Oratory Article
Last Friday’s Competition Debates
On Friday night, our Years 9 and 10 as well as Senior A debaters all opposed MLC in the first Octo Finals of the 2024 ISDA Competition. While the Year 10s unfortunately lost their debate, the 9s and Senior As won their debates and progress to the Quarter Final round of the competition! The 9s will now take on either Riverview or Abbotsleigh next Friday 24th May and the Senior As will front Newington for a shot at the Semi Finals.
See below the ISDA topics on the night:
| Division | Topic Area Make Up Round ISDA |
| 9 | That businesses should be able to fire employees based on their personal social media use. |
| 10 | That high profile individuals should not openly support individual politicians or political parties. |
| Senior A | That high profile individuals should not openly support individual politicians or political parties. |
Eastside debaters had their final round of the preliminaries (minus the 9s who oppose SCEGGS this week in the make-up round) and did themselves proud on International Relations topics by taking out 4/6 divisions on the night. Well done to Years 7, 8, 9 and 11 for their wins!
See below the Eastside round topics:
| Division | Topic Area Round 7 Eastside: International Relations |
| 7 | That we oppose the use of military drones. |
| 8 | That we oppose the use of military drones. |
| 9 | That Western states should support local rebel groups (e.g. by funding them and giving them intelligence) as opposed to direct military intervention in other states. |
| 10 | That New Zealand should sign onto AUKUS. |
| 11 | That New Zealand should sign onto AUKUS. |
| 12 | That New Zealand should sign onto AUKUS. |
See below the updated tally for Cranbrook:
| Eastside Division | Round 1 vs Sydney Grammar | Round 2 vs Scots | Round 3 vs Reddam | Round 4 vs Sydney Boys | Round 5 vs SCEGGS | Round 6 vs Sydney Girls | Round 7 vs Rose Bay Secondary |
| 7 | Loss | Loss | WIN | WIN | WIN | Loss | WIN |
| 8 | Loss | WIN | Loss | WIN | Loss | Loss | WIN |
| 9 | WIN | WIN | Loss | Loss | TBC | WIN | WIN |
| 10 | Loss | Loss | WIN | WIN | WIN | Loss | Loss |
| 11 | Loss | WIN | WIN | Loss | WIN | WIN | WIN |
| 12 | WIN | WIN | WIN | Loss | Loss | Loss | Loss |
Semi-finals contention looks within sight for at least several of our Eastside teams. We’ll be able to confirm this time next week – stay tuned!
Competition Debating this week
This Friday 17th May sees the following debates take place:
| Details | ISDA Octos 2 | Eastside Debates |
| Round | Octos 2 for Years 7, 8 and Senior Bs (all other ISDA teams train at Cranbrook – usual times apply) | Make Up Round for Year 9 and internals for all other divisions. |
| Venue | Kincoppal for Octos 2 teams and Cranbrook for all other divisions | Cranbrook |
| Address | Cnr New South Head Road &, 2 Vaucluse Rd, Vaucluse NSW 2030 | 5 Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill, NSW 2023 |
| Entry via | Please only enter the campus from the main gate on New South Head Road and walk along the pedestrian crossing to the Main School reception. A representative from the school will meet you and walk you to the Hughes Foyer. | Rose Bay Avenue pedestrian gate (for pick up only) |
| Transport | Debaters travelling to Kincoppal must meet teachers and coaches at the away school. | N/A |
| Years 7-9 debate / finish | Debates start 6.30pm / Debates finish 7.30pm | Debates start 6.15pm / Debates finish 7.15pm |
| Years 10-12 debate / finish | Debates start 7.30pm / Debates finish 9.00pm | Debates start 7.15pm / Debates finish 8.45pm |
| Topic area | None advertised | Non advertised |
| Spectator policy | Spectators welcome for Years 7, 8 and Senior B debates at Kincoppal. | No spectators this evening. |
For internal debates this week:
- Eastside Years 7-9 andISDA Years 9 and 10will have the following timings:
- Training from 3.45-5.00pm
- Prep from 5.30-6.15pm
- Debate from 6.15-7.15pm
- Eastside Years 10-12 and ISDA Senior As will have the following timings:
- Training from 5.00-6.15pm
- Prep from 6.30-7.15pm
- Debate from 7.15-8.30pm
A reminder that all Years 7-9 debaters must be collected by a parent or guardian at the end of the night.
Update on AMEB Voice and Communication Group
Our small but keen group of AMEB Voice and Communication students have recently been delving into studies of prose fiction and how to conduct an engaging reading of chosen texts. Led by Ms Caroline Usasz from the English Department, last Friday’s session explored how energy levels affect our bodies and voices, and therefore how that then shapes our performance of texts. Students read from Jane Eyre and practiced their sight reading – skills necessary for achieving success in the external examinations that form the culminating experience of this programme.
Students will continue with prose fiction this week before moving forward into poetry and memorisation.
Upcoming oratory events
- Model UN on lunchtimes Wednesday 15th, Thursday 16th, and Friday 17th May
- Plain English-Speaking Competition (Sydney Girls High School) on 9.30am-12.30pm Thursday 16th May
- Mock Trial and Social Debating 3.30-5.30pm Thursday 16th May
- AMEB Voice and Communication 3.30-5.00pm on Friday 17th May
- ISDA Octos 2 debates (Years 7, 8 and Senior B debates – all at Kincoppal vs various), Eastside 9s make up debate (vs SCEGGS online at Cranbrook), and internal debates (at Cranbrook) on Friday 17th May
- Public Speaking Club on Monday 20th May
Annual House Debating Competition Begins Soon
The annual House Debating Competition begins in just under a fortnight’s time, with junior (Years 7-9) and senior (Years 10-12) divisions. Houses must field teams comprised of debaters and non-debaters, with Heads of Houses responsible for approving teams. This is an excellent way for students who want to try their hand at debating to get involved. In previous years we have seen students who participate to go on to joining our social programmes in the second half of the year.
Oratory programmes above are fully subscribed for Semester 1
There has been a lot of recent interest in participating in one or more of our oratory programmes listed above. However, close date for sign-ups have long passed and we are presently fully subscribed across all debating, public speaking, and Model UN. We are therefore unable to accept new enrolments. However, students keen to gain access to our resources and prepare themselves for Semester 2 sign-up are welcome to reach out to me (note, we only accept expressions of interest from students directly). Sign-up for Semester 2 offerings will circulate via student email in mid-June.
Contact
Should you or your son have any further questions about any of Cranbrook’s oratory programmes, you are welcome to reach out to the Head of Oratory and Student Journalism, Mr Benjamin Smith, at bsmith@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au. In the first instance, students should be making contact about getting involved.
Essential information and highlights for parents will be posted here on Cranbrook Connect as part of the Thursday Link. Students involved in oratory programmes will receive updates via their respective Canvas or TEAMS channels.
Benjamin Smith
Head of Oratory & Student Journalism