November 26, 2008
Esteemed Colleagues:
Welcome to our second debate tournament of the 2008-09 school season! We are calling this one
the “Irvine Valley College Winter 2009 Invitational”. We wish to express our appreciation to
our hosts: The Irvine Valley College Speech and Debate Team and The Korea Daily
Newspaper.
The purpose of this tournament is to provide students with an opportunity to debate with their
peers on a topic, which is both significant and controversial. Students will be given an
opportunity to debate once on each side and for the last round we will use a coin flip – winner
chooses side or chooses to speak first or second (standard NFL style for Round Three).
The topic is
Resolved: That, by 2040, the federal government should mandate that all new passenger
vehicles and light trucks sold in the United States be powered by alternative fuels.
We are pleased to welcome everyone to the Irvine Valley College Winter 2009 Invitational.
See you soon!
Tournament Information:
Contact:
Bill Eddy
714/655-8135 Cellular
714/731-2055 Office
[email protected]
Jesse Kim
949/726-2509 Cellular
714/731-2055 Office
[email protected]
Date:
January 10, 2009
Time:
8:30am
9:30am
11:00am
12:30pm
1:00pm
3:15pm
Location:
Irvine Valley College*
Building “B200” (A campus map is attached at the end)
5500 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618
Registration & Voluntary Training for Students B200
Round 1 (A & B Flights – Preset)
Round 2 (A & B Flights – Preset)
Lunch (Provided for Debaters & Judges only)
Round 3 (Power Matched High- Low within Bracket)
Awards – Performing Arts Center
*Call Bill Eddy or Jesse Kim with your questions (please do not call the college).
Judges:
Each school must bring one at least experienced* debate judge with them.
*with experience in teaching, coaching debate, or judging debate.
Fees:
$25 School Fee
$70 per Debate Team (Includes Lunch)
Pay order to “SCEA” (Southern California Education Alliance, Inc.)
Divisions:
Elementary School Division
Middle School Division
High School Division
Experienced* High School Division
*Experienced Teams have either won an award, or are no longer in their first or
second semester of competition.
Awards:
Cups for top debate team in each of the four divisions (4x2=8 Cups!)
Medals for gold, silver, and bronze winners (to be determined after entries are in)
Medals for top ten speakers in each division (4x10=40)
Certificates of distinction in debate awarded to all competitors.
Registration: 1. Fax the last two pages of this packet to 714/731-0938
2. Dead line: December 15, 2008
(Teams entered after that time can be put on waiting list to fill available rooms)
3. Call 714/731-2055 to make a reservation.
We will send you confirmation right away by email or by phone.
Driving Instructions:
405 Freeway
5 Freeway
From the North (southbound 405):
From the North (southbound 5):




Exit Jeffrey Road
Turn Left onto Jeffrey Road N
Turn Right on Irvine Center Drive
Turn Right at Irvine Valley College Entrance
From the South (northbound 405):




Exit Jeffrey Road
Turn Right onto Jeffrey Road N
Turn Right on Irvine Center Drive
Turn Right at Irvine Valley College Entrance





Exit Jeffrey Road
Turn right at stop sign
Turn Left onto Jeffrey Road S
Turn Left on Irvine Center Drive
Turn Right at Irvine Valley College Entrance
From the South (northbound 5):




Exit Jeffrey Road
Turn Left onto Jeffrey Road S
Turn Left on Irvine Center Drive
Turn Right at Irvine Valley College Entrance
NFL Rules:
NFL Rules for Public Forum Debate will be followed, except for whatever has been contradicted
in the invitation, tournament website, or information packet written for the tournament. The
format is in crossfire style, yet debating will be a bit more academic in focus rather than
imitating the popular news program.
Eligibility:
This tournament is mostly unrestricted, so technically anyone of the appropriate grade level can
enter the tournament; however most of our competitors will likely have limited debate
experience. In the future we will try to separate by grades and by experience similar to other
national debate organizations such as NFL.
For this tournament, there will be four debate completion levels: Grade School Division (grades
4-6), Middle School Division (grades 7-8), High School Division (grades 9-12; still within their
first or second semester of competition, and have not won either a first or second place award in
any prior debate competition), and Experienced High School (grades 9-12; beyond their first or
second semester of competition or have won a first or second place debate award in any
competitive debate activity).
Evidence is Encouraged!
Students are allowed to bring ANY research materials with them and may even read from
prepared scripts if that is what they prefer to do. Script reading is not really debating, but there
will not be any point reductions for reading statements, yet the points may be lowered if reading
from a script prevents the student from engaging their opponents’ arguments, or decreases the
quality of persuasion from things like lack of eye contact.
