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Rules of Parliamentary Debate
Rules of Parliamentary Debate
Rules of Parliamentary Debate
FOR
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
MALAYSIA
ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION
1.0 Name
2.0 Format
2.4 The third debater from both teams shall not introduce any new
arguments. Their role is mainly to rebut.
2.5 While the debater is speaking, the opposition team can offer ‘Point(s)
of Information’ (formal interjections). The debater may accept or decline
it.
2.6 After all the debaters have spoken once, the 1 st or 2nd debater of each
side gives a reply speech with the Negative’s Reply Speech being
delivered first followed by the Affirmative.
3.0 Eligibility
3.1 The competition is open to all students from Form 1 to 5 from all
government-aided secondary schools under the purview of the Ministry
of Education, Malaysia except residential schools.
3.2 A school is allowed to send only one team to participate in the
competition.
3.4 Every member of a participating team should come from the same
school. (Failure in doing so will result in disqualification)
4.0 Adjudication
4.3 Adjudicators should not adjudicate the team from their own schools /
districts / states unless there are no adjudicators available.
4.5 The debate will be won by the team which scores a majority of votes
from the adjudicators on the panel. Scores awarded by adjudicators
are not to be added together to decide the winner. Adjudicators
decide the winner of the debate independently.
4.6 The adjudicators shall meet and confer to decide on the Best Debater.
4.7 The Chief adjudicator shall give a short comment on both debate
teams.
4.9 Prizes
5.1.2 The teams will draw the stand 30 minutes before a debate
commences.
5.1.4 Any team that is late would have to inform the organisers within
5 minutes of the scheduled time, failure of which, the team
already present will be allowed to draw and quarantine time will
commence. A grace period of not more than 30 minutes will be
given to the team that is late after which quarantine time
commences.
5.1.6 The team will then be quarantined in their quarantine rooms for
30 minutes to prepare for the debate. The quarantine officers
must be in the room with the team.
5.1.8 The team is allowed to use their own printed reference materials
in the quarantine room. No electronic gadgets are allowed.
5.1.10 If any one team fails to show up 5 minutes after the quarantine
time, the team will be disqualified. A walk over will be awarded to
the team that is present.
5.2.3 The Speaker will read out the rules of the debate and then
proceed to introduce the timekeeper, adjudicators and debaters.
5.2.4 The Speaker must refrain from making any comments
concerning the debate or debaters during the debate.
5.2.5 The Speaker must ensure that the adjudicators be given enough
time to fill in their marks and wait for the signal from the Chief
Adjudicator before the next debater is called.
5.3.2 The Timekeeper will ring the bell once after the 1 st minute and at
the end of the 7th minute to signal the time allocated for Points of
Information. At the end of the 8th minute, the bell will be rung
twice. (Placards may be used by the timekeeper to indicate the
remaining time left, at intervals of one minute.)
5.3.4 During the Reply Speech, the Timekeeper will ring the bell once
at the 3rd minute to signal that the debater has 1 minute left. At
the end of the 4th minute, the bell will be rung twice to signal the
end of the debate.
i. a question
ii. a remark
iii. a clarification
iv. a correction of word(s) or statement(s).
6.7 A debater MUST give or take at least 2 Points of Information during the
course of the debate.
6.7.1 A debater who does not offer the minimum number of Points of
Information will be marked down for SUBSTANCE and
STRATEGY.
5
6.7.2.1 Substance for failing to allow the other side to make
their point
6.7.2.2 Strategy for not understanding the role of the debater
under this style or cowardice in not accepting a
challenge
SUBSTANCE
STRATEGY
LANGUAGE
STYLE
1.1 SUBSTANCE
1.1.1 Substance covers the arguments that are used and are divorced from
the speaking style. It is as if you are seeing the arguments written
down rather than spoken. You must assess the weight of the
arguments without being influenced by the magnificence of the orator
who presented them.
1.2 STRATEGY
1.2.1 Strategy requires some attention. It covers two concepts:
1.2.2 Structure
A good speech has a clear beginning, middle and end. Along the way,
there are signposts to help us see where the debater is going. The
sequence of arguments is logical and flows naturally from point to
point. This is true of the first debater outlining the Government’s case
as it is of the third debater rebutting the Government’s case. Good
speech structure, therefore, is one component of the strategy.
1.2.3 Timing is also important, but it must not be taken to extremes. There
are two aspects of timing:
1.2.5 So, the adjudicator must weigh not only the strength of the arguments
in the SUBSTANCE category, but also the proper time and priority
given in the STRATEGY category.
1.3 LANGUAGE
1.3.1 Language refers to using appropriate expressions containing correct
sentence structures and grammar.
1.3.3 On the other hand, any good language expression, including the use of
figures of speech, idioms, etc. appropriate and apt to the occasion,
may merit positive marks for Language.
1.4 STYLE
1.4.1 The term is rather misleading. Adjudicators are not looking for debaters
who are stylish.
1.4.2 Style covers the way the debaters’ speak. This can be noted in many
ways, in funny accents, body language (movement, poise, meaningful
gestures and eye contact) and with the use of specific terminology. Be
tolerant of different ways of presenting arguments.
1.4.3 Use of palm cards and notes are allowed and should not be penalised,
unless a debater is reading from them heavily.
