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The Knockout Phase beckons

Debate it! Blog Thursday, 10 January 2008

Happy New Year!


With all the fun and festivities of Christmas behind us, we hope Santa was good to you), we begin a new year and a new phase of the Concern Debates. Back to school means back to work and it’s time to get researching and writing for your Round Four debate; we have provided research links here. The details for Round Four debates can be found here.

So what is the knockout phase?


It is exactly what it says on the tin. Teams that lose their debates in this stage of the competition are eliminated. We start with 64 teams in January and work our way down to the final two teams in May at the national final.

How to “survive” the knockout phase


Remember that content is very important; select between two and three points for your speech and elaborate on them. Use relevant facts and quotes and remember to tell the adjudicators where you got them from. Research both sides of the argument; arm yourself with statistics and points for your refutation and rebuttal. Know your team’s speeches and be sure that you each have your own points and none are repeated.

Time! You need to use your time well, if your speech is short you will lose marks through having less content and if you go over time you will be penalised. Be confident and know your speech – if you believe in what you are saying you will convince the adjudicators more.

Don’t read your notes! The adjudicators can’t hear you if you are talking to the page. Pace your speech well, remember the adjudicators are only human and will find it very hard to process what you are saying ifyouarespeakingtoofast!

Refutation and Rebuttal! Every speaker must refute or rebut the other team’s arguments otherwise you will score 0 out of 20 for this section. Be persuasive – address the adjudicators as if you are convincing your parents that you should be allowed to go to Oxegen! (Yes, you have to convince them what you are saying is a good idea!)

But no matter what enjoy the debate!


Comments

Posted by Martina | 17th January 2008 10:58
My school were in the league phase but we didn't make it through, despite being brilliant! though we were up against some tough competition. We really enjoyed and now are looking to set up some more debates in school.
Posted by Gráinne | 17th January 2008 11:07
glad you enjoyed the debates Martina! the good news is that you can use all your new found knowledge at one of the Concern Know Your World quizzes which will be taking place in Donegal, Sligo, Cork, Athlone and Dublin in the coming months. Watch this webpage for details!
Posted by darren Hennessy | 18th January 2008 17:15
My school made it in to the knockout stage with full marks, but we were defeated in our first knockout debate, we only had 2 adjudicaters. I was wondering if there was any thing our team could do to get back in to the debates?
Posted by Roisin Kelly | 24th January 2008 10:16
Hi Darren, Unfortunately there isn't a way back in to the debates when you have been knocked out at this stage. It does happen due to unforseen circumstances that only two adjudicators may attend a debate. It is great that you and your team have such an enthusiasm for the debates and I hope that you will participate in the Know your world quiz Gráinne mentioned or in one of our other activities during the year, Roisin
Posted by Sarah | 24th January 2008 20:21
My team and I made it to the forth round but we lost. I have enjoyed the debates so much and getting envolved in the concern debates was the best thing I have done! good luck to St. Patricks cavan. Ye were a fun opposition and good luck to the rest of the teams also and be aware of the time while presenting your speech as a time penilty can be the difference between winning and losing, as i have experienced. :-(
Posted by patricia aherne | 27th January 2008 12:56
hey! just wanted to say that my team nd i av made it to the fifth round stages nd we r lovin it!! i av learnt so much!! bt lik i gt so nerverous!! does ny1 else gt so nerveous!!! nd av u ny tips 4 gting trough to da next round!!!
Posted by The Man | 28th January 2008 15:53
What is the prize for winning this debate out of curiousity, just wondering if its just to promote these facts or is there a motive for debaters other than this, A Grand Prize???!
Posted by Roisin Kelly | 29th January 2008 10:49
Hi The Man, the aim of the Concern Debates is to raise awareness of the issues, encourage students to act as agents for change in the world and to give students the life long skills of debating. There is a 'grand prize' at the end but this was only introduced three years ago. We are also this year going to introduce prizes for teams that show iniative in getting their whole school involved in the debates.
Posted by Megan | 28th February 2008 15:25
ballymahon r gonna go all da way!! in da quarter finals now...hard luck st pats..best opposition we had yet!!
Posted by Evan | 10th March 2008 10:24
Hey, just wondering why all the results haven't been posted yet?

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