Team Policy Debate

Orientation

Volunteers make it Happen!

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• 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!

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• 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

2012-2013 Debate Resolution

Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reform its marine natural resource policies.

Role of the Judge

DOs:

• Listen to the debate

• Decide which team best supports their position

• Reach a conclusion & 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 ideas and

arguments in the RoundDetails of the Topic

Before the Round Begins

• Check to make sure: You have not judged or

watched either of these debaters at this tournament

You don’t know them

• Find the room number

• Make sure the tournament knows which ballot you have

• Fill in your name (if needed)

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 and hand signals

during speaking time.

• GreetingDebaters will introduce themselvesMay ask your judging philosophy.

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)

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

1 = 1st speaker

2 = 2nd speaker

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:

Present 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

Cross-Examination:

• Three minutes

• Follows each constructive speech

• Only direct interaction in the round

• One-on-one question and answer

• Debaters face you

Flowing/Note-Taking

Flowing:

• Organizes the ideas in a roundUse 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

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.

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

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Two Independent Decisions:

1. Decide which team wins the round

2. Reward individual speaking ability

Set aside personal bias/opinion

Helpful Terms

• You might hear some of these terms as the debaters argue the resolution.

• Topicality – Are we on the topic?

• Significance (Harms) – 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 effects of the affirmative plan.

Remember…

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

Ballot #1 Student Ballot

Vote AFF or NEG

Evaluate the Speakers:

• Write comments

• Circle & Total Speaker Points

• Rank speakers

Provide RFD & comments on BACK

Ballot #2 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.

The Ballot – Speaker Rank

Speaker rank

Total Speaker Points.

1 =poor…5 = excellent Ranks speakers by high

points

Speaker points may be tied, break ties with rank.

Lower speaker points may

win round.

May write specifics in box below competitor’s name.

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The Ballot: Reason For Decision

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• Provide Written Feedback to the debaters.Your investment in and encouragement for our students

• Judge round based upon issues discussed in the round

• Set aside your personal bias/opinion Be prepared to vote for a position you do not personally hold

• Once you’ve cast your vote:• If you heard ideas or assertions you don’t agree with, or you have

insights to share, use the ballot to explain this to the debaters

• Double Loss = disciplinary only

Rules

Judge Orientation Staff AvailableIf 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.

Thank You