Judge Corner
Help a Public High school! Become a Debate Judge!
For struggling public schools around the country, people look for a way to make a difference. Judging a debate is one IMMEDIATE, TANGIBLE, EASY way to make a difference in the educational life of a young person. Students who are members of emerging debate teams need your help. To compete, they must have judges at the tournaments they attend. These adults, be they teachers, parents, college students, or community members, listen to arguments and give debaters feedback on their performance. It is in many ways, a revolutionary experience for both parties. High school students, used to directed instruction and tests, get a chance to voice their opinion and guide their own learning. Adults get individualized interactions with kids and a chance to help them develop their speaking, critical thinking, and organizational skills. Become part of a program the Baltimore City Paper says is "catching the eyes of education activists" across the city.
A high school program NEEDS YOU!
Training Workshops Available
The Baltimore Urban Debate League regularly hosts judges training workshops on the Wednesdays prior to its tournaments from 4:30 until 6:30. Judges for the Baltimore Urban Debate League attend Saturday tournaments, listen to high school students engage in sophisticated discussions of this year's national debate topic (dealing with mental health), evaluate rounds of debate, and get compensation for their efforts. If you are unable to attend the workshop, but would still like to judge, special arrangements can be made. If interested, please contact Chris Baron.
Judges learn:
- the format of a competitive policy debate (time limits, speech order)
- the specialized jargon debaters might use (topicality, disad, kritik, etc.)
- to take notes in a debate to make a good decision
- to justify a decision, including how to complete a debate ballot
- to discuss a round of debate afterwards with students
- common arguments on this year's topic
- to be prepared for common scenarios for what might happen in a debate
Judges will watch, judge, and discuss a sample debate. By the end of the workshop, judges will be ready to judge at a tournament!
Listen to what some graduates of the training have said:
I wasn't at all sure that I would make a good judge. The training gave me the confidence that I could make a good decision and help students learn.
Judging in the BUDL is one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. I felt like I was really able to connect with kids. We learned together. It was really a positive learning experience that was quite different from school environments I've been a part of.
The judge seminar was very efficient. They really pack it in. You get everything you need in a short time frame.
I was amazed at the skills these kids have. They get very excited about some complicated stuff.
Other ways to learn more about judging debate
You can also learn more about what judging is like by downloading our Judging Manual (PDF - 117Kb). (Requires a PDF viewer such as Adobe Acrobat.)
Click here for a brief on common arguments on this season's topic.
BUDL needs judges for its tournaments. See the full schedule for upcoming dates and register with us to receive notices of additional opportunities.
BUDL's tournaments are single day events. Click here to see what one of these days looks like.
