Speech & Debate Judging

Tabroom Scoring

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)

​

Debate

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

​

​

​

• 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).

​

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.

​

​

​

​

​

​

• -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
• 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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

• -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

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.

​

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.

​

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.

​

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.

​

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.

​

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.

​

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?