1. Individual Policy Debate Orientation

2. Volunteers Make it Happen! 2 We can’t do this without you. You are making an investment. You are performing a teaching role in the lives of our students. You make it possible for young people to learn these skills. Thank You!

3. You are Qualified to Judge! 3 You already participate in communication activities. It is the speaker’s job to communicate with you. It is not your job to be a debate expert before coming. Our goal is for our students to speak to “the thinking man and woman on the street.” That’s You!

4. What is Debate? Two opposing debaters argue an idea: The Resolution Affirmative (upholds the resolution) Negative (refutes Affirmative position) Debaters alternate sides during the course of the tournament.

5. 2015-2016 Debate Resolution Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reform its trade policy with one or more of the following nations: China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan.

6. Role of the Judge DO: Listen to the debate. Decide which debater best supports their position. Reach a conclusion and cast a vote for the debater that best supports their position. Provide written feedback.

7. Role of the Judge DON’T: Request or accept written material offered by debaters before or during the round. Interrupt or question the debaters. Leave the room or take phone calls during the round. Extend a debater’s speaking time.

8. Debater’s Role The debaters are responsible for making their ideas clear to the judge, including: Debate Theory Organization of the ideas and arguments in the round Details of the Topic

9. What to Expect Number of judges: 1 in preliminary rounds Possibly more in elimination rounds Always an odd number Timekeeper To give verbal signals during prep time and hand signals during speaking time. (Sometimes the debaters will time.) Greeting Debaters will introduce themselves May ask your judging philosophy.

10. Order of the Round AC CX NC CX 1AR NR 2AR Affirmative Constructive Cross examination Negative Constructive Cross examination First Affirmative Rebuttal Negative Rebuttal Second Affirmative Rebuttal

11. Constructive vs. Rebuttal Constructive speeches are for building arguments. This is where new arguments are presented. Rebuttals are for refuting arguments that have been presented. Answering arguments Strengthening a position with deeper analysis May present new evidence No new lines of argumentation

12. Before the Round Begins Check to make sure: You have not judged either of these debaters in this event at this tournament Fill in your name Fill in the names of the debaters (affirmative and negative)

13. The AC – the First Speech Purpose : Presents a problem with the current system Why is it a significant issue? Offers a plan for solving the problem or making the current system comparatively better Provides evidence to support position

14. Cross Examination (CX) Three minutes Immediately follows each constructive speech (no preparation time allowed) Only direct interaction in the round between the debaters One-on-one question and answer Debaters face the judge Judges may not question/comment during this time (or at all during the round)

15. Flowing/Note-Taking Flowing: Organizes the ideas in a round Use flow sheet or plain paper Just a tool to help you Not to be turned in The right note-taking system allows you to: Absorb the presentation Reach a conclusion and cast a vote Give the debaters written feedback

16. Other Key Considerations Time Limits Once the time is expired at the end of a speech, a debater may complete a sentence, but should not start a new thought. Once time has expired, judges are free to discard additional comments or speech content when evaluating the round. Debater Prep time Each debater has a total of 3 minutes for preparation between speeches. The timekeeper should state start and end of this prep time, and any time remaining.

17. When the Round is Over You may request to review evidence for clarification or accuracy. Please return any evidence you review before leaving the room. Do not ask the debaters for clarification of evidence or arguments. Do not disclose your decision! Do not solicit opinions about the round from other observers in the room. Immediately following the round, take your ballots to the designated area for completion.

18. Filling Out the Ballot 18 Two Independent Decisions: 1.Decide which debater wins the round 2.Reward individual speaking ability Set aside personal bias/opinion

19. Helpful Terms You may hear some of these terms during the round. The first four are called the Stock Issues. Topicality – Are we on the topic/resolution? Significance – Is the problem significant enough and/or the advantages great enough to require action? Inherency – Is the problem being taken care of in the Status Quo already? Are the advantages already in the Status Quo? Solvency – Will the plan work? You may also hear these terms used: Advantages – Benefits of the Affirmative plan. Disadvantages – Undesirable effects of the affirmative plan.

20. The Student Ballot - Who Won After looking over your flow sheet and considering all of the arguments, you must decide who, in your opinion, won this debate round. Circle either: Affirmative or Negative Note: The person with the higher speaker points does not necessarily win the debate round. Evaluate the Speakers: Write comments Circle and total the Speaker Points Rank speakers

21. Speaker Points / Speaker Rank Total Speaker Points 1 = poor…5 = excellent Speaker points may be tied, break ties with rank Lower speaker points may win round Speaker Rank Ranks speakers by high points

22. The Speed Ballot This form is for early handoff to TAB, no RFD or comments please! Vote AFF or NEG Provide speaker points Rank speakers Instructions are on the bottom half of this ballot

23. The Student Ballot AFTER you have turned in your Speed Ballot, you are encouraged to write additional comments on the Student Ballot.

24. The Ballot: Reason For Decision 24 Provide Written Feedback to the debaters. Your investment in and encouragement for our students Judge round based upon issues discussed in the round Set aside your personal bias/opinion Be prepared to vote for a position you do not personally hold Once you’ve cast your vote: If you heard ideas or assertions you don’t agree with, or you have insights to share, use the ballot to explain this to the debaters Double Loss = disciplinary only

25. Rules Judge Orientation Staff Available If you have questions concerning the round or your ballot, staff will be available to answer your questions. Written Rules Available The written rules will be available to you in the judge’s area.

26. Thank You