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Manner is concerned with the mechanics of public speaking and presentation of
the debating case. Good manner will enhance the argument; bad manner will
distract or detract the audience from the argument. The most important thing to
remember when you assess manner is to ask the question "Was it effective?"

THE ELEMENTS OF MANNER:

  1. Vocal style: Volume of delivery should be audible; enunciation should be
    clear and plain; pace of delivery should be neither too slow nor too fast;
    vocal style should have variety and appropriate pauses for relaxation and
    emphasis; delivery should be reasonably fluent, confident and
    authoritative (but not arrogant or hectoring).
  2. Use of language: Speakers should not vary from normal conversational
    language; they should beware of the use of slang or jargon of some field
    of specialty unfamiliar to the audience.
  3. Use of notes: Notes should be unobtrusive, small enough to be held in
    one hand and contain only key words or headlines.
  4. Use of eyes: Debaters should attempt to make eye contact with the
    audience.
  5. Gesture: Gestures should be natural and appropriate and not laborious
    or distracting; mannerisms should be avoided.
  6. Stance: Speakers may move around or stand still and you should assess
    the effectiveness of the stance by whether it aided the argument or
    distracted you from the argument.
  7. Dress: Dress may only be taken into account in the assessment of
    manner where it is so incongruous that it affects the credibility of the
    speaker. Impression of sincerity: A more sincere approach will make the
    speaker more believable and effective.
  8. Personal attacks on opponents: Derogatory comments will not be
    tolerated and will suffer manner penalty as such remarks distract the
    audience from the argument and also make the speaker lose the
    sympathetic ear of the audience; speakers should also not refer to the
    personal convictions held by opposing debaters.
  9. Humour: Humour should be appropriate and may even be used at a
    crucial time in a serious debate.

Adjudicators must note that manner is assessed as the total impact of all its
various elements - not as some aggregation of fixed categories according to
rigid weightings.
 1. Introduction
2. Assessing
Matter
3. Assessing
Method
4. Assessing
Manner
5. Other Issues
6. Marking Scale
7. Conclusion


4. Assessing Manner
Adjudication
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