Judge Overview

Debate Judges’ Orientation: Public Forum

Starting the round

• Introduce yourself: name, school, your role (teacher, parent, etc.). Keep it short.

• Empty your mind of any personal bias regarding the resolution. Your judgment should come from speaker performance, not your personal feelings about the resolution.

During the round

• Keep time and don’t let speakers go over except to finish a sentence. You might have to interrupt a speaker when the time expires. Just say “Time. Thank you.”

• The next segment of the debate should start promptly following the previous segment. Don’t rush the speakers but don’t let them take “unofficial” prep time.

• Speakers may take prep time in segments (30 seconds, 1 minute, etc.) They might ask you to count time for them as they are prepping. Keep track of prep time in your notes. 

• Judges should not ask questions or make comments during the round. You are the judge, not a participant in the debate.

• A note on sportsmanship: Hold speakers to a high standard of professionalism and civil behavior. Rudeness, sarcasm, and browbeating – while rarely seen -- should not be tolerated. If necessary, you may interrupt the round to issue a warning. Unprofessional behavior can be penalized on the ballot.

Criteria for judging

• Your main criterion is: Which side was most convincing?

• To win the round, a speaker must present a well-reasoned case, defend that case against the opponent, and successfully rebut the opponent’s case.

• Speakers generally read a prepared “constructive” speech. Point deductions should not be made for using a prepared speech at the beginning of the round.

• Common criteria include:

• Burden of proof: Which side did the best job proving his/her side is more valid?

• Organization of ideas: Which side did the best job presenting the case in a structured, coherent manner?

• Argumentation: Which side has used the most logical reasoning backed by evidence?

• Resolutionality: Which side did the better job answering the central question(s) of the resolution? (Note: Inexperienced debaters often end up arguing things unrelated to the resolution. To win a round a debater must prove/disprove the resolution as written.)

• Clash: Debate requires a clash of sides. Rebutting the opponent’s case is necessary to win a round. A speaker must also defend his/her case against the opponent’s rebuttal. (A Lincoln-Douglas debate should include clash on the value structure as well.)

• Delivery: Which side communicated in a more persuasive, clear, and professional manner?

After the round

• PLEASE DO NOT TELL DEBATERS WHO WON/LOST THE ROUND. 

• Oral critiques immediately after the round are strongly discouraged. The Tab Room needs your ballot ASAP.

• Try to return your ballot to the Tab Room within ten minutes of the end of the round. 

THE PUBLIC FORUM COIN TOSS

Thank you for judging for the Spotsylvania County Middle School Debate  League!