MSPDP Motions/Schedule & Information

Teams should be prepared to debate both of these topics on each side.

Rounds 1 & 2:

In the United States, voting should be compulsory.

Rounds 3 & 4:

In the face of injustice, civil disobedience is morally required.

Prep Time:
1. Per MSPDP guidelines, electronic devices (i.e tablets and laptops) are now allowed during prep time.  Cases do not need to be printed.

2. Teams will prep for both Rounds 1 & 2 BEFORE round 1

Format & Entry:

We will use the standard MSPDP format of 5 minute constructives and a 5 minute rebuttal.

Each school will be allowed to enter 4 teams. Please enter any additional teams onto the waiting list. Teams will be allowed to debate and earn wins as teams of two. However, since the activity is a 3-person activity, awards will be limited to teams with three members who participate in all rounds. We find that sometimes teams take advantage of the loophole of allowing 2-person teams because it might be strategic to keep a weaker (3rd) person off a team. All debaters will still be eligible for speaker awards.

Entry Fees: $55.00 to cover the cost of the food for the team, judges and awards.

Judge Requirement: Schools must bring 1 judge available to actually judge (not be trained) in every round, for every two teams.

Here is a grid to help:

1 team - 1 judge available every round

2 teams - 1 judge available every round

3 teams - 2 judges available every round

4 teams - 2 judges available every round

5 teams - 3 judges available every round

… and so on.

Tentative Schedule

8:00am - Coaches should arrive to let us know their entire teams are there and to confirm judges. At this point we will also give schools their assigned rooms.

8:40am - Announce the topic/pairing for the first two rounds.

9:00am - Round 1

10:30am - release pairing for Round 2

10:50am - Round 2

12:00pm - Lunch

12:40pm - Announce the topic/pairing for the second two rounds

1:00pm - Round 3

2:15pm - release pairing for Round 4

2:30pm - Round 4

4:00pm - Awards