Speaker Responsibilities and POIS

1. Speaker Responsibilities and POIS Elizabeth Humphrey IDEA

2. Speaker Responsibilities

3. Review of Roles Constructive Speeches • 7 min - Prime Minister Constructive • 8 min - Leader Opposition Constructive • 8 min - Member Government Constructive • 8 min - Member Opposition Constructive POIs allowed after the first and before the last minute of all constructive speeches Rebuttal Speeches • 4 min – Opposition Rebuttal • 5 min – Government Rebuttal

4. Prime Minister (7 min.) • Offers definitions to clarify the proposition (short). • Proposition: Capital punishment should be banned. • Definitions: “capital punishment”= the death penalty, “banned”= made illegal • Develops a thesis/main idea (short). • For propositions of evaluation: describe and ascribe value to a concept in one sentence. • For propositions of policy: suggest a specific action. • Policy: The People’s Republic of China will enact legislation abolishing the death penalty and replacing it with life imprisonment. • Develops constructive arguments to support the thesis (long).

5. Leader of the Opposition (8 min.) • Accepts or refutes the definitions given by the Prime Minister (short). • Refutations of definitions should only be made if the Prime Minister established abusive definitions! • IF refuting definitions: Identify/Criticize/Redefine. • Refutes the arguments made by the Prime Minister (long). • Identify/Criticize/Evaluate. • Introduces new arguments against the proposition’s thesis (long). • New arguments should use the same structure as the arguments made by the Prime Minister.

6. Member of the Government (8 min.) • Responds to refutation of the arguments made by the Prime Minister (long). • Refutes new arguments made by the Leader of the Opposition (long).

7. Member of the Opposition (8 min.) • Continues the refutation of the Government case as introduced by the Leader of Opposition (long). • Reestablishes the new arguments as presented by the Leader of Opposition (long).

8. Leader of the Opposition Rebuttal ( 4 min.) • Summarizes the debate according to the point of view of the Opposition team. • Includes reestablishment of important parts of the new arguments presented by the Leader of Opposition Constructive. • Includes review of refutation of part or all of the Government case. • Does not present any new arguments.

9. Prime Minister Rebuttal (5 min.) • Summarizes the debate according to the point of view of the Government team. • Includes reestablishment of important parts of the Government Case. • Includes review of refutation of part or all of new arguments presented by the Leader of Opposition Constructive. • Does not present any new arguments (exception if in response to new arguments in the Member of Opposition’s speech).

10. PMC LOC MGC MOC LOR PMR DEFINITIONS ARGUMENTS FROM PRIME MINISTER/RESPONSES TO PRIME MINISTER NEW ARGUMENTS FROM OPPOSITION/RESPONSES TO OPPOSITION R E B U T T A L

11. Points of Information

12. What is a POI? A POI is a brief statement (or, in some cases, a question) directed to a speaker by a member of the opposing team during the speaker’s constructive speech. A POI is a brief, relevant comment (not more than 2 sentences and not more than 15 seconds) that is given after: a verbal or non-verbal request for a POI AND a verbal acceptance of the request for the POI

13. When is POI allowed? A POI may be initiated during a constructive speech only. No POIs are permitted during “protected time” (the first and last minute of each constructive speech) or during rebuttal speeches. A POI can be offered only if the speaker agrees to yield the floor and accept the POI.

14. How do I request a POI? A debater rises from his/her chair, places one hand on his/her head, and extends the other hand toward the speaker. In addition to the non-verbal request, the debater may also opt to verbalize the request by simultaneously stating, “On that point, Madame/Sir,” “Point of Information,” “Information, please,” etc.

15. How Do I Respond to a Request for a POI? The speaker should act quickly to either accept or decline the request. The speaker can respond in one of three ways: 1. The speaker can decline to accept the POI by using some kind of physical gestures (e.g. motioning for the opponent to be seated). 2. The speaker can decline to accept the POI using a verbal response such as, “No, thank you” or “Not at this time, Madame/Sir.” 3. The speaker can accept the point using verbal response such as, “Yes, Sir/Madame” or “I will yield to your to your point.”

16. How many POIs should I request or accept during a single constructive speech? There are not set rules on the number, but we suggest that the opposing side should attempt to rise at least four times during each constructive speech to seek recognition from the speaker, and suggest that speakers accept at least two POIs during his/her constructive speech. Offering POIs to the point of seriously distracting from the speaker’s speech is discouraged. Accepting excessive amounts of POIs is also discouraged.

17. Why should I request POIs? To clarify an uncertainty or misunderstanding To identify strategic points of agreement To identify strategic points of disagreement To evaluate or challenge factual claims initiated by the speaker To advance your own arguments To directly challenge logical fallacies

18. Why Should I Accept POIs? To show confidence in your position and a willingness to argue constructively with the other team. To take advantage of the opportunity to clarify your advocacy. To learn on what bases you opponents will challenge your positions in subsequent speeches. To take the earliest opportunity to defend your positions against your opponent’s challenges.