Entries and Fees

Each school is limited to a maximum of 4 entries per event. Please see the event descriptions later in the invitation.

 

Entry fees are $5 per IE slot, $10 per Oratory slot, and $20 per Debate Team. One judge covers 6 IE entries or 2 debate teams. The cost per uncovered entry is an additional $15 for IEs and $40 for Debate Teams. Judge usability will impact uncovered slot fees. If a judge is deemed “unusable” by MCFA committee members, the judge will not be allowed to defray the cost of individual event or parliamentary debate slots. In the event clean judges are not provided by your school, it may be necessary to “double up” students from your school during preliminary rounds to keep the judging pool clean and productive. The coaches’ meeting lunch will be $10 per coach.

 

Entries are due via Speechwire 5pm on Monday, February 11^th. Fees are assessed at this time as well.  A fee of $10.00 is assessed for each drop or add after this time. All judges are expected to be available for final rounds. All judges are considered “clean” for final rounds. Teams will be charged a fee of $50.00 for every judge dropped from the tournament. The MCFA will charge teams for changes.

 

Registration

All fees are to be paid at registration unless the MCFA is notified beforehand. Failure to pay fees at registration will disqualify teams from competition. All-State forms and Oratory scripts must be turned in at registration. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the All-State applications not being considered and the Oratory slot to be dropped from the tournament. 

 

Awards

The scoring system for awards, including tie-breaking procedures, can be found in the MCFA By-Laws. The MCFA will honor finalists in each individual event and all out-round debate participants. The top 4 scoring events for each individual will count toward Quadrathon (Larry Schnoor Individual Sweepstakes); the five Quadrathon awards will be determined by number of points earned throughout the tournament.

 

Team awards will be given for the top three teams in Individual Events, Debate, Combined Large-Entry (Cindy Larson-Casselton Award), and Combined Small-Entry. The Greg LaPanta Quality Award is given to the school that has the highest number of average points per competitor.

 

The MCFA will also recognize the top forensic students in the state of Minnesota by naming a Minnesota All-State Forensic Team based on applications. To apply, please see the forms on the MCFA website.

 

Accommodation Requests

Students and coaches occasionally may have additional requests that accompany speeches or speakers at the state tournament. A student or coach may make a special request to the MCFA. The nature of the request and accommodation shall be sent to the Executive Secretary 4 weeks before the opening of the state tournament. The request will include a justification for the request, the impact of the request on the host school, and any other information needed to understand the request. The request should address potential concerns that other coaches and competitors might raise regarding the request; for example, how the request would not provide the competitor some additional advantage. The Executive Committee will then discuss and provide a response 2 weeks before the opening of the state tournament. The earlier a request is made, the more likely the MCFA and host school will be able to make reasonable accommodations.

 

Parking:  Parking is available anywhere on campus on Saturday and Sunday, although it is advised to park in the B Parking Lot. A map will be posted on Speechwire.

Schedule

Students may enter no more than 2 IEs per flight. Each school is limited to a maximum of 4 entries per event.

 

IE Flight A	IE Flight B	IE Flight C
Prose, Imp, Info	Extemp, Duo, Oratory, POI	ADS, CA, DI, Poetry

                                                           

Friday		Saturday		Sunday
12:30pm	Registration	7:00am	Registration	8:00am	Extemp Draw
1:00pm	Parli 1	8:00am	Extemp Draw	8:15am	B3
2:15pm	Parli 2	8:15am	B1	9:30am	A3
4:00pm	Parli 3	9:30am	A1	10:45am	C3
5:30pm	Dinner	10:45am	C1	12:00pm	Lunch Break/Meeting
6:00pm	Parli 4	12:00pm	Lunch Break	1:15pm	Postings for Finals
		12:30pm	Parli Quarterfinals	1:30pm	Extemp Draw
		1:30pm	Extemp Draw	2:00pm	B + Prose, Imp Finals
		1:45pm	B2	3:45pm	C + Info, Parli Finals
		3:00pm	A2	5:30pm	Awards
		4:15pm	C2
		5:30pm	Parli Semis

 

*Note: to break to Parli Quarterfinals, there must be at least 12 debate teams entered in the tournament. If there are fewer than 12 debate teams, then we will go straight to Semifinals. If this occurs, the MCFA Executive Committee reserves the right to amend the schedule to make Sunday go more smoothly.