No Electronic Retrieval
Do not access the internet during the tournament. This includes cell phones, calling friends, etc.
Use what you have and use it well; however, research should be done before the tournament.
Changes to Judging Form:
The judge’s ballot will be slightly changed so that each debater receives an individual score, in
addition to the team score. We will be awarding speaker awards in addition to team awards,
which will not be possible without modifying the ballot. This is a minor change, which will not
directly impact the students’ actual debating (as the above changes have done).
There will be a copy of the modified judging ballot made available on the tournament website as
well as a copy attached to the end of this packet.
Debate Format (NFL Public Forum)
Team A:
First Speaker: Constructive Speech
4 Minutes
Team B:
First Speaker: Constructive Speech
4 Minutes
Crossfire (Between first speakers)
3 Minutes
Team A:
Second Speaker: Constructive Speech
4 Minutes
Team B:
Second Speaker: Constructive Speech
4 Minutes
Crossfire (Between second speakers)
3 Minutes
Team A:
First Speaker: Summary
2 Minutes
Team B:
First Speaker: Summary
2 Minutes
Grand Crossfire (All speakers)
3 Minutes
Team A:
Second Speaker: Final focus/Last shot
1 Minute
Team B:
Second Speaker: Final focus/Last shot
1 Minute
Team A:
Preparation Time Total
2 Minutes
Team B:
Preparation Time Total
2 Minutes
Grand Total Time
35 Minutes
Changes to Speaker Responsibilities:
We are asking that speakers assume a more defined role with regard to argumentation. This is to
help debaters to better adapt to the judges, who are expecting the debate to meet certain
expectations such as the Three Burdens (Proof, Refutation, and Rejoinder) and a common
understanding that there are to be no new arguments in rebuttal speeches (new arguments are
for constructive speeches only). These expectations are communicated clearly in the
overwhelming majority of debate textbooks, yet “Crossfire” debates tend to emulate the
television news format as a priority rather than follow basic debate norms/traditions.
Since we know that the majority of judges will have academic debate experience, we should also
follow the universal rule of audience adaptation. In persuasion, the speaker must, whenever
possible, modify a speech in order to satisfy (not alienate) their audience’s expectation(s). This
means the debater will have to make slight changes with regard to making sure that they are
actually “clashing” with the arguments of their opponents.
Many strategic debate techniques exist; yet one particularly troubling one involves adding new
content in order to overwhelm the opponent as opposed to providing direct clash. Clash is the
debate principle, which requires that an argument made by a debater must be responded to (not
ignored) by an opponent. Failure to clash with an opponent violates the first rule of debate: “Two
teams agree to disagree on a specific topic.”
In order to promote greater clash and better debates So Cal Debate Forum offers the following
changes to the speaker responsibilities for Public Forum Debate:
1. Constructive Speeches: Slight Changes.
The first speakers should do one thing: make a complete case in favor of their team’s side
of the topic. Similar to a five paragraph essay; there should be an introduction, several
body points, and a conclusion. The body should contain specific reasons in support (or in
opposition to) the topic.
Change(s): DO NOT refute any of your opponent’s arguments! Only present your side
for the entire 4 minute speech.
2. Rebuttal Speeches: Significant Changes.
The second speakers should use some organized means of refuting the points made by
their opponents. A very common debate technique involves 4-Step refutation. 4-Step
Refutation (THIS IS NOT REQUIRED) involves the following four steps:
a. Step I: “They Said…”
This step makes it clear to the audience exactly what argument (or point) is about
to be refuted. It should be a short summary of ONE of the opponent’s points
lasting about 10 seconds or so.
For example: “They said that the economy will suffer because of increased taxes
and not having a large enough oil supply.”
b. Step II: “We Say…”
This step tells the audience the basis for the disagreement. It should be 4 to 6
words in order to make is easier for the audience to remember!
For example: “We say taxes won’t be increased”
c. Step III: “Because…”
This step tells the audience the exact reasons as to why the economy will improve
or why taxes will not be increased. Each reason should be numbered and stated
very clearly.
For example: “Because…”, pause, “first of all neither candidate, nor the existing
president have given any indication they intend to raise taxes, second, even if they
did raise taxes it wouldn’t be enough to ruin the economy!”
d. Step IV: “Therefore…”
This is the concluding remark made at the end to let the audience know that it is
time to move on to the next argument.
For example: “Therefore...”, pause, “The economy will not suffer!”
