Quick Guide to SJDL Policy Debate
Helpful Scoring Sheet for JV Judges
GUIDE FOR JUDGING JV DEBATES
Whiteboard: The debaters should write the resolution on the board. They should also write their school, their side (affirmative or negative), and their names on the board.
Score sheet: Write the schools and speaker names on the score sheet. Write the date and your name.
Skeletal plan: The affirmative team should give two identical copies of their skeletal plan to the judge.
Judge’s script: The judge should read the following:
I am [name] from [school]. The affirmative team has given me two identical copies of their plan. I will give one copy to the negative team and start the debate immediately after these comments.
Team members may speak to each other during preparation periods, but should communicate by passing notes at other times.
Disrespect or discourtesy will be penalized.
Judges are not permitted to change their decisions after they are announced.
Participants and observers are not permitted to reveal today’s plan and arguments after the debate has ended.
The timekeeper will use time cards and will say “one minute” and “time”. Speakers must finish their speeches or finish answering a cross-examination question promptly when time is announced.
We want to thank Moorestown High School for the use of the premises. Before leaving we must erase the boards and return the furniture to its original places.
Thank you and good luck. [Hand the skeletal plan to the negative team.] The first affirmative speaker may begin.
Timekeeper: The timekeeper uses timecards and provides a “one minute” and “time” verbal announcements and use the following schedule:
8 minutes Constructive Speech by First Affirmative
3 minutes Cross Examination by Second Negative
2 minutes Preparation Time
8 minutes Constructive Speech by First Negative
3 minutes Cross Examination by First Affirmative
8 minutes Constructive Speech by Second Affirmative
3 minutes Cross Examination by First Negative
8 minutes Constructive Speech by Second Negative
3 minutes Cross Examination by Second Affirmative
2 minutes Preparation Time
4 minutes Rebuttal by First Negative
4 minutes Rebuttal by First Affirmative
4 minutes Rebuttal by Second Negative
4 minutes Rebuttal by Second Affirmative
Score sheet: Write each speaker’s key points on the score sheet. This will help you decide the winner.
Deciding the winner:
The affirmative team can win if it does all of the following:
Provide two identical copies of their plan [skeletal plan],
State the resolution and define the words of the resolution.
Show that the current situation [status quo] causes significant problems [harms].
Present a plan that has four parts [planks]:
Mandate: Their plan.
Administration: Who will carry out the plan?
Enforcement: Who will assure that the plan is carried out and what penalties or incentives they will apply?
Funding: How much will the plan cost? Where will they obtain the money?
The affirmative team must support its plan with evidence [burden of proof].
The negative team can win if it successfully argues that one or more of the affirmative team’s planks will not work. The negative team attacks each plank of the affirmative plan using five “judging issues”:
Significancy: The plan will not produce a substantial change.
Harm: The plan creates new problems.
Inherency: We don’t need this plan. The problem will eventually get solved by some method that already exists.
Topicality: The plan is off-topic and outside of the resolution.
Solvency: The plan will not work because is it too small, too costly, or unable to solve the problem in a reasonable time.
The negative team should support its attacks using evidence.
The affirmative team wins if its plan survives the challenges. The negative team wins if it successfully argues that one or more of the affirmative plan’s planks will not work.
The score sheet: Be sure to:
Circle the winning school.
Rank the speakers and write 1,2,3 or 4 beside their name. Circle the best speaker.
Check the boxes to show the reasons for your decision.
Final tasks: Announce your decision [You may not change the decision after it is announced], see that the classroom is returned to its original condition, and take the score sheet to Room A205.
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