Team Policy Debate Orientation

1. Team Policy Debate Orientation

2. Volunteers make it Happen! • 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!

3. You are Qualified to Judge! • 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! 

4. 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.

5. 2014-2015 Debate Resolution Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reform its electronic surveillance law.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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 inyour name (if needed)

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. TP – Round Structure

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. Filling Out the Ballot • Two Independent Decisions: • Decide which team wins the round • Reward individual speaking ability • Set aside personal bias/opinion

20. 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.

21. The Student Ballot • Vote AFF or NEG • Evaluate the Speakers: • Write comments • Circle and total the Speaker Points • Rank speakers

22. The Ballot – Speaker Points/Rank 24 21 24 26 • 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 points

23. 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

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

25. The Ballot: Reason For Decision • 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

26. 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.

27. Thank You