 

Individual Event Descriptions

A EVENTS

Impromptu Speaking: An impromptu speech, substantive in nature, with topic selections varied by round, section by section. Prompts will consist of quotations (round 1 and finals), cartoons (round 2), and objects (round 3). Speakers will have a total of 7 minutes for both preparation and speaking. Timing commences with the acceptance of the prompt. Limited notes are permitted. In each round, enough topics will be provided so that all contestants may observe.

 

Informative Speaking: An original, factual speech by the student on a realist subject to fulfill the general aim to inform the audience. Audio-visual aids may or may not be used to supplement and reinforce the message. Multiple sources should be used and cited in the development of the speech. Minimal notes are permitted. Maximum time is 10 minutes.

 

Prose Interpretation: An original or selections of prose material of literary merit, which may be drawn from more than one source. Focus of this event is on the development of the narrative/story. Play cuttings and poetry are prohibited. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time is 10 minutes including introduction.

 

B EVENTS

Dramatic Duo: A cutting from one or more texts of literary merit, humorous or serious, involving the portrayal of two or more characters presented by two individuals. The material may be drawn from any genre of literature. This is not an acting event; thus, no costumes, props, lighting, etc, are to be used. Presentation is from the manuscript and the focus should be off-stage and not to each other. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes including introduction.

 

Extemporaneous Speaking: Contestants will be given three topics in the general area of current event, choose one, and have 30 minutes to prepare a speech that is the original work of the student. Maximum time limit for the speech is 7 minutes. . The third round of questions will be questions pertaining to Minnesota. Limited notes are permitted. Student will speak in listed order. Postings of topics will be staggered.

 

Oratory:  The oration must be delivered without the aid of notes or manuscript. No oration may contain over 1800 words. Although no minimum word limit is established, a 1500 word limit is suggested. Orations will not be timed. For the purpose of definition, quoted words are those written or spoken by a person other than the orator. Such quoted material shall be limited to 20% of the total number of words in the oration. All quoted material shall be documented. A copy of each oration shall be submitted at registration.

 

Program Oral Interpretation: A program of thematically-linked selections of literary merit, chosen from two or three recognized genres of competitive interpretation (prose/poetry/drama). A primary focus of this event should be on the development of the theme through the use of narrative/story, language, and/or characterization. A substantial portion of the total time must be devoted to each of the genres used in the program. Different genre means the material must appear in separate pieces of literature (e.g., A poem included in a short story that appears only in that short story does not constitute a poetry genre.) Only one selection may be original. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes including introduction.

 

C EVENTS

After Dinner Speaking: An original, humorous speech by the student, designed to exhibit sound speech composition, thematic, coherence, direct communicative public speaking skills, and good taste. The speech should not resemble a night club act, an impersonation, or comic dialogue. Audio-visual aids may or may not be used to supplement and reinforced the message. Minimal notes are permitted. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes.

 

Communication Analysis: An original speech by the student designed to offer an explanation and/or evaluation of a communication event such as a speech, speaker, movement, poem, poster, film, campaign, etc. through the use of rhetorical principles. Audio-visual aids may or may not be used to supplement and reinforce the message. Manuscripts are permitted. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes.

 

Drama Interpretation: A cutting that represents one or more characters from a play or plays of literary merit. The focus of this event is on the development of characterization. This material may be drawn from stage, screen, or radio. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes including introduction.

 

Poetry Interpretation: A selection or selections of poetry of literary merit, which may be drawn from more than one source. A primary focus of this event should be on the development of language. Play cuttings and prose works are prohibited. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes including introduction.

Parliamentary Debate Rules

*Please note, these differ slightly from NPDA*

1. Resolutions

A. A different resolution for each round will be presented to the debaters in their room at the start of each round.

 

B. The resolutions will be general enough that a well-educated college student can debate them. They may be phrased in literal or metaphorical language. Participants can expect resolutions of value, policy, and fact throughout the tournament. Round 1 will be a Minnesota-based resolution. All other resolutions will be created by the executive committee.

 

2. Objective of the debate

The proposition team must affirm the resolution by presenting and defending a sufficient case for that resolution. The opposition team must oppose the resolution and/or the proposition team's case. If, at the end of the debate, the judge believes that the proposition team has supported and successfully defended the resolution, they will be declared the winner, otherwise the opposition will be declared the winner.

 

3. Before the debate

The proposition team, if they wish, may use the room assigned for debate for their preparation. If the proposition team uses the debating room for preparation, both the judge and the opposition must vacate the room until the time for the debate to begin. No warm room will be provided.

