General Resources:
NSDA Resources for Debate Judging
Guide to Tabroom Debate Ballots
CFL Guidelines for Judging
General Debate Judge Guide
Judging Assignments: At most tournaments, you will be judging the event that your student is participating in. Some tournaments, however, collapse different debate judging pools into one. If this happens, you may be asked to judge any debate format.
Each judge listens to two debates per round. The first is Flight A or Flight 1, and the second is Flight B or Flight 2. Each round has its own ballot that the judge submits on tabroom.com
Determining the Winning Side in Debate: In debate rounds, the team/side that better persuades the judge about the quality and importance of their arguments wins the debate. The decision is not based on personal feelings toward the resolution or competitors but completely based on arguments made in the round and how they were made. Speaking ability is not a factor in deciding win/loss.
Each judge listens to two debates per round. The first is Flight A or Flight 1, and the second is Flight B or Flight 2. Each round has its own ballot that the judge submits on tabroom.com
Determining the Winning Side in Debate: In debate rounds, the team/side that better persuades the judge about the quality and importance of their arguments wins the debate. The decision is not based on personal feelings toward the resolution or competitors but completely based on arguments made in the round and how they were made. Speaking ability is not a factor in deciding win/loss.
Debate Events:
Judging Guidelines and Example Videos
Congress(CON)
Congressional Debate is like a simulation of the real United States legislature. A group of 10-25 students, called a Chamber, will compete in a legislative session. A series of bills and resolutions will be proposed by students from various schools. Students in turn will be selected by a presiding officer — a student elected to conduct the business of the round — to give speeches both advocating for and encouraging the defeat of the measure in front of them. Following each speech, competitors will be able to pose questions of the speaker. Once debate is exhausted on a particular item, the chamber will vote either to pass or fail the legislation, and debate moves on to the next item. Legislation comes in two types — a bill and a resolution. A bill is a plan of action, detailing how a particular policy proposal will be implemented. A resolution, meanwhile, is a statement expressing the opinion of the chamber. Typically, one session of Congress lasts about 2-3 hours. During that time, students typically give speeches 3 minutes in length. The first two speeches on a piece of legislation are known as the first advocacy, or first pro, and the first rejection, or first con. These speeches are followed by 2 minutes of cross examination. After the first pro and con speech are established, each additional speaker is subject to one minute of cross examination by the chamber.
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Lincoln Douglas (LD)
Lincoln-Douglas debate is a one-on-one debate involving two debaters arguing for and against a resolution. LD focuses on the conflicting values of social and philosophical issues, for example, by examining questions of morality, justice, democracy, etc.
There is a variation in what is allowed during the debate depending on whether the tournament follows CHSSA or NSDA rules. CFL tournaments follow CHSSA rules, and other tournaments may vary.
CHSSA rules or CA-LD: CA LD is more traditional and non-circuit debate or in some cases lay debating. There ARE argument limitations that are sanctioned by The California High School Speech Association. In a nutshell, this means no Kritiks, Counterplans, Plans, or other arguments that are not allowed.
NSDA rules or circuit/TOC-LD: Circuit LD is governed by TOC/NSDA rules and procedures. There are NO limitations on argument styles and plan usage.
There is a variation in what is allowed during the debate depending on whether the tournament follows CHSSA or NSDA rules. CFL tournaments follow CHSSA rules, and other tournaments may vary.
CHSSA rules or CA-LD: CA LD is more traditional and non-circuit debate or in some cases lay debating. There ARE argument limitations that are sanctioned by The California High School Speech Association. In a nutshell, this means no Kritiks, Counterplans, Plans, or other arguments that are not allowed.
NSDA rules or circuit/TOC-LD: Circuit LD is governed by TOC/NSDA rules and procedures. There are NO limitations on argument styles and plan usage.
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Public Forum (PF)
Public Forum is a partner debate event that includes teams of two competitors debating whether to adopt a resolution, typically on domestic or foreign policy. Debates are usually based on logic and evidence rather than a moralistic analysis.
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Parliamentary (Parli)
Parliamentary Debate is also a partner debate event focusing on quick thinking, logical reasoning, and general knowledge. Unlike other debate events, the topic of debate for each Parli round is different and is announced 20 minutes before debating begins. Then, debaters use digital resources and their general knowledge to prepare arguments. Topics vary but are generally related to current events.
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