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A Worldwide Public Speaking and Debate Competition
After a successful inaugural competition, Re:Solved has returned!
What is Re:Solved?
Dedicated to promoting civil and substantive public debate, Re:Solved is designed for all students aged 13-18 to fuel their interest and participation in global competitive public speaking and debate.
Our online public speaking platform makes it easy for students and judges from around the world to connect and debate on topics that challenge popular beliefs and encourage deep thinking. The goal is to present the most persuasive argument on a universal theme.
Re:Solved asks students to create and upload a six- to eight-minute persuasive speech on a given topic. These are judged by adults from all over the world and the top 32 students will enter the debate phase, which culminates in a four-person final debate in Toronto in April 2025.
Read some testimonials from past participants.
The Final Re:Solved Debate
Read some testimonials from past participants.
The theme of this year's Re:Solved competition is "Democracy in 2024."
The Final Re:Solved Debate
The Final Debate Tournament will be held in Toronto on April 26, 2025, and the four finalists will be flown to Toronto to compete, with hotel, airfare and food expenses covered.
Scholarship Amounts for Re:Solved Finalists
$5,000 for the winning team ($2,500 per student)
$3,000 for the runners up ($1,500 per student)
Registration
Registration for the third annual Re:Solved competition will open on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
Students have until December 10, 2024 to prepare and deliver a six- to eight-minute speech and upload it using the 'Submit Your Video' button below.
Motion: “Democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried.” (Attributed to Winston Churchill)
Students have until December 10, 2024 to prepare and deliver a six- to eight-minute speech and upload it using the 'Submit Your Video' button below.
Motion: “Democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried.” (Attributed to Winston Churchill)
In 2024, 60 countries and over two billion people will have voted or will be voting. Given the rise of anti-democratic sentiment, what is the status of the democratic process? For the purpose of this debate, students are invited to take a stance on whether a representative democracy is the most effective form of governing. Are there other forms of governance that are more effective? Despite its flaws, is democracy still worth pursuing? You can agree or disagree with the statements, but you must have specific examples to defend your position.
EQUITY - Under no circumstances are remarks that mock, demean or disparage groups of people permitted. If it is brought to the organizer's attention that a student has said something that is considered offensive and violates our equity policy, the organizers will investigate and it could lead to disqualification.
Key Dates
- Website and topic launched October 15, 2024
- Videos are due December 10, 2024
- During this time, the judging matrix will be created and the judges will be contacted
- The judges will assess the speeches using the online platform
- The top 32 students (16 teams) will be contacted in January 2025
Rules of Debate
Eligibility
- This competition is open to every secondary/high school student between the ages of 13 to 18 (Grades 9 to 12 in North American school terms).
- Once the top four students have been selected, students must be eligible for travel to Toronto in April 2025.
FAQ
List of 5 items.
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Who is eligible to participate?
The tournament is open to any secondary/high school student between the ages of 13–18. -
What does a six- to eight-minute speech look like?
When you're writing, aim for three to four pages of A4 or letter-sized paper (double-spaced). Anything longer means you will likely be speaking too quickly. -
When are videos due?
December 10, 2024 -
What is the registration fee?
There is no cost to participate in the tournament. -
What are the technical requirements for the tournament?
You need to provide an email address, which can be your own personal email or that of the school. You also need a device to film and a WIFI connection to upload the video and fill out the form. You will not be judged on the quality of the video. While you should be cognizant of space (ideally you would film in a classroom or a private space), the judges are to judge you on the quality of your words. In fact, the speech should not be edited at all. We are trying to keep this as simple as possible.
Contact Us
All questions about the Re:Solved debate competition can be sent to: ReSolved@branksome.on.ca
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We wish to acknowledge this land on which Branksome operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Wendat, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work and go to school on this land.*
*The Land Acknowledgement may evolve as we honour our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation in partnership with Indigenous communities.
*The Land Acknowledgement may evolve as we honour our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation in partnership with Indigenous communities.
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