Come to University of Houston for LD camp this summer! UH has a great staff, is reasonably priced, and has an excellent staff to student ratio. If you have questions feel free to email me.

Berkeley update not good for strategies that involve upwards of 7+ off case positions.

blakeandrews55@gmail.com email with questions or for email chain purposes.

Head Coach at McNeil.

Short version: Speed is fine and go for whatever type of argument you want( i.e. I don't care if you go for traditional policy arguments versus a K... just debate well) I find debaters do well in front of me that collapse, extend warrants, do impact calc, and give judge instruction when appropriate.

"If you want my ballot, this is really a simple concept. Tell me 1) what argument you won; 2) why you won it; and 3) why that means you win the round. Repeat."

About Me:
B.A. University of Texas at Austin 2015

Head Coach at McNeil High School

Worked at some smaller camps in the past like MGC for LD and UTNIF for LD.

I did LD in HS for a small program in Texas. I cleared at a handful of bid tournaments / TFA State but dropped in early elim rounds. I've coached ld debaters with success at tfa state, some toc success, UIl, and nsda. I've coached a cx team in out rounds of tfa state, qualified to nationals, and elims of uil state. I've been involved in debate for a while and I judge a lot of debates each year. Some local, some nat circuit, some just practice rounds for my team.

Top Level 1. Slow down on tags. I have dysgraphia. I can flow speed but slowing down for tags, plan texts, theory interps etc benefits everyone.

2. Do what you do best. I am probably better for kritiks in general, but if you love going for the politics disad don't let me stop you. My favorite debaters have included k debaters/ teams, but I also generally like how greenhill debates( policy and ld).I strongly prefer line by line debate on the K not long K overviews( blah).

3. Judge instruction is critical, please weigh( probability, time frame, magnitude).

4. Please flesh out solvency deficits when answering counterplans. Aff's should feel less afraid to call out abusive counterplans (no problem voting on process cps, etc, but aff's should be less afraid to go for theory the more abusive the cp gets).Like every other judge I like when debaters read less generic positions and engage in the aff

5. Fine with voting on theory, but the more frivolous the shell the less work goes into answering the argument. Reasonability specifically in LD is under rated.

6. K affs are good with me. Explain why your model of debate is good.

7. I am a horrible judge for tricks in LD. Please strike me

Defaults condo good, drop the arg on theory ( except if you win condo bad, which is drop the team, but hopefully teams go for substance), drop the debater on T. Default to competing interps( reasonability in LD is under rated given the significance of bad theory in LD)

PF specific please no paraphrasing in pf. Speaks will go down. You will get good speaks for reading fully cut cards. Evidence comparison, fleshing out warrants, and impact calc helps me vote for you.

Email Chain > File Share

Add me to the Email chain - alexbaez18@gmail.com

4 Years of Policy at the Law Magnet - and 5 years at UTD

I've judged a decent amount of tournaments last year, mostly Dallas Circuit and TFA Tournaments, also TOC Tournaments in Dallas.

This year I've judged over 15 tournaments, mostly TOC tournaments online and local Dallas tournaments.

Just about anything goes, I'll pay attention, but the onus is on you to make sure I know what you're talking about, don't assume I know about your argument as much as you do. I mostly judge clash of civ debates but I love judging traditional policy debates and K v K debates.

LD

Not as familiar with Kant, DNG, Tricks. Aff time skew is real tbh

Background: I debated in high school for four years in Texas. I debated on the UIL, TFA, and National Circuit. I placed 10th at NSDA Nationals my junior year. I finished my undergraduate degree at UT in 2020, and I am currently in law school at the University of Texas.

Overview: I generally consider myself Tech over Truth, but I can judge otherwise if you lay the groundwork.

Policy Resolution (21-22): I have some practical, legal exposure to this resolution, at least on the state level, and I am hoping I can import some of that knowledge after the round without judge intervention during the round.

T: Again, I am generally Tech over Truth, and will need a tight flow to be persuaded in either direction. Competing interpretations v. reasonability will likely be insufficient. I need solid reasons to prefer that are explored fully and properly impacted.

Theory: Same as above.

DAs: DAs without case debate usually fall short. DAs with in-depth case defense are always a strong strategy.

CPs: Barring a completely comical abuse of conditionality, CPs are always cool, so long as they collapse in the block/2nr.

Ks: I have had a far amount of philosophy education, but don't let that discourage you. I am always concerned about K debates turning superficial. At the high school level, Kritik debate usually suffers at the link and alternative level, so, if ran, I need these areas thoroughly explored. The same applies for critical affirmatives.

Case debate: I love well researched and argued case debates on either side, and thorough and clever case debates are the path to the highest speaker points.

Tab but lean policy maker - who's got the best plan to put forth / best to implement in squo (BUT IM STILL OPEN FOR ALL ARGUMENTS)

I do have a HIGH threshold for Ks, CPs however

Need you to tell me WHY I need to vote for you; give me impact calc or some easy mechanism to weigh the round

Want good clash in round, otherwise I'll tend to vote for the person who said the most impactful thing last

Speed is fine but need clear tags, I'm not going to do the work to follow along

BACKGROUND:

Have been involved in debate as a student, high school debater, college debater, high school coach or a college coach since the Nixon administration. Yes I actually cut Watergate cards. So pardon my smile when asked how I feel about speed etc.

PHILOSOPHY

Try to be Tab as much as possible. But like all judges I have some personal preferences listed below:

TOPICALITY

Is a voter, don't usually vote on it unless it is mishandled or extremely squirely. Make sure to have a violation, standard and voter in shell. Haven't previously voted on a RVI on T.

THEORY

Tend to look at in round abuse.

KRITIKS

They are fine, but make sure you understand the literature, spend a lot of quality time on the link and have a clear alternative.

PRESENTATION

Speed is ok as long as you are clear. If you are not clear, I will say "clear". Make a clear distinction between your taglines and and your cards.

OTHER ISSUES:

Will vote you down for being rude or sarcastic. Proper decorum is a must. I will vote against sexist, racist et al. arguments.

CONCLUSION

I was fairly succinct on this paradigm, so feel free to ask me specific questions before the round. Also debate should be fun. A sense of humor is always appreciated.

A. General: I find it difficult to vote for an argument that doesn't have proper explanation or analysis. If you only make a claim, I am not likely to do work for you to actually win that claim. You can run any argument, as long as it is not offensive or harmful. I am fine with speed, but I'll yell "clear" if I am unable to understand. Don't read blocks like cards. Tell me what to vote on and why.

B. Read whatever you want. I'll vote on anything.

1. Theory: I evaluate theory as a reason to reject the team, unless told otherwise.

2. Disadvantages: I evaluate on an offense-defense framework. This means that offensive arguments are more strategic, and that impact calculus is important. You can still win with defense though. Links should be contextualized if not specific.

3. Counterplans: It is good to put theory, but to not just stop there. You should actually answer the permutation because I am less likely to buy perm theory arguments. That doesn't mean I won't vote on them, that just means you'll have to do more work on them.

4. Kritiks: I'm cool with the K. I haven't read every K, and if I have it might not be as in depth. You can read your kritik, but there should be clear explanation so I know what I'm voting off of and why. Jargon won't get you very far, if your opponent is confused just assume that I am, too - just to be safe. If you only do jargon and bad explanation I'll give you bad speaks and you're more likely to lose. Your links should be contextualized if not specific.

