ACU Debating Challenge 2022
Heats:
Monday July 25th to Friday July 29th
Semi Finals:
Monday August 15th
Final:
Monday August 22nd
VENUE:
Australian Catholic University (ACU)
Connors Hall, 1220 Mair Street, Ballarat
Special Conditions
To be read in conjunction with the General Rules listed on the RSSS website and in Stardom.
- The Debating Challenge Cup is a competition for school teams. Teams will be registered under the name of the school they represent.
- Schools will be invited to enter a team or teams in one or as appropriate in more than one of the following levels. Entry fees & time limits are as follows:
- Section 820 Primary Years 5 & 6
- Time Limit ~ 2 minutes per speaker
- Section 821 Secondary Years 7 & 8
- Time Limit ~ 3 minutes per speaker
- Section 822 Secondary Years 9 & 10
- Time Limit ~ 4 minutes per speaker
- Section 823 Secondary Years 11 & 12
- Time Limit ~ 5 minutes per speaker
Entry Fee per team ~ $35
- Schools are responsible for the supervision and welfare of their competitors. Royal South Street Society is not responsible for supervision or the welfare of competitors.
- Teams in each section will consist of four speakers, three primaries plus a nominated substitute to be available in case one of the primaries is unable to compete.
- In the event that two speakers in a team that qualifies for the semi-final, that team can call on their nominated substitute speaker and one other unregistered speaker (subject to point 6 below) to compete in the semi-final if necessary. If the team has not registered a substitute speaker, it will not be permitted to use two unregistered replacement speakers and will have to forfeit.
- A student can be a speaker in only one debating team.
- Each School is advised to carefully consider the number of teams it enters and must ensure that teams are ready to compete when scheduled. This is most important as if a team must withdraw after the draw is finalised it will mean that the opposing team can take no part in the competition.
- The school’s competition requires an equal number of teams in each section. Where the number of entries received by the closing date is not even, the Debating Committee will make every effort to find an additional team to adjust the imbalance before making the decision not to accept the entry of an individual team to balance numbers.
- Our discipline is adopting the Government’s Gender Equity policy.
The adoption of gender equity in language is vital to the co-existence of the sexes. ‘By developing a respect for one another and de-sexualizing everyday language, it is highly possible that equality can be achieved in all aspects of society. By pushing away gender stereotypes and generalizations, the human behind the gender is revealed.’
What is inclusive language?
Inclusive language is a way of acknowledging and respecting the diversity of bodies, genders and relationships.
All schools in Victoria are teaching Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR). A major focus of this program is eliminating gender- based language and developing positive gender relationships.
- Schools will be provided with a timetable and their debating topic/s at least one month prior to the start of the competition. Each team must register the names and speaking order of the debaters at the registration desk at least 15 minutes prior to the starting time for its debate.
- The format of the debates will follow the generally accepted procedures in the Australian – Asian Debating Guide.
- An MC will control the debate. The MC will welcome and introduce each team, the adjudicator and timers plus announce the topic.
- The timer will sound a warning bell one minute (30 seconds for year 5/6 debates) before the end of the speaker’s allotted time and a second bell to indicate the end of the speaker’s allotted time.
- At the end of each debate the adjudicator will give a verbal critique and announce the result of the debate
- Teams will be provided with an adjudicator’s written critique and a breakdown of the results for each debate following the heats and the semi- finals.
- The four (4) highest scoring winning teams in each section of the school’s competition will progress to the semi-finals, with the winners of each semi- final competing for the Challenge Cup for that section.
- Perpetual trophies will be held by the winning teams for 11 months. It is an expectation that perpetual trophies must be returned to the Royal South Street Office once notified to do so. Holders of the perpetual trophies will be responsible for their safekeeping, and return. Trophies must be returned in same condition they were received along with being engraved with the school name.
- The lodging of an entry is taken as agreement to abide by the special conditions as detailed above.
Audience ~ Royal South Street Society encourages schools to bring students to be a part of the audience for debates, providing they are effectively supervised. Prior arrangements for school groups to attend must be made by emailing admin@royalsouthstreet.com.au. The cost of entry will be $1 per student & $2 per supervising teacher.
AWARDS
Section 820: Years 5 & 6
Team awards:
Winning team: The Debating Challenge Cup & Replica Cup
Runner-up team: Certificate
Individual:
Winning and runner-up team members: Certificate & Medal
Best Debater in section heats: Certificate, Medal & $40 Ballarat Zonta Group
Runner-up Best Debater in section heats: Certificate & Medal
Section 821: Years 7 & 8
Team awards:
Winning team: The Debating Challenge Cup & Replica Cup
Runner-up team: Certificate
Individual:
Winning and runner-up team members: Certificate & Medal
Best Debater in section heats: Certificate, Medal & $50 Ballarat East Rotary
Runner-up Best Debater in section heats: Certificate & Medal
Section 822: Years 9 & 10
Team awards:
Winning team: The Debating Challenge Cup & Replica
Runner-up team: Certificate
Individual:
Winning and runner-up team members: Certificate & Medal
Best Debater in section heats: Certificate, Medal & $60 Ballarat East Rotary
Runner-up Best Debater in section heats: Certificate & Medal
Section 823: Years 11 & 12
Team awards:
Winning team: The Debating Challenge Cup & Replica
Runner-up team: Certificate
Individual:
Winning and runner-up team members: Certificate & Medal
Best Debater in section heats: Certificate, Medal & $70 Ballarat Zonta Club
Runner-up Best Debater in section heats: Certificate & Medal