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Primary B

All debates are Prepared Debates. Speeches of 2 minutes; warning bell at 1 minute.

Round 1: That cats are better than dogs. Give feedback
Round 2: That children should be able to choose their own bedtime. Give feedback
Round 3: That grandparents are better than parents. Give feedback
Round 4: That it is cruel to have pets. Give feedback
Round 5: That all schools should have a uniform. Give feedback

Primary A

All debates are Prepared Debates. Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Round 1: That television is too violent. Give feedback
Round 2: That we should all become vegetarians. Give feedback
Round 3: That schoolwork should be done at school. Give feedback
Round 4: That boys are smarter than girls. Give feedback
Round 5: That corporal punishment has a worthwhile place in schools. Give feedback

Year 8

All debates are Prepared Debates. Speeches of 4 minutes; warning bell at 3 minutes.

Round 1: That Year 8 students should be allowed to use Facebook. Give feedback
Round 2: That television is bad for the brain. Give feedback
Round 3: That competition is a good thing. Give feedback
Round 4: That organ donation should be compulsory. Give feedback
Round 5: That Santa should slim down. Give feedback

Quarter Final: That school students should have a say in choosing their teachers. Give feedback
Semi Final: That the carrot is better than the stick. Give feedback
Grand Final: That celebrities should be seen and not heard. Give feedback

Year 9

Rounds 1 to 4 are Prepared Debates. All debates are Prepared Debates.
Speeches of 5 minutes; warning bell at 4 minutes.

Round 1: That public figures should be allowed private lives. Give feedback
Round 2: That 14 years old is too young to be dating. Give feedback
Round 3: That Adelaide has too many festivals. Give feedback
Round 4: That mobile phones should be permitted at school. Give feedback
Round 5: That we should introduce a youth curfew. Give feedback
One Card Debate. Speeches of 5 minutes; warning bell at 4 minutes.

Quarter Final: That we should envy our grandparents. Give feedback
Semi Final: That too many toys spoil the brat. Give feedback
Grand Final: That the limelight makes people green. Give feedback

Year 10

Rounds 1 to 3 are Prepared Debates. Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.

Round 1: That drivers should have their brains tested. Give feedback
Round 2: That Australian immigration should be abolished. Give feedback
Round 3: That persistent hooners should have their cars crushed. Give feedback
Round 4: Short Preparation format debate. Give feedback
The Short Preparation Topic will be released 90 minutes before the scheduled debate. Speeches of 5 minutes; warning bell at 4 minutes.

Round 5: That Generation Y is selfish. Give feedback
One Card Debate. Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.

Quarter Final: That literature is lost at 140 characters. Give feedback
Prepared Debate. Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.

Semi Final: That Apple is really a lemon. Give feedback
Prepared Debate. Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.

Grand Final: That modern art is a fraud. Give feedback
Prepared Debate. Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.

Senior

Round 1: That Peter Garrett should go back to singing. Give feedback
Prepared Debate. Speeches of 8 minutes; warning bell at 7 minutes.

Round 2: That chivalry is dead. Give feedback
One Card Debate. Speeches of 8 minutes; warning bell at 7 minutes.

Round 3: Short Preparation format debate. Give feedback
The Short Preparation Topic will be released 90 minutes before the scheduled debate. Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.

Round 4: Freedom of Speech Quodlibetical. Click here for details. Give feedback
Prepared Debate. Speeches of 8 minutes; warning bell at 7 minutes.

Quarter Final: That paid surrogacy should be legalised. Give feedback
Prepared debate. Speeches of 8 minutes; warning bell at 7 minutes.

Semi Final: Short Preparation format debate. Give feedback
The Short Preparation Topic will be released 90 minutes before the scheduled debate. Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.

Grand Final: That the dead rule the world. Give feedback
Prepared debate. Speeches of 8 minutes; warning bell at 7 minutes.

Open

Quarter Final: Bye for all teams Give feedback
Semi Final: Bye for all teams Give feedback
Grand Final: Gene Patent Quodlibetical. Click here for details. Give feedback
Prepared debate. Speeches of 8 minutes; warning bell at 7 minutes.

Special Formats of Prepared Debates

Quodlibetical Topic

There are a number of issues that can’t be easily expressed in a one-line topic. Therefore you have been given a fictitious scenario, outlined by a few paragraphs, and a topic that is based on this scenario. The following should be noted:

1. The first speaker should not attempt to define the topic word for word, but rather should define the issue(s) or dilemma(s) that the topic presents.

2. It is this issue or dilemma that should be debated in an attempt to prove whichever side of the topic, i.e. feel free to debate the particular issue generally, but be sure to link it back to the topic as this is what you want to argue for or against.

3. There is no need for the first speaker to read out the initial paragraphs as the Chairman will do this before announcing the topic, however, any speaker may refer to these paragraphs as part of his/her argument.

4. Debaters are welcome and are encouraged to conduct further research on the issues presented but note that the scenario itself is often fictitious.