Please go ahead and include me on the email chain: mdonaldson@connally.org. Quick note on prep time - please have your files SAVED to the flash drive or the email SENT prior to ending your prep. Be purposeful - don't waste anyone's time.

I debated at Waco: Connally HS from 2011 to 2013. We were a successful UIL team, but I understand that debate has changed since then.

I coached at Hillsboro HS from Fall 2014 to Spring 2016 before serving as the coach of China Spring HS from Fall 2016 to Spring 2020. From Fall 2020 to Spring 2023, I was the coach at Grandview HS. I currently serve as the Director of Communications and Director of UIL Academics for Connally ISD in Waco. I have had students medal at UIL State in interp, extemp, LD and CX. I have also coached TFA state and NSDA national qualifiers in policy debate and extemp.

Admittedly, I have transitioned to more of a tournament director/tab staff role in recent years as opposed to that of a judge. I still believe myself to be a capable adjudicator, but you might want to slow down some for me.

POLICY DEBATE:

I am a tab judge who will default to a policy-maker outlook if I am not given any other weighing mechanism or framework to view the round through. I am fine with any argument that you might want to run, just make sure that you are explicit with it and stay organized throughout the round. I like rounds that have a lot of DIRECT clash and have arguments that actually do something in the round as a whole. I don't particularly care for teams to throw out everything in an attempt to see what sticks. Try to be strategic. I will do my best to adapt to whatever strategy you want to use. I am fine with speed, but need clear taglines. I don't like it when debaters just read evidence nonstop - take the time to USE the evidence as a tool to persuade me of something. I understand the necessity of choosing to avoid underviews, but I'd like to see some sort of analysis at least at the somewhere in the speech - whether it be at the top or the bottom. I recognize that your authors are well-versed on the topics that they are writing on, but I really want to see that you recognize how those texts operate in the context of the arguments that you are making.

On a personal level, I really enjoy K debate, but I just ask that you do the work to really make the literature/overarching concepts accessible to everyone in the round (particularly coming out of the first speech). I also really like T debate, but I cannot STAND watching a messy T-focused round. At the end of the day, please don't feel pressured to run a certain type of argument or debate using a certain strategy based around my paradigm. I really do try my hardest to just adapt to what is happening in front of me.

I really don't have a preference about a "type" of round that I would like to see, but I enjoy seeing arguments be contextualized in terms of the greater scheme of the round at hand. I like for debaters to make explicit connections between arguments in addition to making strategic choices when it comes to condensing down near the end of the round. I think there is a pretty big importance in both having strong communication skills/persuasive ability AND making it a priority to resolve all issues in the round, but there is definitely greater importance in handling all of the arguments - be practical: spending 5 minutes on 1 of 8 arguments and dropping the other 7 won't win you the round in most cases. To clarify - this doesn't mean that you shouldn't condense down. I would far prefer it if you did. I just mean that you shouldn't go for the "more is more" approach from the beginning. I want substance and quality over quantity for the entirety of a round...if at all possible.

To sum it all up: do what you do best and do it well. I am just as likely to vote for you in a round that deals with super focused, small scale impacts as one that deals with the most stereotypical terminal impacts that you can imagine. I am just as likely to enjoy the round that is as wrapped up in the stock issues as I am to enjoy one that is super progressive.

Have fun. Be safe. Make good choices!

LD DEBATE:

I don't judge LD as often as Policy, but I like to think that I can handle my way around a round. I was raised around traditional LD rounds but thoroughly enjoy the more policy-oriented approach that has started to worm its way into the event. My biggest suggestion is for debaters to use whatever style they are most comfortable with - I can adapt to whatever you do.

I am completely fine with speed as long as I can understand your tags. I like to see a lot of evidence in LD rounds, but analysis is definitely welcomed. I'm going to be honest: I LOVE a good framework debate in LD, but I am often left unimpressed with them. Basically - if you're gonna go for it....GO FOR IT.

I think that LD-ers tend to struggle with time management between the different positions that they are arguing. Work hard to stay on top of each of the arguments of the flow and try not to waste time by overextending yourself. Please be sure to highlight clear links in each of you arguments and try to sell a believable impact story. Perhaps most importantly, try to remember that your advocacy does not exist in a vacuum. Please give a detailed impact calculus throughout the round that highlights the differences between the world of the aff vs the world of the neg. Show me why you are winning!

PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE:

I hardly ever judge PFD, so I'm not totally up to date with any trends. You can look at my other paradigms to see what I generally look for, but please be mindful of the time constraints of this event.

SPEECH EVENTS:

I prioritize answering the question/providing a clear thesis above all else, but speech structure and style matter a ton to me. I enjoy well crafted attention getting devices and place a lot of emphasis on quality transitions. Please work to contextualize each of your (sub)points in relation to your thesis.

INTERP EVENTS:

I enjoy seeing interpretations that are organic/genuine. Your character(s) should be discovering these words for the first time. Dramatic arc is a MUST - work towards the climax and show me how your character is changed by the journey that they take. Please avoid messy book work/physicality and watch for monotonous vocal patterns.

GENERAL:

I try to write a ton on ballots and work to give pretty detailed notes the moment that something happens, so if I'm not looking at you, don't think too much into it. I like to put things down that I thought were successful as often as I put things down that didn't work for me.

Please feel free to ask me any questions you have before the round. It won't hurt my feelings.

email chain cody.gustafson@dallasurbandebate.org

tl;dr: do what you do best, at whatever rate of delivery you can be clear at. My paradigm was previously much longer for no reason at all, so i shortened it. Feel free to email me with any questions you may have, but I kept what I thought were the quick hitters:

- Read whatever set or style of arguments you would like, my job is to evaluate the round through an offense/defense lens and vote for the team that makes the world a better place (i.e. won the debate, ya know). I frequently judge all types of debates (from policy v policy, k v k, and k v policy to world schools, parli, policy, LD, and college debate to middle school debate, etc) and am more interested in seeing good debate rather than any particular style of debate.

- Warrant & evidence comparison, impact terminalization, historical examples, global context, and 'telling the story' of the round late in rebuttals are typically the content choices that help sway my decision when a clear winner is not decided by the flow.

- I don’t have any predispositions regrading the content, structure, or style of your arguments. I will defer to evaluating the debate through an offense/defense paradigm absent a team winning an argument for me to evaluate it another way. Clear impact weighing in the rebuttals and evidence/warrant comparison are typically what I notice in teams I enjoy judging.

- I attempt to be a ’technical’ judge in every round I watch. I try to keep a detailed flow, and use my flow to evaluate the round that happened. If the flow doesn’t decide a clear winner, I will then look to the quality of evidence/warrants provided. I tend to find I’m less interested in where an argument in presented than others. While clear line-by-line is always appreciated, some of my favorite debaters to watch were overview-heavy debaters who made and answered arguments in the debate while telling a persuasive story of the debate. I would rather you sound organized and clear than following a template throughout each flow.

- Instead of framing debates through ‘body counts’, I am much more persuaded by framing as ‘who saves the most lives’, or who has the best advocacy for change. Sometimes debaters talk about claims of very real violence and problems for various communities with little regard to the real world implications of their political advocacies.

