Forensics+Judge's+Guidelines

= Judge's Guidelines for Speech Tournaments =

Before a tournament:

 * 1) Confirm time, place, and directions, including the entrance and parking at the school.
 * 2) Have all necessary phone numbers of coaches, schools or tournament coordinators.
 * 3) Bring pens, notebook and stop watch.

Day of the Tournament:

 * 1) Sign in at the registration table and acquire schematic and school and judge's codes.
 * 2) Locate bathrooms, judge's lounge, and ballot return/tab room.
 * 3) Circle categories and rooms where you will be judging on the schematic.
 * 4) Mark schematic with all drops and adds during assembly.
 * 5) Listen for any changes or rule verifications during assembly.
 * 6) Collect ballot and critique cheets.
 * 7) Read carefully the criteria for each event and where you are required to fill in information.
 * 8) Ask questions during the assembly regarding anything you don't understand.

In the Room:

 * 1) Put the students at ease!!!! They are all a little nervous and are looking for you to set the tone.
 * 2) Have students draw for speaking order. Put a number in the corner of each critique sheet and have students draw randomly. The number on the paper indicates the order they will speak.
 * 3) Have students fill in the necessary information on the sheets and then proceed to the blackboard in the classroom and write their name, piece and speaking order.
 * 4) Fill in the Master Ballot by listing all the students, their code and the name of their piece in the order they will speak. Do this BEFORE they present!
 * 5) Collect all critique sheets and fill in the Judge's information.
 * 6) Remind all the students that there is no texting or use of cell phones or any other electronic equipment during the presentations. No one is to enter or leave the room once the presentations have started.
 * 7) Let the students know they will be timed. A signal will be given when they have reached seven minutes and again when they have reached the end of the grace period.
 * 8) Begin with the first speaker.

Comments:

 * 1) Write all comments on the back of the critique sheets. Use the criteria on the front to make accurate and informative suggestions.
 * 2) Write your comments DURING the presentation. Students expect this and it allows you to say what you are thinking at the time.
 * 3) Record all reactions in a helpful and informative manner. If a student is less than stellar, find a positive means to educate them for improvement. All students need to learn from this experience and even those who are outstanding need to hear how they are being effective and what they can do to stay on course.
 * 4) Rank each student from "1' to whatever number of competitors are in the round with "1" being the BEST and "2" being second best, etc. If someone is ranked LAST, there should be supporting evidence as to why they are ranked in that position. (It is helpful to rank students as they perform. Rank the first student 1st and then compare the second student to the first. Rank the third student against the first two students; continue this until every student has presented. In this way, the ranking is done throughout the round and not just at the end.
 * 5) Be sure the ranking is filled in the appropriate place on the critique sheet and that it matches the ranking order on the Master Ballot. This is VERY important and the Tab Room will double check this when you return your ballots.
 * 6) Complete this paperwork in a timely manner and proceed to the Tab Room to collect the next round's ballots. Be sure to thank the students for their efforts and to remind them to proceed to the next round.
 * 7) After the third round, wait for announcements of the semi-final or final rounds. There will need to be judges for these rounds as well, and you should remain available.

Miscellaneous:

 * 1) Judging can be very subjective, so strive to be fair at all levels. If you don't like the piece, do not penalize the student. They chose it for this competition in the hope that you would judge them solely on their delivery. Imagine that every student competitor is one of you own. Let your comments reflect what you would have liked them to have learned from this experience and what you would have liked a judge to have said about them.
 * 2) Students do not know all the rules so do not ask them any questions. Go directly to the Tab Room and clarify any infraction you may encounter.
 * 3) Do not proceed to judge a round where you know a student, a parent of a student, or have any familiarity with anyone in the room. This is nto fair to the students or the integrity of the event.
 * 4) If a student fails to show up for a round, proceed as normal and then alert the Tab Room. If they arrive after the round has begun, place them last in the speaking order. Do not hold up procedures it at all possible. Be sure to alert the Tab Room as soon as possible if this should happen. If there are an incorrect number of judges in the room, send someone to the Tab Room BEFORE presentations begin.

General Comments for Judging All Categories

 * 1) //Words -// Can you understand what they are saying? Mumbling? Swallowing or chopping words? Too fast? Too quiet? Slurring?
 * 2) //Pace, Volume, Pitch, Inflection -// Are they appropriate? Comfortable to listen to?
 * 3) //Variety -// Does their vocal variety add to the presentation?
 * 4) //Eye contact -// Is it done where appropriate? Is it meaningful and not just scanning the room?
 * 5) //Commitment to the material// - Do you believe what they say?
 * 6) //Energy and Memorization -// Do they show an interest in the piece? Are they prepared? Does their relationship with the piece or with the characters in the piece seem genuine?
 * 7) //Gestures -// Are they well placed? Are they effective and realistic?