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01 Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima DR Abdul Rahman Arshad Challenge
01 Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima DR Abdul Rahman Arshad Challenge
ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
Organized by;
The Sports, Co-curricular and Arts Division
Ministry of Education Malaysia
TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The competition shall be known as the Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Abdul Rahman
Arshad Challenge Trophy English Language Debate Competition. The competition
serves as a platform for students nationwide to compete in a debating competition that
is based on the international standard of the World Schools Debating Championship.
2.0 ELIGIBILITY
2.1 The competition is open to all Form 1 to 5 students from all government-
aided secondary schools under the purview of the Ministry of Education Malaysia.
2.2 A state is allowed to send only one team to participate in the competition. Number
of participations at other levels shall be at the discretion of the respective
organisers.
2.3 The active speaking members of each team should consist of more than one
race from the same state. For district and state level, exceptions should be
made if 90% of the student population consists of a particular ethnic group as the
demographic in that school.
2.4 Every member of a participating team should come from the same school at
district level only. Representatives to the state and national level can be chosen
from different schools.
3.2 The proposing team is known as the Government while the opposing team is
known as the Opposition.
3.4 Third debaters from both teams shall not introduce any new arguments. Their
role is to rebut the opponent and to defend the position of the team.
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TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
3.5 While a debater is speaking, the opposing team can offer ‘Point(s) Of
Information’ (formal interjections). The debater may accept or decline it/them.
3.6 After all debaters have spoken once, the 1st or 2nd debater of each team gives a
reply speech with the Opposition reply speech being delivered first followed by the
Government.
3.7 The debate shall be judged according to the Guidelines for Adjudicators.
Wherever possible, all competitions should run according to the process given
below:
iv. After the quarter-finals, the winner of the first quarter-final shall meet
the winner of the fourth quarter-final (winner of 1st vs 8th meets
winner of 4th vs 5th) in an impromptu semi-finals.
v. The Grand Final shall be a prepared round.
i. The motions and sides for the prepared debates will be given to the
competing teams at least 2 weeks before the competition; except
for the Grand Final where only the motion is provided and sides will
be drawn after the semi-finals.
ii. No quarantine time will be given for the debate but teams will be
seated in the debate room 10 minutes before the debate begins to
organise their notes.
iii. Any team that is late would have to inform the organisers within 5
minutes of the scheduled time.
iv. The organisers shall only allow a maximum waiting time of 15
minutes before the team forfeits the debate and the team present
will be awarded a walk-over.
v. In a walk-over, the losing team will be awarded the minimum score
of 60 for each speaker and 30 for reply with a -3 ballot score. The
winning team shall receive a winning total of 70 for each debater
and 35 for reply with a +3 ballot score.
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TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
vi. The scores shall be entered and the teams shall be ranked
according to their overall performance in the preliminary rounds.
i. The motions for the impromptu debates will be given and sides are
drawn at the start of the quarantine session.
ii. Teams will then be quarantined in their quarantine rooms for ONE
hour to prepare for the debate. The quarantine officers must be in
the room with the team.
iii. Any team that is late would have to inform the organisers within 5
minutes of the scheduled time, failure of which, the team already
present will be allowed to draw their side and quarantine time will
commence. A grace period of not more than 30 minutes will be given
to the team that is late after which quarantine time commences.
iv. A team which is late (more than 5 minutes without information on
their whereabouts) would automatically take on the other position
contrary to what the team already present has drawn. The time for
quarantine commences.
v. Only team members competing (3 main debaters and 2 reserves)
will be allowed in the quarantine room. The team members should
not be in contact with any unauthorised personnel.
vi. Teams are allowed to use their own printed reference materials in
the quarantine room. No electronic gadgets are allowed. Teams
found using electronic gadgets will be DISQUALIFIED from the
competition.
vii. Teams are required to be seated at the debate venue(s) 5 minutes
before the debate commences.
viii. If any one team fails to show up 5 minutes after the scheduled time,
without any valid reason, the team will be DISQUALIFIED. A walk-
over will be awarded to the team that is present.
ix. If there is prompting / help / assistance / communication from any
individual other than the debaters during the quarantine time and
debate competition, the team will be DISQUALIFIED.
x. Clarification of the motion should be provided for the impromptu
motions.
