In 1978-79 the Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association adopted a three-part testing procedure to certify debate judges and make them eligible for officiating at district and state tournaments. The development and application of the procedure required a blending of debate principles and administration. Certification as a debate judge required…

Describes a program to certify state and district judges of high school debate tournaments. Covers constructing the written test, evaluating the ballot test, implementing certification, and assessing the program. (PD)

There is a tendency for debaters and judges to view a single quote or opinion as conclusive evidence proving a point. But evidence can only point toward a conclusion; it cannot prove a conclusion conclusively. Experts may offer their opinions (sometimes as fact) but these opinions are only educated guesses. This is not to say that evidence from…

Argues that the "Multiple Preference System" in assigning debate judges should be discontinued because it is unfair, discriminatory, and perpetuates ethnocentric responses. Recommends a nonevaluative system of judge assignment. (PD)

In this article, the author relates how his school beats up the post-national examination blues by staging a "May Madness" competition. The competition is like a "tournament of historical figures" wherein students are asked to debate which historical figures were more significant until they have a "Final Four" and, eventually, a winner. The author…