PublicFormula

Focus On The Judge - By: Emma Bentley

I went to a bunch of debate tournaments in high school, and debated in a variety of situations. I debated in classrooms and in trailers and in front of empty desks and crowds of people. I argued for universal health care and mandatory national service, and minutes later, argued in opposition to them. I debated with different partners, at different times, against students from across the country. Throughout my debate career, few aspects of debate remained constant.

Few aspects, that is, except for the judge. No matter where I debated, or against whom, there was always a judge (or judges) to determine the outcome of the round. In terms of both prevalence and responsibility, the judge is arguably the most fundamental part of any debate.

And yet, surprisingly, the judge is often somewhat easy to ignore. Seated near the back of the room, head down, the judge projects little air of authority. I’ve watched (and, to be honest) participated in rounds where the judge is all but completely ignored as the two teams argue back and forth. Through my own experience and reflection; however, I’ve come to realize that focusing on the judge is the fastest and most reliable ticket to success for any debater.

Perhaps the most common mistake in debate is thinking that the object of the round is to beat the other team. In actuality, the object is much simpler and more concrete: win over the judge. The only thing that matters, the most basic and fundamental part of the debate, is whether, after thirty minutes, the judge votes for your team or your opponent. The judge’s final decision is not just one important part of the debate; it is the only important part.

It’s obvious then, that focusing on the judge is critical. Luckily for you (and me) connecting with the judge isn’t very hard. If you’ve had any debate training at all (or just have a little bit of common sense) you probably already know that eye contact and polished speech are necessities, no matter how rushed you feel. Looking up while you’re reading a piece of evidence, and speaking clearly and calmly to the judge (rather than to your opponents) are small but crucial methods of winning the judge’s vote and in turn, the round.

Beyond eye contact and calmness, there are other more subtle ways of connecting with your judge. Particularly in public forum, which is more relaxed and flexible than the other types of debate, you have the ability to adapt your style to win over the judge. Because many of the public forum topics focus on current issues, you will undoubtedly encounter judges who are familiar with the concepts and arguments that you and your opponents are presenting. In these cases, you have the option of presenting more advanced argumentation in a faster-paced and more in-depth manner. Conversely, you will certainly run into judges who know nothing about the topic on which you are debating. If you enter these rounds with the same mindset, chances are you’ll do more to confuse your judge than win them over. It may sound complicated, but the bottom line is anything but. If your judge is a middle-aged woman who knits during prep time, your style of debate can (and should) be different than if your judge is a distinguished looking businessman who flows the round on his laptop. Of course, you won’t often be confronted with such clear-cut and stereotypical judges, but you can pick up on clues that will allow you to slightly adapt your style. If the judge nods along with your points or seems to otherwise understand what you’re saying, then by all means, continue in the same vein of reasoning. If the judge seems confused or disbelieving, take some time to clearly break down your argument or try a different approach. More than anything, use your own judgment. Keep your head in the round and change your style as you see fit and chances are the judge will respond favorably.

In keeping with the theme of focusing on the judge, I have one last piece of advice: ignore the opposing team. Listen to their arguments and respond accordingly, of course, but in all honesty, don’t extend your focus on them beyond that. If you and your partner are able to ignore the other team’s ups and downs, you will present a better image and have a higher chance for success. If the other team is angry or flustered, your best bet is to stay calm and collected. It sounds like common sense, but often when teams forget the judge and focus on each other, emotions quickly escalate and the debate disintegrates into a yelling match. By keeping your debate centered on the judge you will remove the chance of being provoked by the other team and will (hopefully) fair better in the round.

When you enter your next debate round you will undoubtedly be confronted with a variety of surprises. Though, the one thing that you can count on ahead of time is that you will have a judge who will determine the winner and the loser of the round. By focusing your attention on that judge and doing everything in your power to win their vote, you may very well achieve debate success.