Stoa Debate Judges Orientation. Volunteers make it Happen! 2 YOU are here for a very special purpose YOU are making an investment in the future YOU assist.

Stoa

Debate Judges Orientation

Volunteers make it Happen!

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• YOU are here for a very special purpose

• YOU are making an investment in the future

• YOU assist in providing an educational, productive and encouraging experience

Thank You!

You are Qualified to Judge!

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• Our goal is for our students to learn to communicate effectively with members of their community- That’s You!

• On a daily basis you listen, evaluate and make decisions about communication you hear.

• It is the speaker’s job to communicate with you. It is not your job to study debate theory, or their topic before judging.

What is Debate?

• Two opposing teams argue an ideaAffirmative (for the resolution)Negative (against the resolution)

• Team Policy Two debaters per side; total of 8 speeches Round lasts up to 1 hour and a half

• Lincoln Douglas One debater per side; total of 5 speeches Round lasts up to 45 minutes

• Debaters alternate sides during course of tournament. These sides are assigned prior to the round.

2012-2013 Debate Resolutions

Team Policy Debate Resolved: The United States Federal

Government should substantially reform its foreign military presence and/or foreign military commitments.

Lincoln Douglas Debate Resolved: Privacy is undervalued.

Primary Role of the Judge

• Listen to the debate• Judge the round on the issues debated in the

round• Decide which team best supports their position• Reach a conclusion and cast a vote• Provide written feedback on the ballot

Role of the Judge

Do:

• Check the names on the ballot

• Monitor distractions (cell phones)

• Stay in the room throughout the round

Role of the Judge

DON’T:

• Request or accept written material offered by debaters before or during the round

• Interrupt speakers/debaters

• Disclose your decision to anyone

• Don’t become a 3rd debate team in the room

• Modify the rules

• Extend a debater’s speaking time

Role of the Judge

Please:

• Set aside personal opinions

• Judge the round on the issues debated in the round

• Don’t ask questions or give input

Debater’s Role

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

Debate TheoryOrganization of the RoundDetails of the Topic

• It’s up to the debaters to persuade you how to vote and why

Before the Round Begins

The ballot has space for the four names of the debaters – make sure the names are filled in before the round starts!

• Check to make sure: You have not judged or watched

either of these debaters at this tournament

You don’t know them

The debaters will introduce themselves and circle the speaker position that they represent

What You Will Need to Judge

1)Something to write with (black or blue pen, no pencils)

2)Flow sheet or note pad (to take notes on)

3)Two ballots (speed ballot and student ballot)

Flowing/Note-Taking

• Organizes the ideas in a round by following arguments horizontally

• 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

LD – Round Structure

AC(Affirmative

Constructive)

NC(Negative

Constructive)

1AR(First Affirmative

Rebuttal)

NR(Negative Rebuttal)

2AR(Second

Affirmative Rebuttal)

6 minutes 7 minutes 4 minutes 6 minutes 3 minutes

C = Constructive

A = Affirmative N = Negative

Cross-examination = 3 minutes

R= Rebuttal

TP – Round Structure

1AC(First

Affirmative Constructive)

1NC(First

Negative Constructive)

2AC(Second

Affirmative Constructive)

2NC(Second Negative

Constructive)

1NR(First

Negative Rebuttal)

1AR(First

Affirmative Rebuttal)

2NR(Second Negative Rebuttal)

2AR(Second

Affirmative Rebuttal)

8 minutes 8 minutes 8 minutes 8 minutes 5 minutes 5 minutes 5 minutes 5 minutes

C = Constructive

R = Rebuttal

A = Affirmative N = Negative

Cross-examination = 3 minutes

1 = 1st speaker

2 = 2nd speaker

What to Expect

• Number of judges 1 in preliminary rounds 3 or more in elimination rounds

• Timekeeper Some debate rounds are self-timed Ask young timekeepers to sit next to you

• Greeting Debaters will introduce themselves by name and

may ask your judging philosophy

When the Round is Over

• You may request to review evidence for clarification or accuracy if you would like (TP only) Please return any evidence you review before leaving the room Don’t extend the speaker’s time

• Immediately following round, take your ballots to the Judges Room for completion

• Don’t ask questions or give verbal feedback

• Don’t solicit opinions about the round from other observers in the room

• Don’t discuss or disclose your decision!

Filling Out the Ballot

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Two Independent Decisions:

1. Vote for Affirmative or Negative

2. Evaluate individual speaking ability

Set aside personal bias/opinion Evaluate the round based only on the

arguments that the debaters made and not on personal opinions or on arguments that you would have made.

The Ballot: Reason For Decision

• Set aside your personal bias/opinion

• Judge round based upon issues discussed in the round: Don’t become a 3rd debate team in the room Decide based on how well each side supports their position

• Please do not consult anyone else about your decision

• You may ask questions only of a tournament official with a designated name tag

LD vs TP Ballot

Vote Affirmative or NegativeDouble Loss is a disciplinary action

How to Judge Team Policy

• Topicality – are we on topic?

• Inherency – is the problem already being solved?

• Significance – does the problem matter?

• Solvency – will the plan work?

• Disadvantages – will the plan cause problems?

Burden of clarity is on the debaters: If something doesn’t make sense, find something else to vote on!

How to Judge Lincoln Douglas

• Value – which speaker persuaded you that their value was superior?

• Contentions – which speaker provided the most logically cohesive arguments?

• Framework – which speaker provided the most persuasive arguments for their side of the Resolution?

• Support – which speaker best illustrated their arguments? (Not in quantity, but in quality.)

Burden of clarity is on the debaters: If something doesn’t make sense, find something else to vote on!

The Ballot - Speaker Points

• Circle & Total Speaker Points for each debater

• Speaker points determine rank

• Speaker points may be tied

• Break ties with rank

• Lower speaker points

may win round

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The Speed Ballot

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The topic or resolution for the round is printed on the Speed Ballot

Turn the Speed Ballot in at the Ballot Collection table once you’ve completed:

Decision 1:Which team won the round

Decision 2:Mark Speaker points & ranking

Speed ballots help us keep the tournament on time!

TP or LD Resolution

The Ballot: Student Feedback

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• Please be as constructive and educational as possible in your feedback to the students

• Explain Reason for Your Decision: Tell the debaters what issue(s) influenced you to vote the way you did (use back of ballot)

• Evaluating the Speakers: Share at least one thing the speaker did well and at least one thing they could improve upon

Event Judging Record (Dance Card)

• If you are staying to judge a speech event, you will need to attend a speech orientation if you have not already done so

• Please fill in the events or team that you: Judged Timed Watched

• Do not judge the same debater in another debate round during this tournament

Carter/ Smith

Burt/ Russell

John Doe

Thank You!