General Debate Judge Guide

Filling out the Ballot

Winning team: Select the team which made arguments that are more logical. This may or may not be the team that was better at speaking. Remember that students choose neither their topic nor their side; even if students are making arguments that you believe to be incorrect, it is the opposing team’s burden to point this out. If an argument was dropped or responded to poorly, please treat it as valid even if you personally disagree with it. Consider both arguments based on evidence and arguments based on logic.

Reason for Decision: Write down which argument(s) won the round and why the winning team persuaded you that this argument was the biggest issue in the round. If possible, you should defer to debaters’ analysis about which arguments to prioritize over others. Explain why you were not persuaded by the losing team's arguments.

Example: If a topic is “The death penalty should be repealed,” and you voted for the Affirmative, your reason for decision might be, “I vote Aff. Aff won that death penalty results in the killing of wrongfully accused. Neg won that death penalty consoles the victims’ families, but Aff proved that the loss of innocent lives outweighs the feelings of family members.”

Comments: Write down tips for individual debaters’ improvement and what they did well. After the tournament ends, the ballots are given to the debaters. They appreciate your feedback immensely, so please write as legibly as possible.

Argument procedure (note: Public Forum is slightly different. See the front of a PF ballot for details)

Dropped arguments: If an argument goes unanswered ("dropped"), it is automatically considered true, even if you personally disagree with it. Debaters should answer their opponents' arguments at the first opportunity; they cannot drop an argument and then reply to it later in the round. Dropping an argument does not mean the debater loses the round; it simply means they lose that particular argument.

Extending arguments: After an argument is introduced in the first speech of either side, it needs to be extended in every subsequent speech. Extending an argument means briefly restating it and addressing any responses made to it. Arguments not mentioned in the final speeches should be disregarded. This does not mean debaters must extend all arguments; a debater can make an argument in an earlier speech and then not go for that argument in a later speech if they think that argument is not key to winning.

Weighing arguments: A team does not automatically win simply by having more arguments. Instead, a team should prove that the arguments it is winning outweigh (are more important than) the arguments the opposing team may be winning.

Debate about which arguments are allowed: Tournament rules ban no type of arguments. But if a team feels that some definition or strategy used by their opponents is unfair, they can make arguments about why you should disallow it. The opponents can then make arguments defending their definition/strategy choices, and you would evaluate the debate on this issue the same way you would evaluate any other issue.

Evidence (except in parli): This tournament uses the National Speech and Debate Association debate evidence rules. During the round, a debater can formally allege that their opponent’s use of evidence violates the rules and ask you to look at the evidence after the round. If this happens, on your ballot under “Comments & Reason for Decision” write down what the evidence protest was about and how you ruled on it. When you decide the round, disregard evidence which violates any of the following three rules:

1) When introducing evidence, debaters should read aloud the primary author(s)’ last name(s) and year of publication.

2) Upon opponents’ request, debaters must provide to theirs opponents (before the start of prep time) and to the judge (after the round) a full citation, including full name of primary author and/or editor, publication date, source, title of article, date accessed for digital evidence, full URL for digital evidence, author qualifications, and page number(s), as well as the full text of their quotation without ellipses and including the surrounding sentences.

3) The written evidence must indicate which words are to be read aloud and which ones are to be omitted.

*If debaters allege a violation other than the three above, then, as soon as the round is over, instruct the students to wait for you right outside the room and then ask a tournament official for help.*

Preparation Time (except in parli): Debaters are given time between speeches to prepare their next speech (3 minutes in PF, 4 minutes in LD, 8 minutes in policy, none in parli). Debaters can split up this time however they choose, and should keep track of their remaining time by announcing it prior to the next speech. Evidence exchange is not prep time; if one team asks the other for a piece of evidence read in the round, prep time should start once the opposing team is given the evidence.

 

Point Scale (all events)

Only use at state quals, not regular league tournaments.

 

Assign speaker points to each debater individually based on how well that debater spoke.
Mark "Low point win" if you assign to the winning debater fewer points than to the losing debater.
Decimals (e.g. 27.4) are allowed.
25 = minimum
27 = average
30 = maximum

 

Message/Rules for Master Ballots (Policy)

 

JUDGING RULES
Do not interrupt any speech or give comments before the round is over. * Do not leave the room during the round.

Do not consult with anyone else while making your decision. * Please write down all arguments made by the debaters.

Go to the room listed on top of this ballot. * Before the round starts, tell the debaters what prior judging experience you have.

Please be sure the competitors in the room match the ones on your ballot and they are speaking on the correct side.

POLICY DEBATE JUDGING GUIDE
-Computers and printed evidence/materials can be used in round. Internet cannot be used.
-RESOLUTION: [insert current resolution]

-The first four speeches are constructive and all new arguments should be brought up during those speeches. Debaters should also use the constructive speeches (except the first Aff) to respond to the arguments made during the previous constructive speech.
-THE FINAL FOUR SPEECHES SHOULD NOT CONTAIN ANY NEW ARGUMENTS. They should instead be used to make refutations and summarize the round. The very last Aff speech should not make any new arguments or responses unless addressing a point brought up during the last Neg speech.