- I tend to prefer specific plan texts over vague plan texts. I also like specific internal link claims and impact scenarios. Specific instances of war are more persuasive to me than ‘goat power war’ claims.

- In reformism v revolution debates, I prefer explanations that pinpoint why the conditions of the status quo are the way they are, and can best explain casualty for violence. This is where historical examples become especially important, and where warrant comparison becomes paramount.

TLDR: This is your round so debate the way you feel most comfortable, my only recommendation is to explain why you should win the round instead of why they should lose. I have experience with most forms of argumentation including the K and performance. I competed in NPDA for Texas Tech so speed and technical debate are something I consider tools. My only serious rule is to respect your opponents and avoid arguments we would all consider unethical. As a general rule, I will almost always default to tech over truth, if you concede a sheet of paper, pathological appeals won't win you my ballet.

LONG VERSION:

Yo, excited to judge your round. I have over 7 years of debate experience from all levels from novice to national finals for 2018 in NPDA. In HS, I did policy and a very small amount of LD. I have freelanced coached and judged almost every debate event, and don't have an argument preference. I have been out of the game for nearly a year so my flowing isn't as a fast as it once was. Clarity is a huge issue for me, but if you label and signpost arguments clearly I should be able to keep up with most speeds.

traditional paradigm: NA win offense, win round

AFF:

K affs and performative affs are fine so long as you are able to justify why you should be able to read them when challenged on things like framework and T. Preferably explain why your performance is UQ and K2 solving for (X), absent that explanation for the solvency mechanism I tend to be more lenient towards generic link scenarios.

Policy affs: Whatever aff you read is fine, but I find it nearly impossible to vote for a plan meets needs aff due to the lack of embedded offense. Beyond that, I don't believe it is my role as a judge to control what advocacies you're reading.

All theoretical objections to the negative strat must be read in the 2ac or as round framing at the bottom of the aff. This obviously changes in something incredibly abusive happens in the block, but those cases are few and far between, e.g. they read a new K in the 1nr or refuse to provide block evidence. I need a reason to drop the team if you want this argument to win you the round. I strongly dislike the current trend in policy that collapses theory into a single block of text on the offending sheet, so please put it on its own sheet.

In the end, to vote affirmative I want a clearly defined change in the squo and reasons that change is preferable in cost-benefit analysis.

NEG:

Thesis: I don't like all off in the 1nc and all on in the 2nc, it's sloppy and leads to less interesting debates. It also hurts you strategically because you don't actually start to develop ideas from the 1nc until the 1nr. I'm not saying don't do it, but I am saying I will have a much more difficult time voting for it.

T/Theory: I will vote for this type of argument when it is deployed and argued like a win condition. If you want to win my ballet on T, you will need impacts on fairness and education and not just a blip in the voter section. (AFF: please meet your counter interps) Consider T a disad and argue it as such. I default to competing interps unless instructed differently, and will not do standard weighing for either team.

Disad: Read them? I don't need to go in-depth here, I hope.

CP: The role of a counter plan is to either prove an opportunity cost to the aff or function as an advantage take out. Topical counter plans are fine, but definitely a fun theory debate to have. Absent external offense or a solvency deficit for the aff I probably won't vote on a floating advocacy.

K: I was a K hack when I debated. This has two main implications for your round, I hate hearing bad Ks and I am familiar with most critical lit. If you feel confident in your ability to run a critique effectively, then please read them because they open up a level of topic discussion that can't be accessed by reading a simple disad. If you don't understand how a K works or what your author is defending, I am not the judge to read a K in front of. In terms of lit, I am most familiar with Foucault, and D&G, but have at least surface-level knowledge on most arguments. I tend to vote on arguments that result in either a material or epistemological change to the status quo so yeah explain that.

On-case: Solvency take-outs aren't a voter unless they are paired with either an advocacy that solves the aff or external offense. Solvency turns are a voter. Just reading cards on the aff isn't productive beyond the 1nc; I need a reason it matters for it to change my ballet.

Strategy: Beat your opponents vertically, instead of horizontally. I.E. a lot of explanatory and interactive arguments on a single position is much more likely to win my ballet instead of going for 10 off in the 2nr.

Kicking arguments is fine if you answer all the offense on it.

MISC:

CONDO is good, but that is up for debate in the round. That being said, I will drop a team on condo bad if the opp wins the arg.

Floating Pics are generally bad, but if the aff doesn't notice...

ROB debates are generally a waste of your time, the role of the ballet is to say who wins the round. Instead, tell me the role of the judge or just tell me what offense to prioritize via weighing (probably faster TBH)

I tend to dislike rejection alts (reject the res, reject the aff, etc), but I will vote on them. It's just going to take more work on your end.

Don't be rude or hateful. I will drop you and the speaks will show it.

Speaker point range: 27-30 Average: 28.7

LD:

I am traditionally a policy judge so my approach to LD tends to fall along those lines. The easiest pathway to my ballet is warrant comparison and impact analysis. I dislike arguments like "my value supersedes theirs" unless they include a specific reason why that's a voter.

Beyond that, a clearly defined weighing mechanism for the round is critical. Am I an educator, a policymaker, or a Nihilist? All three of these fundamentally shape how I view the round, so tell me what kind of judge you want me to be. Absent this, I will default to cost-benefit analysis to evaluate your claims and determine my ballet.

Speed isn't a problem so long as you are clear. If you read the K make sure you explain the alt

Quick summary (TLDR): I am open to any framework you want to sell me, but be sure you explain to me why I should choose it. Otherwise, I default to stock issues. I am open to all styles of offense, but include specific case links as well as clear impacts/relevance. All things being equal, I will weigh arguments based on clarity and development. Give me reasons why your argumentation should be important to me as the judge.

Coaching history: CX, LD, Speech, Interp (Aubrey HS, 2011-present)

CX philosophy: I am a fairly conservative judge who is open to arguments unfamiliar to me. The debate belongs to you, and you should tell me which lens I should use to frame the round and evaluate argumentation. I prefer a resolution-based debate that hits checkpoints in structure, but I will listen to any debate that contains clear direction and warrants. Please do not rely on me to make assumptions for you or fill-in warrants you have not provided. I will weigh the round based on the evidence and analysis given to me.

I will vote on arguments you tell me are important. I default to reasonability over competing interpretations, but I am flexible on this. Extend arguments throughout the debate, and please engage the opposing side. Please be clear about conditionality of arguments, and, likewise, please be clear if you disagree with conditionality (not just conditionality bad). I am aware of most literature but by no means deep on it. However, I am a rational individual willing to listen to your application of any literature to the round.

LD philosophy: Framework is necessary for me, but I also see it as a launching point for good debate at the contention level. I will listen to a policy-oriented debate on both sides, but I expect both sides to engage each other regardless of the orientation of arguments. Again, I have a rudimentary knowledge base of literature, so be clear about the application of your lit to your arguments and to the round itself. My vote will usually revolve around impacts which have been carried throughout the round.

Speaker Points: I start on 27.5 and move on a sliding scale based on clarity, style, your ability to engage discussion, your ability to maintain composure, and your overall strategy. I will usually keep up with your speed, and I a would prefer to be included on the email chain if all parties agree to do so (ejackson@aubreyisd.net).

