CANONEXPANSION, an experimental science side event ('18-'19)
Posted: Sat May 26, 2018 10:17 pm
I’m pleased to announce, CANONEXPANSION (Creating Additional Names Or New EXtra Possible Answers Now Science Is Only Natural, thanks to Sam Brochin for the name), an experimental science side event written by Vishwa Shanmugam and I to be played in the 2018-2019 season.
CANONEXPANSION is experimental in the sense that it will focus on unique and interesting answerlines as well as questions regarding scientifically relevant, but not commonly asked about in quizbowl topics.
There will also be a focus on questions on “canonical” quizbowl topics asked in a novel manner.
The superconducting critical temperature tossup from the 2018 ACF Regionals set is a good example of a question in the latter style that will appear in CANONEXPANSION
The set will consist of at least 6 (we have about 2 packets worth of questions written so far) but possibly more 20-question all tossup packets with the following distribution:
3 Chemistry
3 Physics
3 Biology
2 Astronomy
2 Earth Science
2 Computer Science
2 Mathematics
3 Interdisciplinary/Common link
The set is intended to be playable by a wide range of (science) audiences, so the questions are written with the following tentative difficulty guidelines in mind:
30% of the tossups in each category will be “easier” tossups, where easier tossups will have answerlines no harder than the average ACF Fall medium bonus part, and the tossup itself no harder than an average Pace NSC tossup.
50% of the tossups in each category will be “medium” tossups, where medium tossups will have answerlines no harder than the average ACF regionals medium bonus part, and the tossup itself no harder than an average ACF Regionals tossup.
20% of the tossups in each category will be “harder” tossups, where harder tossups will have answerlines no harder than the average ACF nationals medium bonus part, and the tossup itself no harder than an average ACF Nationals tossup.
Tossups will be power marked and super power marked and will be no longer than 8 lines in 11pt Times New Roman font.
I plan on hosting it at the 2019 HSNCT.
Message Vishwa or I if you are interested in mirroring it.
CANONEXPANSION is experimental in the sense that it will focus on unique and interesting answerlines as well as questions regarding scientifically relevant, but not commonly asked about in quizbowl topics.
There will also be a focus on questions on “canonical” quizbowl topics asked in a novel manner.
The superconducting critical temperature tossup from the 2018 ACF Regionals set is a good example of a question in the latter style that will appear in CANONEXPANSION
The set will consist of at least 6 (we have about 2 packets worth of questions written so far) but possibly more 20-question all tossup packets with the following distribution:
3 Chemistry
3 Physics
3 Biology
2 Astronomy
2 Earth Science
2 Computer Science
2 Mathematics
3 Interdisciplinary/Common link
The set is intended to be playable by a wide range of (science) audiences, so the questions are written with the following tentative difficulty guidelines in mind:
30% of the tossups in each category will be “easier” tossups, where easier tossups will have answerlines no harder than the average ACF Fall medium bonus part, and the tossup itself no harder than an average Pace NSC tossup.
50% of the tossups in each category will be “medium” tossups, where medium tossups will have answerlines no harder than the average ACF regionals medium bonus part, and the tossup itself no harder than an average ACF Regionals tossup.
20% of the tossups in each category will be “harder” tossups, where harder tossups will have answerlines no harder than the average ACF nationals medium bonus part, and the tossup itself no harder than an average ACF Nationals tossup.
Tossups will be power marked and super power marked and will be no longer than 8 lines in 11pt Times New Roman font.
I plan on hosting it at the 2019 HSNCT.
Message Vishwa or I if you are interested in mirroring it.