 

Speech Times (Policy)

 

1st Aff speaker: 8 min
2nd Neg cross-examines 1st Aff: 3 min
1st Neg speaker: 8 min
1st Aff CXes 1st Neg: 3 min
2nd Aff speaker: 8 min
1st Neg CXes 2nd Aff: 3 min
2nd Neg speaker: 8 min
2nd Aff CXes 2nd Neg: 3 min
1st Neg speaker: 5 min
1st Aff speaker: 5 min
2nd Neg speaker: 5 min
2nd Aff speaker: 5 min
Prep Time: 8 minutes/team (see the back for more details)

Message/Rules for Master Ballots (LD)

 

JUDGING RULES
Go to the room listed on top of this ballot. * Before the round starts, tell the debaters what prior judging experience you have.
Do not interrupt any speech or give comments before the round is over. * Do not leave the room during the round.
Do not consult with anyone else while making your decision. * Please write down all arguments made by the debaters.
Please be sure the competitors in the room match the ones on your ballot and they are speaking on the correct side.

LINCOLN-DOUGLAS JUDGING GUIDE
-Computers and printed evidence/materials can be used in round. Internet cannot be used.
-RESOLUTION: [insert current resolution]

-The first speech on each side is a constructive and should be used to present the case for/against the resolution. The Neg should also use its constructive to respond to the Aff case.
-THE LAST THREE SPEECHES SHOULD NOT CONTAIN ANY NEW ARGUMENTS but instead should be used to make refutations and summarize the round. The very last Aff speech is not allowed any new refutations or arguments unless addressing a new response made by the Neg in their last speech.

 

Speech Times (LD)

Aff: 6 min
Neg cross-examines Aff: 3 min
Neg: 7 min
Aff cross-examines Neg: 3 min
Aff: 4 min
Neg: 6 min
Aff: 3 min
Prep Time: 4 minutes/debater

Message/Rules for Master Ballots (Parli)

JUDGING RULES
Go to the room listed on top of this ballot. * Before the round starts, tell the debaters what prior judging experience you have.
Do not interrupt any speech or give comments before the round is over. * Do not leave the room during the round.
Do not consult with anyone else while making your decision. * Please write down all arguments made by the debaters.
Please be sure the competitors in the room match the ones on your ballot and they are speaking on the correct side.

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE GUIDE
- Electronic devices other than timers (or phones in airplane mode used as timers) cannot be used in round.
- Resolutions: Are announced before the round.  Debaters will give you the resolution before the round begins.
- Points of Information: A question asked by the opposing team upon being recognized by the speaker. Asked mid-speech; do not stop time. No PoIs last two speeches or first/last minute of any speech.
- Points of Order: NO NEW ARGUMENTS IN FINAL SPEECHES. The final Neg speaker can only use the already presented arguments to explain why they have won. The final Aff speaker can respond to any arguments made in the last two negative speeches, but not make any other new arguments. Debaters can call out their opponents for making a new argument by raising a Point of Order mid-speech (15 seconds max). Stop time for a PoO; restart time when the speaker begins responding to the PoO. Disregard new arguments even if no PoO was raised.
- Prep Time: Students have 20 minutes to prepare their cases, but there is no in-round prep time.
- Evidence: Printed evidence is not expected or allowed in round.

 

Speech Times (Parli)

1st Aff speaker - 7 min
1st Neg speaker - 8 min
2nd Aff speaker - 8 min
2nd Neg speaker - 8 min
1st Neg speaker - 4 min
1st Aff speaker - 5 min

Message/Rules for Master Ballots (PF)

JUDGING RULES
Go to the room listed on top of your ballot. * Before the round starts, tell the debaters what prior judging experience you have.
Do not interrupt any speech or give comments before the round is over. * Do not leave the room during the round.
Do not consult with anyone else while making your decision. * Please write down all arguments made by the debaters.
Please check that the competitors that are listed on your ballot are in the room and are speaking on the correct side.

 

PUBLIC FORUM INSTRUCTIONS
- Electronic devices and or phones in airplane mode used as timers may be used in round.
- Sides are assigned; Pro speaks first.
-RESOLUTION: [insert current resolution]

- SPEECHES 1&2 (constructives): a prepared case for/against the resolution.  No responses yet.
- SPEECHES 3&4 (rebuttals): respond to the opponent's case. Con may respond to the Pro's responses.
- SPEECHES 5&6 (summary): summarize the round.  Might include new responses.
- SPEECHES 7&8 (final focus): Tell the judge which arguments to vote on.  NO NEW ARGUMENTS/RESPONSES.
- Crossfire: Both teams ask each other questions. In the grand crossfire after the 6th speech, all four debaters participate.

 

Speech Times (PF)

 

1st Pro speaker: 4 min
1st Con speaker: 4 min
1st Pro v. 1st Con crossfire: 3 min
2nd Pro speaker: 4 min
2nd Con speaker: 4 min
2nd Pro v. 2nd Con crossfire: 3 min
1st Pro speaker: 2 min
2nd Con speaker: 2 min
Crossfire (all 4 debaters): 3 min
2nd Pro speaker: 2 min
2nd Con speaker: 2 min
Prep Time: 2 minutes/team