Debate Self-Evaluation Journal
Complete
this journal AFTER you have presented your debate. Explain your answers to the questions below
using complete sentences and writing in paragraph form.
Consider the categories from the debate
ballot that are listed below as you
evaluate your team’s performance and your own debating skills.
§ Use of Factual
Information for Support
§
Comprehension of the Controversy & Evidence
§
Persuasiveness – Convincing your audience
§
Delivery (voice, eye contact, rate, confidence, etc.)
§
Rebuttal – Refuting and arguing against the other team’s
case
§ Cross exam
questioning & Summary
o Evaluating your
Team: What were the strengths of your team? What were the weaknesses or areas that needed
improvement? What could you have done as
a team to improve? (3-5+ sentences)
o Evaluating the
Process: Which parts of the debate process did you
find most challenging? (Gathering
research, preparing your case, preparing rebuttal/refutation, getting
organized, working as a team, presenting the debate, etc.) Why?
How is debate different from having a discussion? Which do you like better, debate or
discussion? Why?(3-5+ sentences)
o Self-evaluation: What are your own personal strengths as a debater? In other words, what did you do well? What areas would you like to improve upon? How
did you feel about your debate overall? Is there anything you would do
differently to improve? Do you think
your delivery or level of comfort with public speaking has improved since the
first speech we did? Why or why
not? (3-5+
sentences)
o Reflection
& Learning: How did you
feel about the topic and the side (pro or con) that you had to debate? Did you
personally agree with the side you had to defend? What are some important
things you learned about your topic or about the debate process overall? (3-5+
sentences)
