My name is Ben Coval.

I am currently a freshman at Boston University. I debated policy debate at Johns Creek High School where I was the captain and am now the assistant coach. Critics and topicality are fine if they are used appropriately. Use your prep time appropriately and don't waste it.

Extra speaks if you are dressed appropriately. Plz flow. Please have a very clear final speech and 'write my ballot for me'.

Have fun debating and please learn something from it.

My email is benjamincoval@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Hey!! My name is Kristin, and I'm currently a senior at Northview High School. My pronouns are she/her/hers.

I did policy my freshman year and am now in my third year of speech. My main IE events are OO, Info, and Extemp, but I have also competed in Impromptu and Congress. My criteria for judging each of the speech events is different, so here's a brief rundown of what I expect/hope to see today:

General Tips: Maintain good eye contact, be purposeful with hand gestures, and enunciate. A small slip-up/forgetting one line won't hurt you; I'll be silently cheering you on for a smooth recovery!

Original Oratory: Good OOs are original and interesting, but great OOs should also be thought-provoking and well-developed. If your topic lacks originality, you can easily save your score with an engaging hook and/or an interesting spin on the topic. Please use as much of the 10 minutes as possible (I will dock points if you go over 10:30, as these pieces should be well-rehearsed and memorized).

Informative Speaking: Similar to OO, originality is key. A lot of times, infos tend to be long lists of facts/information, but I expect to see personality and thought-provoking ideas. Please use as much of the 10 minutes as possible (I will dock points if you go over 10:30, as these pieces should be well-rehearsed and memorized). Having neat and interesting boards are important (text/pictures should be large enough for me to see without squinting), so I probably won't rank you as high without them. However, if you are missing boards, please don't stress out. A well-written, fully-memorized speech can easily help your score.

Extemporaneous Speaking: I look forward to seeing a good mixture of sources (with dates) and well-developed points. Do not just read off statistics; I value interesting/engaging explanations. I don't expect you to use all 7 minutes, but please be concise and purposeful with your words. Essentially, I want to see a clear thesis, points backed by evidence, and an overall interesting presentation of your topic. Please don't forget to respond to the topic/take a side (if applicable).

Impromptu Speaking: I expect impromptu speeches to be entertaining and creative. Analyzing the topic in an abstract way and organizing your speech with a clear roadmap will get you a high score from me. Try not to ramble, don't forget to introduce the topic somewhere in your speech, and please try to use as much of the 5 minutes as possible.

Interpretive Events: Since I have never competed in interp, my main focus will be on engagement/performance. Please put full effort into your piece (whether that be blocking, accents, etc.) and use as much of the 10 minutes as possible (I will dock points if you go over 10:30, as these pieces should be well-rehearsed and memorized). I expect a clear attempt to make the piece personal to the speaker.

Don't forget to breathe and have fun! Feel free to email me at kristinhsu02@gmail.com if you have any questions. Good luck!!

Email: manu.suresh.john@gmail.com

Tech v. Truth - you really need to explain the arguments though

Condo: Condo is fine in the block but don't go for it in the 2nr, i have a high threshold for voting for this

T: I like a good T debate

CP/DA: this is always good

K: don't forget the different parts of the K: framework, perm, alt, impact

Don't get clip, steal prep and be nice

Don't be racist or sexist - and be nice

Atlanta Urban Debate League (UDL). Decatur, Ga. Currently I teach AP Lang and direct a small AUDL program without a ton of institutional support but in a previous life I coached mostly policy on the national circuit. In fact, I've been around long enough to see the activity go from notecards in ox boxes to xeroxed briefs to some computerized debates to having everything online. I prefer to flow on paper because that's how I learned back in the dark ages.

You can put me on the E mail chain: mcmahon.beth@gmail.com.

For UDL tournaments:

I am an old school policy coach and do not love the K (even though my teams do run it) because teams just read their blocks and don't evaluate the round. That said, if you run the K, awesome -- be ready to debate the line by line and go for something other than framework. See my note below about having an advocacy of some sort.

For the Barkley Forum: If you are in speech events, know that my background is in policy. If you are a policy debater, know that I haven't judged a lot of varsity debates this year so watch the topic specific acronyms. From what I've seen it will be fine but just wanted you to be aware.

