Dear Fellow DANEIS Coaches,
On behalf of the Phillips Academy Philomathean Society, we are writing to invite you to participate in the Andover Invitational Debate Tournament, to be held on Sunday, October 21, 2018. The tournament will consist of three rounds of Parliamentary debate (straight resolutions) for both novice and advanced divisions. Points of Information will be permitted and encouraged. Points of Order, Points of Personal Privilege, and heckling will not be permitted.
Awards will be given to the top three novice and advanced speakers, the top three novice and advanced two-person teams and the top three schools. The top speaker in the Advanced Division at this tournament qualifies to attend the World Debate Tournament next spring.
The day will begin with registration in the Chapel (on Chapel Avenue) from 9:00 a.m.– 10:00 a.m. Breakfast will be provided in Paresky Commons beginning at 9:00. Briefings for Debaters and Judges will begin promptly at 10:15 and the first round will begin at 11:00. After the conclusion of the third round of debate, at approximately 2:15, a full lunch will be provided for the debaters and judges in Paresky Commons. We anticipate that the brief awards ceremony will conclude by 3:30.
New resolutions will be provided for each of the three rounds. While no redefinition will be necessary, there will be a 2-minute definition-of-terms period during which all debaters must stay in the room with the judge and agree to terms before the 10-minute preparation time begins. During the 10-minute preparation period, the government should retire to the hallway to prepare separately. As with all DANEIS tournaments, it is strictly understood that teams may not consult any reference materials (electronic or otherwise) during their preparation time or during the actual debate. Teams that violate these rules will be disqualified from the tournament.
The format will be as follows:
Prime Minister – 5 minute constructive
Member of the Opposition – 8 minute speech
Minister of the Crown – 8 minute speech
Leader of the Opposition – 8 minute speech including rebuttal
Prime Minister – 3 minute rebuttal
Each school may register up to two four-person teams in each division, and must also provide one judge for each four-person team. In accordance with DANEIS league rules, student judges will not be permitted to judge advanced debates, and students judging in the novice division must be experienced debaters who have competed in DANEIS tournaments at the advanced level. Parents of students debating in the tournament should judge only in the division in which their student is not participating. In order to save tournament time, the briefing for debaters and judges will be limited to answering questions and explaining logistics. All schools are expected to have briefed their judges thoroughly on the rules, format, and the scoring techniques of parliamentary debating before arriving at the tournament. Judging materials and directions will be sent to confirmed schools the week before the event.
Please email Sarah Driscoll as soon as possible indicating the number of teams that you would like to register in each division. Fees for the debate are $75 for each four-person team and $15 per observer, and are payable at registration. Registration preference will be given to schools that host DANEIS tournaments. Once registrations from host schools are processed, available spots will be filled in order of request. This tournament fills every year. Please be considerate and only reserve spaces for teams that you are highly confident that you will be able to bring. Names of your debaters and judges are due no later than October 14th. Final registrations will be confirmed once these are received.
We very much look forward to welcoming you and your debaters in a little less than one month. We also welcome you to contact the Philomathean Society with any questions or concerns.
Sarah Driscoll, Faculty Advisor to the Philomathean Society