Chairing a Debate

It is courteous for the affirmative team to provide a fourth speaker to act as the chairperson for a debate. It is the chairperson’s job to introduce the debate, speakers, and time each speech. If you are asked to be a chairperson you can use this guide below to know what to do

In Summary

Before Debate	Introduce: Affirmative Team Negative Team Debate Topic Speaking Times: First Signal Second Signal What signal will sound like Housekeeping Phones on silent No video recording Be respectful of other speakers Introduce first speaker
Repeat below for each speaker
During each speech	Time speech Provide time signals as required
After each speech	Thank the speaker Announce the time taken for that speech
Wait for signal from Adjudicator
After signal from adjudicator	Introduce next speaker
After all speeches are done
After 3ʳᵈ Negative Speaker	Thank all speakers and invite teams to congratulate one another
Wait for the adjudicator
All done, good job!

Speaking Times

Competition	First Signal	Second Signal	Continuous Signal
Schools Competition A Grade	6 minutes	8 minutes	8 minutes 30 seconds
Schools Competition B Grade	6 minutes	8 minutes	8 minutes 30 seconds
Schools Competition C Grade	5 minutes	6 minutes	6 minutes 30 seconds
Schools Competition D Grade	4 minutes	5 minutes	5 minutes 30 seconds
Junior Secondary Competition	3 minutes	4 minutes	4 minutes 30 seconds
All other competitions	Refer to the rules for that competition, or ask the adjudicator

Timekeeping

Time starts when the speaker starts speaking. It does not start when they stand up, when they put their notes down, when the adjudicator looks up, or at any other time.

Time signals may be anything agreed to by the debaters before the debate starts. It is usually a knock on the table, but it can also be a slap on the table or a clap (if your knuckles are sore). If you have a bell this may be used also.

Time signals must be loud enough for the speakers to hear while presenting their speech. It does not need to be any louder than this.

Time stops when the speaker has finished. This is usually (but not always) after they say something to the effect of “...thank-you for listening”.

What to say

Introduction

Hello and welcome to today’s/this evening’s/tonight’s debate, “That <\>”.

To my right is the Affirmative team, \.
To my left is the Negative team, \.
The time for speeches is __ minutes. I will make one knock/slap/bell at __ minutes and two knocks/slaps/bells at __ minutes. Your speech ends at the second knock/slap/bell. 30 seconds after the second knock/slap/bell I will begin knocking/slapping/ringing continuously.
I now invite the first speaker of the Affirmative team to open today’s/tonight’s debate.

After each speech

Immediately at the end of the speech write the time for the speech down. Then, stand up and say:

Thank-you to the ____ speaker of the ________ team.

Wait for a nod from the adjudicator

The time for that speech was __ minutes and __ seconds.

Wait for a second nod from the adjudicator

I now welcome the ____ speaker of the ________ team to present their speech.

Sit back down

Once they start speaking, start your stopwatch.

After all speeches

Thank-you to both teams for their speeches tonight.

The adjudicator will now take some time to consider the debate and determine the winner. Meanwhile you are free to talk quietly amongst yourselves. I encourage all speakers to congratulate the other team.