SEATTLE BIF

Friends and Colleagues,

I’m pleased to invite you to the 2020 Seattle Academy Invitational, this November 6-7 hosted digitally on NSDA Campus and Tabroom.com. This year’s tournament will feature competition in both speech and debate, and we are pleased to report our tournament will be recognized as a TOC Finals bid qualifier in Lincoln Douglas and Public Forum, a Tier-1 Congressional Debate tournament, and a TOC and NIETOC bid tournament.

We will initially have registration open for open, junior, and novice divisions in Policy, Lincoln Douglas, and Public Forum debates. Please note that it is possible that the junior divisions will be collapsed into the open divisions; however, we would like to offer junior varsity level debate if there is sufficient interest. At the 2019 tournament, we had JV competition in LD and PF. We will have open and novice divisions in Congressional Debate, Dramatic Interpretation, Dual Interpretation, Extemporaneous, Humorous, Impromptu, Informative, Program Oral Interpretation, and Original Oratory. We will collapse divisions as necessary. We will additionally run open divisions of Editorial Commentary and Oral Interpretation.

Some key details:

Speech will be asynchronous. Recordings will be submitted well ahead of the traditional Friday start of the tournament, so please consult the schedule to prepare.
Speech judges will receive pre-recorded preliminary ballots Thursday night, and they must be returned Friday at 6:00 PM. Speech judges must also be available to adjudicate finals on Saturday within two four-hour windows. Please be intentional in entering your judge time conflicts.
Debate will be synchronous, using NSDA Campus on Friday and Saturday. Congress might use a separate platform due to user limitations- we will send info if it becomes necessary.

This year, given the electronic tournament format, we will have an ombudsperson available for competitors and coaches alike during the course of the tournament. We believe that debate should be a safe and fair space for all participants, and we will do our best to make this happen. Ombudsperson contact info will be prominently featured on the Tabroom page.

Debate

Divisions:

Novice Division: Open to all students who have no debate experience prior to this school year and who have not placed first through fourth in any debate division at two invitational tournaments with 15 or more schools.
Junior Division: Open to those students who have not placed first through fourth at WIAA State Debate or in Junior/Open division of debate at two invitational tournaments with 15 or more schools. If numbers do not justify a junior division, junior will be combined with Open.
Open Division: Open to any debater regardless of experience or class standing.

Debate Matching:The first two rounds of debate will be randomly matched. Rounds 3 and all subsequent rounds will be power-matched. We will do our best to break competitors with winning records to elimination rounds. In the 2020 tournament, we will break up to a full octofinal, with the possibility of a double octofinal as the schedule allows.

Online Specific Info:

We will be using NSDA Campus. Make sure that your students have active Tabroom accounts well ahead of the tournament. They will be otherwise unable to compete.
Teams in LD, PF, and Policy are allowed up to ten minutes of tech time. If the debate is paused for technology related reasons, that team’s Tech Time begins to count down. If a team uses all their Tech Time before the round ends, they will be required to forfeit that round. The tech time is not to be used as prep.
Cameras should be on. This is a safeguard against outside assistance and it is an important accessibility feature. Cameras also help maintain the social atmosphere of debate.

Events:

Cross-Examination/Policy
- We will use the 2020-21 NFHS topic.Resolved: The United States federal government should enact substantial criminal justice reform in the United States in one or more of the following: forensic science, policing, sentencing.
- Novices will be limited to the following novice case areas which is determined by a WSFA committee.
  - Affirmative Areas- Affirmatives must do one or more of the following:
    - Reform/Abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement
    - Abolish the Death Penalty
    - Marijuana Decriminalization
    - Reform DNA Databases
  - Negative Advocacies:
    - A states counterplan is permitted.
    - No other kritiks or counterplans are permitted.
  - Inclusion on this list in no way guarantees an area is topical.
- Teams have six minutes for prep.
- Divisions: Open, Junior, Novice
Lincoln Douglas
- We will use the 2020 Nov/Dec topic. The novice topic will not be used.
- Debaters have four minutes for prep.
- Divisions: Open, Junior, Novice.
Public Forum
- We will use the 2020 Nov/Dec topic
- Teams have three minutes for prep.
- Divisions: Open, Junior, Novice.
Congressional
- Washington State uses a pre-prepared docket created by the WSFA which will be linked here when available.
- Divisions: Open, Novice.

CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE
Congress will coincide with Debate. Best PO will be chosen by the parliamentarian and the top three speakers in each division will be determined by adult scorers.

Students will be allowed to use computers in-round for flowing, note-taking, the reading of speeches, and looking up pre-prepared evidence. Students are discouraged from using the internet during the round for purposes other than video-conferencing. The tournament will not be liable for any computer crashes or technological issues, and students should bring paper copies of evidence and speeches to be prepared for this occurrence.

Divisions:

Novice Division: Open to all students who have no debate experience prior to this school year, and who have not placed first through fourth in any debate division at two invitational tournaments with 15 or more schools.
Open Division: Open to any debater regardless of experience or class standing.

Legislation:
The official legislation adopted by the State will be the legislation used for the tournament. A copy of the legislation is available here (will be linked when available). Please have your students in Congress bring their own copies of the legislation. NO COPIES WILL BE PROVIDED.

Because Washington State uses a pre-prepared legislative docket prepared by the Washington State Forensics Association, any out-of-state schools may submit one piece of legislation to the tournament director for inclusion at the tournament. The legislation must be received by 8:00 AM October 30th to be allowed in the preliminary round tournament docket. This deadline ensures that all schools will have adequate time to prepare for debating the legislation. Any contestant may sponsor such an item in the event an author is not present in the chamber.
Docket Setting:
We will follow the docket setting method suggested by the WSFA committee. Each school represented in each house will draw numbers to determine the order for a legislation draft. They will then take turns picking bills to be debated. This will determine the docket for the session. Separate Legislation for Super Congress is included in the WSFA packet and will ONLY be used for Super Congress.

Scoring: Each speech will be awarded up to 6 points by the judge in the round. The parliamentarian will score the PO. After each session, judges will rank the top eight speakers, including the PO. The cumulative total of these ranks in preliminary rounds will determine the students who will advance to Super Congress.

The parliamentarian’s one-time ranking of the chamber at the end of preliminary rounds will be used to break any ties that result both in determining who breaks to Super Congress and in final awards.

If the number of entries results in more than one chamber of Congress for a division of competition, Session III will be a Super Congress. After Session II, the top 6 to 10 members of each chamber (based on total judge rankings from sessions I and II) will advance to the two-segment Final Session. The legislation identified by the State as Super Congress Legislation will be the only legislation discussed during this round. Awards will be based on the cumulative rankings of judges during the final round. Parliamentarian rankings will be used to break ties. The top three competitors will receive Judge’s Choice Awards. There will also be a top PO award as determined by the Parliamentarian.

If there is only one chamber of Congress for a division of competition, Session III will be a regular session, and final scores for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, will be determined by the accumulation of judges’ rankings for all three rounds. Outstanding PO will be determined by the parliamentarian.

INDIVIDUAL EVENTS
Two divisions will be offered: Novice-first year competition, and Open-all others. If a student has more than five rounds of experience in speech events in a previous season, this student must be entered at the Open level.

Overtime: For most individual events, no penalty should apply if the student falls within a 30-second grace period. Speaking beyond the time when there is no grace period or more than 30 seconds beyond the event time limit simply means that the judge may not give that student first in that round. Exceptions to this guideline are made clear on individual ballots.

Finals: The tournament directors reserve the right to determine winners of one-panel events based on preliminary round results due to limited entries in a division/event. If there are over 60 entries in an open division, we will hold a semifinal round if possible.

Our tournament schedule is compact; however, students should have time for double entry in speech. Students may enter 2-3 speech events at their own risk.

ONLINE SPECIFIC INFO

You will be required to provide your name and a tournament code at the start of your recording. If neither are present, your submission will not be accepted. The code will be released Monday, November 2nd.
Contestants in Dual Interpretation are not to perform in the same room. If you are looking for ways to make this possible, the NSDA put together a video for their 2020 National tournament that would meet the criteria well. https://www.speechanddebate.org/duo-interp-split-screen-demo-nats-2020/
There are to be no in person audiences during the round.
Recordings are to be made from a single camera in a fixed position.
Editing of recordings is not permitted and there should be no breaks in recording.
Unless otherwise noted, all rounds will be judged using a single video submission throughout the tournament.
Video submissions for prepared speech events are due November 4th at 6:00 PM.
IMPROMPTU AND EXTEMP:
- Topics will be released on Tabroom on 11/4 at 3:00 PM PST. There will be three rounds, each with six topics from which to choose.
- Video submissions are due November 4th at 6:00 PM.
- Students are not to consult with others when preparing their speeches.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO
After recording the performance with the program of your choice, complete these steps

