THE COLLEGE BOWL
A Whole New Level...
The Ethics Bowl Like It Has Never Been Done Before
It’s finally here! With the explosive success of the High School Bowl, demand for the competition has expanded to the collegiate level. 2025 will kick off Canada’s first College Ethics Bowl, rallying students across the country to a world-class arena of ideas and ideals.
Dates and Deadlines
The College Bowl features TWO events. The first is the Virtual Qualifier (VQ). Every team will receive automatic access to the VQ and will be categorized based on province and region. The top 8 teams from the VQ will automatically qualify for the National Championships, a big in-person event which will be interspersed with Congress, one of the world’s largest gatherings of Humanities and Social Science professionals. Read more about Congress and the National Championships below.
Registration Deadline: December 4, 2024
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Virtual Qualifiers: Saturday, January 25
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Nationals: June 1-2, 2025
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Evaluation Criteria
Each match is scored by a single (and sometimes a full panel) of judges. Judges are typically humanities faculty and graduate students.
Each match is scored using the Ethics Bowl Canada. Looking for how to prepare? How to win? How to impress? Review the rubric.
Match Structure
Team A Presentation (5 minutes)
During the presentation, Team A outlines their view on the case. Presentations contain a clear answer to the moderator’s question, a thesis statement, supporting reasons, objections, and responses.
Team B Commentary (3 minutes)
During the commentary section, Team B probes into Team A’s presentation, focusing on one or two aspects of the presentation where Team A could improve or develop a deeper understanding of the case. The Commentary is NOT a Q&A.
Team A Response (3 minutes)
Team A responds to Team B’s commentary. Team A may modify, change, or defend their original position.
Judge Q&A (10 minutes)
The judge(s) ask 1-3 three questions, but only for Team A. The questions should be framed as challenges for Team A to address.
Switch
At this point the teams change roles with Team A becoming the Commenter and Team B becoming the Presenter. A new case is introduced for the second half of the match.
The Case Topics
Restricting Job Applications
A.I, Authenticity, and the End of Art
Professionals Speaking their Minds
Memes & Democratic Speech
Teams will put their skills in intellectual gymnastics to the test as they set their sights on discussing these four provocative and timely ethical cases.
National College Championships
2025 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences
George Brown College, Toronto Ontario
In June, the top 8 teams from the qualifiers will compete in person at the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, Canada’s largest academic gathering. All teams will receive a free, all-access pass to the entire conference.
Learn more about Congress here.
Congress 2025 will be hosted at George Brown College in Downtown Toronto.
