Parliamentary Debate Judging Instructions

Thank you very much for your help in conducting this tournament. Without your support, this valuable educational experience could not be offered to our students! Here is some information to help familiarize you with the event you are about to judge.

GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR ELECTRONIC BALLOTS
• You can access your ballot by logging into tabroom.com, and clicking on your email address at the top of the screen.

• Do not give oral feedback or discuss the round with debaters or other judges before turning in your ballot; after that, it’s optional.

• Do fill in the ballot completely. Winning team only; no speaker points at this tournament. Constructive comments and reason for decision are how you can help these students improve Please note that you can add comments after you submit your decision (see next item), so please submit the decision quickly because we need it to prepare the next round.

• You must “submit” and “confirm” your ballot on the next page. Your ballot is not submitted until you receive a confirmation message on the screen that you are finished.

AVOIDING CONFLICTS
It is very difficult to judge students whom you know, and it is almost always quite disconcerting for the students. If you know a student in a group you are about to judge, notify tournament staff immediately.

Parliamentary Debate Judging Instructions

Topics

Debaters receive a topic 20 minutes before each round. There are three common types of resolutions:

• Value: Both sides argue for a proposition of value.

• Policy: Government team shows there is a problem and offers a solution (plan) to the problem. Opposition can argue for the status quo or offer a counterplan.
• Fact: Government team tries to prove the resolution true, and Opposition tries to prove it untrue.

Format
First Proposition (Affirmative) Speech.............................................. 7 minutes
First Opposition (Negative) Speech………….....................................… 8 minutes
Second Proposition (Affirmative) Speech…………..............................  8 minutes
Second Opposition (Negative) Speech…...........................................  8 minutes
Opposition (Negative) Rebuttal…....................................................... 4 minutes
Proposition (Affirmative) Rebuttal…................................................... 5 minutes

NOTE: Debaters may interrupt a speaker to make “points of information” during the first four speeches of the debate--if the speaker agrees to take the point. Points of information are NOT allowed during the first and last minute of each constructive speech, or at any time during rebuttal speeches.  

Points of Order are allowed in rebuttal speeches for the sole purpose of protesting a new argument. One debater makes the point (< 15 seconds), and then the speaker responds. You are then expected to “take it under consideration,” or declare it “well taken” or “not well taken” at the time it is made.

Key Rules
• From the start of prep time until the end of the round, debaters may communicate only with their partner, opponents, judge and tournament officials. 

• During prep time, debaters may consult any materials they wish.

• Debaters may use computers and devices during prep time and the round, but may not use them for prohibited communications, or for research during the round.
• Debaters should prioritize explanation and analysis over reliance on evidence. A student may cite to a published source, but must transcribe the full quotation that the information is based on, by hand, to a piece of paper, during prep time, and must show the paper on request. The other team may make the request in a point of information, and either the other team or the judge may ask to see it in between speeches or after the round.

Judging Criteria
You must put aside your personal views on the topic, and base your decision solely on the arguments presented. Teams do not choose their topic or side. It is not their job to change your mind, only to do a better job of debating than their opponents.  Please write your reason for decision on the ballot.

Enforcing the Rules
Confusion or conflict about specific rules may arise while you are judging. Almost always, the best course of action is to hear the speeches, evaluate the debate as if there were no question about the rules, and then consult with tournament officials about the rules in question after the round is over. 

THANK YOU FOR JUDGING!