Student Debate Scoring Sheet

Jury Member:______

Debate topic: ______

Pro Team
Names:______
Notes and Points made: / Con Team
Names:______
Notes and Points made:
PRO TEAM: ______ / CON TEAM: ______
Criteria / Rating / Criteria / Rating
Opening and closing statements were clear, well organized, factual, relevant and thoroughly inform the audience of the scientific principles involved / 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 / Opening and closing statements were clear, well organized, factual, relevant and thoroughly inform the audience of the scientific principles involved / 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
First argument in support of its position was stated clearly was relevant, and well informed with examples and facts to support reasons / 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 / Rebuttal to opposing side’s first argument was specific to and clear, relevant, well informed, and effective to challenge arguments made by opponents / 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Rebuttal to opposing side’s first argument was specific to and clear, relevant, well informed, and effective to challenge arguments made by opponents / 1 2 3 4 5 / First argument in support of its position was stated clearly was relevant, and well informed with examples and facts to support reasons / 1 2 3 4 5
Second argument in support of its position was stated clearly was relevant, and well informed with examples and facts to support reasons / 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 / Rebuttal to opposing side’s second argument was specific to and clear, relevant, well informed, and effective to challenge arguments made by opponents / 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Rebuttal to opposing side’s second argument was specific to and clear, relevant, well informed, and effective to challenge arguments made by opponents / 1 2 3 4 5 / Second argument in support of its position was stated clearly was relevant, and well informed with examples and facts to support reasons / 1 2 3 4 5
Third argument in support of its position was stated clearly was relevant, and well informed with examples and facts to support reasons / 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 / Rebuttal to opposing side’s third argument was specific to and clear, relevant, well informed, and effective to challenge arguments made by opponents / 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Rebuttal to opposing side’s third argument was specific to and clear, relevant, well informed, and effective to challenge arguments made by opponents / 0 1 2 3 4 5 / Third argument in support of its position was stated clearly was relevant, and well informed with examples and facts to support reasons / 0 1 2 3 4 5
Closing Statements / 0 1 2 3 4 5 / Closing Statement / 0 1 2 3 4 5
Overall Presentation throughout the debate
o  respect was shown to the opposing members
o  both team members participated equally and comments were loud enough to be heard by all
o  tone of voice, use of gestures, and level of enthusiasm are convincing to the jury
o  Confident (not reading), energetic and passionate! / 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 / Overall Presentation throughout the debate
o  respect was shown to the opposing members
o  both team members participated equally and comments were loud enough to be heard by all
o  tone of voice, use of gestures, and level of enthusiasm are convincing to the jury
o  Confident (not reading), energetic and passionate! / 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
TALLY UP POINTS – OUT OF 90
Circle debate winner (even if tally is the same you must choose a winner) / /

Debate Topics:

PRO – Genetically Engineered Foods / CON – Genetically Engineered Foods
PRO - DNA Fingerprinting Database for all People in Canada / CON - DNA Fingerprinting Database for all People in Canada
PRO – Genetic Screening of all Potential Offspring / CON – Genetic Screening of all Potential Offspring
PRO – Cloning Animals / CON – Cloning Animals
PRO – Xenotransplantation / CON – Xenotransplantation
PRO – Pharmaceutical production from transgenic animals / CON – Pharmaceutical production from transgenenic animals


Debate set-up

  1. Opening statements – 4 minutes
  2. arguments and rebuttal – 3 minutes argument and approx. 1 minute rebuttal.
  3. recess – 3 minutes to conference and prepare closing argument
  4. closing statements – 2 minutes

Jury’s Responsibilities:

o  Listen to the evidence and logic of the teams

o  Accept arguments backed with reasonable proof as being reliable unless overthrown by the opposition

o  Base your decision entirely on the material presented, without regard for other material or opinions which he/she may happen to possess.

o  Unsupported assertions and purely emotional appeals must not be considered unless supported by evidence or logic

o  Using provided rubric determine debate winners

Debaters Responsibilities:

o  Prepare opening and closing statements as well as three supporting arguments

o  Anticipate opponents arguments in preparation for each rebuttal

o  Have a solid background regarding topic

o  Have plenty of evidence to back up claims

o  Be creative/psyche out opponents

o  Share responsibility and speaking roles equally

o  Visual aids are allowed, but opposition can refer and use them after they are presented

o  See rubric for more detail

Chair Person’s Responsibilities:

o  Maintain order and debate structure

o  Time keeper – 20 second warning and cut off

o  Tally up jury results and announce winner