Judges Briefing - Policy & Values Debates

1. Judges Briefing - Policy & Values Debates • Policy vs. Values Debates • Discussion Style • Cross Examination Style • Parliamentary Style • Speech Rounds • Bilingual Debate • Impromptu Debate *all styles and categories are not necessarily used at each tournament Based on an original presentation by Dennis Nesseth, Yorkton Regional High School

2. Introduction • Thank you - Schedule • Are you qualified? Yes • What are you supposed to do? • Watch the debate and pick the winning team • Give each debater a score based on how they spoke • Give some friendly, constructive comments 1

3. How a Policy Debate Runs • Two teams facing off • Affirmative team supports the resolution (presents a problem, states needs for change, introduces a plan to solve the problem) • Negative team opposes the resolution (demonstrates that the affirmative case is flawed and the plan unworkable) • Today’s resolution: 2

4. How a Values Debate Runs • Two teams facing off • Affirmative team supports the resolution (demonstrates true/false, right/wrong, good/bad, etc.) • Negative team opposes the resolution (demonstrates that the affirmative case is flawed) • Today’s resolution: 2v

5. Your Role • Observe • Change rooms if conflict of interest with debater • Write notes on ballot • Let the moderator host the debate • When students finish take time to complete ballots privately • Moderator will consult each judge for his / her choice • Make comments after Moderator announces winner 3

6. Fundamental Parts of Debate • See ballot 4

7. Discussion style (green/yellow ballots) • Grades 6-8 and Grade 9 • Each debater speaks for 4 minutes (junior) or 5 minutes (senior) • After the four constructive speeches, there is a 6 minute (junior) or 10 minute (senior) Discussion Period controlled by the moderator • One minute contributions, no speech making • Equal participation • After, there is a break to prepare a rebuttal • Rebuttal (3 minutes) 5

8. Cross-Examination - (blue ballots) • Grade 10 students, those new to debate • Courtroom • Each debater speaks for 5 minutes then is cross-examined for 3 minutes by an opposing debater (constructive, cross-x) • See cross-examination section on ballot • Hard hitting questions, good answers, no avoiding or browbeating • After the four speeches and cross-examinations, there is a break to prepare a rebuttal • Rebuttal (4 minutes) 6

9. Parliamentary Style (pink ballots) • Generally experienced debaters • Legislature/House of Commons • Prime Minister speaks for 5 minutes, the Opposition Member for 8 minutes, Government Minister for 8 minutes, Leader of the Opposition for 5 minutes constructively, then 3 minutes of official rebuttal, followed by the Prime Minister’s 3 minute rebuttal • Heckling and “role playing” is allowed • Points of order/ Points of Privilege • Questions 7

10. Affirmative Constructive Speeches - Policy • First Affirmative • Introduces the debate • States the resolution • Defines the terms • States the needs for change • Introduces outline of the plan • Second Affirmative • Clash, rebuild & strengthen • Fully develops the plan 8

11. Affirmative Constructive Speeches - Values • First Affirmative • Introduces the debate • States the resolution • Defines the terms • States the needs for change • NO PLAN NEEDED! • Second Affirmative • Clash, rebuild & strengthen 8v

12. Negative Constructive Speeches - Policy • First Negative • Challenge unfair definitions • Clash with case • Challenge evidence • Clash with the plan • Build negative case • Second Negative • Clash, rebuild & strengthen • Attack plan 9

13. Negative Constructive Speeches - Values • First Negative • Challenge unfair definitions • Clash with case • Challenge evidence • Build negative case • Second Negative • Clash, rebuild & strengthen 9v

14. Plans & Counter-Plans • Affirmative outlines plan in first speech and completely describes it in the second • Addresses needs for change • Negative strategies: • defend the status quo; or • minor repairs; or • counter-plans (first negative) • alternate plan - same end • alternate plan - new goal • burden to prove better plan 10

15. Evidence - Policy • Accurate facts, statistics, authorities offered in support of contentions • Thorough, relevant research • Good analysis of the issues • You may request documentation if suspect fabrication of evidence 11

