Last changed on
Tue June 14, 2022 at 2:56 PM EDT
I debated for Millard South for 3 years. I mainly debated in Congress, and went to several national circuit debates and went to NSDA Nationals for Congress. I also have experience on every form of debate. (PF, LD, Policy, and Congress.) Although I am most familiar with Congress, and PF.
This is my fourth year of judging and coaching debate.
Here is my email if you need to contact me: Liamsingleton007@gmail.com
General:
Please just be respectful to your peers. This is an activity that is meant to be fun. Don't be rude to people.
I understand people have different views, but it doesn't take that much effort to just be kind of people.
Also, please don't speak while your opponents are talking. (Mainly just asking/answering questions, or giving speeches.)
I understand for PF, and Policy. But Congress, it's especially rude.
On the topic of Anecdotal evidence. I personally like anecdotal evidence, but don't leave it by itself. If you want to link it to yourself, go for it. But give empirical evidence to support your claim so it doesn't sound like your a stand alone case. It will also make you sound more credible as a speaker.
On that, CLAIM < WARRANT < IMPACT. Every time you make a claim, give evidence to support your claim, and give the impact of your claim with your warrant. If you don't give a warrant, it makes it sound like a personal opinion.
Public Forum:
I will typically flow almost everything that I can. But you still need to explain all of your impacts to me in the Summary and Final Focus.
I do not time you, that is your job to keep track of.
I pay attention to a lot of things during the debate, and especially the little things. I don't normally like to use the word abusive, but if I notice that in questioning you're not allowing your opponents to ask questions. I will most likely address it, and take some speaker points off.
I will rarely deem things as inappropriate. Look at General Section.
On the topic of speed. I don't mind going at a moderately fast pace. But if you start spreading. I will just stop flowing.
If you want to spread, you must give your case to both me, and your opponents so ensure fairness. Vice versa for your opponents.
I will also typically expect you to take all of your time, both for your speeches and for your prep time. You have the time to make arguments, so make them. It will only help you.
Congress:
I am very knowledgeable about Congress. I know the rules, how a round should look, and how everyone should be acting.
Rehash is my least favorite part about Congress. Please do not rehash. (Rehash is saying the same argument as someone who had previously already said the same thing, and not adding anything new to the debate.) Now, on that. If you do have a point someone has said before, but new information they didn't say. Then that's not rehash.
Just make sure you are always adding more to the debate, but on that note. Do not bring up new information in questioning. This is both rude and abusive towards your opponents because you are asking them questions about evidence they do not have. If the information has been given in a speech before, then it is fine. But beyond that, in NSDA rules, it is not allowed.
Also, I prefer quality over quantity. If you give one or two amazing speeches during the whole day, while someone else gave 4 or 5 sub par speeches. I will most likely favor you. I also like people who use up their whole time, and don't abuse the grace period. (That is the 10 or 15 seconds most PO's giver after the three minute allotted time.)
I also like extemp speaking. Now I don't mean you can't have any prep. I'm just saying, have good eye contact with everyone in the room. (Mainly just looking around the room. You're trying to convince everyone else in the room to join your side, not the judges.)
On the topic of decorum. Decorum is one of the largest parts of Congress. (Decorum is like general professionalism in the round.) Always make sure you are being professional in the round.
Congress Presiding Officer:
I typically rank the PO, but only for specific qualifications.
1. Make sure you are keeping up with Precedence and Recency, as well as call on the correct people so the round is fair for everyone.
2. Make sure your not being biased. I understand giving your friend or teammate a speech fast, but after precedence and recency has been set for both speeches and questioning. It should be based off of that.
3. Finally, making you sure you keep the round together and running smooth. If it's a rowdy house then I understand if you can't. But if you do manage to keep it all together, especially in a rowdy house. Kudos to you.