Judges Briefing - Policy & Values Debates  Policy vs. Values Debates  Discussion Style  Cross Examination Style  Parliamentary Style  Speech Rounds  Bilingual Debate  Impromptu Debate *all styles and categories are not necessarily used at each tournament Based on an original presentation by Dennis Nesseth, Yorkton Regional High School

Introduction  Thank you - Schedule  Are you qualified? Yes  What are you supposed to do? u Watch the debate and pick the winning team u Give each debater a score based on how they spoke u Give some friendly, constructive comments 1

How a Policy Debate Runs  Two teams facing off  Affirmative team supports the resolution (presents a problem, states needs for change, introduces a plan to solve the problem)  Negative team opposes the resolution (demonstrates that the affirmative case is flawed and the plan unworkable)  Today’s resolution: 2

How a Values Debate Runs  Two teams facing off  Affirmative team supports the resolution (demonstrates true/false, right/wrong, good/bad, etc.)  Negative team opposes the resolution (demonstrates that the affirmative case is flawed)  Today’s resolution: 2v

Your Role  Observe  Change rooms if conflict of interest with debater  Write notes on ballot  Let the moderator host the debate  When students finish take time to complete ballots privately  Moderator will consult each judge for his / her choice  Make comments after Moderator announces winner 3

Fundamental Parts of Debate  See ballot 4

Discussion style (green/yellow ballots)  Grades 6-8 and Grade 9  Each debater speaks for 4 minutes (junior) or 5 minutes (senior)  After the four constructive speeches, there is a 6 minute (junior) or 10 minute (senior) Discussion Period controlled by the moderator  One minute contributions, no speech making  Equal participation  After, there is a break to prepare a rebuttal  Rebuttal (3 minutes) 5

Cross-Examination - (blue ballots)  Grade 10 students, those new to debate  Courtroom  Each debater speaks for 5 minutes then is cross-examined for 3 minutes by an opposing debater (constructive, cross-x)  See cross-examination section on ballot  Hard hitting questions, good answers, no avoiding or browbeating  After the four speeches and cross- examinations, there is a break to prepare a rebuttal  Rebuttal (4 minutes) 6

Parliamentary Style (pink ballots)  Generally experienced debaters  Legislature/House of Commons  Prime Minister speaks for 5 minutes, the Opposition Member for 8 minutes, Government Minister for 8 minutes, Leader of the Opposition for 5 minutes constructively, then 3 minutes of official rebuttal, followed by the Prime Minister’s 3 minute rebuttal  Heckling and “role playing” is allowed  Points of order/ Points of Privilege  Questions 7

Affirmative Constructive Speeches - Policy  First Affirmative u Introduces the debate u States the resolution u Defines the terms u States the needs for change u Introduces outline of the plan  Second Affirmative u Clash, rebuild & strengthen u Fully develops the plan 8

Affirmative Constructive Speeches - Values  First Affirmative u Introduces the debate u States the resolution u Defines the terms u States the needs for change u NO PLAN NEEDED!  Second Affirmative u Clash, rebuild & strengthen 8v

Negative Constructive Speeches - Policy  First Negative u Challenge unfair definitions u Clash with case u Challenge evidence u Clash with the plan u Build negative case  Second Negative u Clash, rebuild & strengthen u Attack plan 9

Negative Constructive Speeches - Values  First Negative u Challenge unfair definitions u Clash with case u Challenge evidence u Build negative case  Second Negative u Clash, rebuild & strengthen 9v

Plans & Counter-Plans u Affirmative outlines plan in first speech and completely describes it in the second u Addresses needs for change u Negative strategies:  defend the status quo; or  minor repairs; or  counter-plans (first negative)  alternate plan - same end  alternate plan - new goal  burden to prove better plan 10

Evidence - Policy u Accurate facts, statistics, authorities offered in support of contentions u Thorough, relevant research u Good analysis of the issues u You may request documentation if suspect fabrication of evidence 11

