The New Rationale For Decision (RFD) Score Sheet

View the sample here

Filling Out the Score Sheet

• Write the Round (One, Two, Three, Quarter-Final, Semi-Final, Grand Final) and date at the top.  Write the motion for the debate in full (please check wording).

• Write the names of the proposition and opposition teams in the spaces provided. Check whether either of the schools has entered two teams in the tournament, and if so note whether the team you are watching is Team 1 or Team 2.

• Write the full name of each speaker in the space provided (this is very important for tracking the top 20 speakers). Be sure to note which speaker is making the Reply Speech.

• Give each speaker a score for Style, Content and Strategy, adding them up to give them a total speaker score. These are then added to make the total team scores (please check your addition carefully). Be sure to remain within the range of scores on the Marking Standard. You must give one team a higher final team score than the other. You cannot score the debate as a draw.

• Both schools will be sent a copy of your score sheet, so any constructive comments you write will be noted appreciated. Keep comments brief, so the debate and the announcement of the result are not delayed.

• The Rationale For Decision (RFD) should be filled in as well, to reflect the key reasons why you think one team won and the other lost.

• Write the winning team and your full name at the bottom of the score sheet, and sign it.

• After filling out your score sheet, hand it to Chairman of the debate before you leave the room. (Shadow adjudicators must do this too.)

• All adjudicators (including shadows) will retire from the room to briefly discuss the debate. The purpose of this is to make sure everyone’s opinions can be reflected in the adjudicators’ summary. You are not allowed to amend your score sheet as a result of the discussion. The adjudicators must also select the best individual speaker of the debate. This should be a consensus or majority decision, and need not necessarily be the speaker with the highest aggregate marks on the score sheets. The adjudicator who presents the oral summary should keep it short and constructive.

Please remember that your score sheets have two carbon copies which will be posted to the schools involved after the debate. Write neatly and press firmly. Do not write on top of your score sheets, for whatever you write will go through to the carbon copies.

THE MARKING STANDARD

Substantive Speeches (out of 100):

Reply Speeches (out of 50):

RATIONALE FOR DECISION

You should aim to capture only the key reasons why one team won and the other team lost in your opinion. Some sample comments are included below.

Example Motion: THW ban firearms

• The proposition addressed the motion directly and also engaged the opposition's case. The opposition rebutted the proposition's case but did not engage the motion with their own case.
• The opposition shifted their case. They began by saying their firearms were not dangerous but in third began to say that firearms were dangerous but that a ban would make it worse.
• The proposition's used a wider range of examples from America, Europe, Australia and Asia. They also cited cases such as the Columbine and UVA shootings. The Opposition's use of examples were limited to poorly explained statistics.
• The proposition spoke clearly and convincingly. The opposition read extensively and had no eye contact with the audience, which undermined their credibility.