Great Scot 161_December_2020_E-Mag_V2b | Page 32

NEWS
ABOVE FROM LEFT : YUP MEN QUEK ( YEAR 7 ), MAX FAN ( YEAR 11 ), LUKE O ’ BRIEN ( YEAR 11 ), SHANE GAN ( YEAR 10 )
These debates are enjoyable , as they often revolve around interesting and current topics . They also involve preparation with coaches and fellow debaters , and this in itself is an important learning experience . I recommend this forum for new and experienced debaters to gain experience and confidence .
Challenge Debating – Sasha Pillay ( Year 8 ) Challenge debating offers a different form or debating as it mimics the British parliament style . Instead of two teams of three , there are four teams of two , but still two sides of the House . This may sound confusing but once you get into it , it is so much fun !
Recently , the challenge debating boys learnt about Model UN . If you thought that British parliament debating was very ' parliamentary ', you have to try Model UN . Everyone gets their own country , and essentially we debate about certain topics and motions . We also get to use a program which allows different countries to talk to each other .
National Online Debating Competition – Sami Samiee ( Year 8 ) I have enjoyed debating against International schools and making it through to the semi-finals in the National Online Debating Competition . Tournament of Minds was challenging in an online environment – and our group thrived on the opportunity to explore creative ideas together in response to the 2020 problem . Our presentation consisted of a blending of mini-movies made by each boy , so teamwork took on a new perspective .
International Debating Championships – Yup Meng Quek ( Year 7 )
At the start of the year , I knew nothing about debating , but I was eager to learn . I took up my first debating program early in the year . However , as COVID-19 struck , the number of debating opportunities available started to decline , and I was not able to start debating until the latter half of the year . However , I was made aware of many online debating programs and competitions , and avidly availed of these opportunities , learning the tips and tricks of debating , while
debating in many formats across different levels : locally , nationally and internationally .
I particularly valued debating in the International Debating Championships , an event that includes over 20 institutions across the globe participating in each division . I was challenged to extend myself by working faster and prioritising key points . I also had the chance to talk with students from other countries , allowing me interesting insights into their culture and traditions .
HISTORY AND ESSAY WRITING
National History Challenge – Max Fan ( Year 11 )
In the 2020 National History Challenge , students were asked to produce a research piece on the theme ‘ Contested histories ’. For this competition , I took on the century-old question of so-called ‘ judicial activism ’ in the High Court of Australia .
In exploring this debate , I navigated through newspaper archives and case opinions , learning as much as I could from the writings of justices who once sat on the court , and the scholars who critiqued them . This research was made all the more poignant by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the USA , and the prospect of a monumental realignment in America ’ s Supreme Court – once again calling into question how much power justices should have in the first place .
The most valuable part of this experience , however , was not the final product , but rather the introduction of nuance . A problem which I had once thought to be cut and dried proved far more intricate than I had expected . In a world of stark binaries , this essay forced me to consider a far less tempting but more realistic middle ground .
Button Essay – Luke O ’ Brien ( Year 11 )
The essay required students not only to discuss current , pertinent issues in Australia – whether political , social , or economic – but to suggest how Australia could move forward from this issue . The topic was optional , with students choosing whatever they wished , so that participants could write on something which sparked
30 Great Scot Issue 161 – December 2020