Debate Judges Orientation

Volunteers make it Happen!

2

• We can’t do this without you.

• YOU are making an investment.

• YOU are performing a teaching role in the lives of our students.

• YOU make it possible for young people to learn these skills

Thank You!

You Are Qualified to Judge

• You already participate in communication activities.

• It is the speaker’s job to communicate with you.

• It is not your job to be a debate expert before coming.

• Our goal is for our students to speak to

“the thinking man and woman on the street”

That’s YOU!

What is Debate?

• Two opposing teams argue an idea (The resolution)

Affirmative (upholds the resolution)Negative (refutes Affirmative position)

• Debaters alternate sides during the course of the tournament

2014-2015 Debate Resolutions

Team Policy Debate

Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reform its electronic surveillance law.

Lincoln Douglas Debate

Resolved: When in conflict, an individual’s freedom of speech should be valued above a community’s moral standards.

Role of the Judge

• Listen to the debate.

• Decide which team best supports their position.

• Cast a vote for the team that best supports

their position.

• Provide written feedback.

Role of the Judge

DON’T:• Request or accept written material offered by

debaters before or during the round.• Interrupt or question the debaters.• Leave the room or take phone calls during the

round.

• Extend a debater’s speaking time.

Debater’s Role

• The debaters are responsible for making their ideas clear to the judge, including:

Debate TheoryOrganization of the RoundDetails of the Topic

What to Expect

• Number of judges:1 in preliminary rounds Possibly more in elimination rounds - Always an odd number.

• Timekeeper To give verbal signals during prep time & hand

signals during speaking time. (Sometimes the debaters will time.)

• GreetingDebaters will introduce themselvesMay ask your judging philosophy

Before the Round Begins

• Check to make sure: You have not judged either of

these teams in this event at this tournament

• Find the room number

• Make sure the tournament knows which ballot you have

• Fill in your name (if needed)

Before the Round Begins

The ballot has space for the four names of the debaters:

- If these are already filled in, verify the speaker positions

- If these are not filled in, write them in before the round starts! (Debaters will be happy to help.)

- Now, the debate may begin and you are ready to listen and take notes.

Constructive vs. Rebuttal

Constructive speeches are for building arguments.

- This is where new arguments are presented.

Rebuttals are for refuting arguments that have been presented.

- Answering arguments.

- Strengthening a position with deeper analysis.

- May present new evidence.

- No new lines of argumentation.

1AC – the First Speech

Purpose: Presents a problem with the current system

Why is it a significant issue?

Offers a plan for solving the problem or making the current system comparatively better

Provides evidence to support position

Cross-Examination

• Three minutes

• Follows each constructive speech

• Only direct interaction in the round

• One-on-one question and answer

• Debaters face you

Flowing

Flowing:

• Organizes the ideas in a round Use flow sheet or plain paper

Just a tool to help you

Not to be turned in

• The right note-taking system allows you to: Absorb the presentation Reach a conclusion and cast a vote Give the debaters written feedback

TP – Round Structure

1ACFirst

Affirmative Constructive

1NCFirst Negative Constructive

2ACSecond

Affirmative Constructive

2NCSecond Negative

Constructive

1NRFirst Negative

Rebuttal

1ARFirst

Affirmative Rebuttal

2NRSecond Negative Rebuttal

2ARSecond

Affirmative Rebuttal

Cats are better than dogs.

Cats are adorable & soft.

Dogs are superior to cats.

Cats scratch a lot.

Dogs are loyal.Dogs protect people.

Dogs scratch too & bite.

Dogs run away.

LD – Round Structure

AC(Affirmative

Constructive)

NC(Negative

Constructive)

1AR(First Affirmative

Rebuttal)

NR(Negative Rebuttal)

2AR(Second

Affirmative Rebuttal)

Other Key Considerations

Time Limits Once the time is expired at the end of a speech, a debater may

complete a sentence, but should not start a new thought.

Once time has expired, judges are free to discard additional comments or speech content when evaluating the round.

Debater Communication Debaters may communicate and pass notes discretely at the

table.

Debater Prep time Each team has a total of 5 minutes for preparation between speeches.

The timekeeper should state start and end of this prep time, and any

time remaining.

When the Round is Over

• You may request to review evidence for clarification or accuracy. Please return any evidence you review before leaving the

room. Do not ask the debaters for clarification of evidence or

arguments.

• Do not disclose your decision!

• Do not solicit opinions about the round from other observers in the room.

• Immediately following the round, take your ballots to the designated area for completion.

Filling Out the Ballot

20

Two Independent Decisions:

1. Decide which team wins the round

2. Reward individual speaking ability

Set aside personal bias/opinion

Helpful Terms for Team Policy

You might hear some of these terms as the debaters argue the resolution.• Topicality – are we on the topic?• Significance (Harms) – asks is the problem significant

enough to require action?• Inherency – Does the Affirmative plan exist right now? If

not, why doesn’t it?• Solvency – will the plan work?• Advantages – benefits of the Affirmative plan.• Disadvantages – undesirable affects of the affirmative

plan.

Helpful Terms for Lincoln Douglas

• Values – Universally recognized principles

• Criteria - Achieves, measures, or limits the value

• Analysis – Interpretation of the resolution

• Contention - Examples used to support a position

LD vs TP Ballot

The Student Ballot

Vote AFF or NEG

Evaluate the Speakers:

Circle and total the Speaker Points

Rank the Speakers

Write comments

The Ballot - Speaker Rank

• Circle a number for each criteria then total. • Speaker points determine rank.• Speaker points may be tied, break ties with rank. • Lower speaker points may win round.

The Speed Ballot

• This form is for early handoff to TAB, no RFD or comments please!

• Vote AFF or NEG

• Provide speaker points

• Rank speakers

• Instructions are on the bottom half of this ballot

• Turn in this ballot within 10-15 minutes after you return

The Student Ballot

AFTER you have turned in your Speed Ballot, you are encouraged to write additional comments on the Student Ballot.

The Ballot: Reason For Decision

28

• Provide Written Feedback to the DEBATERS!Your investment in and encouragement for our students

• Set aside your personal bias/opinion

• Judge round based upon issues discussed in the roundDecide based on how well each side argues for their

positionBe prepared to vote for a position you do not personally

hold

• Double Loss = disciplinary only

Rules

- Judge Orientation Staff Available

If you have questions concerning the round or your ballot, staff will be available to answer your questions.

- Written Rules Available

The written rules will be available to you in the judge’s area.

Event Judging Record (Dance Card)

Please fill in competitors whom you: judge time or watch

Thank You