CREATE A YOUTUBE ACCOUNT, if you do not already have one.
PUBLISH YOUR VIDEO: Log in to www.youtube.com, click “upload” at the top of the front page. Upload in standard and not high-definition.
EDIT VIDEO DETAILS: The title of your video should be the event followed by your name (ie PROSE-Your Name). In the description, add the TITLE of your selection, along with your NAME.
EDIT VIDEO VISIBILITY: When creating the Visibility, change the audience option from “Public” to “Unlisted” to ensure the privacy of your video; only those with a link to the video can watch. Do not make your video “Private” or “Public”
Confirm Viewability: After your video is fully uploaded, please ensure that your video has no technical issues with sound/video and that the performance is viewable from beginning to end. You might share the link with someone you trust in order to double-check that the link works.
Submit your video to this Google Form. Be sure that you select the correct division and event, and be doubly sure that your name in the form matches your Tabroom account name.
Send this URL to your coach immediately so they may upload it to Tabroom.

EVENTS
A brief description of each event follows. Please know that these descriptions are not exhaustive, and you can find complete ballot instructions and rules at tinyurl.com/wsfadocuments. We will follow WSFA adopted rules, unless noted.

Informative: Informative speaking is to describe, clarify, explain, and/or define an object, idea, concept, social institution, or process. The speech must be the original work of the speaker. No more than 150 words of quoted and/or paraphrased material may be included in the expository. This speech may not have been used in forensic competition by the student prior to the current competitive season. Responsibility for choosing a worthwhile topic rests with the contestant. The use of humor will not be penalized. No costumes are allowed. Any demonstration should enhance, not be the focus of, the information presented. The speech must be delivered extemporaneously, with or without the use of notes. The contestant will not be penalized for using notes or visual aids unless they interfere with the ability to communicate with the audience. The time limit for this event is TEN (10) MINUTES, which will include audience reaction time. If the speaker goes over a 30 second grace period the contestant may not be awarded first place in the round. No minimum time limit.
Program of Oral Interpretation: POI is a program of thematically-linked selections chosen from two or three genres: prose, poetry, drama (plays). At least two pieces of literature that represent at least two separate genres must be used. Unlike the other interpretation events, Program Oral Interpretation may use multiple sources for the program. The title and author of all selections must be verbally identified within the program. The use of a manuscript during the performance is required. Reading from a book or magazine is not permitted. The intact manuscript may be used by the contestant as a prop, so long as it remains in the contestant's control at all times. No costumes or props other than the manuscript are permitted. Introduction and transitional material may be memorized. Full movement, including walking, is allowed. Length: The time limit is 10 minutes with a 30-second “grace period.” Should a student go beyond the grace period, the student may not be ranked 1st. Judges are to use accurate (stopwatch function) timing devices. No minimum time is mandated. Publication Rules: All literature performed must meet the publication rules of the NSDA. Adaptations may be used only for the purpose of transition. Changes to the script may only be used for the purpose of transition or to eliminate profane language. Transitions may be used to clarify the logical sequence of ideas. They are not to be used for the purpose of embellishing the humorous or dramatic effect of the literature. (Note: for COMPLETE interp rules, including publication lists, see speechanddebate.org)
Impromptu Speaking:
- 1. A good impromptu speaker will discuss intelligently and with adequate speaking skills his/her chosen topic. Each contestant will have a different choice of topics.
- 2. The contestant has six (6) minutes to choose one of three topics, organize thoughts, and speak on the chosen topic. No notes may be prepared or used. The speaker must identify the chosen topic as part of the introduction.
- 3. JUDGES MUST GIVE TIME SIGNALS: oral signals at 30-second intervals for preparation time and hand signals for the remaining minutes.
- 4. Time limit: preparation and speaking time shall be a total of six (6) minutes. Contestants may use the time as they wish. If the speaker goes over a 30 second grace period the contestant may not be awarded first place in the round. No minimum time limit.
Original Oratory: Orations may deal with a current problem and propose a solution OR they may alert the audience to a threatening danger, strengthen its devotion to an accepted cause, or eulogize a person. Give the orator free choice of subject and judge him/her solely on the effectiveness of its development and presentation. The use of appropriate figures of speech, similes and metaphors, balanced sentences, allusions, and other rhetorical devices should be noted. Delivery should be judged for mastery of the mechanics of speech: poise, quality and use of voice and bodily expressiveness, and for qualities of directness and sincerity.
- 1. The presentation must be memorized.
- 2. The speech must be the original work of the speaker. No more than 150 words of quoted and/or paraphrased material may be included in the oration and must be designated in the manuscript. This speech may not have been used in forensic competition by the student prior to the current competitive season.
- 3. A copy of the oration must be available from the student upon the judge’s request.
- 4. The time limit for this event is TEN (10) MINUTES, which will include audience reaction time. If the speaker goes over a 30 second grace period the contestant may not be awarded first place in the round. No minimum time limit.
Humorous Interpretation:
- 1. The time limit is ten minutes with a 30-second “grace period.” Should a student go beyond the grace period, the student may not be ranked 1st. Judges are to use accurate (stopwatch function) timing devices. No minimum time is mandated.
- 2. Selections must be cuttings from a single work of literature (one short story, play, or novel), as per NSDA rules.
- 3. Changes to the script may only be used for the purpose of transition or to eliminate profane language. Transitions may be used to clarify the logical sequence of ideas. They are not to be used for the purpose of embellishing the humorous or dramatic effect of the literature.
- 4. The presentation may not use physical objects or costuming. The contestant must name the author and the source from which the cutting was made. The gender stated by the author must be honored. However, a female contestant may play a male role, and a male contestant may play a female role. Selections must be presented from memory. Monologues, prose, and poetry selections are acceptable. Use of focal points and/or direct contact with the audience should be determined by the requirements of the literature interpreted. Full movement is allowed.
