This document outlines steps for writing useful reviews to provide feedback to judges and help improve the Judge Program. It discusses the importance of reviews in giving the best available feedback as experts. A 4-step process is provided: 1) Be willing, 2) Observe, 3) Take notes, and 4) Write the review. Specific tips are given for each step, like shadowing other judges, taking keywords and notes, and writing a personal conversation. The goal is to give specific, honest examples and concrete ways to improve through practice.

1. Writing Useful Reviews
GP Madrid, 14 november 2014
Dustin de Leeuw

2. Writing useful reviews
*The importance of reviews
*4 steps for writing useful reviews
*Improving your reviews
*Hands-on: write a review!
*Discussion

3. The importance of reviews
*Best available feedback (it's a gift)
*You're an expert!
*Improvement of the Judge Program
*Reviewing also improves you

4. 4 steps for writing useful reviews
1) Willingness
2) Observe
3) Notes
4) Write!

5. 1) Willingness
*Make it a goal to write 1 review per event
*Choose a target
*Ask if the reviewee has any specific requests
*You are there for the players and your colleagues

6. 2) Observe
*Shadowing is a great habit
*Make time to watch other judges deliver a ruling
*Respect your colleague: only intervene if necessary
*Watch the players' reactions
*How does it make you feel?

7. 3) Notes
*No notes → no review...
*Use keywords (card names, infractions)
*Add pointers (+, –, ?!)
*For big events: name of the observed judge

8. 4) Write!
*Personal conversation at end of event
*Plan time for writing it down
*Just do it!
*Only practice makes practice perfect
*Ask feedback

9. Improving your reviews
*What parts do you like/would you copy?
*What did you dislike and why?
*Give specific examples
*Give concrete ways to improve
*Be honest
*Lots of very good links in the judge center:
judge.wizards.com/reviews.aspx

10. Write John Doe a review!
*Watch the video
*Take notes
*10 minutes for writing a review
*Discussion

11. Lifelink + Deflecting Palm