Judges Briefing - Policy & Values Debates
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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
Introduction
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Thank you - Schedule
Are you qualified? Yes
What are you supposed to do?
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Watch the debate and pick the winning
team
Give each debater a score based on
how they spoke
Give some friendly,
constructive comments
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How a Policy Debate Runs
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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:
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How a Values Debate Runs
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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
Your Role
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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
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Fundamental Parts of Debate
 See
ballot
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Discussion style (green/yellow ballots)
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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)
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Cross-Examination - (blue ballots)
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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 crossexaminations, there is a break to prepare a
rebuttal
Rebuttal (4 minutes)
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Parliamentary Style (pink ballots)
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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
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Affirmative Constructive Speeches - Policy
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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
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Affirmative Constructive Speeches - Values
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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
Negative Constructive Speeches - Policy
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First Negative
 Challenge unfair definitions
 Clash with case
 Challenge evidence
 Clash with the plan
 Build negative case
Second Negative
 Clash, rebuild & strengthen
 Attack plan
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Negative Constructive Speeches - Values
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First Negative
 Challenge unfair definitions
 Clash with case
 Challenge evidence
 Build negative case
Second Negative
 Clash, rebuild & strengthen
9v
Plans & Counter-Plans
Affirmative outlines plan in
first speech and completely
describes it in the second
 Addresses needs for change
 Negative strategies:
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 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
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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
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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
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11v
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
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How to Fill Out Ballot
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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
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Ballot Front
Please fill in the following information:
Judge's Name
Ms. A. Judge Room 111
Affirmative:
Smith/Jones
(Government)
last name/last name
Negative
(Opposition)
Brown/Green
Do not ask what school
the debaters represent.
last name/last name
2nd Aff/Gov. Member
JONES
1st Neg./Opp. Member
BROWN
1st Aff/PM
SMITH
3. Enter the speakers' names in the order
they will be speaking.
Declare
conflict of
interest
Round I
2nd Neg/Leader of Opp.
GREEN
2.
Organization/strategy
Evidence
Delivery
Refutation
Cross-Examination
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Picking a winner
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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
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Speaker Points
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Fill in names
Speaker points are independent from win / loss (losing
team can have higher speaker points)
Ranges (half marks allowed)
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25
Impossibly perfect (0%)
24
Extraordinary / incredible (1.5 %)
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Superlative, excellent (10%)
21-22 Very good (25 %)
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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 %)
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Rule Violations
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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:
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Source, misquote
New information in rebuttal
Rudeness, personal attack (Zero tolerance)
Disruptive
Prompting
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Giving Comments
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Constructive
Encouraging
Oreo cookie
Watch the time and keep the
tournament on schedule
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Speech Round
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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
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Bilingual Debate
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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
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Impromptu Debate
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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
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Questions & Thank you!
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Saskatchewan Elocution and
Debate Association (SEDA) is
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helps keep this and thousands
of other programs operating
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Cultural Activity!
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