When doing the adjudication several points need to be noted:
Is this a change debate or a judgment debate?
Has the Affirmative done its job in relation to each of these different styles i.e. Have they identified the problem and set out a model to effect change? Have they set out a reasonable list of criteria for judgment and explained why these have been selected?
Has the Negative followed due procedure in challenging model/criteria/ nature of the problem?
Debating is not an oratory contest. The winner will be the team that persuades the adjudicator that their arguments are the more logical, their examples the more cogent: the team that has worked to support their initial ideas. It is not necessary to award the debate to a team just because their marks are higher than their opponent. Most competition adjudicators award a mark without differentiation into content/manner/strategy.
Individual marks should range from a minimum of 60 to a maximum of 80 out of the 100.
Marks in the 60 to 65 range identify a developing debater.
Marks in the 65 to 70 range characterize an experienced and competent debater.
Marks in the 70 to 75 range are for the top debaters.
Marks above 75 identify the speaker as one of the best in NZ.
Normally, there should be a few marks between the teams, even after right of reply and teamwork considerations. Use these to ensure the better team wins. As a rule of thumb, halve the mark the speaker got in the main debate. If he was a 70 for the substantive he would get 35 for R of R.
Strategy. Not speaking to time is its own penalty, but poor timing is also marked in 'Strategy'. The speaker has not made the most of his opportunities and will already have that reflected in the overall mark. The content mark should reflect the lack of time because main points that should have been spoken about were ignored.
There should not be a triumph of style in speaking over the arguments advanced. Prepared speeches that do not engage with arguments of the First Affirmative should be discounted heavily. In the same way the Affirmative team should be penalised in the content column for not providing enough material for the Negating team to engage with.
Points of Information These are an important strategy for teams. They are part of the clash that is the main objective of debating.
A student should accept no more than two. Cowardice in not accepting any should count 2 points against the speaker; answering two POIs should gain a maximum increase of 2 points. However, responding to every POI will waste the time allocation of the speaker and they will lose control of their speech. This will mean fewer points in the content column.
The clock is not turned off for POIs – they are an integral part of the debate. However, students who tease or harass a speaker unduly should be penalized.
Debating Times for HB Competition.
Year 9, 10, 11 Substantive Debates are 5 minutes: with one bell at 1 minute, one bell at 4 minutes, and two bells at 5 Minutes.
Yr 9, 10, 11 Leaders' Replies are 3 minutes: with one bell at 2 minutes and two bells at 3 minutes.
Adjudicators will penalise speakers who speak over 5 minutes 30 seconds by losing 'Strategy' marks.
Year 12 & 13 Substantive Debates are 6 minutes: with one bell at 1 minute, one bell at 5 minutes, and two bells at 6 Minutes.
Year 12 &13 Leaders' Replies are 4 minutes: with one bell at 3 minutes and two bells at 4 minutes.
Adjudicators will penalise speakers who speak over 5 minutes 30 seconds by losing 'Strategy' marks.
Bias The adjudicator will have his own views on the moot. These must not intrude on the disinterested basis of adjudication. Even if a substantive point is wrong in fact or examples incorrect or even made up, it is the job of the opposing team to challenge these. If they do not do so the proposer may not be penalised, and further, must be credited with the point.
Debating Results 2014
Year 12/13 Competition Winners - Lindisfarne College
Year 11 Competition Winners - Karamu High School
Year 10 Competition Winners - Napier Boys' High School
Year 9 Competition Winners -
Debating Results 2015
Year 12/13 Competition Winners -
Year 11 Competition Winners - Napier Girls' High School
Year 10 Competition Winners -
Year 9 Competition Winners -
Year 9 Debating
Year 10 Debating
Year 11 Debating
Year 12 and 13 Debating
Some useful adjudication guidelines for debating:
When doing the adjudication several points need to be noted:
Debating is not an oratory contest.
The winner will be the team that persuades the adjudicator that their arguments are the more logical, their examples the more cogent: the team that has worked to support their initial ideas. It is not necessary to award the debate to a team just because their marks are higher than their opponent. Most competition adjudicators award a mark without differentiation into content/manner/strategy.
Individual marks should range from a minimum of 60 to a maximum of 80 out of the 100.
Normally, there should be a few marks between the teams, even after right of reply and teamwork considerations. Use these to ensure the better team wins. As a rule of thumb, halve the mark the speaker got in the main debate. If he was a 70 for the substantive he would get 35 for R of R.
Strategy. Not speaking to time is its own penalty, but poor timing is also marked in 'Strategy'. The speaker has not made the most of his opportunities and will already have that reflected in the overall mark. The content mark should reflect the lack of time because main points that should have been spoken about were ignored.
There should not be a triumph of style in speaking over the arguments advanced. Prepared speeches that do not engage with arguments of the First Affirmative should be discounted heavily. In the same way the Affirmative team should be penalised in the content column for not providing enough material for the Negating team to engage with.
Points of Information
These are an important strategy for teams. They are part of the clash that is the main objective of debating.
Debating Times for HB Competition.
Bias
The adjudicator will have his own views on the moot. These must not intrude on the disinterested basis of adjudication. Even if a substantive point is wrong in fact or examples incorrect or even made up, it is the job of the opposing team to challenge these. If they do not do so the proposer may not be penalised, and further, must be credited with the point.