CLASSROOM DEBATE RUBRIC --Levels of Performance

Criteria Weak fair good excellent

Opening Does not show an Has attention Attention getter Strong, effective
statement adequate getter: Introduces interesting; Clearly attention getter; Team
understanding of main points of the understood the topic members clearly
topic. Uninteresting, topic with ease. in-depth and presented understood topic in-
unprepared; Somewhat information with ease; depth and presented
background info did unrelated to what provides effective intro information forcefully and
not match what team presents; to points that follow; convincingly
follows

NOTES:

Closing closing mere closing mere closing effectively Closing effective sums
Statement summary summary of team’s provides call to action, up all points raised by
original points Strong summary not team and opponents;
without mention of mere restatement closes on forcible
rebuttals clincher

NOTES:

Organization and Unclear in most Clear in some parts Most clear and orderly Completely clear and
Clarity: parts; disorganized but organization is in all parts; somewhat orderly presentation;
Viewpoints and and difficult to follow not logical logical in organization logical organization of
responses major points and details
outlined clearly
and orderly.

NOTES:

Use of Few or no relevant Some relevant Most reasons given: Most relevant reasons
Arguments: reasons given/ reasons given’ most relevant; not given in support; no
Reasons are given fallacies in reasoning fallacies in overly fallacies in logic used;
to support reasoning used reasons develop position
proposition effectively

Notes:
Use of Examples Every point was not Every major point Every major point was Every major point was
and Facts: supported. Examples supported with adequately supported well supported with
Examples, and statistics are facts, statistics with relevant facts, several relevant facts,
statistics,and facts weak or non- and/or examples, statistics and/or statistics and/or
are given to existent but relevance examples examples.
support reasons. questionable

Notes:

Use of Ineffective, Few effective Most counter- Each rebuttal responded

Refutation: inaccurate and/or counter-arguments arguments were to with effective, relevant
Each argument irrelevant counter- made but several accurate, relevant, and and strong counter-
made by opposing arguments made were weak effective argument
team responded
to and dealt with
effectively.

Notes:

Use of Rebuttal: Off-topic, Few of the points Most points are All points are thoughtful,
Response to unsupported, illogical raised are effective; thoughtful, effective, effective, relevant; points
points raised by rebuttals raised relevant; some relevant; points raised, raised, supported by
opposing team supported by supported by research research
research

Notes:

Presentation presentation style Some features gestures, eye contact, Consistently used
Style: Tone of did not keep were used tone of voice and level gestures, eye contact,
voice, volume, use attention of convincingly; kept of enthusiasm that kept tone of voice and a level
of gestures, and audience; eye attention of the attention of of enthusiasm in a way
enthusiasm are contact weak; read audience some of audience. that kept the attention of
convincing from paper; could the time the audience.
not hear; tone
monotone

Notes:
 Debate format
Opening Statement Presenter: (1)
Gathers the main arguments into an introductory statement. Provides general overview of the main
arguments, does not provide specific information.

Topic Presenters: (3)

Present the main arguments for the team. Each presenter give specific details that prove points A ,
B and C.

Rebuttal Presenters: ( 2)
Answer the arguments of the other team. These presenters must take notes as the other team is
presenting their arguments and respond to every argument, using specific information to disprove
them.
Closing Statement Presenter:
Presents the closing arguments for the team. Repeats the main idea for this and states the reasons
(with necessary changes.)
Format of the debate
First day

Team A Welcomes and presents position in the introduction (done by opening statement presenter.) (4 min)

Team A The three topic presenters will present their positions with supporting details. (3 minutes each)

Team B the team will present questions or points to refute Team A’s position. (Max 6 minutes)

Team A’s Rebuttal presenters will answer each argument, using specific information to disprove the
arguments. (max 6 minutes)

Team B will present respond to every argument, using specific information to disprove them. (max 6 minutes)

Closing statement (max 5 minutes)

Second day

Team B Welcomes and presents position in the introduction (done by opening statement presenter.) (4 min)

Team B The three topic presenters will present their positions with supporting details. (3 minutes each)

Team A the team will present questions or points to refute Team B’s position. (Max 6 minutes)

Team B’s Rebuttal presenters will answer each argument, using specific information to disprove the
arguments. (max 6 minutes)

Team A will present respond to all arguments, using specific information to disprove them. (max 6 minutes)

Closing statement (max 5 minutes)