Speech & Debate Judging

Preparation

Thank you!

We could not run tournaments without your generous contribution of time for our students. Your feedback—whatever your background or perspective—is invaluable.

This process feels like it’s going to be a lot. �Can I still back out?

We are here to help make this a good experience!

Use this resource and the judges training to help you feel at ease.

Types of Judges

• Experts– Coaches, former university and high school competitors and award-winners, public speaking professors, etc.
• Typically, experts will have a strong paradigm, a statement of one’s philosophy of judging rounds, especially patterns of determining winners.�
• Experienced– People who have judged at many tournaments, college students
• Often, an experienced judge who has seen a variety of competitive events will develop a paradigm and be able to share it with students.�
• Lay Judges– Teachers, parents, volunteers judging one of their first times
• When students ask for your paradigm, share with them that you are a new judge.
• The Speech & Debate community—coaches and especially students—are happy to assist you!

You will most likely be using Tabroom.com as a platform.

After locating Tabroom, click the button at the top of the screen which says “Sign Up.”

Scroll down until you reach “Non-NSDA Members.” This area is where you will fill out your information.

Fill out �ALL information, including email and phone number. Tournaments will often notify of rounds via text.��Click “Create Account.”

This screen will come up. Find the email Tabroom sent to you. (Check your Junk/SPAM folder.)

The message from “Tabroom” will look like this. Click the link to confirm your account �and enter the confirmation code.

Return to this screen to confirm your email address.

When you arrive at this screen, let your school’s coach know. You will be linked as a team judge.

Available for a tournament day? �You are amazing, and the coach appreciates you.

Prior to tournament day, check your email. �You will receive location specifics, the schedule, updates, and other need-to-knows.

Always bring your computer device with you to tournaments. You will need to be able to type detailed feedback for students.

Especially for debate events, bring notebook paper and pens to keep track of arguments.

Find the Judges Lounge. (Ask someone at the tournament to help you find it.) A proctor will be around to greet you and help you get settled while you wait for a ballot.

Arrive on time for the Judge Training. ��If you have questions, need additional guidance, or want to meet and talk with other judges, this is the time and place.

The first item on tournament day is to log in to Tabroom.com with your email and password.

The Golden Rule of Tabroom: �If you get lost, always click on your email address.

It is good practice to add “Your Paradigm.” �This statement could be as simple as “I’m a new judge. Please speak slowly and clearly. If I cannot understand you, I will put my pen down.”

Under “Current Ballots,” you will see whether you have a ballot assigned to you. Refresh this page often. �It is better to assume you WILL have a ballot.

Press “START ROUND” a.k.a. “ACCEPT BALLOT” �as soon as you see the ballot.�Do not wait. Afterward, walk to your room for the start of the round. If you get lost, people are around to help!

START ROUND

ACCEPT BALLOT

We are guests in these spaces.�As a judge, you are the first to enter the room. Sometimes a door sign will remind of this rule.��Introduce yourself. �Feel free to say you are a new judge. �Students are happy to help.��You and the students may need to adjust the desks. Please move items back the way you found it when you are done.��Clean up anything brought into the room. Thank you!!��

Competitive Events (Codes)

Speech

• IMP (Impromptu Speaking)
• EXT (Extemporaneous Speaking)
• INF (Informative Speaking)
• ORA (Oratory, Persuasive Speaking)
• ADS (After-Dinner Speaking)
• RAD (Radio Commentary)
• POE (Poetry Reading)
• PRO (Prose Reading)
• DI (Dramatic Interpretation)
• HI (Humorous Interpretation)
• POI (Program Oral Interpretation)
• LIELL (Literary Interpretation for English Language Learners)

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Debate

• LD (Lincoln-Douglas Debate)
• PARLI (Parliamentary Debate)
• PF (Public Forum)
• CX (Policy Debate)
• BQ (Big Questions Debate)
• SPAR (Spontaneous Argumentation)

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• CONG (Student Congress)

�NOTE: A new judge is unlikely to receive this ballot.

Student Congress

What do these letters �in front of the codes mean?

N stands for Novice (students in their first year).

J stands for Junior/JV stands for Junior Varsity �(used at advanced tournaments—students in first/second year).

O stands for Open (students outside of their first year).

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For example,

NIMP will stand for NOVICE Impromptu speaking.

�OIMP will stand for OPEN Impromptu speaking.

The number of codes you see will indicate how many students you will be judging. �Each code represents one student.

What does it mean if a student is �“double-entered”? What do I need to do?

• The student will know if they are double-entered and will communicate with you. (You should be able to see this on the ballot next to their code, as well.)
• Allow these students to come late or leave early without penalty to their score.
• Double-entering maximizes a student’s opportunities to speak and be successful at a single tournament.