4.2.1 Each debate will be chaired by a Speaker of the House who will be
addressed as Mister or Madam Speaker.
4.2.2 The Speaker of the House is responsible for the smooth running of the
debate and inviting the respective debaters to present their speeches in
order of their roles.
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TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
4.2.3 Before inviting debaters to present their speeches, The Speaker of the
House will read out the rules of the debate and then proceed to introduce
the timekeeper, adjudicators and debaters.
4.2.4 The Speaker of the House MUST refrain from making any comment
concerning the debate or debaters during the debate.
4.2.5 The Speaker of the House must ensure that the adjudicators be given
enough time to fill in their marks and wait for the signal from the Chief
Adjudicator before the next debater is called.
4.3.1 The Timekeeper must ensure that each debater is given 8 minutes to
deliver his or her speech.
4.3.2 The Timekeeper will ring the bell once after the 1st minute and at the end
of the 7th minute to signal the time allocated for Point(s) of Information. At
the end of the 8th minute, the bell will be rung twice. Placards must be used
by the timekeeper to indicate the remaining time left, at intervals of one
minute.
4.3.3 A maximum time of 3 minutes will be given to both teams to prepare for
the Reply Speech.
4.3.4 During the Reply Speech, the Timekeeper will ring the bell once at the 3rd
minute to signal that the debater has 1 minute left. At the end of the 4th
minute, the bell will be rung twice to signal the end of the debate.
4.3.5 After each speech, the Timekeeper will announce the time taken by each
debater.
5.0 ADJUDICATION
5.1 A panel of 3 or more odd-numbered adjudicators will be appointed for all the
rounds at all levels. The Grand Final at the national level will be adjudicated by a
panel appointed by the Division of Sports, Co-curricular and Arts, Ministry of
Education.
5.2 Adjudicators are to be appointed by the Division of Sports, Co-curricular and Arts,
Ministry of Education for national level competition and by State Education
Departments for state level competition.
5.3 All appointed adjudicators should not adjudicate the team from their own schools
/ districts / states unless there are no qualified adjudicators available.
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TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
5.4 All adjudicators should be briefed on the rules of adjudication before the
competition.
5.6 Each debate will be won by the team which scores a majority of votes from the
adjudicators in the panel. Scores awarded by adjudicators are not to be added
together to decide the winner. Adjudicators shall decide the winner of the
debate independently.
5.7 The Speaker of the House will collect the score sheets and the result slip from
the Chief Adjudicator to be submitted to the tab master.
5.8 Once the score sheets have been handed in, the adjudicators shall meet and
confer on the Best Debater.
5.9 The oral adjudication should be constructive, short and explain the result to the
debaters and audience. In particular, it should outline the key reasons why the
winning team won, and comment on the significant matters of the debate.
5.10 At the end of the competition, all the participating teams will receive the full
results.
6.0 PRIZES
• Champion
• Second Prize winner
• Third Prize winners (Two teams)
• Fifth Prize winner
• Best Debater Award (each round)
• Overall Best Debater Award
7.0 EXCEPTION
All matters not stated in the concept paper or any exclusion to the rules and all other
unexpected matters and issues on interpretation will be decided by the organising
committee of the competition.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
*This concept paper is valid as of 2023 until further notification or revision from the Ministry of Education
and can be used at all levels for competitions organised by the Ministry. The competition will abide to
the above rules ONLY.
*All rights reserved by the Ministry of Education Malaysia. Usage or adaptation by any entities outside
of the ministry requires prior permission.
