BASIS International Bilingual Schools China Championship

2024 — Shekou, Nanshan, Shenzhen, Guan, CN

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Extemporaneous Speaking

Event Description:

Extemporaneous Speaking

Purpose: The general purpose of the speech is the answer the question. Any other purpose such as to inform, to entertain, or to persuade is secondary.

Topics: The tournament host will obtain a list of questions phrased for contest use and based on subjects discussed in periodicals during the current school year. The contents of the list must not be disclosed except as contestants draw questions. A new subject area will be used for each round with no duplication of questions between the rounds. Subject areas should be disclosed in the tournament invitation. Questions will cover the domestic affairs of foreign countries and the foreign affairs of all countries,

Extemp Draw: Thirty minutes before the contest is to begin, the first speaker draws three questions, chooses one, and returns the other two. The other contestants draw in like manner, in the order of speaking, at intervals of eight to ten minutes. A contestant drawing a question on which they have spoken previously in the tournament must return it and draw again.

Preparation: As soon as a question is chosen, the contestant will prepare a speech without consultation and without references to prepared notes. Students may consult published books, periodical articles, newspaper articles, think tank articles, government reports or journal articles saved on their electronic retrieval device or present in hard copy form provided:

a. There are no notations made within or on the saved article other than citation information.

b. Any highlighting or underlining of the articles is done in only one color within each article. Bolding, italicizing, or any other manipulation of the original text of sources (other than highlighting or underlining as previously stipulated) is prohibited.

c. They are uncut originals or copies of whole pages.

d. There is no written material on that original or copy other than citation information.

e. Topical index without annotation may be present.

No other material will be allowed in the Extemp prep room other than stated above. Extemp speeches, handbooks, briefs and outlines are prohibited from the Extemp prep room. Underlining or highlighting in Extemp will be allowed if done in only one color on each article or copy.

Electronic Devices: Extemporaneous Speaking contestants may make use of electronic retrieval devices to store and to retrieve their subject files at tournaments. Students can retrieve extemporaneous files to read but cannot write speeches or organize their thoughts on the computers. Electronically retrieved evidence used in any Extemp competition must conform to the citation standard of the Modern Language Association.

Internet: Extemporaneous Speaking contestants are permitted to access the internet while competing in tournaments. Electronic communication with any other individual while in the prep room is disallowed and will make the competitor subject to disqualification. All computers must comply with the following provisions at in-person tournaments:

a. Computers or other electronic devices may not be used to receive information from any source (coaches or assistants included) inside or outside of the room in which the competition occurs. Use of email, instant messaging, or other means of receiving information from sources inside or outside of the competition room are prohibited.

b. ChatGPT and other AI-based chatbots are not permitted to be used in the research or outlining of a speech.

Penalty: Contestants found to have violated the above provisions will be disqualified from the tournament and will forfeit all round credits and points. Additional academic dishonesty penalties may be applied per campus guidelines and policies.

Notes: Contestants may make notes during the preparation time, but the use of notes, cards, briefs or other aids is prohibited during the speech. Middle school competitors are allowed the use of a single 3x5 notecard.

Time: The time limit is seven minutes with a 30-second “grace period. “If there are multiple judges in the round, all must agree that the student has gone beyond the grace period. Should a student go beyond the grace period, the student may not be ranked 1st. There is no other prescribed penalty for going over the grace period. The ranking is up to each individual judge’s discretion. No minimum time is mandated.