“They also said…” (repeat these steps again for each argument).
Change(s): DO NOT add new arguments in favor of your side. New information is only
allowed if it is necessary for the direct refutation against your opponent. Second speakers
are not going to be allowed to ignore their opponents in favor of burying them with new
arguments. Clash is not only expected, it is required! New information used to refute the
opponents points is encouraged. It is not acceptable to make brand new arguments, which
have been introduced by the second speaker. This violates their sole burden of refutation.
3. Summary Speeches: Slight Changes.
Similar to the rebuttal speeches, the summary speaker must defend against the refutation
of their opponent. This is called Rejoinder (refuting the opponent’s refutation)! Simply
repeating what was said originally is unacceptable. The debater must clash! Tell us which
argument (one at a time) is about to be defended, summarizing their opponent’s responses
to that argument, and then refute those responses. Use of 4-Step Refutation, is strongly
encouraged, yet it is NOT REQUIRED. All they have to do to satisfy the judges is NOT
IGNORE the responses made by their opponent!
Change(s): DO NOT add new arguments in favor of your side. New information is only
allowed if it is necessary to refute what your opponent has said against your argument.
Summary speakers are not allowed to ignore their opponents and simply repeat the
original arguments for 2 minutes. Clash is required, or you will lose speaker points!
4. Crossfire: Very Slight Change.
Nothing new is required. Advice: Try to always be making arguments with the questions
and statements, so that your side might gain more respect from the judges (increased
credibility is always useful). Try not to be a “time bully” in crossfire. Make answers that
are concise, yet effective.
5. Coin Flips
Nothing special is required. Suggestion: If a coin is not available, then try using “RockPaper-Scissor”. ONLY the last round (Round Three) uses a coin toss. Rounds One and
Two are predetermined, so please DO NOT FLIP during rounds One and Two.
Change(s): Last round only, not every round.
Last Comment:
One could simplify the rule changes by saying that responsibilities have been changed to
encourage more clash in the debates, individual awards will now be possible, and the coin toss
will be during Round Three only.
Public Forum Debate Ballot
Round # _____
Room # _____
Judge Name ____________________
Date __________
Resolved: The United States Congress should remove the ban on offshore drilling.
During THE LAST ROUND ONLY, flip a coin to determine the side and speaking order of the debate. The winner
of the flip has the option of choosing either the side (Pro or Con) or the speaking order (1 st or 2nd) in the round. The
team that loses the flip makes the remaining choice, either side or speaking order. After this is determined, record
the names of the competitors. Please note that new arguments in the Final Focus are to be ignored. The Final
Focus must be based on arguments and issues previously addressed in the debate.
PLEASE DO NOT FILL OUT THIS BALLOT UNTIL AFTER THE COIN TOSS HAS BEEN COMPLETED
AND THE DEBATERS HAVE DETERMINED SIDE/SPEAKING ORDER.
Code __________
Side __________
Points
Code __________
Speaker - 1 ____________________
_____
Speaker - 1 ____________________
_____
Speaker - 2 ____________________
_____
Speaker - 2 ____________________
_____
Team Points _____
Side __________
Points
Team Points _____
29-30
27-28
24-26
20-23
Outstanding
Excellent
Good
Needs Improvement
In my opinion, the team that won is __________ representing the PRO / CON (please circle PRO or CON)
Code
The reason(s) for my decision is…
Comments for PRO:
Judge’s Signature: ___________________________
Comments for CON:
Judge’s Affiliation: ___________________________
IVC Warm-Up Debates Registration Form (Page 01)
(Fax No: 714-731-0938)
Institution Name: ______________________________________________________________
Contact Name: ___________________________ Contact Phone: _______________________
Contact Email: ___________________________ Contact Fax: _________________________
Judge Names (ALL): ___________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT: “High School Division” teams determined to actually be “Experienced” will be forfeit and their
school will be fined!
Debate Competition Participants
Team 01:
Team 06:
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Team 02:
Team 07:
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Team 03:
Team 08:
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Team 04:
Team 09:
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Team 05:
Team 10:
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
IVC Warm-Up Debates Registration Form (Page 02)
(Fax No: 714-731-0938)
Institution Name: ______________________________________________________________
Debate Competition Participants
Team 11:
Team 16:
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Team 12:
Team 17:
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Team 13:
Team 18:
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Team 14:
Team 19:
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Team 15:
Team 20:
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
First & Last Name: ___________________
First & Last Name: ___________________
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______
Grade: ______ Experienced (Y/N)? ______