AIDPSC Debating

Overview

The AIDPSC uses a form of debating called “Coordinate Debating”. This is a mix of several debating style, and is similar to the Worlds School Style debating format. All debates will be secret topic debates, with 45 minutes preparation time.

The debate takes place between two teams of two debaters. The affirmative team is known as the ‘Proposer’, while the negative team is known as the ‘Opposer’. Each team needs to deliver three speeches, with one speaker giving the first and third speeches, and the other speaker giving the second speech.

You compete as an individual, and will be paired at random with a person from a different school. You will need to work together as a team, but you will be scored individually. The winning ‘team’ is irrelevant to the outcome of the debate (i.e. first place could be given to the second proposition, and then second place could be given to the first opposition).

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Preparation

The format of the debate will be as follows:

Teams will be told the motion 45 minutes prior to the debate.
Ten minutes into the preparation time, the Proposing team must tell the Opposition team their definition of the resolution. The resolution must be interpreted in a reasonable manner that reflects the spirit of the resolution.
Both teams then have 35 minutes to finish preparing.

Debate Format

1. The Proposer: 6 minutes

2. The Opposer: 6 minutes

3. The Seconder to the Proposition: 9 minutes

4. The Seconder to the Opposition: 9 minutes

5. The Opposer (summing up): 3 minutes

6. The Proposer (summing up): 3 minutes

Each role has some similarities to the DAV format: the first speaker needs to introduce the topic, establish models/definitions and introduce points. Speaker begin with rebuttal (if possible) and then introduce their own points. Third speakers (final speeches) and rebuttal and summing up (no new points)

Points of Information

During a person’s speech (outside of protected times), either member of the other team can as a ‘point of information’. This is a question, no longer than 30 seconds in length, where they query something that the speaker has said.

A point of information is launched when a debater stand up, places one hand on their head and extends their other hand, and says in a loud, clear voice “Point of information”.

The speaker then has to decide whether they will accept the point of information (identified by turning to the interjecting debater and saying “Yes”) or reject the point of information (identified by waving down the interjecting debater or saying “Not at this time”).

If a point of information is accepted, the interjecting debater then asks their question, and the speaker must respond to it.

If a point of information is rejected, the interjecting speaker must sit down. The may interject again later, but should let some time pass (e.g. 30 seconds).

It is expected that a speaker will accept at least 2 points of information during their speech, and that the opposing team will offer at least 5 points of information during the speech.

Warning Bell Times

Proposer/Opposer:

1 minute (single) (end protected time*)
5 minutes (single) (start protected time*)
6 minutes (double) (finish)
6 min 30 secs (triple)

Seconder to the Proposition/Opposition:

1 minute (single) (end protected time*)
8 minutes (single) (start protected time*)
9 minutes (double) (finish)
9 min 30 secs (triple)

Proposer/Opposer (summing up) (entire speech is protected time*)

3 minutes (single) (finish)
3 min 30 secs (double)

* No Points of Information can be offered during protected time (the first and last minutes of a person’s speech, and the summing up speeches)

Scoring

Speakers are marked individually and individual speaker scores are what ultimately matter, so the winning ‘speaker’ from a debate may not be from the most persuasive/winning team. Often the winning ‘team’ will not be announced, although feedback will be given.

You can find the judging criteria in the following document: AIDPSC Debating Ballot.

Advice from the World’s Fourteenth Best Debater

Advice for Preparing:

Use the bulk of your preparation time to develop very clear arguments, a logical split, and a comprehensive model (if applicable). This will take up most (20-30 minutes) of your preparation time.
Make sure that none of your points are contradictory (especially between speakers), as these inconsistencies will be very damaging to your mark.
Make sure both you and your partner have good points; if you hog all the good stuff and leave your partner with nothing, it will make you look worse.
Write enough notes long enough to keep you on track, but do not write out a speech. Speeches make your manner worse and leave you very inflexible in the debate. You also will not have enough preparation time to write out a 9 minute speech.
Writing down some general Points of Information is a really good idea if you have any extra time.
If you are first proposition, spend some time thinking about an emotive and punchy opening that helps to establish the context of the debate.

Advice for Points of Information:

POIs are meant to call people out. this means they can be aggressive and can trip people up in the middle of the speech. That is the nature of this style and will help to build your case.
Don’t ask a POI for the sake of asking one. Ask only when you have a legitimate reason and a clear question.
Don’t feel compelled to take all POIs. The best times to accept are right after rebuttal or right after finishing a point.
Don’t just ask a POI and forget about it; try and bring up their response again in your rebuttal (especially if it was weak) or even in your substantive if it is relevant.

General Advice:

All speeches should begin with either an emotive opening to your case, or an emotive opening to rebuttal, immediately commenting on an overall flaw in the opposition’s case (nobody wants to hear you introduce yourself in a boring manner).
Sign-posting, as per usual, is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. Organise your notes in prep time in a clear way so you can sign post well. This will keep you on track and will help you manage your speaking time.
One approach to signposting both rebuttal points and substantive points is by posing questions that you will then answer.
Remember that, for the reply, you are trying to sum-up the debate as a whole: you are NOT just rebutting each point. THEMATIC REBUTTAL IS ESSENTIAL.
This form of debating is very sassy and (unlike DAV) is heavily about engaging with the opposition. Even in your substantive, you can include things that the opposition has said, and throughout your speech you should show that you are moving the debate forward.
Even if you have finished speaking or have not yet started speaking, you should be paying constant attention: whether it’s to offer POI’s (which you should always be doing) or just following the debate as a whole.
Good general knowledge is absolutely key. If you don’t have examples, you’re in big trouble.
You may feel like you won’t meet time, but you will often have a lot to say. Don’t try to stuff in as many points as possible: four is an absolute maximum. You will need to time to pick apart points, bring out evidence as well as rebuttal and responding to POIs

Materials to help with Secret Topics: First Principles

While topics (but not sides) are distributed ahead of time for Speakfest debates, all AIDPSC debates are secret topics. Just as with regular DAV debating, a good approach to secret topics can be to try and reduce the debate down to a few key ideas – the ‘first principles’ upon which the debate is based. Every topic will have a key idea or set of ideas as it’s core. People, depending on their position, may gravitate towards certain arguments of perspectives. Being able to identify and use there perspectives and ideas is where first principles come in.

You can use the following document to develop your understanding of what first principles are and what some of the most important ones are, and the different viewpoints that can then be adopted. Most of the extracts come from handbooks by various university debating societies, so don’t worry is some parts seem a bit complicated – just focus on what makes sense to you: