JUDGING LINCOLN DOUGLAS

GOALS

1. The Basics of a Lincoln Douglas debate
2. How to Choose a Winner
3. How to Fill out a Ballot

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1. THE BASICS OF LINCOLN DOUGLAS DEBATE

THE BASICS OF A LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE

- There is 1 Affirmative Constructive and 1 Negative Constructive.

- Each Constructive speech is followed by a 3-minute Cross Examination.

- There is then an Affirmative Rebuttal speech, followed by a Negative Rebuttal speech, followed by a final Affirmative Rebuttal speech.

• Debaters use these speeches to refute or defend already existing arguments and narrow down their arguments

- Debaters have 4 total minutes of Prep Time to use before speeches.

THE BASICS OF LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE: TWO JUDGE DUTIES

• 1. You are the official time-keeper
• The one-pager you rec’d has speech order, speech responsibilities and speech times.

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• 2. You should disregard new arguments made in the rebuttals (new arguments are illegal, new interpretations of existing arguments are allowed).
• New debaters (or tricky debaters) may try to slip in a new argument in a rebutta. Please disregard this.

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CFL LD vs Circuit LD

California LD uses CHSSA rules, meaning No plans, slower persuasive delivery, and debate within the confines of the topic ( Resolved: The member nations of the World Trade Organization ought to reduce intellectual property protections for medicines. ) If you are judging a California LD round, a debater can lose the round for running a plan. Please note that if a debater wanted to run a plan they could have registered for the circuit division, and even if you yourself tend towards circuit arguments personally, this was not the division where many of those are allowed.

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Circuit LD is no holds barred, with very few theoretical rules except the time limits and maybe a general agreement not to bring up new arguments in rebuttals.��This tournament will be NSDA

BE A CREATOR OF COMMUNITY

• Facilitate introductions
• Greet debaters �throughout the day
• Listen actively
• Share your reactions to students’ work and ideas
• Push students and celebrate growth

During �the Round

• Keep time
• Listen actively
• Take notes

After �the Round

• Congratulate students but DO NOT give verbal feedback
• Determine a winner and write an RFD

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YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A JUDGE

Head to the room number indicated on your text

Open your ballot and press “Start Round”

Before�the Round

2. HOW TO CHOOSE A WINNER

THE RESOLUTION

• Resolved: The United States military ought to abide by the principle of non-intervention.

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THE TEAMS

Affirmative: For the resolution!

Negative: Against the resolution!

HOW TO CHOOSE A WINNER

The affirmative usually has the burden to prove their value is advantageous. NEITHER TEAM should offer a formal plan or counterplan.

What to Consider

• Strength of arguments
• Claims, reasons, and supporting evidence
• Refutation of opponent’s arguments

What Not to Consider

DETERMINING A WINNER

• Your personal opinion
• Presentation skills or style
• Pronunciation, accent, or reading fluency
• Arguments not explicitly made by debaters
• Arguments made during cross-ex
• Minor points made at the beginning of the round

COMMON HABITS IN NEW DEBATERS

MORE EXPERIENCED DEBATERS

4. HOW TO FILL OUT A BALLOT

HOW TO FILL OUT A BALLOT

• To see your current ballots, log-in and go to your account dashboard by clicking your username/email in the upper part of the page.
• Make sure to click "Start Round" to let the tournament know that you're aware you're judging.

HOW TO FILL OUT A BALLOT

• For each ballot, fill out the speaker points, choose a winner and the corresponding school, then click "Submit Ballot."

HOW TO FILL OUT A BALLOT

• During the round, before you submit your ballot, you should fill out a Reason for Decision (RFD) below the ballot.
• This will be saved and available to competitors and their coaches.
• A good RFD is specific. It is typically at least a paragraph, often longer.
• A good RFD describes either how the affirmative met their burden of proof or how the AFF was defeated by the NEG.
• A good RFD always explains to the losing side what they could have done to win the debate.

HOW TO FILL OUT A BALLOT

• After submitting your ballot the first time, you must confirm the ballot - you'll be shown the data you entered the first time, and then the option to confirm or re-enter if you made a mistake.

WRITING A REASON FOR DECISION (RFD)

Strong RFD

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• At least 2 sentences
• States strongest arguments
• Compares or weighs arguments
• Explains how enacting the plan would make the world a better place

Weak RFD

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• 1-2 sentences
• Vague, generic
• Doesn’t compare or weigh arguments
• Discusses superficial items (presentation, clarity)

POSITIVE FRAMING…

• “You could have been anywhere this Saturday, perhaps you wish you were in your bed sleeping. But you worked hard and came here to participate in the most venerable tradition of American democracy, the public debate. I salute you for it.”
• -- Fred Sternhagen
• Director of Debate, Concordia University