FTN - 2011 PLNU Free Fall Parliamentary Debate Tournament

Welcome to the home page for the 2011 PLNU Free Fall Parliamentary Debate Tournament tournament hosted by Point Loma Nazarene University on Oct 29, 2011

Status: Tournament Completed

College

Theme: Ethical Issues surrounding The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot Dear Colleagues,<o:p></o:p> A number of our local colleges and universities have been encouraging an interscholastic dialogue on important ethical considerations surrounding a number of important topics related to the runaway best seller The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot.  The administration at Point Loma Nazarene University has been good enough to allow us to focus an academic intercollegiate debate tournament that discusses some of these topic areas, mostly ethical questions surrounding science in general, stem cell research in particular, not to mention issues of race, gender, class, and privacy rights, even self ownership issues.  <o:p></o:p> Additionally, I have long believed that the future health of inter-collegiate debate rests with encouraging and developing interest and ability within the Novice Division.  Unfortunately, they often get lost or under appreciated at the larger tournaments with legions of more experienced competitors.  Therefore, PLNU is offering a mostly Novice Parliamentary Debate Tournament this fall.  Experienced students can compete in the Open Division, but it is our hope that many will instead help as judges to encourage novices from their own schools’ entry level classes or other programs’ teams.<o:p></o:p> This year’s Tournament will be held on Saturday October 29th, 2011.  It will allow limited Speech team, and/or Debate class debaters to test their mettle against other equally experienced (or hopefully inexperienced) competitors.  Several programs’ professors have indicated that they will count this tournament towards a student's class requirements or extra credit.  <o:p></o:p> The Novice Division is designed for your first year Debate teams that  consist of two partners, neither of whom has had more than 12 rounds of tournament experience in either high school or college, any format of actual interscholastic debate.  Additionally, they may not have competed in three or more elimination rounds prior to the event.  All other teams must be entered in the Open Division of Parliamentary Debate, and judges must no longer have eligibility to compete in the divisions in which they are judging.  Eligibility questions should be cleared with the Tournament Director prior to the event.<o:p></o:p>  All entries are due no later than Tuesday, October 25, 2011 by 4:00 p.m.  Any changes are due by Thursday at 4:00 p.m.   Web Registration will be available at  <a href=\"http://www.forensicstournament.net/\">www.forensicstournament.net</a>  Special thanks to Danny Cantrell and Erick Roebuck who are making this web registration system available for no charge in support of free tournaments.<o:p></o:p> My e-mail address is <a href=\"mailto:skiprutledge@pointloma.edu\">skiprutledge@pointloma.edu</a>  We are expecting that mostly local schools attend, and even those, with fairly small entries so that we do not overload our campus facilities.  Perhaps up to 5-10 teams per school might work out well.  Please be sure to cover your judging commitment.  <o:p></o:p> Undergraduate debaters that have no remaining PSCFA Novice eligibility and who are committed to providing a positive, nurturing environment within rounds are welcome to judge the novice division.  All judges are encouraged to stress the importance of persuasive speaking skills and elocution.  Excessive delivery speed and unsound or unsubstantiated arguments are strongly discouraged.  Consistent with PSCFA rules coaching during prep time is allowed, and students may refer to written material or on line data only outside of the debating chambers.  No such preparation materials can be utilized in the chambers once the round begins.  Oral critiques should be given if the critic chooses to do so, but only after the ballot is completed and returned, but please do not cause debaters to miss the next round’s  topic announcement.  Be constructive and encouraging please.  There will be no warm room disclosures.<o:p></o:p> The top two teams in each division (as determined by win/loss records and speaker points) will advance to the final round, unless both teams are from the same school.  To avoid having one school close out the final round we will ask the next highest team from a competing school to debate the top team in the Final Round.  Awards will be presented to top teams and individual speakers.  This is to better insure an educational final round between two different programs, favoring educational opportunities for audience and competitors over the more traditional competitive end goal.  For competitive purposes, such as NPDA and or NPTE points, we will recognize the closeout winners if any for outside assessment, and the actual final round debate will be instead a ceremonial, educational showcase.<o:p></o:p> Entry fees have been kept to a minimum.  The tournament schedule starts later and ends earlier than most tournaments to encourage a more user friendly approach, and perhaps meals with your teams.  Hopefully you can bring some senior competitors to judge to allow you to catch up on your grading in a serene environment. We are hoping to be able to provide lunch for participants free of charge.  Please let us know if we may be of any assistance.  Thanks for your support of this important activity.  <o:p></o:p> Sincerely,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Skip Rutledge - 619.849.2391                                 <o:p></o:p> Director of Forensics                                               <o:p></o:p> Point Loma Nazarene University                            <o:p></o:p>

Documents

Invitation (PDF)