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How to Be the *BEST* Judge!

Basic Training

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Judging: An OverviewFive events:

Speech/ Interpretation Events: Prose Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, Duo, and Oratory; World Schools Debate

Two divisions: Novice (8th + 9th) and Varsity (10th, 11th, 12th) Judges

Can expect to judge multiple events during the tournament. Fill out Individual Ballots and Master Ballots for Interp Events Fill out Debate and Sportsmanship Ballots for World Schools

Debate Ensure that each performance or round is timed Sign in at Judges’ Table before EVERY round** Should attend Judge Debriefs throughout Tournament

**signing in is a requirement for travel and accommodation reimbursement

You are ESSENTIAL to BEST’s mission! We could NOT do this without you!

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Prose Interpretation

Individual Performance  ONE SOURCE – from novels, short stories, plays, movies, or

TV shows  

Features of Prose: An introduction giving the author and title of the piece Restricted movement No props or costumes allowed, except black folder or

binder (REQUIRED) Time limit: 7 minutes (with a 30 second grace period)

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Poetry Interpretation

Individual performance    Classic or contemporary pieces of poetry that are already

published  Can use MULTIPLE sources

Features of Poetry: An introduction giving the author and title of piece(s) Restricted movement No props or costumes allowed, except black folder or binder

(REQUIRED) Time limit is 7 minutes (with a 30 second grace period)

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Examples

Sam the Cat (Prose): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQZtw6BgGGU

Fat Guy Poetry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_WXh8q7MOE

Poetry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpNiSaW4rpw

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Duo Interpretation

Two-person Performance Text from a published play, novel, short story, or musical

(ONE SOURCE)

Features of Duo Interpretation: Cannot touch or make eye contact, except in the

introduction! Restricted movement No use of props or costumes are allowed Memorized! Introduction at beginning of piece or after the “teaser”  Time limit: 10 minutes (30 second grace period)

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ExamplesHello, Herman (intro to 1:49):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpE1Ba46YoE

The Help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsZaSFb7dS4

The Big Bang: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH-iKFDast8

Beauty and the Beast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC8ZsgNRzHs

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Oratory• Oratory deals with a current or developing problem in

society and proposes a solution alerts audience to a danger discusses causes and creative solutions  uses evidence throughout

• Features of Oratory: Time limit: 10 minutes (with a 30 second grace period) Typically includes attention-grabbing introduction, statement

of problem, 2 causes, 2-3 solutions, conclusion No props or costumes allowed Memorized! Presentation and content are equally important

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ExamplesAmerica Without the Dream: https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHcRk2DyxiQ

USA NSDA 2010 Oratory Champion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZt77YY5X7Y

Tailor-Made for the Ages: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvEhcsmnqm4

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Basically, when judging Speech Events…

• No excessive vulgar language is to be used and should be penalized on your ballot

• No props or costumes (except binder for P/P)

• Limited performance space

• Limited interaction with audience.

• Students that go over time or don’t have binder: mark on Master Ballot. Will be penalized by Tab Room Staff.

• “Double entry” for Prose, Poetry, Oratory: these students are marked on your Room List. Please wait and make sure ALL students have performed for ALL judges before finishing rankings.

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• Only 1 rank per student or team. Do NOT skip ranks.

• Put correct STUDENT CODE on all ballots.

• Give both positive and constructive feedback to performers. You MUST give written feedback.

• You ARE DISCOURAGED from giving oral feedback after the round. You must NEVER reveal your rankings to students.

• Do not confer with other judges in creating your rankings!

• Remember, you are critiquing ART. While there are rules, your subjectivity is meaningful here. Trust yourself. If you like a piece, then give it a good score!

Basically, when judging Speech Events…

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World Schools Debate

Two teams argue on a MOTION (resolution, topic). Government / Proposition side (arguing FOR the topic) Opposition (arguing AGAINST the topic)

Two types of rounds “Prepared” “Impromptu” (30 minutes of prep time)

Printed pre-prepared notes from laptops or tablets are allowed (memorized speeches are not allowed)

Before each round begins, Teams are informed of the MOTION and SIDE (gov’t/opp) for each

round from the schedule

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What Are The Roles?

