Frequently Asked Questions about Debate Judging
Will I receive Training?
There is a 30-60 minute briefing for judges before each tournament. The host who invited you will let you know what time to arrive. Please arrive on time to receive the benefit of the full briefing. The briefing covers:
□ What a debate looks like
□ What each speaker must do
□ What an argument looks like (Label, Explain, Evidence/Examples, Tie-Back)
□ Types of clash and deconstruction
□ What to look for in a well constructed summary/rebuttal/reply speech
□ Style of debate being used and what format of questioning will be used
□ How to pick a winning team and assign speaking scores to each debater
□ How to give constructive feedback
What Do I do when I arrive at the School?
□ There will be a check-in desk, where you may receive your room assignment and directions to the briefing room
□ There is usually coffee and snacks served.
□ This is a chance to mingle with your fellow judges before the briefing starts
□ You will need a pen or two (for back-up). Ballots with space to take notes will be provided.
After the briefing
Finding your room
□ Check the room assignment on the top right-hand corner of the front page of the guide
□ Your ballot is colour-coded for the style of debate and for the grade level you will be judging
□ Check the welcome letter for the supper room, room codes & map if supplied
In your room
□ Pick a spot that gives you a good view of the debaters, at a comfortable distance away from them
□ Sit apart from any other judges or observers
□ Fill out the top portion of your ballot: Your name, the room and the Round number (1, 2, 3 or 4)
□ Transfer the names of the debaters from the board to the scoring grid.
□ Ensure the right speaker gets the right score.
□ If you know any of
the debaters well enough that there could be a
perception of or actual
conflict,
please see the tournament hosts right away for a new judging
assignment
Senior/Junior Judges and other volunteers
□ Give everyone a few minutes to settle in. You may be the only judge. If only two or an even number of judges show up, one of you may have already been designated as the head, senior or junior judge. If not, decide who will be the senior/junior judges. If equal in experience, judges can alternate between rounds.
□ If you are a
"junior" judge, you still fill in the speaker scores. DO
NOT fill in the WIN/LOSS.
Instead, write in "Junior Judge".
□ If there is no
moderator or timekeeper assigned to your room, a judge or audience
member
will have to volunteer.
□ If it seems like you are waiting a long time for more judges or teams to show up, contact the host right away.
□ It is possible you may be given different room assignments as the event goes on.
Making your decision
□ Use the inside of the ballot to make notes on the debate. No one will see your notes on the inside.
□ Use the descriptions of each mark on the back page to help you assign a speaking score.
□ You can fill in the scores for each category, or just give a final total. Your addition will not be checked.
□ Half-marks are NOT allowed
□ The winning team has to have the higher combined speaking marks.
□ You cannot award a tie. There must be a clear winner announced (see Senior/Junior judge).
□ You MUST judge the teams based on the information presented and according to the guidelines. Set aside your own beliefs and knowledge base and judge based on who did the best job of filling their roles and making the debate understandable to you. The debaters may make naïve or incorrect statements, but unless they are challenged by the other team, judges need to accept the world as they present it. Especially when judging younger debaters.
□ It is important that your final decision is clearly marked by writing down the winning side where indicated.
□ Do not confer with
the other judges or audience until after you have made your final
decision and
the round is over.
□ The moderator will watch for you to finish your ballot, then come around and look at each judge's decision so they can announce the winner. They might collect the ballots at this point, but you can request them back to make your comments.
Making your comments
□ When making
comments, please keep an eye on the clock and schedule so we can
keep the
tournament running on time. Feel free to talk to the debaters
during break times if you have more to say.
□ Remember to try and give encouraging comments that will help improve the debaters in future events.
□ One or two encouraging comments and one constructive comment per debater is a good rule.
□ Make sure the moderator, or assigned judge collects the ballots and promptly returns them to the stats room.
□ Judges are encouraged to discuss the debate with their judging colleagues and may stay for the awards after.
□ If you ever have any questions about tournament procedures, debate rules or something that happened in your round, please talk to the tournament hosts as soon as possible, especially if there is an issue we need to trouble-shoot, or, fill out our JUDGES' FEEDBACK FORM or contact us at info@saskdebate.com. Visit www.saskdebate.com for tournament results.
