Judging

The evaluation at Tilbury House is based on the following criteria:

1.) Invention – Discovery of arguments
Many points: Imaginative, strong arguments which the other side cannot respond to. Includes examples and evidence.
Few points: Irrelevant or weak arguments, poor structure, lacks imagination or originality.

2.) Disposition – arrangement of arguments
Well structured or poorly structured. Use of rhetorical ploys adding up to a strategic purpose.

3.) Expression – development of arguments
Many points: Speaks confidently, good tempo, never loses control, eye contact.
Few points: Hesitates, little idea of what to say, can easily be interrupted, speaks too quickly, too loudly or too quietly. The last three items on this list usually are of less important nature than the first three; they may tip the scale if two teams are very close.

4.) Points of Information
Many points: Offers effective points of information. Confident and effective dealing with points, answers points successfully without losing fluency, does not take too many points and does not refuse to take any.
Few points: Offers no points of information. Refuses to take points or seems unable to answer them.

5.) Teamwork
Many points: Shows evidence of good team preparation, avoids repetition of partner’s arguments.
Few points: Does not develop partner’s arguments, repeats them instead.

6.) Time
Points are subtracted for speaking much longer than 5 minutes. Speakers must come to an end quickly when their time is up.