1. Oregon Battle of the Books
An OBOB Orientation

2. OBOB’s Mission Recognize students who enjoy reading
Broaden reading interests
Increase reading comprehension
Promote academic excellence
Promote cooperative learning and teamwork
Keep this in mind during the battles: OBOB is about promoting reading and having fun!

3. We could not do this without you!
Thank you!
OBOB is 100% volunteer-led
776 schools ,500 teams ,000 kids
School administrators, librarians, teachers, parents, coaches, moderators, volunteers…
We could not do this without you!

4. Tournament Structure Pool Play Teams battle several others
More battles = more accurate ranking
Total points (not wins) determines bracket seeding
No tie-breakers in pool play rounds

5. Tournament Structure Bracket Rounds Single elimination Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
Championship

6. Battle Procedures Teams Up to four members compete in a battle
One spokesperson
Only the spokesperson may answer for the team

7. Battle Procedures Set Up
Teams sit in clusters on either side of the moderator
Begin questions with the team on your left
Always get ODD questions first
Alternate questions with the team on your right
Always get EVEN questions first
Set up may be done for you in each of your rooms already (depending on if we had volunteers available to do it).
Score keeper and time keeper will be up front with you, too.

8. Battle Procedures Determining Sides
Spokespeople play “Rock, Paper, Scissors”
Winner chooses where to sit
On your left = ODD numbers first
One your right = EVEN numbers first

9. Battle Procedures Timing One coach is timekeeper
Time begins after question is read once = 15 seconds
Question may be repeated within the 15 seconds
Answer must be given immediately after 15 seconds
If team misses, question goes to the other team
They get a new 15 seconds

10. “In Which Book?” (IWB) Questions
Battle Procedures
“In Which Book?” (IWB) Questions
Ask all 8 IWB questions first
Answers consists of title AND author
Write team’s incorrect answer on the card
-Shuffle first
-Is helpful to take a moment to number each card
-Record score on card in case of verification later
SET A
OBOB Level 6-9 Regional Competition
Question:
In which book are characters frightened by
gunfire that turns out to be a friendly salute?
Title : Stout-Hearted Seven
Author: Neta Lohnes Frazier
Page 186
Score Team 1 ___ Team 2 ___

11. Battle Procedures IWB Tips & Examples
Can leave off a/ an/ the in titles
Turn of the Tide = correct
NO series titles
Alien In My Pocket; Blast–off! = incorrect
Name pronunciations should be recognizable

12. Battle Procedure Content Questions
Ask all 8 content questions after IWB questions
Say the name of the book it’s from
Inform team of two-part questions
Write team’s incorrect answer on the card
-Shuffle first
-Is helpful to take a moment to number each card
-Two-part questions are indicated on the card (inform the team)
-Is helpful to record the team’s answer on the card in case there is a challenge later
-Record score on card
-Consult with co-judges if unsure
SET A
OBOB Level 6-9 Regional Competition
CONTENT Question – Read Title before asking questions
Title : Call Me Hope
How much do the hiking boots cost that Hope wishes to get from the consignment shop?
Answer: $14.00
Author: Gretchen Olson p. 42
Score Team 1 ___ Team 2 ___

13. Battle Procedure Questions
Only the spokesperson’s answer will be accepted
Answer is correct even if mispronounced
Answer must be given immediately if any team member interrupts moderator
Whispering together is not an interruption

14. Battle Procedure Questions Answer will be disqualified if…
Other team members talk while spokesperson is answering
Anyone prompts the spokesperson while answering
Questions answered incorrectly are repeated to opposing team
15 seconds to collaborate
Answer given by moderator if neither team is correct

15. ✓ Battle Procedure Scoring Other coach is scorekeeper
Must record on official score sheet
All questions worth 5 points
Only two-part questions can be split for partial credit
3 points for partially correct answer
Other team can earn remaining 2 points
Turn score sheets in to tournament officials
-Scorekeeper must fill out official score sheet (white board optional)
-Give score sheets to official “runners” after each battle…they will bring them to the office for tallying

