Resolved | Branksome Hall

A Worldwide Public Speaking and Debate Competition

Are you a 13–18-year-old student in secondary school who likes to challenge conventional thinking?

Re:Solved is your opportunity to participate in the first online worldwide public speaking and debate competition on a universal theme.

Created in partnership with Branksome Hall, an independent IB World School, and Toronto’s Munk Debates, dedicated to promoting civil and substantive public debate, Re:Solved is designed to fuel interest and participation in global competitive speaking and debate.

Our innovative online debate platform, db8, 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 the universal topic.

Registration is now open for the public speaking phase of the competition. The topic is:

We can appreciate art, even if the artist is personally reprehensible.

Context: For this topic, all forms of art: visual, dance, literary and musical are acceptable. The spirit of the topic is whether we, as appreciators of art in all forms, can separate our appreciation from the character and behaviour of the artist. As a reminder to students, the judges will look at your content, critical thinking and style of presentation. Students are to speak either in favour or against this title.

Students will have until January 16, 2023 to prepare, deliver and upload their speech on db8. The top 32 students advance to the online debate phase. From there, the top four students will be selected to take part in a final, in-person, all-expenses-paid debate event in Toronto, Canada in May 2023.

Scholarship Amount for Re:Solved Finalists

$5,000 for the winning team ($2500 per student)

$3,000 for the runners up ($1500 per student)

Finalists will also receive prizes to assist with their post-secondary education expenses (not to mention bragging rights).

This is a unique opportunity to stimulate and connect the minds of young people around the world. We look forward to your participation.

Be at Re:Solved!

We are so glad you are interested in registering!

Students have until January 16, 2023 to prepare and deliver a six- to eight-minute speech and this should be uploaded to our new online debate platform, db8.

If you experience any issues uploading your speech, please contact ReSolved@branksome.on.ca and we will do our best to help.

Launch and Competition—Nov. 21, 2022–Jan. 16, 2023

Website, online platform and topic launched November 21, 2022
Videos are due Jan. 16, 2023

Judging—Jan. 2023

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

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 May 2023.

List of 5 items.

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?

January 16, 2023
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.

We wish to acknowledge this land on which Branksome operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-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.

Branksome Hall
10 Elm Avenue
Toronto, ON | M4W 1N4