Background - I am a first-year out debater from Hebron High School, located in Carrollton, Texas. I currently consult for the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin, Texas and Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas. I am a Policy Debater for the University of Texas at Austin. I was a Kritical debater in High-School and debated on both the TFA and TOC Circuit.

Conflicts - Hebron High School and Liberal Arts and Science Academy, Montgomery Bell Academy

Add me on the Email chain - lalanidebate@gmail.com

TLDR - I am a first-year out so I don't have the most judging experience. For K-Teams I am probably in the range of a 1-3 and Policy Teams from a 4-6. My main experience in High-School is K Debate so that is what I am most familiar with. I mainly read Afro-Pessimism. That being said, I am not predisposed to K's and I love judging Policy v. K rounds (These are my favorite). I can also judge Policy v. Policy rounds too, but I am not the best or the most desirable for them.

Framework/T -

- I think FW debates are too defensive, NEG teams should have more offensive answers to DA's.

- Evidence comparison is a must - demonstrate a clear differential with an impact to them between their evidence/qualifications vs yours

- Default to reasonability

K's -

- I know a lot about Identity K's

- I hate long overviews, should be 1-2 min max

- Line by Line debates is where many K debates are won or lost. Specific contextualizations of link scenarios will do wonders in front of me.

CP's -

- Specific Agent CP's are sweet if you have solvency advocates related to the Aff

- I like 2NC planks, but I will also vote for planks bad

- I will not judge kick unless you tell me to

DA's -

- Like K's, if you read a generic topic disad, please isolate specific link scenarios. Impact comparison on a topic like this is a must.

Extra Stuff - I love specific, updated cards and will most likely reward you for using them, but don't let them make arguments for you. I won't evaluate cards on their own if there isn't an external warrant made outside of the evidence.

I would consider myself open to pretty much any type of argument, I have a background in philosophy in college so I can definitely hear out most types of kritiks so as long as the proper sequencing arguments are made for me to connect all the dots in the round. I can handle spreading but I will generally request that you can a pause before you goto the next tag. Also please do the same for each point on the analysis. I did debate in high school so I have some background in what all is going on.

I will not tolerate any hate speech.

I am happy to give lengthy feedback if you would like it and/or find it helpful.

I am generally tech over truth so as long as coherent arguments are being made.

________________________________________________________________________

Paradigm from 2017 through February 2024.

Yes, I want to be on the email chain, please put both emails on the chain.

codymorrowtx1@gmail.com

smdebatedocs@gmail.com

Speaker Points

I attempted to resist the point inflation that seems to happen everywhere these days, but I decided that was not fair to the teams/debaters that performed impressively in front of me.

27.7 to 28.2 - Average

28.3 to 28.6 - Good job

28.7 to 29.2 - Well above average

29.3 to 29.7 - Great job/ impressive job

29.8 to 29.9 - Outstanding performance, better than I have seen in a long time. Zero mistakes and you excelled in every facet of the debate.

30 - I have not given a 30 in years and years, true perfection.

I am willing to listen to most arguments. There are very few debates where one team wins all of the arguments so each of you must identify what you are winning and make the necessary comparisons between your arguments and the other team's arguments/positions. Speed is not a problem although clarity is essential. If I think that you are unclear I will say clearer and if you don't clear up I will assign speaker points accordingly. Try to be nice to each other and enjoy yourself. Good cross-examinations are enjoyable and typically illuminates particular arguments that are relevant throughout the debate. Please, don't steal prep time. I do not consider e-mailing evidence as part of your prep time nonetheless use e-mailing time efficiently.

I enjoy substantive debates as well as debates of a critical tint. If you run a critical affirmative you should still be able to demonstrate that you are Topical/predictable. I hold Topicality debates to a high standard so please be aware that you need to isolate well-developed reasons as to why you should win the debate (ground, education, predictability, fairness, etc.). If you are engaged in a substantive debate, then well-developed impact comparisons are essential (things like magnitude, time frame, probability, etc.). Also, identifying solvency deficits on counter-plans is typically very important.

Theory debates need to be well developed including numerous reasons a particular argument/position is illegitimate. I have judged many debates where the 2NR or 2AR are filled with new reasons an argument is illegitimate. I will do my best to protect teams from new arguments, however, you can further insulate yourself from this risk by identifying the arguments extended/dropped in the 1AR or Negative Bloc.

GOOD LUCK! HAVE FUN!

LD June 13, 2022

A few clarifications... As long as you are clear you can debate at any pace you choose. Any style is fine, although if you are both advancing different approaches then it is incumbent upon each of you to compare and contrast the two approaches and demonstrate why I should prioritize/default to your approach. If you only read cards without some explanation and application, do not expect me to read your evidence and apply the arguments in the evidence for you. Be nice to each other. I pay attention during cx. I will not say clearer so that I don't influence or bother the other judge. If you are unclear, you can look at me and you will be able to see that there is an issue. I might not have my pen in my hand or look annoyed. I keep a comprehensive flow and my flow will play a key role in my decision. With that being said, being the fastest in the round in no way means that you will win my ballot. Concise well explained arguments will surely impact the way I resolve who wins, an argument advanced in one place on the flow can surely apply to other arguments, however the debater should at least reference where those arguments are relevant. CONGRATULATIONS & GOOD LUCK!!!

LD Paradigm from May 1, 2022
I will update this more by May 22, 2022

I am not going to dictate the way in which you debate. I hope this will serve as a guide for the type of arguments and presentation related issues that I tend to hear and vote on. I competed in LD in the early 1990's and was somewhat successful. From 1995 until present I have primarily coached policy debate and judged CX rounds, but please don't assume that I prefer policy based arguments or prefer/accept CX presentation styles. I expect to hear clearly every single word you say during speeches. This does not mean that you have to go slow but it does mean incomprehensibility is unacceptable. If you are unclear I will reduce your speaker points accordingly. Going faster is fine, but remember this is LD Debate.

Despite coaching and judging policy debate the majority of time every year I still judge 50+ LD rounds and 30+ extemp. rounds. I have judged 35+ LD rounds on the 2022 spring UIL LD Topic so I am very familiar with the arguments and positions related to the topic.

I am very comfortable judging and evaluating value/criteria focused debates. I have also judged many LD rounds that are more focused on evidence and impacts in the round including arguments such as DA's/CP's/K's. I am not here to dictate how you choose to debate, but it is very important that each of you compare and contrast the arguments you are advancing and the related arguments that your opponent is advancing. It is important that each of you respond to your opponents arguments as well as extend your own positions. If someone drops an argument it does not mean you have won debate. If an argument is dropped then you still need to extend the conceded argument and elucidate why that argument/position means you should win the round. In most debates both sides will be ahead on different arguments and it is your responsibility to explain why the arguments you are ahead on come first/turns/disproves/outweighs the argument(s) your opponent is ahead on or extending. Please be nice to each other. Flowing is very important so that you ensure you understand your opponents arguments and organizationally see where and in what order arguments occur or are presented. Flowing will ensure that you don't drop arguments or forget where you have made your own arguments. I do for the most part evaluate arguments from the perspective that tech comes before truth (dropped arguments are true arguments), however in LD that is not always true. It is possible that your arguments might outweigh or come before the dropped argument or that you can articulate why arguments on other parts of the flow answer the conceded argument. I pay attention to cross-examinations so please take them seriously. CONGRATULATIONS for making it to state!!! Each of you should be proud of yourselves! Please, be nice in debates and treat everyone with respect just as I promise to be nice to each of you and do my absolute best to be predictable and fair in my decision making. GOOD LUCK!

