"THE OXBRIDGE IMPROMPTU DEBATE"
( in the grand OxBridge tradition of the debating
Unions )
SUMMARY OF RULES & ETIQUETTE OF THE DEBATE
Parliamentary-style
!!!PLEASE PARTICIPATE WITH POINTS OF ORDER OR INFORMATION!!!
Chairman of the Debate
- Addressed as "Mr Chairman"
- Acts as Speaker of the House, calls on speakers to speak, decides
disputes and keeps order
- If the Chairman rings the bell, all Members of the House except
the current speaker must resume their seats
- If the Chairman stands, the current speaker must resume his seat.
Other etiquette
- Only one Member of the House may be on his feet
at one time; therefore a speaker should sit down on giving way to
an interruption or when the Chairman stands
- Cries of "Hear! Hear!" (in agreement) or "Shame!"
(in disagreement), and "Order!" (to draw a speaker's
attention to a Member of the House wishing to raise a point, who
he has not seen), are permitted but do not overdo it
- Booing or hissing are never acceptable
- Do not refer to another Member by name; use forms of address such
as "The Honourable Member from [name of University]" or "The Honourable
Proposer/Opposer".
Time Limits on Speeches
- Must not exceed 7 minutes
- Time signals: 1, 6 and 7-minute intervals.
Defining the Motion
- The Government team defines the motion
- The definition should be reasonable, and clearly and logically
linked to the motion and subsequent lines of argument.
No New Matter
- A team may not introduce any new matter after its second speech
- An argument or material is new matter unless:
- it has been previously used in the Debate; or
- it is introduced to rebut or reply to an argument or material
previously introduced.
Points of Order and Points of Information
- "Points of order" and "points of information"
are legitimate forms of interruption; introduced with "On a point
of order..." or "On a point of information..."
- A point of order refers to order in the Debate;
to bring the Chairman's attention to an abuse of the House, eg offensive
or insulting language about Members of the House, imputation of
improper motives, use of treasonable or seditious words, or words
likely to promote ill-will or hostility between different communities
- A point of information is fact, not
an opinion; it must raise a pertinent and important point or correct
a speaker
- Anyone (other than a speaker from the same side as the speaker
making the speech ) may offer a point of information
- To offer a point of information: stand and put your hand on your
head or approach the despatch box, and wait for the speaker to give
way. If the speaker declines to give way, the Member must resume
his seat.
- The speaker decides whether to yield to a person who proposes
to interrupt, but continual refusal may be marked adversely. Accepting
up to 2 points of information is recommended
- No point of information may exceed 30 seconds
- Points of information are not allowed during the 1st or final
minute of a speech. (There will be time signals at 1-minute and
6-minute intervals).
Voting
- Voting on the motion and the winning side will be by show of hands
(although it is customarily by counting Members passing through
the exits marked "Aye" and "Nay")
- In voting, Members of the House should assess the performance
of the sides by combining the scores of the individual speeches.
- Marks for a speech should mainly be based on how persuasive it
is in support or rebuttal of the motion
- 75 marks will be an average score, and marking may be as follows
:
- Matter : 40 marks
- Manner : 40 marks
- Method : 20 marks.
"Matter": arguments, material and relevant
examples.
- How relevant are they to the motion, and what is their development,
explanatory and interest value?
- Have arguments or material introduced by the other side been
skilfully and effectively rebutted?
"Manner": the style in introducing arguments
and material; which helps maintain the interest of the House,
but should enhance the arguments and material.
- How appropriate is the style is to the arguments and material?
- How attractively and persuasively have the arguments and material
have been presented?
"Method":
- Has the speech been effective, well-structured and well-organised?
- Has the speech been effective and cohesive with the structure
and organisation of the speeches of the side as a whole?
- Has the speaker reacted and contributed well to his or her
side's reaction to the dynamics of the Debate, including setting
up or continuing her or his side of the motion and opposing
the other side.
- Marks should also be given for offering and accepting points
of information, under all three categories of marking, and
particularly:
- "Matter" marks should be awarded for the content of points
offered and responses to points offered
- "Method" marks should be awarded for the effective use of
points offered and for how well the speaker controls points
offered.
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