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.

2014-2015 Debate Resolution

Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially

reform its electronic surveillance law.

Role of the Judge

DO:• Listen to the debate.

• Decide which team best supports their position.

• Reach a conclusion and 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 Theory

• Organization of the ideas and

arguments in the round• Details of the Topic

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. (Sometimes the debaters will time.)

• Greeting• Debaters will introduce themselves• May ask your judging philosophy

Before the Round Begins

• Check to make sure:• You have not judged either

of these teams in this event at this tournament

• Find the room number

• Make sure the tournament knows which ballot you have

• Fill in your name (if needed)

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.)

• Now, the debate may begin and you are ready to listen and take notes.

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:

• Presents 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 round

• 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

TP – Round Structure

1ACFirst

Affirmative Constructive

1NCFirst

Negative Constructive

2ACSecond

Affirmative Constructive

2NCSecond

Negative Constructive

1NRFirst

Negative Rebuttal

1ARFirst

Affirmative Rebuttal

2NRSecond

Negative Rebuttal

2ARSecond

Affirmative Rebuttal

Cats are better than

dogs.

Cats are adorable and

soft.

Dogs are superior to

cats.

Cats scratch a lot.

Dogs are loyal.

Dogs protect people.

Dogs scratch too and bite.

Dogs run away.

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.

Debater Prep time• Each team has a total of 5 minutes for preparation between

speeches. The timekeeper should state start and end of this prep time, and any time remaining.

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.

The Student Ballot

Vote AFF or NEG

Evaluate the Speakers:• Write comments

• Circle and total theSpeaker Points

• Rank speakers

The Ballot – Speaker Points/Rank

• Total Speaker Points• 1 = poor…5 = excellent

• Speaker points may be tied, break ties with rank

• Lower speaker points may win round

• Speaker Rank • Ranks speakers by high

points26

24 21

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The 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 Student Ballot

AFTER you have turned in your Speed Ballot, you are encouraged to write additional comments on the Student Ballot.

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 Available• If 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