Hello! My name is Sebastián Espinal. I am a current 1st speaker JV debater at the ABC School's Debate Team. I'm a high school freshman, who delved into the world of debate in 5th grade. I currently serve as both Team President and Beginners Group Captain of the ABC Debate Team. I have participated in multiple national and international tournaments, being champion several times. Beyond personal achievements, I actively mentor and inspire newer debaters, leaving an enduring impact on our team. I am committed to refining my skills and fostering a collaborative debate culture.

Preferences all over the round:

Timing:

• Distribute your time well. You're allowed to finish your sentence after the time is up, but don't go too far.
• I will take your time, but please also do it yourself.

Delivery:

• Use a good tone of voice while you're debating. I am okay with fast reading but try to read loud and clear.
• Try to explain the topic to me for a better understanding during the round.
• Always have eye contact with me, remember you're convincing me not the opponents.
• Re-state your framework all over the round.
• Im a big fan of clashing points, roadmaps, and aggressive crossfires, though they aren't necessary.
• You can be aggressive, but please be respectful to each other.
• Apply emphasis to the important parts of your case (including statistics, percentages, amounts, etc.)
• Have a good posture.
• Use body language while talking.
• Demonstrate comprehension of the resolution.
• Big fan of organized rebuttals, summaries, and final focuses.

Factual Information:

• Always backup your arguments with reliable sources.
• Bring up your impacts all over the round.
• Use facts to support your arguments.
• Any new information added after the 2nd speaker crossfire will not be taken into account.

Evidences:

• I tend to ask for evidence too when any cut card is shown to the opposing team for proving source.
• When any evidence will be shown, you have 2 minutes to find your cut card. If the time is up and it's not shown, then your claim will be counted as invalid.
• Be careful with your source dates. If any evidence is shown from your side, and your opponent shows a newer source contradicting yours, I will go for the newer source.

Rebuttal:

• I prefer if you clash the arguments of the opposing team on rebuttal over you adding information.
• Try to clash all of the opponent’s arguments.
• If any argument is not blocked, the point under that aspect will be given to your opponent.

Summary:

• Summary is the most important speech in the round to me, so I expect an organized-well done, weighing and voting issues explained summary.
• Any information presented in the summary that was not given before the 2nd speaker crossfire will not be taken into account.
• Re-state the strong points and claims of your team.

Final Focus:

• Re-state the strong points and claims of your team.
• Weighing the voting issues of the round will be very important.
• I rather you state the facts that made your side win than things the opposing team did wrong.

Good Luck and most importantly have fun!

To make sure to have my vote take into account the following preferences:

constructive speech:

• I'm comfortable with speed, but clarity is key. I'll let you know only once If I can't understand your reading, after that is up to you to make sure to continue talking clearly. ( whatever you mention in the round that I can't understand will not be taken into account)

rebuttal:

Try to make a concise rebuttal. Focus on the key issues and explain why they matter.

summary:

⋅ Weight down your case, but don’t make this your whole summary.

crossfire:

• Lovee aggressive crossfire, you can also throw a little sarcasm, but please maintain respect the whole round.
• I appreciate it more if you answered even if it's wrong than not answering at all.

final focus:

Your final focus should tie everything together. Remind me why you've won this round..

• Please try to remember to do debate protocols.
• I'm open-minded, and I appreciate unique arguments. Don't hesitate to be a bit creative.

have fun!!

-