The term "critical fabulation" signifies a writing methodology that combines historical and archival research with critical theory and fictional narrative.

It can be thought of as historical fiction that is presented as if it were historical truth.

Critical fabulation has been used by some historical authors to make productive sense of the gaps and silences in historical archives and records by creating plausible histories that were likely to have taken place but for which there is no recorded proof of occurrence.

It is estimated that women occupy approximately 0.5% of recorded history.

GIMMICK: In this round, all teams will be given a single palm card and a single pencil.

For this round, teams will only be permitted to use this single palm card and single pencil.

You are strictly forbidden from tearing or otherwise damaging the palm card.

INFO SLIDE: Omnibot is a highly-advanced, one-of-a-kind robot that can perfectly read the minds of all Australians and synthesise it into public policy and governance. This information is stored in Omnibot's head and nowhere else. Omnibot has no desires other than to serve the interests of Australia. This is a picture of Omnibot:

https://www.dreamstime.com/vintage-silver-robot-toy-looking-right-retro-left-image112158999

It is the late 1790s. Smallpox is endemic in Europe.

In this debate, each team will represent a medical professional who is advocating for people to pursue a different course of treatment.

OG: Bloodletting.

- Hippocratic medicine teaches us that the body has four 'humours': black bile, yellow bile, phlegm and blood (corresponding with the four personality types). This has been accepted as far back as the Ancient Greeks and Romans. In the case of smallpox, the blood humour appears to be infected. The treatment is to remove some of the impure blood.

OO: Variolation.

- Variolation refers to inoculation by exposure to material from smallpox sores by scratching it into your arm or inhaling it through the nose. This is a new procedure that has some success, although it requires three months, so only the wealthy can do it. It infects people with a mild version of the virus and they appear not to get it again. This is advocated by the Princess of Wales, who even subjected her kids to it. However, she brought the idea back from her travels in Turkey; foreign medicine is viewed with suspicion.

CG: Vaccines.

- Vaccines are an even newer approach. They are based on treatment for a cow disease, which is disturbing, but they do appear to grant immunity. High public trust would be critical for its success. Unfortunately, the inventor, Dr Edward Jenner, is notorious for overhyping his product. For example, he has boasted of “lifelong” immunity, but it seems increasingly likely boosters are needed after some years.

CO: None of the above.

- There is a high degree of uncertainty. Medical professionals should not take a public stance. People should decide freely for themselves. (The smallpox mortality rate at this time is about 30%.)

Note: This debate WHOLLY takes place within the late 1790s. The adjudicator is the average reasonable peasant.

There is a wheel with 24 options on it. For each option, there is a corresponding motion set at WUDC in the 90s. In this round, each room will approach the wheel and spin it, determining the motion they will debate. The options are as follows:

1. This house believes that the glass is half full
2. Spin again
3. This house would squeeze the rich until the pip squeaks
4. Spin again
5. This House supports the statement, "Yankee Go Home!"
6. Spin again
7. This house believes that right is more important than peace.
8. Spin again
9. This House believes that there is in this age a dearth of heroes.
10. Spin again
11. This house rejects consensus.
12. Spin again
13. This House would kiss the sky.
14. Spin again
15. This house would not dare lift the veil.
16. Spin again
17. That this house would have lots of sex
18. Spin again
19. This house would make the blood of the patriarchy run in the streets
20. The chair decides the motion
21. This house would put pragmatism before its principles
22. This house would heed its priests.
23. That this house would put corporate profits before individual privacy
24. This house believes religious leaders should listen to opinion polls

A new procedure has been developed known as the Butterfly procedure. Individuals who undergo the Butterfly procedure have their waking life split in two.

When they are at work, they are unaware of their life beyond work. And when they are at home, they are unaware of their life at work. When moving between lives, they feel as if they have just woken from a deep, dreamless slumber.

Although they share the same body in both lives, their experiences do not carry over between lives. In their life at work, they have no memories of their life when not working. In their life outside of work, they have no memories of life when working.

The Butterfly procedure is completely safe, certain to work, and inexpensive. Its effects are irreversible. Many have already chosen to undergo this procedure.

GIMMICK: This round has two motions.

Each motion will be adjudicated separately by two distinct panels, with separate ranks given. The first panel will only judge Motion A and the second panel will only judge Motion B. Teams will earn team points based on their performance in each motion.

For example, the first panel may give OG the first for Motion A and the second panel may give OG the third for Motion B. In this case, OG would finish the round with 4 team points.

The two teams progressing to the grand final from each room will be determined by:

1. Total team points accumulated in the semi final. If there is a tie, it will be broken by:
2. Total speaker points accumulated in the semi final. If there is a tie, it will be broken by:
3. Whichever team placed higher in Motion A.

Teams will be given an additional 5 minutes of prep time. Additionally, speakers will be given an additional 1 minute of speaking time (total 8 mins). Protected time will remain in the first and last minute of a speaker's speech.

The year is 1968. An island the size of Spain has been discovered in the middle of the Pacific Ocean by the American military. The land is fertile, eminently habitable, and untouched by humanity. Within a matter of weeks, it is expected that journalists will break the news of the discovery.

GIMMICK: PM must name this island within the first minute of their speech. All further speakers are required to refer to the island by this name and this name alone.