Question: As the secretary of the debating club, write a report to the principal on the just concluded debate competition.
REPORT ON THE JUST CONCLUDED DEBATE COMPETITION
By Samuel Okeke, Secretary, Debating Club
Introduction
I write to bring to your notice the details of the debate competition organized by the Debating Club of Victory College, Owerri. The competition, which was held on Friday, 16th June 2023, at the school hall, was keenly contested among representatives of the four school houses.
Aim of the Competition
The main purpose of the debate was to develop students’ public speaking skills, improve their confidence, and encourage critical thinking on topical issues affecting society.
Motion and Participants
The motion for the debate was: “Technology Has Done More Harm Than Good to Society.”
- Blue House and Green House spoke in support of the motion.
- Red House and Yellow House opposed the motion.
Each house was represented by two debaters, making a total of eight participants.
Proceedings
The Principal, represented by the Vice-Principal (Academics), declared the event open. The debate was moderated by the English Language teacher, who ensured fair play and proper time management.
The contestants spoke passionately, presenting well-researched points. For instance, Blue House argued that technology has led to moral decay and job loss, while Red House countered that it has improved healthcare, education, and communication.
Judges were drawn from the English and Government departments. After an intense session of arguments and rebuttals, the debate ended at 2:00 p.m.
Results
The judges announced the following results:
- 1st Position: Red House (74 points)
- 2nd Position: Blue House (69 points)
- 3rd Position: Yellow House (65 points)
- 4th Position: Green House (61 points)
The best speaker award was given to Grace Nwankwo of Red House, who thrilled the audience with her eloquence and mastery of facts.
Challenges
Despite the success of the event, there were a few challenges. The sound system malfunctioned briefly, and some students in the audience were noisy. However, these were quickly managed, and the debate proceeded smoothly.
Recommendations
- The school should provide better microphones and speakers for future events.
- Debating competitions should be held more frequently to sharpen students’ skills.
- Efforts should be made to control noise from the audience.
Conclusion
The debate competition was successful, educative, and entertaining. It achieved its aim of building confidence in students and promoting intellectual engagement.
Respectfully submitted,
Samuel Okeke
Secretary, Debating Club
Examiners’ Expectations
WAEC examiners expect candidates to:
- Address the report to the principal formally.
- Include date, venue, and purpose of the debate.
- State the motion, participants, and judges’ roles.
- Present the results and declare the winner.
- Add recommendations and conclusion.
- Write in a formal, factual tone with 450+ words.
Tips for Students
- Always mention the motion/topic of the debate.
- Report the arguments on both sides briefly.
- State the results clearly (scores, winners, awards).
- Mention any problems or challenges.
- End with recommendations and conclusion.