May 20: International debate

  • DEBATE: “EU bans sale of combustion vehicles as of 2030” 

    on 20 May 2021

    PARTICIPANTS: 

    • Debating Teams
    • Debate Jury
    • Audience: the rest of the students and the teachers who are supposed to express  their feeling about the debate (what they liked and didn't like) 

    INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE DEBATING TEAMS 

    1. Debating Teams:
    Team A has the affirmative role - defends “pros” of the topic
    Team B has the negative role - defends “cons” of the topic 

    2. Each team will consist of 4 members, one student from each school. 

    3. Both teams will have at least two weeks to prepare for the topic discussion.  

    4. During preparation, each team will choose who will start the debate (first speaker), who  will follow as the second, third and fourth speaker. 

    DEBATING RULES 

    1. Team A opens the discussion with their first speaker. 

    The speaker's speech, with the explanation of their attitude to the topic. The speech can  be interrupted by Team B’s questions, but the speaker can reject them without listening. Maximum time = 3 minutes. 

    2. 1 minute for the preparation of Team B’s questions. 

    3. Any member of Team B, as well as all of them, may present the questions. Only Team A’s  1st Speaker can answer them. 

    Maximum time = 3 minutes. 

    4. Then, the first speaker of Team B will present his/her ideas and opinions on the topic.  Arguments against the opinion of Team A’s 1st Speaker may be presented. Maximum time = 3 minutes. 

    5. 1 minute for the preparation of Team A’s questions. 

    6. Any member of Team A, as well as all of them, may present the questions. Only Team B’s  1st Speaker can answer them. 

    Maximum time = 3 minutes. 

    7. The 2nd Speaker from Team A gives his/her speech with an opinion defending his/her team as well as a reaction to Team B’s ideas. The speech can be interrupted by Team B’s questions, but the speaker can reject them without listening. 

    Maximum time = 3 minutes. 

    8. 1 minute for the preparation of Team B’s questions.

    9. Any member of Team B, as well as all of them, may present the questions. Only Team A’s  2nd Speaker can answer them. 

    Maximum time = 3 minutes. 

    10. Then, continue, as of point 4, with Team B’s 2nd Speaker and so on until all 4 Speakers  from both teams have taken part in the discussion. 

    The Debate Jury: 

    The jury consists of 5 jurors - one student from each school and one teacher (President).

    President of the Jury – He/she is a teacher if possible somebody from another school. If speakers and/or Teams A and B have the same number of points, the President of  the Jury has the decisive role. 

    Each Juror gives up to a maximum of 20 points to each speaker who will have a maximum of  100 points. Each Juror registers the points in an Excel table.

    Moderator - a person who moderates the debate, allowing the  speakers to speak and looks after the progress of the debate. He/she acts as a neutral participant in a debate, watches the time and doesn't  give points to the speakers.

    Timer - measures the time throughout the debate, helps the moderator watch the time.

    Point System 

    Each speaker will get points from 1 to 5, being 1 bad and 5 excellent, for:

    1. Relevance: speaking to the topic, using strong and persuasive arguments,  content of the speech;
    2. Form of the speech: vocabulary, grammar, intonation, fluency (speaking readily  without pauses), pronunciation;
    3. Communication and promptness: quick responses to all questions;
    4. Engagement in the debate: giving and answering questions. 

    A speaker is disqualified if he/she: 

    1. uses native language during the debate;
    2. does not speak to the topic;
    3. interrupts the debate by not asking questions, not answering them or speaking  when not allowed;
    4. breaking the ethical code of the debate by using offensive language and/or colloquial slang. 

    Debating Results: 

    • Best speaker of the Team A – Speaker of Team A with the most points awarded
    • Best speaker of the Team B – Speaker of Team B with the most points awarded
    • Best speaker of all – the Speaker of both teams with the most points awarded

    • Best Team – Team A or B with the most points awarded
    (the number of points of all the speakers in the team)

    Video from the debate: