SOAS Debating
Debating workshops take place every Monday and Wednesday of term. This summer we are meeting every Thursday in FG01 at 7pm. The time and location of next years workshops will be confirmed soon. In addition to our workshops, we send teams to debating tournaments every weekend.
SOAS Debating Society is one of the most active societies at the School of Oriental and African Studies. Any University of London student is free to join and there are no student fees levied by the society. To join the society simply fill in our membership form. We regulary host some of the largest tournaments in Europe. In autumn term we host the SOAS IV. In Spring we host our annual schools tournament, SOAS Schools, and in the summer we host the SOAS Open and SOAS invitational.
Registration
Registration for SOAS IV 2011 opens on August 15th. The team cap is 140 teams. To be sure of your place we encourage you to register as soon as possible. To register please complete the registration form.
Travel Advice
All in rounds, registration, and the novice workshop will be held at Vernon Square campus. All out rounds will be held at Russel Square Campus.
For information on how to get to SOAS please visit: http://soasdebate.org/the-soas-iv/travel-advice/
Schedule
21st Oct All day: Registration.
From 6:30pm: Novice Debaters workshop
22nd Oct Registration: 8:30am - 9:20am. We will run 5 rounds on Saturday. We aim to finish by 8:30pm on Saturday.
23rd Oct Registraton opens at 9am. Round 6 will than take place. After this we will announce the break. We expect to be finished by 9pm on Sunday.
Sponsors
This years SOAS IV is sponsored by Pinsent Masons. Pinsent Masons is a top 15 UK law firm with offices in all the major UK business centres and a growing international presence. Not constrained by the legacy of many larger commercial practices, the firm has a unique sector-focused approach that aligns the firm to specific business sectors to achieve market-leading positions
Previous Winners
2010: Cambridge
Harish Natarajan and Matilda Wnek
2009: Cambridge
Doug Cochren & Sean Koh
2008: ULU
Andrew Tuffin & Mark Gabriel
What to Expect
" SOAS IV is one of my favourite tournaments in the world! There was a workshop for international teams run by A-list debaters designed to give extensive feedback. As an international student myself, it was lovely to be welcomed so whole-heartedly by a group of dedicated and friendly individuals. I’m genuinely looking forward to SOAS IV 2011! " Lucinda David
Registration for SOAS Schools 2012 is now open. The team cap is 100 teams. To be sure of your schools place we encourage you to register as soon as possible. To register please complete the registration form. You will be asked to state the number of teams your school will be sending and whether or not you will be sending any judges.
SOAS Schools is a one day tournament. There will be 4 rounds, a novice final and a main final. Registration will open at 9am on January l5th. Please be on time. Registration will close at 9:30am. If you fail to arrive on time we will not be able to guarentee your participation in the tournament. We expect the tournament to finish at 7pm.
This years SOAS schools is sponsored by SOAS widening participation and SOAS Alumni and friends. We are proud to work with two organisations who are commiited to helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds. To find out about our sponsors please visit: www.soas.ac.uk
Widening Participation
One quality that remains very obvious when visiting or studying at SOAS is its highly diverse student body. SOAS remains committed to ensuring equal opportunity for all students regardless of their age, gender, ethnic origin or religious background.
If you are interested in finding out more information about widening participation at SOAS or the widening participation strategy please contact: Marva de la Coudray: m.delacoudray_soas.ac.uk
All rounds will be held at Vernon Square campus. For information on how to get to SOAS please visit: http://www.soas.ac.uk/visitors/location/travel/
2011: Westminster
(Barnaby Raine and Indi de Groof)
2010: Dr. Challoner’s High School for Girls (Jennifer Nice & Anna Stansbury)
SOAS Schools:
" What brilliant service. We would like to say thank you for making the day so friendly and welcoming; for the consistent and clear judging; for the really strong sense of helping to develop young debaters. We thought it was flawless. Many, many thanks. We'll be back! "
Geoff Barton, Headteacher, King Edward VI School
" Many thanks for providing such an enjoyable day on Saturday. Speaking with another debate coach, we were particularly impressed by the welcoming approach of all of you, and by the consistency of the judging. Out students really felt things were explained to them well and appreciated the time and effort the judges took to do that for them.Thank you for all the hard work you put in to making the competition happen. "
Diane Saywack, Norwich School
SOAS IV:
" SOAS IV is one of favourite tournaments in the world! There was a workshop for international teams run by A-list debaters designed to give extensive feedback. As an international student myself, it was lovely to be welcomed so whole-heartedly by a group of dedicated and friendly individuals. I’m genuinely looking forward to SOAS IV 2011 "
Lucinda David
SOAS Students
" I joined lots of Societies at SOAS, and I can honestly say that the Debating Society is the best! Not only do they meet up every week and provide you with really excellent training - they are also really welcoming and friendly "
Eleanor Kowol, Arabic and Islamic Studies
" Debating has really helped me improve my confidence. Before I joined the society I was terrified of public speaking, but now I am no longer afraid! "
David Hurst, History
" I have learned so much from joining the society. I love that I have been made to challenge my own views. Its amazing how debating makes you think about so many things and exposes you to all kinds of new ideas. "
Sophie Akister, Politics
©SOAS Debating Society 2011
