Difference between revisions of "Tossup-Bonus Format"

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The '''tossup/bonus format'''[[CBI|™]] is the most common format used in both High School and Collegiate Quizbowl.
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{{Intro}}
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The '''tossup/bonus format''' is the most common format used in both high school and collegiate quizbowl. In this format, the game consists of the reading of '''tossup''' questions which either [[team]] can [[buzz in]] on. The team which answered the tossup correctly receives a '''bonus''' question, which they control. If neither team answers a particular tossup, then the match goes on to the next [[cycle]] and the next tossup is read - this means that one fewer bonus question gets used.
  
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A '''tossup''' is a question that is read out loud to both teams. It typically contains several sentences describing the answer and ends with a "giveaway" clue about the answer. Players can buzz in anytime they think they know the answer. Tossups are written in a [[pyramidality|pyramidal style]] or, in [[bad quizbowl|some sets]], as simple questions. Points are awarded to the team of the person that answered the tossup correctly. Tossups are usually worth 10 points.
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Usually, games in the tossup-bonus format are [[untimed]], and a set number of tossups are read with their corresponding bonuses before the game is ended and the team with more points is declared the winner. The standard used by [[ACF]], [[HSAPQ]], [[PACE]], and many other [[question sets]] is the reading of 20 tossup-bonus cycles, in which case the format is sometimes called the 20/20 format. Some local high school and middle school tournaments use a different number of questions. The tossup-bonus format can also be played [[Clock|timed]], in which case the expiration of a clock determines how many tossup-bonus cycles are read in each half of the game.
  
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A '''bonus''' (Plural: Boni or Bonuses) is a set of several questions that the whole team can work together to answer. Bonuses are given as a reward to the team that answered a tossup question immediately beforehand. Bonuses have many different styles, as seen below. Bonuses are typically worth 30 points each, and have been standardized as three-part questions, with each question being asked in succession for a value of 10 points each. Three-part bonuses are intended to have an "easy part" accessible to most teams, a "middle part" for many teams, and a "hard part" that the top teams at a given tournament should be able to answer, usually (though not necessarily) in that order. (See [[variable value bonus]].)
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Hilariously, [[CBI]] once claimed a legal trademark on the tossup-bonus format.
  
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There are many variations on this format. Minor ones including the additions of [[negs]] and [[powers]].  A more substantial change is the addition of [[bounceback]]s.
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==Tossups==
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:''See: [[tossups]]''
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Tossup questions are read to both teams; an individual must buzz in and answer the tossup correctly for their team to receive points for their team.
  
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==Defunct styles of bonuses==
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In the tossup-bonus format, all buzzing on tossups is entirely individual; players are not allowed to [[confer]] to answer a tossup, either by speaking to or writing notes for a teammate. If neither team answers a particular tossup, the moderator states the answer and moves on to the next tossup (this is referred to as a question "going [[dead tossup|dead]]").
  
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Before the easy-middle-hard bonus format became completely standardized, bonus formats could vary from bonus to bonus within a tournament. Examples of such various formats are:
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==Bonuses==
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:''See: [[bonuses]]''
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A team which answers a tossup correct receives a corresponding bonus read only to them.
  
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*three answers, ten points per answer
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In contrast to tossups, bonuses are team-oriented and [[conferring]] is not only allowed but encouraged.
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*four answer, 5 for one, 10 for two, 20 for three and 30 for getting all four answers correct
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The standard format for bonuses has an easy part, a medium part, and a hard part (not necessarily in that order); each is worth 10 points.
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*two answers, with two clues.  15 after the first clue for each answer, 5 after the second ("15-5")
 
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*five answers, five points per answer with an additional five for all correct
 
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*six answers, five points each (this and the above are used mainly for [[list bonuses]])
 
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*two difficult answers of 15 points each
 
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*one answer, three clues of decreasing difficulty. 30 points after the first clue, 20 after the second, 10 after the third ("30-20-10")
 
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*three answers of increasing difficulty. 5 points for the first, 10 for the second, 15 for the third ("5-10-15")
 
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*three answers, each with two clues of variant difficulty. 10 points for the harder clue, 5 for the easier ("10-5")
 
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All but the first of these are now strongly discouraged, if not forbidden outright, in standard high school and collegiate play for reasons of fairness.
 
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Note: none of these formats applies to [[Illinois Scholastic Bowl]].
 
  
 
[[Category:Formats]][[Category:High school formats]][[Category:Quizbowl basics]]
 
[[Category:Formats]][[Category:High school formats]][[Category:Quizbowl basics]]
 
[[Category:Original QBWiki Page]]
 
[[Category:Original QBWiki Page]]

Latest revision as of 10:10, 20 June 2021

The tossup/bonus format is the most common format used in both high school and collegiate quizbowl. In this format, the game consists of the reading of tossup questions which either team can buzz in on. The team which answered the tossup correctly receives a bonus question, which they control. If neither team answers a particular tossup, then the match goes on to the next cycle and the next tossup is read - this means that one fewer bonus question gets used.

Usually, games in the tossup-bonus format are untimed, and a set number of tossups are read with their corresponding bonuses before the game is ended and the team with more points is declared the winner. The standard used by ACF, HSAPQ, PACE, and many other question sets is the reading of 20 tossup-bonus cycles, in which case the format is sometimes called the 20/20 format. Some local high school and middle school tournaments use a different number of questions. The tossup-bonus format can also be played timed, in which case the expiration of a clock determines how many tossup-bonus cycles are read in each half of the game.

Hilariously, CBI once claimed a legal trademark on the tossup-bonus format.

Tossups

See: tossups

Tossup questions are read to both teams; an individual must buzz in and answer the tossup correctly for their team to receive points for their team.

In the tossup-bonus format, all buzzing on tossups is entirely individual; players are not allowed to confer to answer a tossup, either by speaking to or writing notes for a teammate. If neither team answers a particular tossup, the moderator states the answer and moves on to the next tossup (this is referred to as a question "going dead").

Bonuses

See: bonuses

A team which answers a tossup correct receives a corresponding bonus read only to them.

In contrast to tossups, bonuses are team-oriented and conferring is not only allowed but encouraged. The standard format for bonuses has an easy part, a medium part, and a hard part (not necessarily in that order); each is worth 10 points.

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