Andrew Nguyen

Hebron High School '18

Yes I want to be on the email chain - don't ask:

andrewdatnguyen564@gmail.com

UT Austin Update

I will disclose your speaker points if you request and explain why I gave them to you.

Feel free to post-round me if you feel that you deserved to win. I can't change my decision, but I won't resent anybody for wanting to know why they lost.

TL;DR

1. I'm unfamiliar with the arms sales topic - I haven't done any research for it, so i don't know the common Affs or terms of art for T. You'll have to explain them to me.

2. Most debaters don't speak as clearly as they should and will do things like slur analytics, not differentiate tags, etc. I will not read through your speech document to flow you. If I can't understand what you're saying then if you try to extend it in the next speech I will consider it a new argument.

3. I ran almost exclusively one-off Ks and K Affs in high school. While I prefer, and am most qualified to judge, K vs K debates, I'm down to evaluate any argument you want to make. You're better off going for a strategy you're comfortable with than trying to over-adapt to me.

4. More likely than other judges to vote for framework interpretations that exclude either the Aff or the alternative completely - I'll vote on "critiques are cheating" or "you don't get an Aff" if you win the argument

5. Default to offense/defense paradigm on most issues, but its easier to persuade me one way or another on the issue of competing interpretations vs reasonability.

6. Any opinions I have here can be easily changed if you win the argument.

7. Tech>Truth. Dropped arguments are true arguments, but they also need to impacted out for them to matter in my decision. However, claims without warrants are not complete arguments.

Framework/T-USFG

- I've had a lot of "clash of civilization" debates and am willing to vote either way

- Framework impacts should be debated comparatively instead of in a vacuum or else they become difficult to resolve. Competitive equity/fairness doesn't make sense on its own if the Aff's impacts are predicated off the flawed nature of debate itself, you have to prove that fairness is intrinsically good or that the game whose integrity you're trying to preserve is good. Likewise, the state being bad in the abstract doesn't necessarily mean that competition or topic education are bad.

- Negatives should be willing to adapt their impacts to the specific K Aff they're debating. For example, you'll probably lose the debate going for a decision-making/topic education argument against a semiocapitalism/Baudrillard Aff because its what their entire Aff impact turns, but will do better going for a procedural fairness argument that avoids the majority of their offense.

- Although defense can be useful, Affs will probably be better off impact-turning rather than trying to meet the neg in the middle because its much easier to win that predictability/topic education/whatever is bad instead of arguing that opening the topic to K Affs still preserves some degree of debateability.

- Topical versions are persuasive when the neg wins that the Affs worldview can fit within a political strategy advocating for plan action. "just use the usfg lol" is unconvincing if the Aff is saying "burn down the state" or "lets deconstruct meaning" because the TVA usually fails to grapple with the Aff's larger thesis explanation of the world.

Critiques

- I ran a lot of these during my career ranging from Settler Colonialism to Baudrillard/Agamben/Virillio so there's a high chance I'll be familiar with whatever literature base you're drawing from. I would still prefer you use simple language to explain your argument.

- K debaters should establish a thesis-level explanation of the world and central question to describe the Aff, especially in a KvK debate.

- You don't necessarily need an alternative if you win a relevant framework argument.

- Critiques need internal links to their impacts. I need some explanation for how policing the border would lead to drone strikes/global interventions or fits into the worldview that allows for those things, and I'm persuaded by Aff's that push back on weak internal link claims.

- If you have a huge impact, the alternative needs to either need to be strong enough to resolve those impacts or be explained as the best worldview/political strategy to adopt in response to those problems.

- I enjoy creative uses of framework besides not allowing the Aff to weigh their 1AC. You could use a role of the ballot to do impact calculus, frame the burden for alternative solvency, etc.

DAs

- Zero risk is possible.

- Politics DAs bore me when compared to something topic/case-specific.

CPs

- Condo and agent CPs are fine. Consult and international fiat are questionable.

- It's strategic to frame a counterplan as only having to solve sufficiently rather than better than the Aff.

Topicality/Theory

- Reasonability isn't about whether you "reasonably meet their interpretation", its about whether your counter-interpretation captures enough of the benefits of their interpretation to preserve a good-enough version of the topic without necessarily needing to be strictly better than their interp.

- Predictable limits makes more sense to me than a right to any specific ground.

- More than two conditional advocacies seems to be erring on the side of excessive to me.

- The 2NR has to say judge kick for me to do it, otherwise you're stuck with the counterplan.

Style/Delivery

- Like fast, technical debate, but you should speak as fast as possible without losing clarity or enunciation.

- Open CX is fine as long as one person is doing most of the speaking. Keep track of your own speech times and prep. Don't take too long doing paperless debate things like emailing, transferring flash drives, etc. or i might start prep.

- I might unconsciously make weird facial expressions or mutter while I'm judging you without realizing it - these are a good indication of how I'm feeling about your debating.

- Average speaker points are 28.5 unless the tournament wants me to use some other metric of evaluation.

My paradigm is mostly tab, if you tell me why I'm voting for you in a persuasive way I will listen.

I really enjoy narrative and kritikal cases that have in-round impacts and question the realm of debate as long as the language is understandable.

When it comes to policy cases I place a lot of emphasis on impact calculus. If there is any chance of a link, I will typically refer to the impact debate for my decision.

I have a pretty high threshold for T and framework, if you go for it I want it to be solid and I want you to really go for it otherwise I won't usually put much stock into it.

Speed: I'm fine with speed as long as you're clear and understandable. I'll say "clear" if I can't understand you and I expect you to slow down.

Speaker points docked for rude comments and behavior.

I am a combination of a policymaker and game player. I'll evaluate the round by how many arguments each team wins, but teams win those arguments based on their policy and how their advantages and impacts stack up.

I'm fine with Theory and Framework, but apply the card to the round don't just read it out.

Please put me in on the email chains: jenna.salzman@gmail.com

Debate Experience
Law Magnet High School 2012-2016
The University of Texas at Dallas 2016-now

Email: gtwin98@gmail.com

General:
Don't assume I know all the nuances of your arguments. Needless to say, you should probably explain your argument anyways. I evaluate all arguments.

Specifics:
Case: You should read it. Lots of it. It's good, makes for good debates and is generally underutilized. Impact turns are fun.

Topicality: I enjoy good T debates. Unfortunately, T debates are normally really messy, so the team to really put the debate into perspective and be very clear on how the two worlds interact first generally wins.

DAs: DAs are also a core debate argument. Specific DAs are always a plus. I default to an offense/defense paradigm but I think an aff can win on defense alone if they making arguments about why having to have offense is bad.

Counterplans: Well thought out specific counterplan are one of the strongest debate tools that you can use. I will vote on almost any cp if you can win that it is theoretically legitimate and that it has a net benefit.

