Dear all,

I am Ramanathan (Ram) working for an IT company in Greenville, SC. I was born and raised in India and immigrated to the US 14 years ago.

I enjoy judging speech and debate (especially your round) and it’s great to be part of this event which not only helps to shape the life and future of the students but also for myself with a greater understanding of current issues and topics.

I’m fluent in English but I would appreciate it if you (debaters) can avoid jargon as well as speaking too fast. I remain a judge/spectator for the entire part of the debate and step in if and only there is a need (exceeding time limit, inappropriate language, etc.). Also, I keep time for the entire round just to make sure the burden is not on the debaters.

It’s great to meet you all and look forward to judging your event. All the very best!!

I am generally a flow judge and can follow fast paced debate.

Framework should be established and followed throughout the round. Tell me why your framework is superior and back up your claim with evidence in contentions. If there is no framework debate, the round will rely on weighing evidence in contentions.

Contentions should be clearly stated with supporting evidence and analysis. Your evidence should be fully explained and analyzed as to its impact on the debate. I prefer evidence be referred to by subject/topic throughout the round rather than simply the author's name. Know your evidence well enough defend it in cross-examination.

Your case should be organized, focused and come to a reasonable conclusion that convinces me to vote in your favor. Failure to communicate the importance of evidence, weighing values and impacts, or extending key arguments may result in a loss.

Fourth season as parent judge; practicing attorney (19 years).

Current Experience:

Co-Advisor for Marvin Ridge HS Speech & Debate Club

Parent of Cuthbertson HS Speech Student

Have been judging as a parent and an advisor for 2 years now

Spanish & French Teacher, National Honor Society Advisor

Previous Experience:

Directed HS theatre program & taught a speech course (also HS level)

Managed a business for 15 years

Values:

DEBATE: I value good delivery and awareness of the audience for debate events. No "spreading" -- if you are incomprehensible, your arguments will not convey. Make good use of your cross-fires, be respectful. Interesting and innovative contentions can be stimulating, but make sure that you have good citations to ground in reality, not speculation.

SPEECH: For speech, I have no hold-ups for possible "triggers" in material. I will react as an audience member. I value good use of evidence and organized delivery, especially for info, extemp, impromptu, etc. Random movement and pacing is a distractor. Always happy to enjoy a great speech or performance!

I take contemporaneous notes, so they will flow in the order of your speech, from execution comments to suggestions, and analysis of structure. I am happy to give immediate verbal feedback to all competitors to help with any improvements that can be made, if time allows and permitted by the host school.

Hi I am a parent judge, my daughter does debate.

Please talk slowly and clearly

Do not use jargon.

Tell my why I should vote for you, and what you have to done to win the round, not what the other team has not done.

Be kind to your opponents, especially in cross and do not interruptpeople.

Have fun!

Hi, I’m Jennie (she/her)! Please add me to the email chain (jcfan@sas.upenn.edu) and ask me about anything before or after round :) I competed for Providence in Congress / PF / Worlds. A few notes:

• Please weigh & do worlds comparison especially in the back half of the round
• Signpost and if you're going to speak fast send a speech doc pls it helps me a lot I'm rusty
• Tech > truth but if you're running something squirrelly there should be strong warrants.

• No new past 2nd summary. Defense isn't sticky. Extend everything you want me to evaluate (uniqueness/links/impacts/WEIGHING)

• Don't be misogynistic/racist/queerphobic/elitist/otherwise exclusionary. I will drop you & tank ur speaks.
• I don't listen to or flow cross but it's binding so if something's important bring it up in speech
• We can take a minute of flex prep instead of doing grand cross if both teams want
• Prog-theory-Ks-etc.: I can’t promise I’ll evaluate everything perfectly, but I like/read critical lit. independently of debate so I'm bringing that & a willingness to do my best to the table
• Make me laugh (I am easily amused)

Stole parts of my paradigm from William Pan and Arvindh Manian thanks goats :)

• Hello, debaters! I am here to listen carefully and provide fair feedback. Here’s how I approach judging:
• Persuasion matters! Present your arguments logically, but also make sure they are convincing. Use evidence and reasoning that are easy to follow.
• I will evaluate arguments based on how well you support your claims with reasoning and evidence. Emotional appeals are fine, but they should be backed up with logical argument
• Organizing your speech is crucial. Tell me what your main points are and how they connect to each other. A clear roadmap helps me follow along.
• I expect respectful communication between debaters. I’m here to listen to your ideas, and I want to see professionalism. No matter how intense the debate, maintain respect for your opponent.
• Please speak at a conversational pace. I won’t be able to catch everything if you talk too fast, so prioritize clarity over speed.
• I will vote for the team that presents the most compelling, clear, and well-supported arguments. I don’t expect perfection, but I need to understand the reasons why I should prefer your side.

