Advice for Debate Judges

Prior knowledge or experience is not used by a judge to determine a win/loss, only the information presented by the two teams.
Pay close attention to arguments used by both teams in the debate as they relate to the Stock Issues specifically.
Note taking is extremely helpful for judges, however it is not required on the judging ballot.
If a clarification is needed on a point or issue concerning the debate, please seek the help of your schools (or any) debate coach.
Please refer regularly to the Stock Issues Explained document to clarify any win/loss issues in the debate.
Let the debaters persuade you. Interpreting the quality of an argument (reasoning & evidence) as it relates to the Stock Issues
determines whether it is a win/loss issue in the debate.

Guidelines for the Debate Judge

The judge can help educate the teams through comments on the ballot.
An inexperienced judge can help debaters become better speakers. This forces debaters to be more persuasive and informative and to
adapt to a wider range of audiences.
Judges are the sole determiners of who wins and loses a debate. It is up to the debaters to adjust to the judge in any debate round.
There are four qualities of a good debate judge.
o
Knowledgeable concerning the debate topic and debate theory
o
Objective do not let your own preferences determine the decision. Judges should present their decisions based on evidence
demonstrated only in that round of debate.
o
Instructive be genuinely interested in promoting the educational value of debate and debaters.
o
Friendly helpful advice should be given and the process of debate for all should be fun.
There are many ways to determine the winning team.
o
Pay close attention to arguments used by both teams in the debate.
o
Note taking is extremely helpful for judges.
o
If a clarification is needed, a judge may ask at the end of the debate, however, this is rarely used and judges should not expect to be
presented with evidence from either team in written form. It is the responsibility of the debaters to orally present their arguments.
o
Judges should know the rules for using stock issues in debate.
o
Judges should not look only at the quantity of evidence read by a team; the quality of the argument is also important.

Order of Debate & Time Limits

Note to Judges on Prep Time: Each team (Affirmative and Negative) has 8 minutes of prep time to take within the debate when it is their
turn. Debaters may ask for specific amounts of time (thirty seconds, one minute, two minutes, etc.) or they may ask for an unspecified
amount. Please remember to keep accurate time for the prep time used by both teams.
Time Begun
First AFF Constructive
NEG Cross Examination of AFF
First NEG Constructive
AFF Cross Examination of NEG
Second AFF Constructive
NEG Cross Examination of AFF
Second NEG Constructive
AFF Cross Examination of NEG
First NEG Rebuttal
First AFF Rebuttal
Second NEG Rebuttal
Second AFF Rebuttal

First AFF
First AFF by Second NEG
First NEG
First NEG by First AFF
Second AFF
Second AFF by First NEG
Second NEG
Second NEG by Second AFF
First NEG
First AFF
Second NEG
Second AFF

8
3
8
3
8
3
8
3
4
4
4
4

Time Ended

minutes
minutes
minutes
minutes
minutes
minutes
minutes
minutes
minutes
minutes
minutes
minutes

Appropriate Debater Conduct

Do Nots:
Aggressive or intimidating behavior is not encouraged or
allowed. Rely on the logic and reasoning of your positions to
carry your arguments, not your emotions.
Debate should focus on the current resolution, not an
argument concerning the interpretation of rules for judges. If
you feel a rules violation has occurred, inform your coach.
Debate is an oral competition. Visuals are not allowed.
The judge evaluates you on what you say. Do not pass a copy
of your plan to the judge.
The debater speaking should not communicate with their
partner while their partner is addressing the opposing team.
The Affirmative team must present to the Negative team what
is spoken in the first Affirmative constructive. Summarizing
the plan in the first Affirmative constructive is not allowed.

Do not ask the judge who won the round. If the judge
wants to tell the debaters who won (and why), they may,
but this is a decision made by each individual judge.
Dos:
Shake hands with your opponents before and after the
round.
Put your name and speaker positions on the board for
the judge to use.
When quoting from a source, say it clearly.
Establish a prima facia case in the first Affirmative
constructive. You must establish need, inherency and
solvency.
Keep time for your partner while they are speaking.
Enjoy yourself and breathe.