16. Evidence - Values • Not as fact or evidence based as Policy debates • Opinion backed by research • Thorough, relevant research • Good analysis of the issues • Good illustrative examples • General knowledge • Claims Fact vs. Fiction • Impromptu Round 11v

17. Rebuttal • Summary • No new arguments, facts, statistics • Explain why team should win • Point out their own strengths, other team’s weaknesses • Affirmative may directly address new points in the negative’s last speech 12

18. How to Fill Out Ballot • Please complete ballot correctly and clearly • Debaters’ names in right place • Students will not see the ballot • Write down significant points, evidence, refutation • Winning team does not have to have the highest speaker points 13

19. Organization/strategy Evidence Delivery Refutation Cross-Examination Ballot Front Please fill in the following information: 2. Judge's Name Ms. A. Judge Room 111 Round I Affirmative: Smith/Jones Do not ask what school the debaters represent. (Government) last name/last name Negative Brown/Green (Opposition) last name/last name 3. Enter the speakers' names in the order they will be speaking. Declare conflict of interest 2nd Neg/Leader of Opp. 1st Neg./Opp. Member 2nd Aff/Gov. Member 1st Aff/PM GREEN JONES BROWN SMITH 14

20. Picking a winner • No ties allowed • Odd number of judges • May need to select a senior or junior judge (all judges submit speaker points) • Choose winner based on presentation of arguments, logic, evidence, and refutation • Hard work, preparation, and research over style • Even a weak point stands if it is unchallenged • Leave personal opinions at the door • When in doubt, go with your gut 15

21. Speaker Points • Fill in names • Speaker points are independent from win / loss (losing team can have higher speaker points) • Ranges (half marks allowed) • 25 Impossibly perfect (0%) • 24 Extraordinary / incredible (1.5 %) • 23 Superlative, excellent (10%) • 21-22 Very good (25 %) • 20 Good (25%) • 17-19 Average to Good (33 %) • 15-16 Poor (4.5 %) • 13-14 Very weak, unprepared (1 %) • 12.5 and under Rude, violates rules (0 %) 16

22. Rule Violations • Debaters have opportunity to register rule violations • DON’T PANIC • Judges decide whether violation occurred, is it serious? Did it affect outcome? • Common rule violations: • Source, misquote • New information in rebuttal • Rudeness, personal attack (Zero tolerance) • Disruptive • Prompting 17

23. Giving Comments • Constructive • Encouraging • Oreo cookie • Watch the time and keep the tournament on schedule 18

24. Speech Round • After the third round of Debate, there will be a speech round for all the debaters • The same four debaters stay in the room, as do the judges (unless otherwise instructed) • The debaters randomly select a speaking order and write it on the board • Each competitor waits in the hall until their turn • Debaters receive the topic during the supper break • Juniors must speak for a minimum of 3 minutes, maximum 5 minutes and Seniors 5 to 7 minutes • Do not score the speakers until everyone is done • Each speaker must receive a different score • Follow the criteria on the ballot - 25% to each of Content, Organization, Speech mechanics, Style 19

25. Bilingual Debate • Same rules as Cross-Examination • Minimum of 25% in one language • Aiming for 50/50 • Rebuttal in language least used • Questions answered in language asked • Use both languages to ask questions, but not in the same question • Quotes in either language allowed • Watch for time used properly • Judge on understanding and ability to communicate rather than accent 20

26. Impromptu Debate • Resolution released either at supper break or approximately 1/2 hour before the debate starts • Watch for how well the terms were interpreted or “linked” - they must be fair and debatable • Squirrelling is not allowed • When squirrelling, debaters take the resolution and fit it into a “canned” case - one that was prepared in advance • Plans may or may not be introduced • All other rules of debate apply 21

27. Questions & Thank you! • Saskatchewan Elocution and Debate Association (SEDA) is funded by Sask Lotteries. • Your purchase of lottery tickets helps keep this and thousands of other programs operating • Member of SaskCulture - you have just participated in a Cultural Activity! 17