1. The debate grade will be based on the quality of debating by each student individually, not on whether their team won or lost the debate. 2. Students will be evaluated on their understanding of the debate topic, the organization of their arguments and evidence, the strength of the arguments they present, their use of relevant evidence, how effectively they rebut the other side's arguments, and their delivery and style. 3. The rubric also evaluates how well the students on a team worked together to make distinct, non-overlapping arguments that build upon each other.

1. DEBATE RUBRIC (2010)
Each student in the debate will be graded individually. The debate grade will be based on the
quality of debating done by the students, not whether the team won or lost the debate.
1 2 3 4
Understanding Unclear about Seemed to Understood topic Clearly
of Topic debate topic understand main in-depth understood topic
points in-depth and
presented
information
forcefully and
convincingly
Organization Unorganized Some moments of Organized Well organized
data, evidence, disorganization materials and materials and
and presentation of materials presentation presentation
Arguments Debate lacked Less than 4 4 arguments 5 or more
arguments that arguments raised clearly presented arguments
support throughout to support presented to
proposition debate to support proposition support
proposition proposition;
arguments
complex and
articulate
Evidence Few or no Some relevant Debate Numerous
(statistics, relevant evidence given; adequately support materials
examples, facts, supporting relevance supported with given with every
& testimony) evidence somewhat relevant evidence point addressed
questionable throughout
debate
Rebuttal No effective Few effective Some effective Directly
counter counter- counter- addresses each
arguments made arguments made arguments made argument raised
Did not directly directly directly by opponent.
address addressing some addressing most Offers extensive
opponents’ of opponents’ of opponents’ evidence to refute
arguments arguments arguments opposing points
Delivery Not convincing; Few style Most style All style features
(Eye Contact, Tone of few style features features were features were were used
Voice, Gestures, used used convincingly used effectively convincingly and
Enthusiasm, Volume,
& Persuasion) persuasively
Teamwork Arguments were Each member of Each member of Each member of
overlapping, the team the team the team
repetitive, or presented a presented presented an
contradictory different different by argument that
among argument with complementary built on previous
teammates minimal overlap arguments arguments
and repetition