An idea for a different kind of judging debates

[Ithrynluin]

As you may know, the judging system so far worked like this:

There were typically 5 judges, sometimes three, and each would decide on which team was the more persuasive in their opinion.

The winning team would get 1 point, the losing team 0, and 0.5 for each team in case of a draw. But what seems a bit unbalanced to me is that a judge would deal the same amount of points (i.e. 1) whether team A was overwhelmingly more persuasive or if they managed to pull off a win by a very narrow margin.

So, I was thinking - wouldn't it be better and fairer for each judge to have 10 points at their disposal and hand them out to each team after reaching their decision.

E.g: Judge 1 decides that both teams were relatively equally persuasive throughout the debate, but that team A provided a stronger closing post and therefore succeeded in eking out a win. So 6 points for Team A, 4 for Team B, rather than 1 for Team A, and 0 for Team B.

Judge 2 decides both teams were pretty much equal: 5 points for each team

Judge 3 thinks that team B did a lot better in proving their points and discrediting the other team's arguments, so he hands out 2 points to Team A, and 8 to Team B.

What do y'all think? Sounds much more sensible to me.

[YayGollum]

Aw, man. The barely won debate is my favorite kind of debate! And in some tournament, some other team might win because they were the sort to easily blow away all competition (when they weren't up against me). But oh well. I would go with this system, mostly because I think that it would be helpful with figuring out who the best team is towards the end of a tournament.

Also, Ick! Why write ---> Ya'll? Ack! Now you made me do it!

[Bethelarien]

I'm all for it. I like the idea of really being able to see who debated more persuasively, and by how much. The more detail I get, the better.

[Ithrynluin]

More input, please, folks!

[Ingwë]

I prefer the new idea. More points - more precisely. One point for the winning team and 0 for the losing one means the judge says who is the winner to him and doesn't count the score of the losing team. He says Team A is the winner. The End. The new proposal is better - the judge gives each team as much as they deserve. The judge doesn't say directly Team B is the winner (unless he gives 10 points to one of the teams :p ). And the losing team gets some points, too.
Good idea.

[Gothmog]

Having judged a number of debates that were very close indeed I think that being able to award points according to the quality of debate from each team is far better than simply saying how good the loosing team was. Even when there is a unanimous judgement for one team it is most often the case that the debate was indeed far closer than "5 - 0".

[Snaga]

I've just used this system for the first time. I agree it is better. For one thing, it makes you focus more on the quality of arguments used, rather just who won the debate. When you just think about who won, as a judge you are always in huge quandary about whether the question was biased, what your own opinions are etc... because ultimately it might be very difficult for one side to 'win', but it doesn't mean they didnt debate well.

I think this system works well.:)

Of course, one of the teams in the Saruman debate may not agree!:p

[Ithrynluin]

We could take it one step further and give each judge 100 points, so he or she may be able to come up with an even more precise verdict! Also, the meaning of the phrase "to eke out a win" would especially ring true with a result like 51:49. ;)

[DGoeij]

Having judged a debate or two a long time ago, I must admit that this system sounds somewhat better. I have had serious inner debates over which team (if any) I should grant the victory. This way, it sounds like you'll be able to give a more balanced score. I like it.:)

[Turgon]

I actually really like this system. I have used it too, and although I only gave out nine point out of ten, that's because I really didn't want to go into fractions. That's the beauty of it right there though, you can score the debate in whatever you think is the fairest fashion. It's not football, so we don't need win, lose, or draw. Good show, I say.

[Ithrynluin]

Thief, Turggins! He stole our precious one point and made away with it! :D

Am I correct in thinking that judging the debate with 100 points, instead of 10, would have made your life a whole lot easier?

[Turgon]

Sure, Ithryn, I'd have ten points now instead of one...:)

But the system fine as it is; I was mostly joking about the fractions. Mostly.

It seems so much fairer than the old one.