 

4. During the debate

A. Any published information (dictionaries, magazines, etc.), which may have been consulted before the debate, cannot be brought into the debating chambers for use during the debate. Except for notes that the debaters themselves have prepared during preparation time and a copy of the NPDA "Rules of Debating and Judging," no published materials, prepared arguments, or resources for the debaters' use in the debate may be brought into the debating chambers. No additional research or coaching may be conducted at any point once the resolution has been announced. No internet access is allowed. No warm room will be provided.

 

B. Debaters may refer to any information that is within the realm of knowledge of liberally educated and informed citizens. If they believe some cited information to be too specific, debaters may request that their opponent explain specific information with which they are unfamiliar. In the event further explanation of specific information is requested, the debater should provide details sufficient to allow the debater to understand the connection between the information and the claim. Judges will disallow specific information only in the event that no reasonable person could have access to the information: e.g., information that is from the debater's personal family history.

 

C. Format of the debate
First Proposition Constructive Speaker: 7 minutes
First Opposition Constructive Speaker: 8 minutes
Second Proposition Constructive Speaker: 8 minutes
Second Opposition Constructive Speaker: 8 minutes
Opposition Rebuttal by First Speaker: 4 minutes
Proposition Rebuttal by First Speaker: 5 minutes

 

D. Constructive and Rebuttal Speeches
Introduction of new arguments is appropriate during all constructive speeches. However, debaters may not introduce new arguments in rebuttal speeches. New examples, analysis, analogies, etc. that support previously introduced arguments are permitted in rebuttal speeches.

 

 

 

E. Points of Information
A debater may request a point of information at any time after the first minute and before the last minute of any constructive speech. The debater holding the floor has the discretion to accept or refuse points of information. If accepted, the debater requesting the point of information has a maximum of fifteen seconds to make a statement or ask a question. The speaking time of the debater with the floor continues during the point of information.

 

F. Points of Order
If at any time during the debate, a debater believes that their opponent has violated a rule, they may address the Speaker of the House with a point of order. Once recognized by the Speaker of the House, the debater must state, but may not argue for, the point of order. At the discretion of the Speaker of the House, the accused may briefly respond to the point of order. The Speaker of the House will then rule immediately on the point of order in one of three ways: point well taken, point not well taken, or point taken under consideration. The time used to state and address a point of order will not be deducted from the speaking time of the debater with the floor. A point of order is a serious charge and should not be raised for minor violations.

 

G. Points of Personal Privilege
At any time during the debate, a debater may rise to a point of personal privilege when they believe that an opponent has personally insulted one of the debaters, has made an offensive or tasteless comment, or has grievously misconstrued another's words or arguments. The Speaker will then rule on whether or not the comments were acceptable. The time used to state and address a point of personal privilege will not be deducted from the speaking time of the debater with the floor. Like a point of order, a point of personal privilege is a serious charge and should not be raised for minor transgressions.

 

H. Debaters have 1 minute from the end of one speech to start the next speech, although they may start earlier. This is to be used to finalize notes and consult with their partner. No outside research or coaching is permitted during this time. Further, no questions are allowed at this time. This time may not be used as additional speech time.

 

5. After the debate

A. After the final rebuttal, the Speaker of the House will dismiss the teams, complete the ballot and return it to the ballot staff. The judge should not give oral comments before the ballot is completed and returned to the ballot staff.

 

B. Debaters or coaches will refrain from arguing with judges' decisions or comments. Debaters or coaches who harass judges may be withdrawn from the tournament.

 

6. Scheduling

A. Preliminary Rounds 1 and 2 will be randomly assigned at the start of the tournament. Round 3 will Power-Matched (HIGH-HIGH) and Round 4 will be Power-Protected (HIGH-LOW). Seeding will be determined by record. Tiebreakers will be the win-loss record of the teams they opposed, followed by total team Speaker Points.

 

B. The first set of out-rounds will be Quarterfinals. There must be at least 12 debate teams entered in the tournament to break to Quarterfinals. If there are fewer than 12 debate teams, then we will go straight to Semifinals.

 

C. Quarterfinalist teams will be determined by seeding, with the top 8 teams advancing. Seeding will be determined by record. Tiebreakers will be by total team Speaker Points, followed by the win-loss record of the teams they opposed.

 

D. For all out-round competitions, the siding of the debate will be determined by a coin flip, unless the two opposing teams had debated one another earlier in the tournament, in which case the teams will debate the opposite sides as before.

 

(vr)