Asian Parliamentary (AP) and World Schools Debate (WSDC) are similar in nature. Both involve two teams of three people competing against each other. The basic format of AP and WSDC debate is the same except that in WSDC, teams deliver three eight-minute speeches and one four-minute speech, while in AP, there are three seven-minute speeches and one four-minute speech. The amount of preparation time allowed varies from competition to competition but in AP debate is usually 30 minutes, in WSDC ranging from 30 minutes to 1 hour.
In Asian Parliamentary events, all topics are impromptu; the two teams choose their topic from a shortlist of three at the start of the their preparation time. World Schools Debate involves both impromptu topics and prepared topics, and there is a single topic for debate in this format.
The interactive element of AP and WSDC is the allowance of Points of Information (POIs). POIs are when a speaker of the opposing side can stand and ask questions during the speech. This provides additional difficulty for speakers (as well as more entertainment for the audience).
Format Description:
Asian Parliamentary (AP) and World Schools Debate (WSDC) are similar in nature. Both involve two teams of three people competing against each other, although some WSDC competitions allow up to five debaters to attend tournaments as a "squad", prepping together and taking turns to participate in the team in different lineups for each round.
The basic format of AP and WSDC debate is the same except that in WSDC, teams deliver three eight-minute speeches and one four-minute speech, while in AP, there are three seven-minute speeches and one four-minute speech. The amount of preparation time allowed varies from competition to competition but in AP debate is usually 30 minutes, in WSDC ranging from 30 minutes to 1 hour.
In Asian Parliamentary events, all topics are impromptu; the two teams choose their topic from a shortlist of three at the start of the their preparation time, ranking them in order of preference and vetoing those they don't like. World Schools Debate involves both impromptu topics and prepared topics, and there is only a single topic for each round in this format.
The interactive element of AP and WSDC is the allowance of Points of Information (POIs). POIs are when a speaker of the opposing side can stand and ask questions during the speech. This provides additional difficulty for speakers (as well as more entertainment for the audience).
Sample Topics:
This house would make labour union membership compulsory in large industries.
This house would deny tax-exempt status to religious institutions that refuse to appoint female leaders.
This house would ban for-profit universities and colleges.
This house supports restrictions on free speech to combat the rise of right- wing populism.
Key Competitions:
The primary yearly competition in the Asian Parliamentary style is Canton IV that takes place in Shenzhen every year in August (although in 2018 this competition has been cancelled). Other AP tournaments open to our students include the ICUT tournament in Japan in spring, the Malaysia Debate Open in April and the Taiwan Debate Open in May. There are several competitions in the World Schools style including: Asian World Schools Debate Championships (AWSDC), Europen, Argo Open International Schools Debating Championships, Harvard International Schools Debating Championships, National China Schools Debating Championships, and the World Schools Debate Championships (WSDC). The World Schools Debate Championship happens in a different location every summer and is open only to the five students from each country who earn a spot on their National Team. WSDC is the pinnacle of high school parliamentary debate worldwide.
Please see the LearningLeaders competition for more information about these events
Eligibility:
World Schools and Asian Parliamentary debate events are available primarily to high school students in Advanced Debate and above. There may be some cases in which 8th grade students are eligible to compete in these events.
Competitor Characteristics & Difficulty Level:
World Schools Debate is the most advanced and prestigious debating format worldwide for high school students. The height of competitive achievement as a high school debater is winning the World Schools Debate Championship. Participating students are typically top students attending top high schools from around the world.
Key Advantages of Participation:
World Schools Debate (WSDC), not to be confused with World Scholars Cup (WSC), is the most advanced level of debate for high school students. Students will be presented with topics they can prepare beforehand as well as impromptu topics. Students will learn to apply theoretical frameworks to complicated controversies, learn to develop a cogent case for and against particular topics, and compete against the highest level of debaters in the world. Additionally, the academic rigor of WSDC is supplemented by a focus on public speaking style which means that students not only learn the deep substance of argumentation and refutation but ways to speak which are accessible, entertaining, and compelling. This is a key difference from Public Forum (PF), where style and delivery are weighted less heavily.
Training Opportunities:
Intermediate/Advanced Debate: World Schools.