Sign-Up For the Debate Tournament.

[FoolOfATook]

Because I'm helping to co-ordinate the whole debate tournament, I won't be able to take the kind of active role in helping the Guild prepare that I would prefer. However, I think it would be useful if we could get everyone who is interested in participating in the debate tournament to post a message here, indicating how large of a part they think that they would be able to devote to the tournament. Also, for some of the newer members who we don't know as well yet, it would be great if you could mention any type of experience you have in debating, rhetoric, persuasive writng, and so forth.

By the by, I think that I can safely speak for the vast majority of the Guild when I say this- If you have never done something like this, or just joined last week, or anything like that, and you are interested in the debate but are worried or concerned about participating, please don't be. If you are interested in participating, please do so.

[Anamatar IV]

Anamatar is here! As for time I will be able to devote...I have a bunch of freetime as it is...and vacation is just around the corner.;)

As for experience...I have debated often on this forum and a few others. I don't consider myself to be too great at it but I think it comes with experience. I understand most of the Tolkien books I've read fairly well with the exception of Unfinished Tales which I have only read once.

I have been on a "semi" debate team in school, but that was a lot different than this.

As for persuasive writing, my English teachers for the past few years have been drilling how to write a persuasive prompt into out brains.;)

[Beleg]

I would also like to be a part of a The debating Society. I regularly take parts in Debates for my School although i don't have much experience in Debating Online. I agree with Anamatar that Online debating is a lot different then Real-life debating.

[gate7ole]

Count me in.
As for my debating skills, you can check my last debate with ithrynluin. I'm not totally satisfied with me, but I will try harder at the tournament :)

[FoolOfATook]

Gate7ole, Anamatar and Beleg certainly give the Guild a wonderful base to begin building our debate team(s) around, but I don't think that the three of them can win on their own. There are several members of the Guild that I already have in mind as being ideal representatives for the Guild, and it would be preferable for the entire debate effort if we could coax some of the members who we all know are great debators to go ahead and sign on for the team.

[gate7ole]

Originally posted by FoolOfATook
Gate7ole, Anamatar and Beleg certainly give the Guild a wonderful base to begin building our debate team(s) around, but I don't think that the three of them can win on their own. There are several members of the Guild that I already have in mind as being ideal representatives for the Guild, and it would be preferable for the entire debate effort if we could coax some of the members who we all know are great debators to go ahead and sign on for the team.
Honestly FoAT, I don't understand you. You have already made such a statement before and you seem to define differently the debates from me. You see them more antagonistically than I do. My vision of a debate is not to win, but to learn through it. And we should encourage people to participate in debates because of these benefits.
Then you come and ask for more ideal representatives. And even more that we should coax them. Who? Those that don't care to participate? And discourage the less experienced who may be eager to participate? I'm sorry, but I won't take part in such an effort. I will keep my ideas about the debates and will not encourage people to participate just because they are "good", even though they may not be interested. I would be more happy if the newer members participated, because my purpose is not that the guild wins, but that the guild-members learn through the process.

[FoolOfATook]

Gate, I think that you misunderstood me. I was merely trying to get more people to go ahead and sign up. I could have sworn in the very first post of this thread I make a specific comment that new members, or first time debators are more than welcome. Yes, I would like to see the Guild win, but I'm not attempting to draft anyone unwillingly into anything. And by "coax", all I meant was that if any of you happened to be chatting with someone in the Guild, you might mention to them that you thought they might be interested in the debate. There really are no sinisiter undertones in my post that were intended.

[Bethelarien]

I would gladly sign up, but I have never participated in a debate before, so I don't think I would be of much use. I don't even really know how they are conducted. So I'm willing, but probably not a good choice.

[Lhunithiliel]

Well, I say....Our Guild will surely beat all the others if we keep on showing such a "great" interest towards the issue that even the two Deputies have opened two separate threads about it and the members can't wait for their turn to post their opinions and to enlist for the tournament in both existing threads: mine (http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10825) and Took's here....

Excuse my sarcasm, but no matter how many threads we open, the important thing is that the Guild's members should freely make their choice on the matter and the more of of us enlist to the debating teams, the much, much better!

I think that EVERYONE has the right to apply for a debating team and be let try her/his skills, not only several "great debators "!
*******************

And I, also, don't think that it is necessary or good to have various threads on one and the same issue! This can only confuse people as it happens all the time with the application - threads.

[FoolOfATook]

Lhun.

The other thread was a discussion about the tournament. This is a thread for people to simply sign up for the tournament. I'm sure that you can see the difference.

I think that EVERYONE has the right to apply for a debating team and be let try her/his skills, not only several "great debators "!

I clearly stated in my very first post that I urged people to debate, even if this was their very first debate. Why am I being raked over the coals over this point? I really don't understand why I'm taking such abuse from current and former leaders of the Guild for something that I didn't do.