Evidence - Values u Not as fact or evidence based as Policy debates u Opinion backed by research u Thorough, relevant research u Good analysis of the issues u Good illustrative examples u General knowledge u Claims Fact vs. Fiction u Impromptu Round 11v

Rebuttal u Summary u No new arguments, facts, statistics u Explain why team should win u Point out their own strengths, other team’s weaknesses u Affirmative may directly address new points in the negative’s last speech 12

How to Fill Out Ballot  Please complete ballot correctly and clearly  Debaters’ names in right place  Students will not see the ballot  Write down significant points, evidence, refutation  Winning team does not have to have the highest speaker points 13

1st Aff/PM SMITH 1st Neg./Opp. Member BROWN 2nd Aff/Gov. Member JONES 2nd Neg/Leader of Opp. GREEN Organization/strategy Evidence Delivery Refutation Cross-Examination Do not ask what school the debaters represent. 2. Please fill in the following information: Judge's NameMs. A. JudgeRoom111Round I Affirmative:Smith/Jones (Government)last name/last name NegativeBrown/Green (Opposition) last name/last name 3.Enter the speakers'names in the order they will be speaking. Ballot Front 14 Declare conflict of interest

Picking a winner  No ties allowed  Odd number of judges  May need to select a senior or junior judge (all judges submit speaker points)  Choose winner based on presentation of arguments, logic, evidence, and refutation  Hard work, preparation, and research over style  Even a weak point stands if it is unchallenged  Leave personal opinions at the door  When in doubt, go with your gut 15

Speaker Points  Fill in names  Speaker points are independent from win / loss (losing team can have higher speaker points)  Ranges (half marks allowed) u 25 Impossibly perfect (0%) u 24 Extraordinary / incredible (1.5 %) u 23 Superlative, excellent (10%) u Very good (25 %) u 20 Good (25%) u Average to Good (33 %) u Poor (4.5 %) u Very weak, unprepared (1 %) u 12.5 and under Rude, violates rules (0 %) 16

Rule Violations  Debaters have opportunity to register rule violations  DON’T PANIC  Judges decide whether violation occurred, is it serious? Did it affect outcome?  Common rule violations: u Source, misquote u New information in rebuttal u Rudeness, personal attack (Zero tolerance) u Disruptive u Prompting 17

Giving Comments  Constructive  Encouraging  Oreo cookie  Watch the time and keep the tournament on schedule 18

Speech Round  After the third round of Debate, there will be a speech round for all the debaters  The same four debaters stay in the room, as do the judges (unless otherwise instructed)  The debaters randomly select a speaking order and write it on the board  Each competitor waits in the hall until their turn  Debaters receive the topic during the supper break  Juniors must speak for a minimum of 3 minutes, maximum 5 minutes and Seniors 5 to 7 minutes  Do not score the speakers until everyone is done  Each speaker must receive a different score  Follow the criteria on the ballot - 25% to each of Content, Organization, Speech mechanics, Style 19

Bilingual Debate  Same rules as Cross-Examination  Minimum of 25% in one language  Aiming for 50/50  Rebuttal in language least used  Questions answered in language asked  Use both languages to ask questions, but not in the same question  Quotes in either language allowed  Watch for time used properly  Judge on understanding and ability to communicate rather than accent 20

Impromptu Debate  Resolution released either at supper break or approximately 1/2 hour before the debate starts  Watch for how well the terms were interpreted or “linked” - they must be fair and debatable  Squirrelling is not allowed  When squirrelling, debaters take the resolution and fit it into a “canned” case - one that was prepared in advance  Plans may or may not be introduced  All other rules of debate apply 21

Questions & Thank you!  Saskatchewan Elocution and Debate Association (SEDA) is funded by Sask Lotteries.  Your purchase of lottery tickets helps keep this and thousands of other programs operating  Member of SaskCulture - you have just participated in a Cultural Activity! 17