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 in providing an educational, productive and encouraging experience Thank You!

You are Qualified to Judge! 3 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 idea  Affirmative (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.

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 3 rd 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 Theory  Organization of the Round  Details 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 minutes7 minutes 4 minutes6 minutes3 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 5 minutes C = Constructive R = Rebuttal A = Affirmative N = Negative Cross-examination = 3 minutes 1 = 1 st speaker 2 = 2 nd 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 18 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 3 rd 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 Negative Double 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 25

The Speed Ballot 24 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 25 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!