Hoom. Let me see if I can make this any clearer, without somehow offending anyone else. I will not be able to participate in the tournament. Because of the relatively complex nature of the tournament, I think that the Guild will have to show a fair amount of organization towards the tournament. I will not be able to do as much as I would like towards organizing the Guild's efforts. As a leader in the Guild, even if the position is only on paper, I feel an obligation to still do what I can to assisst in the tournament effort. It would be useful to have a list of persons interested in debating. It would be useful to have a thread with the single purpose of making such a list.

There, nothing too controversial I hope?

[Lhunithiliel]

Master Took,
the other thread was quite all right both for discussing and enlisting.
When Former PippinTook-now Aule contacted me about the Tournament, he told me you are in charge with the all-forum organization of the event and asked me to take care of the organization within the guild. I asked Gate but he had decided to step down from the Deputy position.
So, I had to do it! And I did it and in the opening post it is all very clear explained.

Now:
. Why am I being raked over the coals over this point? I really don't understand why I'm taking such abuse from current and former leaders of the Guild for something that I didn't do.
No, Took! Please, don't take it this way! Neither I nor Gate have ever had such intentions, man! ;) :D We both appreciate you as a leader and as a person!
But you know me! I'm all for a tight and clear organization of the things and I do not approve of having too much talk and no action. ;):D

Then:
I will not be able to participate in the tournament. ..
...I will not be able to do as much as I would like towards organizing the Guild's efforts. As a leader in the Guild,
And why's that? What's keeping you aside?
******
To the rest of the members:

Time is running up!
If you please, sign up so that we could form up the teames.

You can sign up here or in the other thread, whichever pleases you better! :p :p :p :p :D

[Eledhwen]

I think there should be debates for members who have, for instance, only read The Hobbit. Not only will it encourage youngsters and those new to Tolkien, but it will be fascinating to follow a debate which cannot break the rules (eg: dragging in arguments from other books), and which will reveal strong debating skills in people who have yet to read further.

[Lhunithiliel]

It's high time!!!!

[Gil-Galad]

hehe.......Count me in too!
Where will you go without me?!:D :D :D

[Bethelarien]

Don't hate me or anything, but I'm withdrawing from this debate team. The GoE needs me. :D I'm needed! Ha!

[FoolOfATook]

We'll miss you in the tournament, Beth. :(

[Luthien Tunivel]

I would really like to be on the debate team, if it's not too late. I've never done any online debating, but otherwise, I do a lot. I'm in the debate team at school, and I have a fairly high position. (My mom thinks I got there because I'm always arguing with her!) I'm good at persuasive writing, and I do a lot of it. The only problem is that I've only read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, so I can't do debates about any other books.

[Gil-Galad]

you are welcome Luthien Tunivel!You'll be among the "greenies" and I know you will manage to do it in the best possible way.
I would like to ask you to read the Silmarillion as fast as you can and also UT,cause you will need them for the debates.It would be awful if you participate in a round and the topic is connected with materials from The Sil and UT.

[Finrod]

please sign me up

[Gil-Galad]

Originally posted by Finrod
please sign me up
welcome Finrod!I'm glad you joined us.First of all you should join our Guild.You can do that in out Apply thread.
Please contact me on my pm and confirm you want to participate in the debating team.
Also,be sure you DO NOT PARTICIPATE in any other Guild that is debating.
Finally I would like to ask you to tell me in your pm which books have you read,and to invite you to The Gallery of Characters activity!

[Jesse]

I would like to sign up. Since school gets out within two days, I have a bunch of free time on my hands. Until June 26, when I begin training for my summer job. Here are a few questions I have:

1.) What are the requirements for debating? Meaning, do you have to write a speech with evidence supporting your theories, etc.?

2.) How many times must you debate in this tournament?

3.) What are we debating exactly?? :confused:

[Gil-Galad]

Welcome aboard Jesse!
The best advice I can give you is to watch carefully Round 2 and the process of debating.Thus you will learn much more things about debating than if I tell you just some information.
You should know that you can debate everytime you want.But it depends on the opponents we face every round,on the fact whether we have compiled a team or not,whether you'll be put in the team.But YES,you can participate!And the first time you'll be representative of the so called "greenies".Do you want to participate in Round 5?

1)Of course you have to prove what you say in the debates!
3)We are debating different topics every round,topics concerning everything about Tolkien's works.

[Lantarion]

I don't think I've ever debated ina proper Inter-Guild Debate before.. But as long as I toss quotes at the opposing team and use a lot of jargon it should be ok. :D
But yeah, sign me up (when I'm an actual member).

[Gil-Galad]

Originally posted by Lantarion
I don't think I've ever debated ina proper Inter-Guild Debate before.. But as long as I toss quotes at the opposing team and use a lot of jargon it should be ok. :D
But yeah, sign me up (when I'm an actual member).
WOW It seems that our Guild team is growing and growing.I think that with Lantarion's presence we become one of the best teams,cause we all know Lant's abilities.