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• -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
• Dents to leave a round early or come late so they may participate in two events during one pattern (block of time).
• Do not penalize students. Double entry maximizes a student’s speaking opportunities during the day.`--+
• 6+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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What if a student no-shows? What do I do?

• No-shows can happen. However, please be sure you have waited the full length of the round for students to arrive. Sometimes double entry means students are in their other room and will arrive as soon as they can.
• If you have waited for the period of the round and the student does not show up, please note it on your ballot. It is also a good idea to notify the tournament staff. We want to make sure students are safe and show up for their future rounds.

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Priorities as a Judge

1. Be fair to each student. Verify a student’s code/name matches your ballot before they begin their speech. Try to recognize and minimize bias in your decisions.
2. Keep time and offer time signals, as appropriate.
3. Submit your results as soon as possible.
4. Do not disclose results to students.
5. Write and submit careful feedback.

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See 1:28 for hand signals. Giving Time Signals During a Speech (youtube.com)

SCORING SPEECH EVENTS – �1. Ranking and 2. Feedback

First, rank students, from #1 (the best) down until each student has a score. You may have up to 7 students in a room or 4 or fewer students in a room and would therefore have fewer to rank. SUBMIT THE BALLOT ASAP. You may enter feedback afterward.

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You will give feedback on your decision as well as feedback to each individual student. The dropdown menu will indicate who will be able to see your feedback.

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Be specific! A low rank followed by “good job” is frustrating for a student. Help them understand your decision.

SCORING DEBATE EVENTS – �1. Selecting the Winner, 2. Speaker Points, and 3. Feedback

First, select the winning team. Be certain you have selected the team you intend to win.

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Second, award speaker points. See a common scale (20-30 points) on the next slide.

Each speaker receives points. Generally, the winner(s) receive a higher rank, but sometimes judges give a “low-point win” to a team which had stronger arguments but was, for example, discourteous to their opponents.

SUBMIT THE BALLOT ASAP. �You may enter feedback afterward.

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Finally, you will give feedback on your RFD (Reason for Decision) as well as feedback to each individual team. The dropdown menu will indicate who will be able to see your feedback. Clarify any winning arguments.

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Keep track of the arguments in a debate in a way that works for you.

Which side is more organized? Which side seems more knowledgeable? �Which side is clearer and more convincing? Who has the winning argument?

Common Events:�IMPROMPTU

• Grab the topics in advance.
• Students wait outside until their turn.
• Verify the student’s code and speaker � number before handing over topics.
• Unprepared; 6 minutes (30 sec grace)
• Students identify their chosen topic.
• Give time signals.
• Was the speech engaging? � Organized? Expressed well?

Common Events:�EXTEMPORANEOUS

• No need to grab topics. Students will have prepped in advance.
• Students wait outside the room until � their turn.
• Verify a student’s code and speaker � number.
• 7 minutes max (30 sec grace)
• Give time signals.
• Did the student speak and elaborate on the topic? Cite research? Stay organized? Engage your interest?

Common Events:�PARLIAMENTARY�DEBATE

• Grab the topics in advance. Students � have not prepped prior to the round.
• STRIKE (topic selection): Verify team and speaker order. Proposition (Affirmative) receives topics first, Opposition (Negative) second.
• PREP: 15 Minutes; Internet allowed
• ROUND SPEECHES: 7-8-8-8-4-5
• Limited prep time means Parli debate is more about logical and organized argumentation than hard evidence.

Other Events:�PREPARED DEBATE (LD, PF, CX, BQ)

• See specific speech times for each debate event.
• Evidence cards should be read and cited clearly, incl. source and date.
• Evidence should connect to an overall argument. Who convinced you?

Common Events:�RADIO COMMENTARY

• Students have prepared a speech in advance.
• Strict 5-minute time limit: � 15 seconds of grace on each side (4:45-5:15)
• Position yourself to listen only.
• How organized, researched, and fluent was the speech?

Common Events:�PREPARED SPEECHES

• Students are allowed to watch each other.
• Evaluate how students use their voice, body, and the space around them.
• Scripted events (DI, HI, Poetry, Prose, POI, LIELL) cite the title(s) and author(s). Original speeches (Info, Oratory, Radio, ADS) cite research.
• Informative speeches have a visual aid.
• How engaged were you in the speech?

Judging was fun! When can I leave?

• As a judge, you are expected to stay the full day. The tournament host often provides lunch and snacks so that judges do not have to leave the site.
• ALWAYS check out before you leave.
• Pro Tip: Bring a book, knitting, or other hobby, especially near the end when you may be sitting a while.
• Thank you for your time! We could not run these tournaments without you. Our students value your feedback to learn and grow for future tournaments.