I am a former speechie who began coaching public forum debate a year ago. This makes me either the best lay judge or the worst flow judge you've ever had.

I have no preference for whether you sit or stand. I can keep up with speed, but not spreading. I appreciate clearly organized speeches. I like a final focus that makes my job easy by expertly articulating the voting issues of the debate. I really like a creative case that anticipates stock arguments.

You can assume if it's public forum that I have a pretty good understanding of the topic, so don't feel like you have to break things down for me. For other forms of debate, I tend to catch on quick, so you probably don't need to explain things to me like you might for a lay judge.

I have a fairly solid understanding of debate jargon, so don't be scared to get technical.

I appreciate strong, confident speakers, but I'll never vote on speaking ability.

Ultimately, I think of debate as a mental chess match, and I vote on the team or speaker who best plays the game.

hi, its Shannon Ehrmann's debater writing this paradigm to make it easier for people to pref

Quick prefs:

1 - Larp

Strike/Pref Low - Everything else

understands larp, probably best if you go slow i.e. lay

can definitely understand if you go quicker i.e. spread, just slow down on the taglines, when switching flows, and pls pls add analytics on the email chain if you can

but overall just go slow - thats your best bet to get the ballot

make logical arguments, extend warrants clearly, truth ov tech,

email chain: shannon.ehrmann@apsb.org

Good luck!

I prefer no spreading, but I should be able to follow if absolutely necessary.

Overall, I am more traditional and look at Framework debates as well as how well cards are utilized.

My personal policy is I do not provide verbal feedback or announce the winner directly after the round. All notes, comments, and feedback are posted on my written ballots.

I do not prefer K cases.

I have a theatre background but have been coaching and judging on and off for over 20+ years. I want to hear what you are saying and feel what you are trying to convey. I expect professionalism and courtesy in the round and out of the round. I don't appreciate spreading, I want to see a debate not a race. I love innovation in ideas and I appreciate pushing the boundaries. BUT, I admire old school standards. I probably won't smile but that doesn't mean that I don't like what you are doing. (I am concentrating trying to find constructive criticisms.) I can multitask, so don't think because I am writing that I am not watching. I don't prefer to disclose.

I am a traditional LD judge and I would like to see clear speaking, well explained warrants, and good signposting. I have only judged on traditional circuits and am more experienced with traditional debate. I believe that debate is meant to be a communicative event and I will rely on your presentation and argumentation to cast my ballot instead of comparing your evidence to your opponent's on the speech doc. No one issue or impact within a round can win you the debate. You must holistically defend your side of the resolution and win a majority of the arguments at hand. That being said, I prefer traditionally structured cases with framework at the top and contentions. For the neg, I would rather you run progressive arguments like theory/T, DAs, Ks, and CPs as contentions rather than off case arguments (more on that below). Overall, I rather traditional arguments but I will be willing to listen to any argument type as long as it can be presented clearly.

You can email me your speech doc at cyolivier@gmail.com. I am unlikely to rely on it or reference it unless you are spreading (which I would advise against) or if clipping/abusive cutting comes up in the round.

As someone who does research on ld/pf/policy topics before judging, I can tell you that I will be looking to make sure that:

1. arguments are effective

2. debators speak and argue in a formal manner (don't like screaming matches)

For speech:

connect with me :) i want to hear your story!! (or the story you are telling)

I am a parent of a student new to LD debate, and have little experience with it. Please speak slowly enough that I can take good notes, and in rebuttals, use logical reasoning to explain why you won the debate. I have put aside my predispositions about the topic and am voting on who best convinces me with logic and evidence why they won. I'll listen to anything, but it would be wisest to keep debate jargon to a minimum, and run a traditional case.

Please debate respectfully, especially when the round is lopsided; you get points for graciousness.

Experience:

I am somewhat new to judging debate. I performed in speech in high school and I am a performer so rhetoric and persuasive appeal does play a big role with me, please show me that you are confident about your case, even if you’re not. That being said, I do want to take the role seriously and I have done what I could to prepare for it in recognition of your hard work in preparation for debate. Of course I don’t need to tell you that good sportsmanship and professionalism are of the utmost importance.

Expectations:

1. Please do not spread. This just loses my attention in your debate and I will just vote for the person from whom I caught the most thoughts/ideas. Help walk me through your arguments and make sure I hear them: evidence and rebuttals. It would be helpful if you sent me your case: saylorw@gosaints.org

2. Avoid progressive arguments unless you are 100% comfortable and prepared to defend them.

3. During rebuttal/final focus be specific with why you think you won and your opponent lost. This really stands out to me.