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TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
A. Marking Standard
1.0 Marks
1.1 Each debater's substantive speech is marked out of 100, with 40 for Content, 40
for Style (20 for Language and 20 for Manner) and 20 for Strategy.
1.2 The reply speech is marked out of 50, with 20 for Content, 20 for Style (10 for
Language and 10 for Manner) and 10 for Strategy.
1.3 In order to encourage consistency of marks, speeches are marked within the
accepted range and adjudicators must not go outside that range. (See the
Marking Standard - Annex 1).
1.4 If a debater declares is unable to make his/her speech after a debate has
begun, another member of the team who was announced by the speaker of the
house as being an active speaker in that debate may speak in his/her place. In
such a situation, adjudicators shall award the speech the lowest possible score
within the Marking Standard, regardless of the quality of the speech.
1.5 Adjudicators must not use any other marking standard or categories of marks.
2.0 Content
2.1 Content is the argument used by a debater, divorced from the speaking style.
2.2 If an argument is weak, it should be marked accordingly, even if the other team
does not expose its weakness.
3.0 Style
Style comprises Language and Manner.
3.1 Language
3.1.3 On the other hand, any good language expression, including the use of
figures of speech, idioms, etc., appropriate and apt to the occasion, may
merit positive marks for Language.
3.2 Manner
3.2.1 Manner is the way a debater speaks. This can be noted in many ways;
accent, body language (movement, poise, meaningful gestures and eye
contact) and with the use of specific terminology. Be tolerant of different
ways in presenting arguments.
3.2.3 However, debaters should not read their speeches, but should use notes
that they refer to only from time to time.
4.0 Strategy
4.1.1 Whether a debater understands what the issues of the debate are.
4.2 A debater who answers the critical issues with weak responses should get
poor marks for Content but good marks for Strategy.
1.0 The Government must present a reasonable definition of a motion. This means:
1.1 On receiving a motion, both teams should ask: ‘What is the issue that the
two teams are expected to debate? What would an average reasonable
person reading the motion think that it is about?’
1.2 If the motion poses a clear issue for debate (i.e. it has an obvious
meaning), the Government must define the motion accordingly. When the
motion has an obvious meaning (one which the average reasonable person
would realise), any other definition would not be reasonable.
2.0 The definition must match the level of abstraction (or specificity) of the motion, so
that the debate is as specific or general as the motion itself. Specific motions
should be defined specifically and general motions generally.
4.1 The Government ability to set reasonable parameters to a debate does not
provide a license to restrict the motion arbitrarily.
5.3 Broaden the debate back to the words in the motion (if the Government
has unreasonably restricted the motion and is arguing a narrower version
of it);
5.4 Challenge the definition (as in 5.2), but argue that ‘even if’ it
is reasonable, the Government case is flawed (as in 5.1).
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TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
6.0 Once the definition is settled, each team has to present a case, supported by
arguments and examples. Therefore, debates shall not be evaluated based on
their definitions alone.
6.1 A case sums up the team arguments and states why its side of the motion
is correct.
6.2 Arguments are reasons or rationales why the team case is correct.
6.3 Examples are facts, events, occurrences and the like that show the team
arguments are correct.
8.0 In all cases, the team that manages to provide reasons as to why their definition
and cases are the most reasonable, practical and beneficial shall win the debate. If
a debater claims that a definition or a case is unreasonable, then they should state
reasons to support that claim. Adjudicators should balance reasons and rebuttals
in determining which team wins.
1.0 The role of the first debater of a Government is to define the topic, establish the
issues for the debate, outline the Government case, announce the case division
between the debaters, and present his or her part of the Government case. The
first speaker may introduce as many points that he/she feels can be adequately
explained given the time limitations.
2.0 The Government may define the topic in any way provided that the definition:
4.0 The role of the first debater of an opposition side is to respond to the Government
case, outline the Opposition case, announce the case division, and present his or
her part of the Opposition case.