Kritiks/ K AFFs: Over the past couple years I have opened up towards the K a lot. I have a pretty good grasp of a lot of the popular Kritiks, but that isn't an excuse for a lack of explanation when reading your argument. I have no problem with teams running untopical affs as long as they can win that it’s good to do so.

Theory: I have no problem voting on theory if it is well warranted. I honestly believe affirmative teams let the negative get away with a ton of stuff, and shouldn't be afraid to not only run theory but to go for it and go for it hard.

Debate Experience
Law Magnet High School: 2012-2016
The University of Texas at Dallas: 2016-2019
Assistant debate coach at Coppell HS: 2018-now

sanchez.rafael998@gmail.com - I would like to be on the email chain :)

Specifics:
Case: You should read it. Lots of it. It's good, makes for good debates and is generally underutilized. Impact turns are best when they are debated correctly.

Topicality: I enjoy T debates. If you're looking for a judge willing to pull the trigger on T, I'm probably a good judge for you.

DAs: DAs are a core debate argument and I love judging DA(& CP) v. case debates. Specific DAs are always a plus, but obviously that's not always possible. I tend default to an offense/defense paradigm.

Counterplans: A well thought out specific counterplan are one of the strongest debate tools that you can use. I will vote on almost any cp if you can win that it is theoretically legitimate and that it has a net benefit.

Kritiks: I have a pretty good grasp of a lot of the more popular Kritiks, but that isn't an excuse for a lack of explanation when reading your argument. But be aware that if you are reading more PoMo/high-theory args, you might have to explain the arg a bit more.

K AFFs: I have no problem with teams running untopical affs but this doesn't mean that I wont pull the trigger on FW, you still have to win the affs model ow the negs model of debate.

Theory: I have no problem voting on theory if it is well warranted. I honestly believe affirmative teams let the negative get away with a ton of stuff, and shouldn't be afraid to not only run theory but to go for it and go for it hard.

*Note for online debates: I'm very forgetful and my keyboard is loud af, so if I forget to mute, remind me to mute myself if the keyboard noise is being bothersome.

mashields@email.com

(Yes you are reading correctly this is not a gmail account.... you were most likely not born when this account was created in 1998)

Word of advice.... Always see if your judge has a posted paradigm online. Save yourself time and frustration and read for comprehension. Get clarification as needed and then don't just disregard what you find out about that judge.

YOUR MAIN CONCERN SHOULD NEVER BE SPEED. FOCUS ON CLARITY AND EFFICIENCY AND THE JUDGE WILL BE IN YOUR CORNER BY DEFAULT.

In CX please stand and face the judge only never your opponent and dont be "lazy" stand tall and proud. ALWAYS convey confidence.

My mindset going into the round is basic the AFF will prove that the plan or case is a viable/moral/good idea that I should approve of with them gaining the ballot. The NEG will prove that the AFF doesn't uphold or violates the resolution and that negating is the only truth of the resolution after all.

I dont need a trigger warning but I will warn you that any moral repugnance ie RACISM (which has been way too prevalent of late), SEXISM, HOMOPHOBIA you get the jist I have a zero tolerance policy for and I promise I will have no problem setting you straight dont test it.

POLICY

I strive to be Tabula R. but will always weigh STOCK ISSUES 1st. Don't overcomplicate the story bc presumption is also in play. Keep my flow clean and I am your friend ... if you don't then I make no promises. Remember your primary goal is to communicate a viable policy option so persuade me that you know what you are selling. Signposting is very important ... watch my flipping of pages etc since I still flow on paper. There should be structure not just 1 long stream of thought moving down the flow. Im big picture and open minded to strategy and games playing.

Neg's please don't just waste time throwing up 15 arguments when 3-4 will be more strategic... and please kick out properly. On K Aff's don't overlook simple stock issues burdens being dropped. I see a lot of teams not go for the obvious because they think that they are going to set off a trigger warning. ALWAYS get some case offense and defense unless you're going to truly commit to T.

Also plan out the positions for strategy even if generic.... sometimes things that still work get dropped too soon ... make the Aff work for it. Also cover as many stock issues as possible or at least go on case and really look for weaknesses. Always give us a reason to doubt the 1AC. Even if its a small chance it could be the tie breaker that gains you the ballot by pushing you into no other reason but to negate.

Topicality - rare that I vote on so be prepared to prove the abuse if its just a way to time skew then my advice is to spend another minute on case you have a better tradeoff that works for me.

Kritiks - the link in round is most important... also I need to believe that you know what you are trying to accomplish with the Kritik fyi not many high schoolers are truly prepared here so please do your due diligence... keep it simple.

Counterplans - net benefit and competition... give me a reason that the Plan is not the CP

Perms - slow down to speed up ... make sure that you dont leave any confusion

Framework - How do I evaluate the round ... Tell me what matters most.

LD

https://www.gdsdebate.com/resources/for-students/kicking-bad-habits-in-ld/#!/ (please read it will make life better for you)

In CX please stand and face the judge only never your opponent and dont be "lazy" stand tall and proud. ALWAYS convey confidence.

I prefer a more traditional approach to LD over progressive but I will adapt if you communicate to me what you want to happen.

I will always give you a fair evaluation no matter what you present as long as you are confident and OWN your personal compelling reasons to prefer how you interpret the resolution. Give me conceptual points over trying to fit in 5-7 more cards.

Again I prefer big picture logical storytelling not just more "evidence". That being said most importantly support your premise of the resolution and may the ballot be ever in your favor.

Aff - Take advantage of 1st and last speech. Never forget the importance of definitions and setting up a strong weighing mechanism in the AC. I have a super high threshold on theory so save yourself a lot of time in the 1AR giving me clear reasons that the Neg should have just read a counterdefinition rather than make you spend 2 minutes of your speech to address it properly. That to me is way more reasonable and actually kicks the abuse claims back on the Neg.

You set the tone dont waste it Tell us what the resolution wants us to settle and allow for your framework to work towards that goal. Give solid structure in your case and build great analytics from a wide variety of cards over just 1 author... the power of multiple sources backing up your advocacy is an advantage. I do prefer Value and Criteria.. still not sure how you can affirm without it. Any other "standards" can be easily challenged if a neg opponent calls a warranted BS.

Neg - I will allow policy positions but please understand that in a question of SHOULD/OUGHT/MORALITY that they don't always apply exactly the same. The goal isnt 1 man CX debate. In my humble but accurate opinion you do alot more work to achieve less results. Have fun and think of how u can be more productive by making life more complicated for your opponent rather than yourself. Again on reading Topicality I feel it is super abusive in LD because there are other ways to pressure your opponent into dropping arguments etc. You truly have to prove it ... it just makes more sense to me to just read a counterdefinition or to give a definition and now you get to redefine the round how you see it. Let's make life simple when it is an option.

PF

Ok after seeing too many rounds where this has become an issue I have to mention the following... BE NICE / CORDIAL to your opponents in the round and as a general policy for being a good human to each other. Rudeness and aggression will make me more likely to vote for the team that plays the game fairly and professionally. In CX I am used to the banter that teams have developed with teams that they hit all the time or the level of coyness blended with sass of an LD round but remember overall PF was intended to have the feel of a lay town meeting so I recommend keep it simple and it doesnt hurt to say the topic multiple times. NOTE no matter what popular opinions and trends try to tell you this isnt micro CX so dont overcomplicate your life. You have a very limited amount of time to win me over. Tell the story and AGAIN Keep it simple / Im an avg joe US taxpayer ... logic and confidence are key be captain obvious on my flow as to why you win !!