- 5. A student may not use a cutting from a work of literature the student used in competition in any previous contest year. A student entered in two events may not use the same selection of literature in both events.
- 6. EVENT RULES (Note: for COMPLETE interp rules, including publication lists, see speechanddebate.org)
Extemporaneous Speaking:
- 1. The speaker has one half hour to prepare one topic. The speaker should announce the topic choice as part of the introduction. The speaker will draw a topic from 2 domestic and 2 foreign choices.
- 2. In giving his/her speech, the speaker may not use any notes at the state tournament. Novices are allowed to use one 4x6 note card when speaking.
- 3. JUDGES MUST GIVE TIME SIGNALS.
- 4. The time limit for this event is SEVEN (7) MINUTES. If the speaker goes over a 30 second grace period the contestant may not be awarded first place in the round. No minimum time limit.
Dual Interpretation:
- 1. The time limit is ten minutes with a 30-second “grace period.” Should a student go beyond the grace period, the student may not be ranked 1st. Judges are to use accurate (stopwatch function) timing devices. No minimum time is mandated.
- 2. Selections must be cuttings from a single work of literature (one short story, play, or novel), as per NSDA rules.
- 3. Changes to the script may only be used for the purpose of transition or to eliminate profane language. Transitions may be used to clarify the logical sequence of ideas. They are not to be used for the purpose of embellishing the humorous or dramatic effect of the literature.
- 4. The presentation may not use physical objects or costuming. The team must name the author and title of the cutting. The gender stated by the author must be honored. However, a female contestant may play a male role, and a male contestant may play a female role. Selections must be presented from memory. Each of the two performers may play one or more characters so long as performance responsibility in the cutting remains as balanced as possible. If the selection is prose or poetry and contains narration, either or both of the performers may present the narration. Focus may be direct during the introduction [the performers may look at each other] but must be indirect [off-stage] during the performance itself. Full movement is allowed.
- 5. A student may not use a cutting from a work of literature the student used in competition in any previous contest year. A student entered in two events may not use the same selection of literature in both events.
- 6. EVENT RULES (Note: for COMPLETE interp rules, including publication lists, see speechanddebate.org)
Dramatic Interpretation:
- 1. The time limit is ten minutes with a 30-second “grace period.” Should a student go beyond the grace period, the student may not be ranked 1st. Judges are to use accurate (stopwatch function) timing devices. No minimum time is mandated.
- 2. Selections must be cuttings from a single work of literature (one short story, play, or novel), as per NSDA rules.
- 3. Changes to the script may only be used for the purpose of transition or to eliminate profane language. Transitions may be used to clarify the logical sequence of ideas. They are not to be used for the purpose of embellishing the humorous or dramatic effect of the literature.
- 4. The presentation may not use physical objects or costuming. The contestant must name the author and the source from which the cutting was made. The gender stated by the author must be honored. However, a female contestant may play a male role, and a male contestant may play a female role. Selections must be presented from memory. Monologues, prose, and poetry selections are acceptable. Use of focal points and/or direct contact with the audience should be determined by the requirements of the literature being interpreted. Full movement is allowed.
- 5. A student may not use a cutting from a work of literature the student used in competition in any previous contest year. A student entered in two events may not use the same selection of literature in both events.
- 6. EVENT RULES (Note: for COMPLETE interp rules, including publication lists, see speechanddebate.org)
Oral Interpretation (Bid to TOC, not WIAA or NIETOC)
- Time Limit: Maximum time: 10 minutes. This includes at most 1 minute of introductory and transition material other than the author's words. There is no minimum time. If the speaker goes over a 30 second grace period, that contestant must not be awarded first place.
- The speaker shall prepare three programs of manuscript-based literature substantially different in content, author, and/or original source.
- Each program will be an original of the student, and each must contain an introduction for purposes of explication, setting, or selection transitions.
- A manuscript is required. There will be no penalty for eye contact as long as the illusion of reading is maintained.
- Lines attributed to one character in the published source must not be attributed to another character in the performance. The author’s words, as published in the literature, must not be altered for the presentation with the exception that cutting is permitted.
- The literature chosen may include any form of prose or poetry, fiction or nonfiction. Drama, including theatrical monologues, is prohibited. Speeches written to be delivered in real-life are prohibited.
- Speakers may use a persona and/or character voices, but it is not necessary.
- No properties except a manuscript or binder may be used; no costumes, makeup, or props are permitted.
- Only the performer’s feet may touch the ground. The use of full bodily movement (bending, kneeling or turning) is not permitted in interpretive reading. Bodily movement should be limited to a one-step radius.
- Students may not present the same selection(s) in Humorous, Dramatic, Program Oral, Dual, or Oral Interpretation.
- Round Structure-
  - Round 1- Poetry. The program shall consist of a single piece, a cutting, or a series of short pieces united by poet or theme. The program shall be composed of published poetry. If using a series of pieces, all titles and authors must be cited.
  - Round 2- Prose. The program shall consist of a single piece, a cutting, or a series of short pieces united by author or theme. The program shall be composed of published prose. If using a series of pieces, all titles and authors must be cited.
  - Round 3- Interpretive Reading. The program will be thematically integrated, consisting of two or more selections in which the contestant will use a balanced program of both published prose (NO DRAMA) and poetry as a presentation requirement. The judge should note the student’s use of good literature in a balanced program favorably; the speaker will use an introduction and/or transition in which the authors, titles, and theme will be stated. The authors of the prose and poetry portions of this program must be different. The same author may be used more than once within the prose or poetry portion of the program. The pieces used in this program may also be used in the competitor’s Poetry program and Prose program.
  - Finals-Contestant Choice. The program will be the contestant’s choice of one of the programs used in preliminary rounds.