5.0 The first opposition may challenge the definition only if it does not conform to
2.0 or 3.0 (B) above. If it challenges the definition, the first opposition must propose
a new definition that conforms to 2.0 and 3.0 (B) and oppose that new definition.
6.0 If the first opposition does not challenge the definition, the Opposition is taken to
have accepted the definition and the Opposition may not challenge the definition
in any other speech unless the Government significantly alters the definition in their
subsequent speeches.
7.0 In responding to the Government case, the Opposition may produce a positive
choice of its own, or merely attack the case presented by the Government. If it
chooses to produce a positive case of its own, it must in fact produce that case
through its speeches, and not concentrate solely on attacking the case presented
by the Government.
8.0 The role of the second debater of a Government is to deal with the definition if it
has been challenged, respond to the opposition case, and continue with the
Government case as outlined by the first debater.
9.0 If the second government does not challenge a redefinition of the debate made by
the first opposition, the Government is taken to have accepted the Opposition
redefinition and no further challenges to the definition may be made.
10.0 The role of the second debater of an Opposition is to deal with the definition if it is
still in issue, respond to the Government case, and continue with the Opposition case
as outlined by the first debater.
11.0 The role of both third debaters is to deal with the definition if it is still in issue, and
respond to the other team case.
12.0 The third debater of either team may have a small part of the team case to present,
but his is not obligatory as the third debater’s primary role is to respond to what has
gone before in the debate.
13.0 Third debaters should not bring new arguments; new examples to explain points
that were made previously or to explain a rebuttal is not considered a new
argument.
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TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
14.0 The more a debate progresses, the more each debater must spend time dealing
with what has been said by previous debaters.
15.0 Hence the more a debate progresses, the less time will be spent by each debater in
presenting a new part of the team case and the more time will be spent responding
to the other team arguments.
16.0 The role of reply speeches is to sum up the debate from the team viewpoint,
including a response to the other team overall case and a summary of the
debater’s own team case.
17.0 A reply debater may be either the first or second debater of the team, not the third.
18.0 The reply debaters are in reverse order, with the Opposition reply first and the
Government reply last.
19.0 Neither reply debater may introduce a new part of the team case.
20.0 A reply debater may respond to an existing argument by raising a new example
that illustrates that argument, but may not otherwise introduce a new argument.
21.0 A Government does not have to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, but
merely that its case is true in the majority of cases or as a general government.
22.0 An opposition does not have to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, but merely
that its case is true in the majority of cases or as a general.
23.0 Where the topic is expressed as an absolute, a Government must prove the topic
true in the significant majority of cases, but not in every single conceivable
instance.
24.0 Where the topic is expressed as an absolute, an Opposition must do more than
present a single instance where the topic is not true and prove that it is not true
for at least a majority of cases.
25.0 An Opposition, beyond disproving that the Government arguments are flawed as
rebuttals must present a case that proves harms on the Government case or more
benefits on their case.
D. Point of Information
1.0 Between the first and seventh minutes of a debater’s substantive speech,
members of the other team may offer points of information.
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TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
2.0 The purpose of a point of information is to make a short point or ask a short
question of the debater.
3.0 Point of information need not be addressed through the person chairing the
debate, and may be in the form of a question.
4.1 Point of information is an important part of the clash between the teams,
and enable debaters to remain a part of the debate even when they are not
making a speech;
4.2 Hence a debater should offer points of information both before and after
he or she has given his or her substantive speech.
5.0 A debater has the absolute right to refuse to accept a point of information, or to
accept it only at the end of the next sentence.
6.0 However, a debater is obliged to accept some points of information, provided that
they have been offered at reasonable times in the debater’s speech.
7.0 As a general rule, a debater should accept at least 2 points of information in his
or her speech. However, a debater who accepts a significantly greater number of
points of information risks losing control of his or her speech.
