Debate 2

Judging the debate on whether or not Hamlet was crazy was a difficult task. This debate was between Kelsey Cambell, Melissa Watson, and Jessica Barton group (negative) and Mary Collins, Ilayda Williamson, and Michaela Blaser’s group (affirmative). Myself, Yanick and Jennifer created a system to determine the winner, it was based on a point system with corresponding rules, which both teams were aware of (rules posted earlier). There were chances to gain or loose points by following the rules as both teams quickly found out. Melissa and her group started off strong by wearing costumes that awarded them extra points. Along with these extra points the negative side started off with a very strong introduction explaining how Hamlet (or Paul as he had to be referred by) just had been through so much emotional changes like extreme amounts of grief that this was the cause to all of his irrational decisions and actions. The affirmative side started their debate with pointing out many actions that gave the suspicion of Hamlet being crazy like thoughts of suicide seeing ghosts and more. Although both side’s opening arguments were very strong and well thought the negative had a slight lead because of their patience to wait their turn to talk.
Both affirmative and negative sides were fairly even in the points department going into the free for all; the negative side was still slightly ahead of the affirmative side. With the free for all started both teams went at it but it seemed Mary and Melissa were the ringleaders of the battle. Although the majority of the audience took the negative teams side the affirmative side held up strong. Many fallacies were thrown around but no one would take the time and effort to call them out (bonus points were added if you did). The free for all calmed down for the last couple minutes allowing everyone to take a deep breath. Coming out of the free for all with a significantly great lead now were the negative side. The negative side held up their lead throughout the end of the debate and it had looked as if all hope was lost for the affirmative side. But as the debate drew to the end Mary started calling out fallacy after fallacy, she couldn’t be stopped! She pulled her team back from the hole and gave her team a standing chance to take the cake and beat the negative side. Although Mary was great at pointing out fallacies something she was not great at was keeping her mouth shut. She (and her whole group) lost many points by talking at in appropriate times, which resulted in a massive deduction of points. This concluded the debate on whether or not Hamlet was crazy. The negative side won because of their willingness to follow and obey the rules resulting in a minimum of point deductions and their very well thought arguments and fallacies.