Judging

All judges must have accurate contact information. This includes both email and phone.
In general, one year out judges will not be used in the open division. The Open LD pool is one primary exception. Please note these students in your registration.
Judges must be available for ballots during the availability you specify on the website. You may not offer differing times, and you must completely fill your obligation. It is not the tournament's responsibility to figure out your judging responsibilities.

Squads
(Used to calculate school sweepstakes. One per school, though additional registration beyond this squad are allowed and encouraged!)

Debate: 12 teams per squad. (One CX entry = one team; one LD entry = one team; one Public Forum entry = one team)
Individual Events: 24 IE entries including both divisions. One student entered in two (2) events = two (2) entries; each dual entry = one (1) entry. Congress is considered an IE for squad purposes only.

Sweepstakes and Awards

Debate: Awards will be made to the semifinalists and above in each division of debate. The top three congressional debaters will receive awards. The top presiding officer in each division of Congressional Debate will also receive an award.
The top 3 speakers in Policy, Lincoln Douglas, and Public Forum will receive awards.
Individual Events: Trophies will be awarded to the top three speakers in each event and division. Finalists will receive recognition.
Sweepstakes will be awarded using the following point values:

SEATTLE ACADEMY INVITATIONAL

6-7 November 2020

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SEATTLE ACADEMY INVITATIONAL ​