifinals for each group will also be held simultaneously in two classrooms based on the preliminary round ranking (see event diagram below).
• Wins and losses in the debate will be based on how well the team held up their stance and argued their points and refuted the opposition’s points. Scoring on the other hand is for the individual speeches of the debaters and judges the debaters not the debate. Further clarification for this can be found toward the end of the self-assessment form.
• The topics for the first and second preliminary round will be given out before but the third preliminary round will be impromptu. The topic will be given in the main hall and the debaters will be required to begin as soon as they have made it into the assigned rooms. This will allow them about 5 minutes to establish their stance, work on the structure of their argument and line of reasoning. Last year the debaters did very well in the impromptu topic and we are encouraged therefore to have the finals as impromptu this year. This is an extra exercise for them in their mind and will help in the skill building that this debate tournament is all about.
• Finals will be held in the main hall.
• All MS and HS debates are separate events and they will be held in separate rooms simultaneously, except the Finals. The MS and the HS finals will go on back to back.
• Each debate will have a best speaker based on the individual score achieved. An overall best speaker will be chosen based on the cumulative score achieved by the individual debaters.