Welcome! National Christian Forensics and Communications Association (NCFCA) “…addressing life’s issues from a biblical worldview in a manner that glorifies God…”

NCFCA Thank YOU for coming! We can’t do this without you. You are making an investment. YOU make it possible for young people across the country to learn these skills.

NCFCA Qualified to Judge This is a communication activity. It is the speaker’s job to communicate with you. It was not your job to study their topic, format, or methods before coming. You have already been judging communication. We give you tools.

NCFCA What is a debate? Two opposing teams argue an idea –Affirmative (for) –Negative (against) Debaters alternate sides during course of tournament

NCFCA Primary Role of the Judge Listen to the debate Decide which team best supports their position

NCFCA Role of the Judge DO: check the names on your ballot start on time monitor distractions (cell phones) stay in the room throughout the round

NCFCA Role of the Judge DON’T: request or accept written material offered by debaters before or during the round interrupt speakers/debaters modify the rules extend a debater’s speaking time disclose your decision

NCFCA NCFCA Debate 2 Styles offered: –Team Policy (two person teams) –About 90 minutes –Lincoln Douglas Value (one person team) –About 45 minutes

NCFCA Topics Team Policy –Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should significantly reform its policy toward Russia. Lincoln Douglas Value –Resolved: A government's legitimacy is determined more by its respect for popular sovereignty than individual rights.

NCFCA Debate Vocabulary Debaters are responsible for explaining any terms they use in context, including but not limited to: –Theory –Organization of ideas –Information about the topic NCFCA

Stock Issues Policy –Topicality –Significance –Inherency –Solvency Disadvantages Value –Definitions –Criteria –Correspondence –Application Stock issues are one way to make a decision… It’s up to the debaters to tell you how to vote and why.

NCFCA 1AC1NC2AC2NC1NR1AR2NR2AR Flow (note-taking system) No column for cross-examination (8) (5) 1 = 1 st speaker 2 = 2 nd speaker C = Constructive R = Rebuttal A = Affirmative N = Negative NCFCA

ACNC1ARNR2AR Flow (note-taking system) (6)(7)(4)(6)(3) a.Blab b.Blabby blab a.Blah b.Blah blab Point 2 a.Yak b.Yak-yak Point 3 a. blip a.Yak, yak b.Yacky- yak a. blip-blop a.Yip-yap b.Yackety-yak a. Blippety blop Point 1 a.Blah b.blab NCFCA

The Ballot Affirmative vs. Negative Judge: you Do not judge the same debater in another debate round during this tournament.

NCFCA The Ballot Fill in the debaters’ names in the appropriate box on the ballot.

NCFCA The Ballot Vote Affirmative or Negative Double Loss is a disciplinary action.

NCFCA The Ballot Reason for Decision Tell the debaters what issue or issues influenced you to vote the way you did.

NCFCA The Ballot Debaters are judged for 1. winning debates 2. speaking well

NCFCA The Ballot Team Policy vs. Lincoln Douglas Ballots

NCFCA The Ballot Evaluating the Speakers 1. Write comments 2. Circle & Total Speaker Points 3. Rank speakers 1 thing the speaker did well and 1 they could improve upon

NCFCA The Ballot Speaker points determine rank. Speaker points may be tied. Break ties with rank. Lower speaker points may win round. 1 thing the speaker did well and 1 they could improve upon

NCFCA What to Expect Number of judges –Preliminary rounds – 1 –Outrounds – 3, 5, 7 Timekeeper –Ask him/her to sit next to you. Debater’s Greeting –Debaters may ask for your Judging Philosophy Cross-Examination –Debaters face you

NCFCA Guidelines Set aside personal bias/opinion. Judge round based upon issues entered into and refuted in the round. Don’t ask questions or give verbal feedback. In the rare instance that you have a question about the evidence presented, you may request to review it for clarification or accuracy at the end of the round.

NCFCA When the round is over… Immediately following the round, take your ballots to the designated area for completion. Return completed ballots to Ballot Check. If you will be staying to judge speeches, you will need to attend a separate orientation.

NCFCA Event Judging Record (Dance Card) Please fill in who: you judge, you time, you watch

NCFCA Questions You may ask questions of a tournament official at Ballot Check. Please do not consult anyone else about your decision.

Thank you! W e a p p r e c i a t e y o u r t i m e !