Welcome!

19 September, 2024

Flow of Debate Review & Opening Speech Workshop

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Homeroom Club Day

Itinerary

Announcements & Review

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Timeline

Review of Flow of Debate

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Opening Speech Workshop

Flow of Debate Review

For new & experienced delegates alike!

Flow of Debate

1. Roll Call
2. Formation of a Speaker’s List
1. 1:30, 2 :30 comments

If motioned:

• Moderated Caucus
• Time, topic
• Unmoderated Caucus

After speaker’s list or if motioned:

• Formal Caucus
• Voting bloc

Don’t worry - we will have simulations!

More on Flow of Debate

Opening Speeches

What’s the purpose?

Opening speeches are an opportunity for you to explain your country’s position on a given matter and potentially offer a practical policy proposal on how you might solve it.

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They are important as they will help you determine the countries you want to work with during the lobbying and merging session.

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The General Format - SIA

1. Start

Address the problem you hope to solve (the more specific & relevant to your country the better!)

2. Information

Back up your views on the issue and solutions with facts from research

3. Action

Your solution & steps to implementation! Largest section

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1 minute, 30 seconds (general time).�~220-230 words fully scripted.

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Example Opening Speech

Topic: Eradicating Global Hunger

Country: Norway

Honorable chair and fellow delegates,

The first step to stopping starvation is improving access to clean water, critical for food growth. Half of the 800 million people without access to clean water live in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Kingdom of Norway believes that the WFP’s efforts should focus on community-oriented aid to promote self-sufficient living. Norway thinks self-operated water harvesting devices are a good way to do this. The University of Akron in Ohio developed a water harvester that produces 10 gallons of drinking water per hour from thin air. The UN should purchase, and distribute, water harvesters to the countries most in need such as Niger, Burundi and Mozambique. For the UN to ensure long term success, the WFP should transfer harvesters and not funds to the countries in need.

Thank you, and I yield the rest of my time to the chair.

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Breakdown

Clash

Information

(Call to) Action

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Methods for Speechwriting

1. The “Novelist” �Full written speech, every word planned.
1. Pros: reliable, easy to craft your message exactly
2. Cons: can sound robotic
2. The “Architect”�Bullet-pointed outline for speech & flow of argument. (Think: CIA)
• Pros: allows for more charisma & connection with audience through organic nature
• Cons: can be less reliable, more advanced speech skills needed
3. The “Minimalist”�Only a few ideas written down on paper, uses charisma and voice for entire speech.
• Pros: fully connects with audience, conversational, distinctive, and rare
• Cons: very advanced speech skills needed, ability to mentally map a speech and improvise

Things to remember

• There’s no “correct” style of speech - simply use this as a suggestion
• Aim to keep it under 90 seconds, 60 seconds for some committees
• Address the delegates and chair in the 3rd person (ie. “honorable delegates…, this delegate would would…)
• Know your topic well so you’re ready to answer questions

Your turn!

Topic: Homework

Example format:

Honorable chair and fellow delegates:

[My country] realizes the benefits of homework on ____ (memory, grades, etc.) and suggests ____.

Students all around the country _____. Research has shown that ______.

[My country] proposes/suggest/asserts that ______.

Thank you, and I yield the rest of my time to the chair.

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Peer Editing!!

(If time allows)

Thank you!

Check out our website: pcsmun.com

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