DEBATE GRADING RUBRIC

                                                                Levels of Performance for AFFIRMATIVE Team

Criteria 4 3 2 1 Grade:
1. Organization & Completely Mostly clear Clear in some Unclear and  Speaker
Clarity:  clear and and orderly in parts but not disorganized
orderly all parts overall throughout
presentation 1.
Main arguments and
responses are outlined 2.
in a clear and orderly
way.
3.

4.

2. Use of Very strong Many good Some decent Few or no real  1.
Argument:  and persuasive arguments arguments, but arguments given,
arguments given, with some or all arguments
given only minor significant given had 2.
Reasons are given to throughout problems problems significant
support the resolution problems 3.

4.
3. Use of cross- Excellent Good cross- Decent cross- Poor cross-exam  1.
examination and cross-exam exam and exam and/or or rebuttals,
and defense rebuttals, with rebuttals, but failure to point
rebuttal:  against only minor with some out problems in 2.
Negative slip-ups significant Negative team’s
Identification of team’s problems position or 3.
weakness in Negative objections failure to defend
team’s arguments and itself against
ability to defend itself 4.
attack.
against attack. 
4. Presentation All style Most style Few style Very few style 1.
Style:  features were features were features were features were
used used used used, none of
convincingly convincingly convincingly them 2.
Tone of voice, clarity convincingly
of expression, 3.
precision of arguments
all contribute to
keeping audience’s 4.
attention and
persuading them of the
team’s case.
          TOTAL
SCORE:

 _____
                                                                                                                                                                                           
(Divide by 4)

                                                                                                     AVERAGE FOR AFFIRMATIVE

TEAM:                   _______

                                                                Levels of Performance for NEGATIVE Team

Criteria 4 3 2 1 Grade:
1. Organization & Completely Mostly clear Clear in some Unclear and  1.
Clarity:  clear and and orderly in parts but not disorganized
orderly all parts overall throughout
presentation 2.
Main arguments and
responses are outlined 3.
in a clear and orderly
way.
4.
2. Use of Very strong Many good Some decent Few or no real  1.
Argument:  and persuasive arguments arguments, but arguments given,
arguments given, with some or all arguments
given only minor significant given had 2.
Reasons are given throughout problems problems significant
against the resolution problems 3.

4.
3. Use of cross- Excellent Good cross- Decent cross- Poor cross-exam  1.
examination and cross-exam exam and exam and/or or rebuttal,
and defense rebuttal, with rebuttal, but failure to point
rebuttal:  against only minor with some out problems in 2.
Affirmative slip-ups significant Affirmative
Identification of team’s problems team’s position 3.
weakness in objections or failure to
Affirmative team’s defend itself
arguments and ability 4.
against attack.
to defend itself against
attack. 
4. Presentation All style Most style Few style Very few style  1.
Style:  features were features were features were features were
used used used used, none of
convincingly convincingly convincingly them 2.
Tone of voice, clarity convincingly
of expression, 3.
precision of arguments
all contribute to
keeping audience’s 4.
attention and
persuading them of the
team’s case.
          TOTAL
SCORE:

_______
                                                                                                                                                                                           
(Divide by 4) 

                                                                                                            AVERAGE FOR NEGATIVE

TEAM:                   _______

  STUDENT NUMBER (to remain confidential): _______________________________