I have simple paradigms, try not to spread, do not use a lot of speech holders, try not to stutter, speak clearly, do not use hateful or derogatory language and ideas to justify your side. Good clash is appreciated and helps my decision.

Please add me to the email chain: hstringer@princetonisd.net

CX Philosophy
As a judge, I look to you to tell me the rules of the round. I try to be as fluid as possible when it comes to framework and argument. I only ask that you make sure you explain it and how it impacts the round.

I enjoy topical affirmatives and unique arguments from the negative that link to the affirmative case. If an argument applies to any topical affirmative, I tend to not vote for it (provided the affirmative shows that it is non-unique). Really good impact debate is my happy place.

In regards to speed, I would say I am comfortable with mid-high, however it would be smart to think slower on procedurals and tag lines. Go ahead and add me to the email/flash chain and then do what makes you happy.

My facial expressions are pretty readable. If you see me making a face, you may want to slow down and/or explain more thoroughly.

I don't count flashing as part of prep, but prep for flashing/sending files (organizing files, trying to find the right speech, deleting other files, etc) are. It shouldn't take more than about 30 seconds to send files. Going on 5 minutes is a bit excessive.

In terms of critical debate: I am not opposed to it, but I am not well versed, so be sure to really explain any kritiks and how they impact the debate. One of my students called me a lazy progressive judge. That fits. I don't read the literature or envelope myself in the K. Do the work for me; I don't want to.

Counterplans, disadvantages and solvency/advantage debates are great.

I think topicality is necessary to debate, but tend to skew to the aff as long as they can show how they are reasonably topical.

All that being said, I will flow anything and vote on anything until a team proves it isn't worthy of a vote.

LD Philosophy

I have been near LD Debate for about 20 years, but have never been trained in it. So, I am knowledgeable about the event, but not about the content within it. You will probably need to explain more to me and why I should vote on a particular issue. As a policy debater, I tend toward evidence and argumentation. However, I will vote on what you tell me is important to vote on unless your opponent makes a more compelling argument for me to vote on something else.

Public Forum Debate Philosophy

My favorite part of public forum debate is the niceties that are expected here. I love to watch a debater give a killer speech and then turn to politeness in crossfire. Polite confidence is a major selling point for me. Not that I won't vote for you if you aren't polite, but I might look harder for a winning argument for your opponent. In PF, I look more for communication of ideas over quantity of argumentation. I don't coach public forum, so I am not well versed in the content. Make sure you explain and don't just assume I know the inner workings of the topic.

About Me:

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Policy in HS 4 years; Melissa High School. Broke @ TFA State and broke @ bid tourneys(UT Austin;UH Houston)

Former coaches: Brenden Dimmig and Kyle Brenner <3

Paradigm Thesis: TAB

Refer to me as "Alex" instead of "judge", sweeet

I want to be on the email chain: alexisindebate@gmail.com

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TL;DR

Tab.

Speed is fine. Don't be crazy tho

Performance/methods cool.

I don't have "high thresholds" for anything (T;disad links;alts;theory)

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General:

My paradigm should not restrict the debaters from choosing one thing over the other. Use this as a guide, not as the rules. Everything is up for debate! Do what you're comfortable with.

Thesis: I will listen to whatever you read in front of me (unless otherwise derogatory) and will try my best to evaluate each position fairly -- I do consider myself tab. I feel a lot of times judges say this but just want to look cool/not get striked or whatever and end up screwing teams over. I want to stray as far away from that and will live up to my paradigm! Do whatever you're comfortable with and just be cognitive of me following along with your arguments. Have fun! :)

- Tell me how/where/why to vote

- Truth over tech WITH warrants to uphold your truth claim(s)

- The winning framework, impacts or theoretical, has priority. Default policymaker if no framework is given

- Impact scenarios are pretty, especially in the 2nr, but internal links are more important

- Split the neg block correctly and please collapse the debate down to 1, maybe 2, positions

- ^^^that includes disad standards on topicality in the 2nr

- I'd rather you not read new in the 2nc

- Give trigger warnings/ disclosure is educational and will help you

Stylistic Things:

Speed: I'm fine with it! omg please slow down on overviews/underviews (especially for the method)

Speaker Points: For specific tournaments, I will adjust my speaker point range for sure — ask me if you have any specs. for speaks

Card clipping: Noopppppeeee. Not cool. Don't cheat

Etiquette: I will absolutely not tolerate any racist, homophobic, transphobic, sexist, xenophobic, derogatory, etc. commentary in the round. Just be kind pls. Let her talk

Appearance: I could care less about how you dress or look. Misogynistic and gendered norms are really ugly. Also, I don't care if you sit down during cross-ex. Just make sure I can hear/see you. Whatever makes you comfortable

Last couple of things: I flow on paper and sometimes on my computer. Every contention/advantage will be its own sheet and every off will be its own sheet. I will flow everything you say unless I have no idea what you're saying. I don't necessarily count flashing as prep unless it becomes excessive, duhhh

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Policy/CX Debate:

Topicality:

- The standards are disadvantages. Please provide a case list as to what you loose/why that's important

- I love contextualization and/or grammar arguments. Term of art pls. Saying, "look at the plan through a vacuum" doesn't really do anything for me - do that full analysis

- Competing interps or reasonability? Tell me which one to prefer. If there is no telling here, I will most likely default to competing interps

- Reasonability is the test of the AFF's counter-interpretation, not the AFF

Framework:

- I treat framework in similar regards to topicality. Explain how/why this sets a precedent

- A topical version of the aff is probably your best way to win here

Theory:

- I think I could vote on any type of theory given its correctly debated/ ask me otherwise

Disadvantages:

- I don't need a case-specific link on the disad in order to vote on it, that is if the aff doesn't do a good job analyzing this. A good disad has a line in the link evidence that exclusively mentions the aff- obviously

- An awesome 2ac has smart analytical arguments more than cards answering each level of the disad

- Tell me why the disad outweighs/turns case

- If you are losing uniqueness, it's going to be really hard for you to win the disad debate unless it's a linear disad. You have to win the link in order to win the disad

- Straight turning needs both a non-unique and link turn. If you do this, make sure the impact framework on the disad doesn't contradict the aff framework you're going to go for in the 2ar

Counterplans:

- External and internal net benefits are super-duper important. Don't contradict your case arguments with the counterplan

- Both aff and neg explain to me how the counterplan can/cannot solve 100% of the aff- with impacts to those arguments

- Perm debate is super important, obviously. Make disads to the perm(s) with impacts and make net benefits for the perm(s) too

Kritiks & Performance:

- Line by line is great. The overview can get messy when you try to cross apply/answer arguments here. Just be strategic here

- Make sure, of course, you are solving the linear disad and winning the root cause debate

- As you've heard a thousand times I'm sure, don't assume that I know your author. Give me that accessible explanation y'know?

