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TIPS FOR DEBATING ONLINE

Essentials Checklist

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  • Week leading up to tournament

    • Conduct an internet speed test. Microsoft Teams requires a download speed of 2 Mbps and an upload speed of 1 Mbps and; however, a higher speed is better, aim for a 25 Mbps download speed and 5 Mbps upload speed if possible.

    • If your internet connection is too slow, try the following options

      • Connect a wired Ethernet connection to your device

      • Find a quiet place to compete that's closer to your WiFi Router

      • Purchase a WiFi extender and put it in your room

    • If the steps above are not feasible, download the Teams app on your phone and test your phone's data speeds.

    • If that's not feasible, submit a support request via the "Troubleshooting" form. We'll provide you with instructions for how to call into your meeting.

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  • Night before the tournament

    • Test your microphone and video camera​

    • Test your website log-in, Wix Chat and joining a Teams meeting

    • Restart all relevant devices (including internet routers)

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  • Day of the tournament​

    • Join a sample Teams meeting to conduct a final test of hardware​

    • Navigate to Tabroom (or your event page) to find pairings

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  • During the debate

    • Join with your mic off​

    • Turn on your mic and video when talking​

    • Turn off mic when not talking

Public Forum Evidence Exchange Guidelines

  1. Navigate to the respective Public Forum page.

  2. Find your room number (assigned on Tabroom pairings)

  3. Click on the button for "evidence exchange"

  4. This will redirect you to a Google Doc. If a team calls for a card, simply copy-paste the necessary information into the Doc. 

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Additional Instructions can be found on the Google Doc itself.

Recommended Equipment

We understand the importance of preventing this activity from being cost-prohibitive. The required hardware for competing in a tournament can be found in nearly all computers. However, after consulting numerous experts and debaters, we have compiled a list of equipment that can significantly improve your experience. Many families already have these pieces of equipment. If cost is an issue, please get in touch with your school's speech and debate club to see if they can help.​

  • Microphone -- these are a significant upgrade over your computer's in-built mic. It'll help your judges hear a clean, crisp voice, even if there's occasional lag issues. (Microphone Recommendation Credits: Nikhil Devisetty)

    • $50 -- Blue Snowball iCE​

    • $40 -- Samson Go Mic

    • $37 -- Fifine K052

    • $12 to $17 - three different options of PoP Voice Professional Lavalier Microphone

    • Using a mic built into earbuds or headphones is also a great option.

  • Wifi Extender -- if your selected place of debating is too far from your internet router to have a stable, high-speed connection, consider one of these.

  • Ethernet Cable -- establishes a wired connection between your computer and internet. This is the single-most helpful upgrade for improving your connectivity.

  • Webcam -- if your computer set-up lacks a video camera, consider getting one of these so your judges can see the visual aspects of your performance.

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Note: Ask your parents or guardians! Most households have an Ethernet cable lying around somewhere, or free earbuds that come with new phones. These are simple changes that can have a big difference!

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