Old stuff:

Current Urban Debate League coach (Atlanta/AUDL) but a long time ago (when we carried tubs, no one had a cell phone, and the K was still kinda new) I used to coach and judge on the national circuit. I took a sabbatical from coaching (had kids, came back, things have changed, no more tubs). I still flow on paper and probably always will. FYI -- I have not judged national circuit varsity debates consistently since 2008 when I worked at a now-defunct national circuit program that had some money for travel. I've been told I'm more tech over truth and although I enjoy listening to K debates I don't have a K background (my national circuit experience has all been old school policy so like DA plus case plus CP). If you are a K team I expect some sort of ADVOCACY not just a bunch of block reading and a framework dump. If you don't have a plan you still need to advocate FOR something. Theory dumps are very frustrating to me because I don't know how to evaluate the round.

Crystalizing the round in rebuttals is an important skill - especially in front of a judge like me that did not spend 8 weeks at camp nor has read all of the lit. Or maybe any of the lit. You absolutely will be more familiar with your evidence than I will so please don't expect that kind of deep dive into the post round discussion. There was a point in my life when I could have those discussions, but I'm not there anymore. I am however more likely to buy your case attacks or a topicality argument so there's that.

Notes for IE/LD -- I judge more policy debate than LD/IE/PF/Congress but at some point this year have judged all of the above. I tend to be more tech over truth with LD and am looking for some sort of impact analysis of the values presented. My policy team does not run the K and debates more traditionally -- one of the most underutilized strategies in LD is to debate the other team's case.

Spreading: CLARITY IS KEY. If I don't hear it, it will not be flowed, and it was not said.

Don't be rude. Don't say offensive things. Don't steal prep.

Otherwise, do what you want

Chain: shenjeffery113@gmail.com

Debated at JCHS for 3 yrs, was not able to compete the 4th.

Stanford 24'

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pls camera on if you can, it makes debating less of a bore

Stolen from my friend, Mr. Blake Deng:

I HAVE ZERO TOPIC KNOWLEDGE

my brain is not that big. I have experience with PTX DAs, Generic Ks, Generic CPs. If your aff is to regulate some small agency with an obscure acronym, please explain. Debate is about convincing the judge, not who can throw out the most off-case in 8 minutes.

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General thoughts on debate:

- Tag teaming is fine; too much = slight speaks dock maybe

- Be nice, don't flex, be courteous; CX is already toxic enough.

- Please do not steal prep with virtual debate, do not clip cards, do not cheat in any way. It will be a quick decision.

- I was a 2A/1N years ago, so I do lean aff on some common topics: >3 conditional, and condo bad is lookin pretty good; if the 1NC is under highlighted 10 off, the 2A gets more leeway, as long as the 2A says something (can be one sentence, oh well) about it, an argument is not "conceded," but it makes the 2A's job much harder to defend. Given that, the 1NR should be the best speech in the round - I loved doing it because it was blocked out, and had copious amounts of prep for it.

- Send analytics if you want - I'd recommend it because then I definitely won't miss any arguments and it generally just makes the debate easier to follow for everyone, but I know some people are stingy about this. No speaker pts diff if you do either or, just know I will probably miss some of your arguments.

- Tech > Truth within reason. This means, yes, if you drop 50 State Fiat is a voter, you will lose. No, this does not mean if the other team drops Covid isn't real/some other just false statement that you will win.

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Argument list ---

DAs:

Always good, basically the base of any neg strat. I don't know if 0 risk exists, but "so low where it's negligible" risk 100% exists. PTX DAs need to have updated ev (no-brainer). Straight-turning DAs is underused but is a good way to stop the neg from reading 4 crappy DAs and kicking them all in the block.

Ks:

I have a basic foundation in the more common ones (Cap, Neolib, Security, Afropess/Antiblackness EMPHASIS ON BASIC). I was more of a policy person, but I honestly think the topic are quite interesting and put spice into the bore of regular policy. Explain your args, and the name of an argument will never sway me away.

The alternative is critical. If the negative cannot explain how it works, solves, or even just makes sense, it doesn't matter if the aff is straight dropped all other points: you have no alternative. I think of it like a net benefit without a counterplan. The K becomes a linear DA at that point.