2.0 REBUTTAL
2.1 The use of general cases has consequences for rebuttal or clash. The
Opposition team cannot concentrate on attacking the examples used by the
Government. The examples might be weak but the central case might still be
sound. Instead, the team will have to concentrate on that case because that is
where the debate actually is.
2.2 There is another consequence for rebuttal. It may be that a team has used a
number of examples to illustrate the same point. If they can all be disposed off
by the same piece of rebuttal, the rebutting team does not have to attack each
of the examples individually as well.
3.2 A Reply speaker does not have time to deal with small arguments or individual
examples. The debater must deal with the two or three major issues in the
debate in global terms, showing how they favour the debater’s team and work
against the opposing team. As a general rule, a Reply speaker who descends
to the level of dealing with individual examples probably does not understand
either the issues of the debate or the principles of good arguments.
4.2 Points of Information bring about a major change in the role of the debaters in
a debate. In this style, each debater must take part from beginning to end, not
just during their own speech.
4.3 The debaters play this role by offering Points of Information. Even if the points
are not accepted, they must still demonstrate that they are involved in the
debate by at least offering. A debater who takes no part in the debate
other than by making a speech would be marked down for Substance
and Strategy.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION
FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS
TIMING
Role Time
1st Government
1st Opposition
2nd Government
2nd Opposition
3rd Government
3rd Opposition
Reply Speech
(Opposition)
Reply Speech
(Government)
Timekeeper’s Name
Signature
Date
ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION TEAM : GOVERNMENT
FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS ADJUDICATOR’S SCORESHEET
SCHOOL/STATE: TOPIC :
NAME / ROLE 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1 2
NAME
FIRST GOVERNMENT SECOND GOVERNMENT THIRD GOVERNMENT REPLY SPEECH
MARKS 26-30 21-25 16-20 11-15 6-10 26-30 21-25 16-20 11-15 6-10 26-30 21-25 16-20 11-15 6-10 14-15 12-13 10-11 8-9 6-7
SUBSTANCE
(30)
STRATEGY
(30)
MARKS 18-20 15-17 12-14 9-11 6-8 18-20 15-17 12-14 9-11 6-8 18-20 15-17 12-14 9-11 6-8 9-10 7-8 5-6 4 3
LANGUAGE
(20)
STYLE
(20)
TOTAL (100) 86-100 70-85 56-69 40-55 24-39 86-100 70-85 56-69 40-55 24-39 86-100 70-85 56-69 40-55 24-39 45-50 36-44 30-35 24-29 18-23
SCHOOL/STATE: TOPIC :
Name / ROLE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2
NAME
FIRST OPPOSITION SECOND OPPOSITION THIRD OPPOSITION REPLY SPEECH
MARKS 26-30 21-25 16-20 11-15 6-10 26-30 21-25 16-20 11-15 6-10 26-30 21-25 16-20 11-15 6-10 14-15 12-13 10-11 8-9 6-7
SUBSTANC
E
(30)
STRATEGY
(30)
MARKS 18-20 15-17 12-14 9-11 6-8 18-20 15-17 12-14 9-11 6-8 18-20 15-17 12-14 9-11 6-8 9-10 7-8 5-6 4 3
LANGUAGE
(20)
STYLE
(20)
TOTAL
86-100 70-85 56-69 40-55 24-39 86-100 70-85 56-69 40-55 24-39 86-100 70-85 56-69 40-55 24-39 45-50 36-44 30-35 24-29 18-23
(100)
REPLY SPEECH
OPPOSITION GOVERNMENT
REBUTTAL REBUTTAL
SUMMARY SUMMARY
ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2019
ADJUDICATOR’S NOTES
1ST GOVERNMENT 1ST OPPOSITION 2ND GOVERNMENT 2ND OPPOSITION 3RD GOVERNMENT 3RD OPPOSITION
NAME : NAME : NAME : NAME : NAME : NAME :
POI (INTERJECTED) POI (INTERJECTED) POI (INTERJECTED) POI (INTERJECTED) POI (INTERJECTED) POI(INTERJECTED)
POI (ANSWERED) POI (ANSWERED) POI (ANSWERED) POI (ANSWERED) POI (ANSWERED) POI(ANSWERED)
Definition: Defn – Agree/Refute Defn – Agree/Refute Rebut 2nd Government : Rebut 2nd Opposition : Rebut 3rd Government :
New Definition : Redefine :
Specify Stand : Specify Stand : Rebut 1st Opposition : Rebut 1st Government : Rebut 1st Opposition : Rebut 2nd Government :
1. SUBSTANCE
2. STRATEGY
3. LANGUAGE
Appropriate expression
Correct sentence structure and grammar
Pronunciation, fluency, rhythm, intonation and clarity
Good language and expression appropriately used e.g. idioms and figures of speech
4. STYLE
Presentation on the way the debaters speak include body language, eye contact and voice modulation. (Be tolerant of
speaking style and speed of delivery)
Result (Adjudicator’s vote)
WINNING TEAM
Adjudicator’s Signature :
________________
( )
ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION
FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2019
VOTING
BEST DEBATER
Name Signature
Adjudicator 1 : ……………………………
Adjudicator 2 : ……………………………
Date : ……………………………
RESULT
BEST DEBATER
NAME : ____________________
SCHOOL : ____________________
CHIEF ADJUDICATOR :
SIGNATURE : ________________________
( )
RESULT
WINNING TEAM
SIGNATURE :
ADJUDICATOR 1 : ___________________
ADJUDICATOR 2 : ___________________