8.0 Members of the opposing team should not offer an excessive number of points of
information to the point that they are barracking. As a general rule, each team
member should offer between 2 and 4 points of information per speech, and
should not offer them within a short time of a previous point of information having
been offered.
9.0 The response by a debater to a point of information should be included in the mark
for that debater’s speech.
10.0 The offering of points of information should be included in the mark for the debater
offering points.
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TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
LANGUAGE MANNER
(20) (20)
Average 70 28 14 14 14
LANGUAGE MANNER
(10) (10)
Average 35 14 7 7 7
In marking reply speeches it might be easier to mark them out of 100 and then halve each mark.
That will leave you with half-mark steps, but that is not a problem. Thus a reply speech could
be given, say, 13.5 for content, 14.5 for style and 7.5 for strategy, for a total of 35.5.
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TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
ADJUDICATION FORMS
Organized by;
The Sports, Co-curricular and Arts Division
Ministry of Education Malaysia
TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY
ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
SCORING SHEET
Round: ______________ Room:
Name of Adjudicator:
Motion:
Adjudicator’s Signature:
TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
TIME SHEET
ROLE TIME
First Government
First Opposition
Second Government
Second Opposition
Third Government
Third Opposition
Reply – Opposition
Reply - Government
Timekeeper’s Name
Timekeeper’s Signature
Date
TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
RESULT SLIP
WINNING TEAM
Name:
Date:
TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
VIRTUAL PLATFORM
1.0 Overall
This section is only used if the competition is done online. All debate sessions
are going to be conducted via Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams as the
primary platform. Each virtual room for all competition rounds will consist of three
active speakers and two reserved speakers from both teams, one timekeeper,
one chairperson and three judges.
2.0 Details
2.1 For the debating technicality, this competition is still following the concept
paper released by the Sports, Co-curricular and Arts Division (BSKK),
Ministry of Education Malaysia in the year 2023.
2.2 For each round of the debate, pupils and teachers will be given a link to
access the Main Meeting (Main Hall) of the tournament. The Main Hall
will be the primary source of announcements, matchups and all things
related to the tournament.
2.3 Each virtual room will be controlled by one Virtual Room Master (VRM)
who can also be the timekeeper of the session. The VRM will approve
and deny entry and also mute the mics of debaters when necessary.
2.4 In each virtual room, there will be one timekeeper, one chairperson, three
active speakers of the government side, three active speakers of the
opposition side,one accompanying teacher per team and three judges.
However, the accompanying teachers and the reserves can only be the
audience. They have to be in different physical rooms and they are
required to keep their video and audio off all the time.
2.5 There will be no quarantine time for round one and final as both rounds
are using prepared motions. There will be a surveillance of an hour
quarantine timefor preliminary round 2, round 3, quarter-final and semi-
final round. Teams will get into breakout rooms. There should be two
cameras set to monitor the room view during quarantine time. The
cameras should capture from the front and back of all the debaters.
Teams will be disqualified if they are caught having interaction with the
mentors or getting help from outside sources.
2.6 The fixtures of all rounds will follow the Power Match-up System as stated
in the BSKK concept paper.
TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
2.7 The information of winning, fixture and motions for impromptu sessions
will bedelivered in the Main Hall as well as to JPN and PPD Officers.
3.0 Disconnection
3.1 If any team appears to be experiencing bad connection, the chief
adjudicator should give each debater a chance to reconnect. A grace
period of 1 minute will be given for the debater to reconnect to the debate
room the first time that this happens. During this time, the timer will be
stopped until the team reconnects or the 1-minute grace period is over,
whichever comes first. For subsequent disconnections, the timer will
continue running while the debater is disconnected.
3.2 If a debater disconnects when he or she is not delivering a speech or a
POI, the debate shall continue without him or her.
TAN SRI DATUK SERI PANGLIMA DR. ABDUL RAHMAN ARSHAD CHALLENGE TROPHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE COMPETITION 2023
BSKK, KPM 22