T:

Perhaps an unpopular opinion, but I strongly dislike T unless the aff is clearly untopical/is obviously unfair. Reasonability is valid, the neg gets a litany of random off case to check the aff, and most teams that say the aff spikes out of links have 10 off-case in the 1NC. Don't mind my flashy school name: my brain is not that big, and debates over minute details in interpretations/counter-interps make me sad. If you go for T, please have specifics on why the aff is bad, case list (very underutilized), and not just "the aff does not line up with our merrian-webster 1996 definition."

CPs:

Yes, good as well. They must be competitive, both textually and functionally. It cannot just do the same thing as the aff, P do the CP will suffice. You need a net benefit. Saying "it solves 100% of the aff" is a buzz-phrase, but I can believe it if given enough ev. The CP does not need to solve 100% of the aff given the NB is extraordinarily large - debate it out in round.

CPs should have solvency advocates in the 1nc!!!! Why should they not? The 2ac needs to know what is going on there so they can hedge against it; it's like if the neg chose to just read all their links and uniqueness cards for the DAs in the block. What is a solvency advocate? A carded piece of evidence that proves why your CP solves the harms of the aff. Keep it simple; not having an advocate gives me a pretty good reason to reject the argument (maybe not the team, depends on abuse).

Non-Traditional Affs:

I will be extremely confused, and unsure how to vote. If you want to try, go ahead; I think I will find it very interesting to listen to, but I caution you that there are many more well-qualified people than me to judge you. I do not have much experience at all in this field.

Theory:

If it's not either straight dropped or close to it, it's probably not a good idea to go for it unless you really know what's going on. The two args I have a soft spot for are "condo bad" and "absolutely terrible CPs bad" (no solvency advocate, textually uncompetitive, PICS bad, etc). Other than that, I'd say theory is not very viable.

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Extra stuff:

- Mandatory "if you make me laugh, you'll get bonus speaks"

- Be clear, speaks go down if you are a bad speaker.

- Be nice. I know firsthand how CX can have a toxic culture, and if I see it in round (to your partner, to others, etc) you are losing entire digits of speaks.

- I'm a nice person I swear, ask questions after the round if you want. No judgement.

Hi, I'm a third-year debater from Woodward Academy and I have had debates on the immigration topic.

My greatest influences in debate and what a good debate should look like have been Bill Batterman and Maggie Berthiaume. Please feel free to look at their paradigms as well...

Email: 20ssurapaneni@woodward.edu

General

I prefer clarity over speed and don't steal prep. I expect both teams to time their prep and speeches. Be respectful to your partner and opponent. Tag Teaming during cross-ex is fine, but don't make it excessive. I will not be kicking CPs for you.

Non-Traditional Affs

Read a topical aff please :)

Kritiks

I’m not the guy for high theory debates or for debates that rely on winning framework. Links should be a DA to the plan. Specific links and an in-depth explanation are the best way to convince me to vote for a K.

Theory

It will be very hard to convince me to vote on a theory violation other than conditionality bad when there are 3+ conditional off-case. Of course, I will vote on obvious voting issues such as racism bad and sexism bad.

T

I am pretty impartial on topicality when it comes to policy affirmatives. Make sure to elaborate on what the impacts are if you read a topicality violation and if you have to answer topicality.

CPs

If you do not read a solvency advocate in the 1NC, please read one in the block and give me a thorough explanation of what the CP does in the block with evidence. If you do not read a solvency advocate in the 1NC, I will also be more lenient on the 1AR for answering the CP. All that being said, the best thing to do is to read a solvency advocate in the 1NC.

Process CPs are a little difficult to win against a perm when I am judging, but they are definitely still a viable 2NR option with good analysis and articulation.

DAs

Please prove that the disad outweighs and turns the case. You have to win every part of the DA to win the debate, with or without a counterplan.

If you are reading a DA with a CP...

I will vote for sufficiency framing with a great enough probability of the DA. If the CP solves 100% of the affirmative, any risk of the DA is probably a reason to vote negative.

If you have any other questions, please ask before the round starts. I will happily answer.