Glossary of Debate Terms

Glossary of Debate Terms 

IE - Individual events. These are speech and performance events. Specifically: Impromptu, Oratory, National/Foreign Extemp, Dramatic/Humorous/Duo Interps. See the "Description of Events” page for more information about these events.

Aff - Affirmative or the "pro" side of the debate. The student arguing the Aff side will try to convince you that the resolution is true.

Neg - Negative or the "con" side of the debate. The student arguing the Neg side will try to convince you that the resolution is false.

Time Signals - An indication of how much time a competitor has to perform. If a student asks you to give them time signals, they want you to hold up your fingers to indicate how much time they have left to perform or present their arguments. One finger held like a hook can indicate thirty seconds.

Paradigm - If a student asks for your judging paradigm, they want to know how much experience you have judging and how you will make your final decision.

Speed, spreading, or spewing - If a student asks if you are okay with speed, they'd like to know if you can understand them if they spew or spread.

Cross-Ex - Cross.examination. This is the portion of the debate when one. debater will ask his or her ... opponent specific questions.

Progressive - A style of debate that is delivered quickly, often unintelligibly to the untrained ear, and is heavy with jargon which allows debaters to make commonly structured arguments quickly and make more arguments. If you have to read this definition, you probably wouldn't be comfortable judging a progressive style of debate. Progressive debate is primarily found in Policy and LD debate.

Traditional - A style of debate geared more toward the layperson. If you have little experience as a judge, you would probably feel more comfortable watching a traditional style of debate.

Prep Time - Time allotted during debate rounds to prepare arguments. The amount of prep time will vary according to which event you are judging. See your ballot for the appropriate time.

Disclosure – If a student asks for a disclosure or if you disclose, they are asking you if you'd tell them who won the round. You are encouraged to disclose at this tournament if you feel comfortable doing so.

Critique - If a student asks for a critique, they are asking for feedback on the round. We encourage both oral and written critiques at this tournament, but please don't go overboard as we'd like to stay on schedule.

Abuse/Abusive -- Unfair.

Tab Room - Tabulation room. This is where most of the coaches will be during the tournament even if it is online. You will pick-up and drop-off all of your ballots from the tab room, ask questions, make complaints, etc.

Flow/Flow Paper - Paper debaters use to keep track of their opponent's arguments. Nothing special about it. It's just paper.