Impromptu Cup
General Information
Each year Auckland Schools Debating hosts our annual weekend debating tournament, the Impromptu Cup. This is a chance to experience a new style of impromptu debating, and has been very warmly received by schools across Auckland for the past three years. You may enter students of any year level – Year 12s and 13s will enjoy the competitive end of the tournament, but if they’re not available, Year 11s will learn a lot from our experienced adjudicators.
Key Details
- When: Saturday 18 – Sunday 19 August 2012
- Where: TBC
- Who: The tournament is open to all Year 12 and 13 students
- Team Cap: The tournament is limited to 30 teams. Schools may enter up to three teams of two.
- Cost: $20.00 per team
- Timetable: Five preliminary debates on Saturday, then semi-finals and a Grand Final on the Sunday
- How to enter: Email info@aucklandschoolsdebating.org.nz with the number of teams you wish to enter, the names of your speakers, and a name and email address for a contact teacher for the team by Friday 10 August 2012.
Tournament Format
- Speakers: Teams of two speakers only
- Format: Limited preparation
- Preparation Time: 5 minutes
- Speech Length: 5 minutes, leader’s replies 2.5 minutes, points of information not permitted
Key differences from other debating styles
- There is only five minutes of preparation time, a distinct difference from the ASD grades
- A coin is tossed to decide which team will have the power to select “affirmative” or “negative”
- The other team then has one minute to select one moot from two options provided
- After this, the team that won the coin toss has a minute to decide whether to affirm or negate
- Following the initial period, both teams have five minutes to prepare a case
- The format sounds challenging, but don’t be too daunted – it is great fun and you will learn a lot!
- The day will start with a show-debate, where experienced debaters will illustrate how impromptu debating works