16. ! Battle Procedure Challenge must be offered at end of battle
Challenges
Challenge must be offered at end of battle
Teams have 15 seconds to decide
Each team may challenge one question they got incorrect
This may be a question they were asked second—a “steal”
Teams have 2 minutes to find text evidence to defend their original answer
Score is amended appropriately
-Points may be added to a team’s score
-Points may be taken away from a team’s score 

17. Battle Procedure Tie Breakers One IWB and one content question
asked to each team
New question for each team
Steals = No
Challenges = Yes
Total score (of 2 questions) determines winner
Process repeated if teams remain tied

18. Battle Officials Moderator Scorekeeper (coach #1)
Must record score on score sheet
May also record score on white board for audience
Timekeeper (coach #2)
Use stopwatch on phone
Two co-judges (coaches)

19. Author pronunciations should be recognizable…
Author Names
Author pronunciations should be recognizable…
Pam Munoz Ryan (MOON-yoze, MUN-oze)
Gail Carson LeVine (le-VEEN, le-VINE)
Jessica Khoury (CORE-ee, COW-ree)
Shelley Pearsall (PIERCE-all, PARE-sall),
Laura Resau (REE-saw, REH-sow)
Renee Ahdieh (AH-dee-eh, ah-DYE-ah)

20. Mistakes happen! It’s OK. Here’s what to do:
Moderator Mistakes
Mistakes happen! It’s OK. Here’s what to do:
Discard the question
Pull a new question from the “backups”
Pool play: one of the two originally discarded questions
Bracket play: one of the questions in the tie-breaker set
Start the entire question over with the appropriate team (even/ odd)

21. Let’s go through some sample questions…
Examples
Let’s go through some sample questions…

22. Example 1 Q: What did the main character’s mom die of? A: Brain tumor
Team says: Cancer

23. Example 1
Incorrect
Not specific enough. There are many types of cancer.

24. Example 2
Q: (Two-part question) What did the main character’s mom smell like after she came home from the diner? A: Apple pie and cinnamon Team says: Apples and cinnamon

25. Example 2 Partial credit 3 points for “cinnamon”
An apple is not the same thing as apple pie
Question goes to other team for remaining 2 points

26. Example 3 Q: What is the main character’s favorite sandwich?
A: Peanut butter
Team says: Peanut butter and jelly

27. Example 3
Incorrect
A plain peanut butter sandwich is different than peanut butter and jelly

28. Example 4 Q: Where did the main character sleep each night? A: Sofa
Team says: Couch

29. Example 4
Correct
Synonyms are OK

30. Example 5 Q: How does Amy destroy Jo’s book?
A: Burned it in the fireplace
Team says: Threw it in the fireplace

31. Example 5
Correct
You may want to consult with your co-judges for something like this. In this example, at the 3-5 division, It’s OK to infer from their answer that there is a fire in the fireplace.

32. Example 6
Q: What did the main character order in the coffee shop? A: A scone Team says: Coffee and a scone

33. Example 6
Correct
They did say “scone”

34. Example 7 Q: What is the general population told is the reason
for the cyborg draft?
A: To find an antidote for the plague
Team says: To find a cure

35. Example 7
Correct
“Cure” is a synonym for “antidote”

36. Example 8 Q: Name the animal that got sprayed with water.
A: Walter OR Walter the cat
Team says: A cat

37. Example 8
Incorrect
The question asked for the name of the animal, not the the name of the type of animal.

38. Example 9 Q: What is the name of the character who kicked
snow in Peter’s face?
A: Alexa OR Lexie
Team says: Alexia

39. Example 9 Incorrect Alexia is a different name than Alexa.
Teams can always challenge if they’re sure the name they provided is correct.

40. Dealing with Parents
You may get some challenges from parents over a decision on an answer.
There should be NO arguing between parents and moderators.
Firmly and kindly remind them that you made the best decision for the situation and all decisions are final.
Tell parents they can talk to their coaches after the battle.
Move on.
OBOB will support your decisions!
You can come get a tournament manager for help if necessary—(Kami?)

41. Thank you for your support of Oregon Battle of the Books!
OBOB Website
Kelly Bartlett
Facebook
“Oregon Battle of the Books” group
Instagram
Oregon_Battle_Of_The_Books
Thank you for being here; we could not do this without you!
Let the battles begin!