Hi, my name is Shelley Holland. I am a parent judge and a teacher. I primarily judge LD.

Value: The value debate is very important and you should weave your value into your contentions and throughout the debate. Values are key voter issues for me.

Speed: If I can't understand you, I can't flow it. Be sure to speak clearly.

CX: I don't flow CX, but if you bring up CX in rebuttal - that is fine.

Time: I will also keep time. I will not evaluate anything that is said after the allotted time.

Make sure to have a clear link chain with clear impacts.

I prefer an analytical debate where you are interacting with your opponent's argument.

I am a lay judge. Convince me on why the world you create is better than your opponent's.

Being courteous to your opponent is a requirement. Have fun!

I am parent judge, and I will judge you based on logic. Please do the following:

• Send case docs to winniehua@yahoo.com before your speeches so I can follow along as you read. I would also like to be added to the email chain.
• Read slowly and clearly. If I can't understand you, it won't turn out well.
• Please re-explain the reasoning behind your arguments when extending them.
• Let me know what the key voting issues are and how I should evaluate the round.

Good luck and have fun!

I am a first year parent judge and therefore inexperienced and will only be able to judge a Lay Round.

In my short experience I have found that I am looking for the following:

• Well paced, measured, opening arguments, maintained eye contact, clear diction.
• Cohesive crossfire responses
• Good use of language
• Clarity & continuity of reasoning
• Summaries that reflect the issues handled during the debate

Additional thoughts

• Confidence is appealing, over confidence is NOT
• Emphasis and structure go a long way to making a convincing argument

Hello,

I am Paula Kranz. I am a former military officer who has served in 60 countries around the globe. I now work in healthcare innovation, including artificial intelligence, emerging technology, and other disruptive approaches to process and experience improvement. I am passionate about public policy and diversity as well as adventures and the great outdoors.

I have two teenagers, one in tenth grade at Latin School and the other a senior at Myers Park.

I look forward to meeting you!

Paula

I am relatively new to judging high school debate so will take my time to really think about the scoring and it would be most helpful if you can speak clearly and concisely.

I will take a lot of notes and arguments that cause me to think about the topic in a unique or new way will stand out to me as long as they are credible and well-supported. Any cockiness or rudeness to your opponent will detract from the merits of your argument so please be kind and speak respectfully. I have appreciation for the debater that can take a deep breath and proceed calmly when the debate is getting heated.

I debated PF for four years at Delbarton. I currently coach for Charlotte Latin.

my email for the chain is alexsun6804@gmail.com

Tech over truth

go as fast as you want, but if there isn't clarity then none of the content within the speech will matter.

You should weigh and collapse on whatever arguments you think are the most important within the round.

Tell me where you are on the flow (signpost) for speeches after constructive, otherwise I'm going to be really confused.

For Rebuttal

Provide warrants (reasoning and explanation) and implications to your responses
First rebuttal should address your opponent's case and you can do weighing if you want

Second rebuttal should respond to your opponent's case and you should frontline your own case.

For Summary

Collapse on the most important arguments in the round

This is the latest you can start weighing, if you start weighing for the first time in final focus I'm not going to evaluate that.

Rebuttal responses are not sticky so extend them if they are conceded

General structure for summary can be your case, weighing, their case, but you can do whatever you want in terms of the structure as long as it makes sense

Always extend or explain your case in summary

For Final Focus

Should be very similar to summary with exception to front lining and comparative weighing

Other stuff

Have cut cards ready if something is called

Extend offense in the back half, otherwise, I'll be forced to intervene or presume

I've done some stuff with theory and Ks, but don't be really trigger-happy with either. I'll do my best to evaluate them if it goes down in round.

Don't be rude or say something problematic in round. It could cost you the round.

Good luck in round