The Better Debate Ballot

The Ballot as a Learning Tool in Debate

Mr. Moyer

Open Ended

How do you think the practice of saving and posting ballots online could impact the way students learn from policy debates?

Multiple Choice

Why might the permanence of ballots be significant in policy debate?

• Because they can be used as learning tools over time

• Because they are easily forgotten after tournaments

• Because they are only relevant to coaches

• Because they are never shared online

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a purpose of the debate ballot?

• Provide a reason for decision

• Promote judge adaptation

• Instruction for debaters

• Awarding trophies

Multiple Choice

Based on the example provided, what was the main reason the judge gave for their decision in the debate round?

• The affirmative provided better evidence.

• The negative won due to the federalism disadvantage.

• Both teams performed equally well.

• The affirmative had better organization.

Open Ended

How does the debate ballot help promote judge adaptation, according to the example shown?

Multiple Choice

What suggestions for improvement were given to Steve in the example?

• Improve time management

• Provide more evidence on the federalism disadvantage

• Be more polite during questioning

• Organize arguments better

Open Ended

Explain how the debate ballot serves as a tool for communication between judges and coaches. Use examples from the images to support your answer.

Fill in the Blanks

Karen received reinforcement for her performance. What specific actions did the judge praise her for?

Multiple Choice

According to the 2016 point reality, what does a score of 30 indicate for a speaker at a tournament?

• You should be top speaker

• You might be one of the top 10 speakers

• You were rude or borderline unethical

• You did OK

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blank: The total of the numbers circled on the ballot should equal the number of

given.

Open Ended

Describe the process recommended for assigning points and marking boxes on debate ballots.

Multiple Choice

What are some common mistakes made when filling out debate ballots?

• No decision

• No points/ranks

• Confused room sides with ballot sides

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a piece of final advice for filling out debate ballots?

• Fill in the general comments section during prep time

• Wait to fill out the Reason for Decision section until the end

• Make rude comments if you disagree with the outcome

• Help debaters/coaches know why low points were given

Open Ended

How do you think the permanence of ballots can impact the learning experience in policy debate?

Multiple Choice

Why are ballots considered more permanent than you might think in policy debate?

• Because some coaches save ballots forever and some tournaments post them online

• Because ballots are always destroyed after use

• Because ballots are only used once and then discarded

• Because ballots are not important in debate