- If you want to make framework the contesting issue here then so be it

- I think the method debate starts at the level of the alternative and goes up from there. Reject alts are fine but more substantive alts will probably get you farther

Case debate:

- If you're going for the disad, you should probably have some defense here

- Please utilize the comparative analysis on their evidence/ taking down their internal links here would be strategic

- Impact turning the aff- teams are like "Omg, who is she? We don't know her". Please utilize this more and make sure to impact it out and don't contradict yourself of course

- Reading your generic circumvention/block arguments here get really boring- having case-specific arguments are dope and will help your speaks for sure

Aff Performance/K Affirmatives:

- I'm good with this. Not super experienced with it tho. Just make sure to tell me what my ballot does (explain the method)

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LD Debate

I did policy in HS so just keep that in mind. I view this as an important weighing of offense/defense in conjunction with framework of course. I think the information from the policy section will serve the same purpose for you here

Framework:

- Tell me to vote and/or view the round in a specific framework, that's fine. Explain to me why your lens is better/more important/ solves better or whatever you defend

- Internal link turning your opponents framework is super cool. Here make sure you are explaining why your criterion/standard better resolves your opponets value in some better way

Value/Criterion:

- I don't have any predispositions about what values are better/tangental or of that sorts to the resolution

- Just do a good job building link chains to whatever framing you want to go for

Observations:

- Yah they're fine

Contention:

- I view and treat these as advantages to the case like in policy debate. Just make sure it links back into your framework clearly

Plans & Performance

- All dope. Give me solvency on plans of course

CP's/Disad's/Kritik's:

- Great. These most likely need to be tangent with the aff- like their plan or their method

- Refer to the policy section

Case debate/Contentions:

- I'll view these as advantages in policy debate but of course tangent to LD

- Attacking your opponent's evidence is sweet - internal link chains for their value too

(PF + I.E events + additional):
Ask for further questions! peace out

toby.whiz@gmail.com

Fundamentally I see debate as a game. I think it is a valuable and potentially transformative game that can have real world implications, but a game none the less that requires me to choose a winner. Under that umbrella here are some specifics.

1. Comparative analysis is critical for me. You are responsible for it. I will refrain from reading every piece of evidence and reconstructing the round, but I will read relevant cards and expect the highlighting to construct actual sentences. Your words and spin matters, but this does not make your evidence immune to criticism.

2. The affirmative needs to engage the resolution.

3. Theory debates need to be clear. Might require you to down shift some on those flows. Any new, exciting theory args might need to be explained a bit for me. Impact your theory args.

4. I am not well versed in your lit. Just assume I am not a "____________" scholar. You don't need to treat me like a dullard, but you need to be prepared to explain your arg minus jargon. See comparative analysis requirement above.

Side notes:

Not answering questions in CX is not a sound strategy. I will give leeway to teams facing non responsive debaters.

Debaters should mention their opponents arguments in their speeches. Contextualize your arguments to your opponent. I am not persuaded by those reading a final rebuttal document that "answers everything" while not mentioning the aff / neg.

Civility and professionalism are expected and will be reciprocated.

Speech events. I am looking for quality sources and logic in OO and Inf. I have been teaching speech for 18 years and will evaluate fundamentals as well.

I am Dyspolity@gmail.com on email chains.

NSDA update:

I love judging here. Principally this is because the schools who compete the most robust circuits have to slow down and I get to be a meaningful participant in the debates. I am not fast enough to judge the TOC circuit and even my home circuit, TFA can have me out over my skis trying to follow. But here, my experience has been that the very best schools adapt to the format by slowing their roll and this allows me to viscerally enjoy the beauty and rigor of their advocacy. Do not confuse my pace limitations with cognitive limits.

Who I am:

Policy debater in the 1970's and 80's. I left debate for 15 years then became a coach in 1995. I was a spread debater, but speed then was not what speed is today. I am not the fast judge you want if you like speed. Because you will email me your constructive speeches, I will follow along fine, but in the speeches that win or lose the round I may not be following if you are TOC circuit fast. If that makes me a dinosaur, so be it.

I have coached most of my career in Houston at public schools and currently I coach at Athens in East Texas. I have had strong TOC debaters in LD, but recently any LDers that I have coached were getting their best help from private coaching. Only recently have I had Policy debate good enough to be relevant at TOC tournaments.

I rarely give 30's. High points come from clear speaking, cogent strategic choices, professional attitudes and eloquent rhetoric.

Likes:

Line by line debates. I want to see the clash of ideas.

Policy arguments that are sufficiently developed. A disadvantage is almost never one card. Counterplans, too, must be fully developed. Case specific counterplans are vastly preferable to broad generics. PIC's are fine.

Framework debates that actually clash. I like K debates, but I am more likely to vote on a K that is based on philosophy that is more substantive and less ephemeral. NOTE: I have recently concluded that running a K with me in the back of the room is likely to be a mistake. I like the ideas in critical arguments, but I believe I evaluate policy arguments more cleanly.

Dislikes:

Poor extensions. Adept extensions will include references to evidence, warrants and impacts.

Overclaiming. Did I need to actually include that?

Theory Arguments, including T. I get that sometimes it is necessary, but flowing the standards and other analytical elements of the debate, particularly in rebuttals, is miserable. To be clear, I do vote on both theory and T, but the standards debate will lose me if you are running through it.

Circuit level speed.

I am fine with conditional elements of a negative advocacy. I believe that policy making in the real world is going to evaluate multiple options and may even question assumptions at the same time. But I prefer that the positions be presented cogently.

Rudeness and arrogance. I believe that every time you debate you are functioning as a representative of the activity. When you are debating an opponent whose skill development does not approach your own, I would prefer that you debate in such a way so as to enable them to learn from the beating your are giving them. You can beat them soundly, and not risk losing the ballot, without crushing their hopes and dreams. Don't be a jerk. Here is a test, if you have to ask if a certain behavior is symptomatic of jerkitude, then it is.

One More Concern:

There are terms of art in debate that seem to change rather frequently. My observation is that many of these terms become shorthand for more thoroughly explained arguments, or theoretical positions. You should not assume that I understand the particularly specialized language of this specific iteration of debate.

Policy Debate:

I default negative unless convinced otherwise. Also, I fail to see why the concept of presumption lacks relevance any more.

LD Debate:

Because of the time skew, I try to give the affirmative a lot of leeway. For example, I default aff unless convinced otherwise.

I have a very high threshold to overcome my skepticism on ROTB and ROTJ and Pre-Fiat arguments. I should also include K aff's that do not affirm the resolution and most RVI's in that set of ideas that I am skeptical about on face. I will vote on these arguments but there is a higher threshold of certainty to trigger my ballot. I find theory arguments more persuasive if there is demonstrable in-round abuse.

PF Debate:

I won't drop a team for paraphrasing, yet, but I think it is one of the most odious practices on the landscape of modern debate. Both teams are responsible for extending arguments through the debate and I certainly do not give any consideration for arguments in the final focus speeches that were not properly extended in the middle of the debate.

Congress:

1) This is not an interactive activity. I will not signal you when I am ready. If I am in the back of your Congress session, I am ready. 2) At the best levels of this event, everyone speaks well. Content rules my rankings. 3)I am particularly fond of strong sourcing. 4)If you aren't warranting your claims, you do not warrant a high ranking on my ballot. 5) Your language choices should reflect scholarship. 6) All debate is about the resolution of substantive issues central to some controversy, as such clash is critical.