GOVERNMENT / PROPOSITION

• Defining scope and terms of the debate (status quo)

• Defining the problem and (if warranted) laying out a logical solution

• Justifying the problem and the solution with SPERM (social, political, economic, religious, and/or moral reasons)

• Responding to critiques from Opposition

OPPOSITION

• OPPOSING the Proposition’s case by finding logical flaws in the presentation of problem and solution

• If warranted, laying out a logical counter-solution using SPERM

• Responding to critiques from Proposition

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Point of interruption (POI)

• Speaker from other team may stand up and request to ask a question or make a comment• Must be recognized by other side in order to speak!• Teams asking POIs should try to ask as many POIs as possible• Teams receiving POIs should try to take only 1 or 2 • POIs asking for Clarification or Definition should be taken in

addition to other POIs

• POIs allowed after first minute and before last minute of all speeches EXCEPT Reply Speeches

• The team asking questions should wait 5-10 seconds before asking the next POI

• You should add POI Adjustment in Speaker Points (+2) for speakers who ask especially insightful POIs

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Typical StructureProposition Speaker 1 (P1): 8 minutes

Opposition Speaker 1 (O1): 8 minutes

Proposition Speaker 2 (P2): 8 minutes

Opposition Speaker 2 (O2): 8 minutes

Proposition Speaker 3 (P3): 8 minutes

Opposition Speaker 3 (O3): 8 minutes

Opposition Reply Speaker (O4): 4 minutes

Proposition Reply Speaker (P4): 4 minutes

---No prep time between speeches, except a reasonable amount of time to set up notes before speech

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So…Who Does What?

First Government (G1)

Sets out the case for the Government

Defines the resolution

Gives the status quo

Expands on at least 1 argument from Gov case

First Opposition (O1)

Agrees or Disagrees with the definitions—Are they abusive?

Responds to all of G1’s arguments

Lays out case of Opposition

Expands on at least 1 argument from Opp case

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Second Speakers

Second Government (G2)

Expands on G1’s points and explains more of the Gov case

Responds to O1’s arguments

Second Opposition (O2)

Expands on O1’s points and explains more of the Opp case

Responds to G2’s arguments

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Third Speakers

Third Government

Responds to arguments of O2

Expands Gov case with more examples (not new arguments)

Third Opposition

Responds to arguments of G3

Expands Opp case with more examples (not new arguments)

Reply Speeches

Opposition Reply Speech

Summarizes Opp case

Gives clash points (main points of disagreement between teams)

Reiterates why Opp’s case is better

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Government Reply Speech

Summarizes Gov case

Gives clash points (main points of disagreement between teams)

Reiterates why Gov’s case is better

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Timing The Round And Prep Time

Judge Timing Duties

Keep track of time for each debate speech Can delegate task to neutral audience member A debater MAY use phone to time himself or herself (in

addition to judge’s timing) Ensure debaters receive hand signals for time elapsed Mark passage of 1st/ ending of 7th with clapping or

knocking loudly on desk or table

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Ballot Completion: DebateDO

Mark which team won the debate and why Provide helpful, constructive feedback Assign speaker points to each debater Award speaker points for communication and argumentation skills Penalize debaters in speaker points for rude, bullying, or abusive

behavior

DO NOT Let your personal bias get in the way of your decision. Give Oral feedback Reveal the winner of the debate Assume that higher speaker points = that team won the debate

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Sportsmanship Award

Sportsmanship Ballots are printed on the back of debate ballots.

This is a very special award, meant to encourage fair competition and to award integrity shown during an other high-intensity situation.

Judges MUST fill out the Sportsmanship Ballot!

PLEASE double-check that you have filled out this portion of the ballot with due consideration!

Examples of good sportsmanship: Shaking hands Speaking calmly and with respect Making points heard without being too rude or aggressive

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Judging No-Nos!

NO oral feedback after any speeches.

Do not show personal bias through facial expressions or other forms of nonverbal communication. Be conscious of how you appear to the students.

Do not let students go against the rules of proper debate behavior.

Do not leave cruel comments on ballots. Never tell a student they aren’t good enough to be at the

tournament or that they look stupid, etc. We want them to leave here with feedback that is

constructive and makes them want to do better.

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Debate ResourcesWatch debate videos: http://debatevideoblog.blogspot.com/

More debate resources: http://schoolsdebate.com/resources/

Judge Training video from our friends at Sofia Debates Association: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVqYGb_55vE

World Schools Debate Format Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVqYGb_55vE

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Tournament Day Expectations

Check-in with Registration after rounds before leaving campus

• Return ballots after each round and receive next Round Assignment

• Alert staff of any and all concerns at Judge’s Table

• Student Volunteers posted on hall have extra supplies you may need and can answer questions

• Any complaints should be filed at Tournament Front Desk

• Check for double-entered students before assuming a team is a no-show