Tim Alderete - The Meadows School

-It's either Aff prep or Neg prep - No one preps for free.

-Text, from a debater I just judged to their coach, who is a friend of mine: “What is your friend on? He started my timer early because I took a deep breath.” Me: I'm gonna put that in my Paradigm!

-I do want to be on the email chain, but I won't be reading along with your speech doc - timalderete@yahoo.com

-I am cantankerous about Prep time - for me, it ends when you hit Send on the Email.

-The majority of my decisions will revolve around a lack of flowing or line by line structure.

-I will vote for most any coherent argument. A "coherent" argument must be one that I can defend to the team or debater who lost. Many think this makes me interventionist, but you don't pref me anyway.

-I not the best judge for bad arguments, the Politics Disad, or dumb theory. I will try to take them as seriously as you do, but everyone has their limits. (For example, I have never voted for disclosure theory, because I have never heard an intelligent argument defending it.)

-I do not vote for unethical arguments. The "Contact Information Disclosure" argument is dangerous and unethical because it abets online predators. It will receive a loss and minimum points.

-I don't give great speaker points. To compensate, if you show me decent flows you can get up to an extra point. Please do this Before I enter the ballot.

-I "can handle" your "speed" and I will only call "Clearer" once or twice if you are unclear.

-I have judged and coached a lot of LD rounds – I like philosophical arguments more than you may expect.

-I have judged and coached a lot of Policy rounds – I tend to think like a Policy debater.

Green Valley High School '14

University of Nevada Las Vegas; Cornell University '18

I've debated for four years in high school (a brief stint in LD before 3 years in policy) and 2 years in college. I also spent some time as an assistant coach for Green Valley HS. 

Updates  

I've felt my ideological beliefs slightly shift. To summarize this pedagogical transition, I offer the following analogy: If two teams of equal caliber are debating where the affirmative defends a straight-up 1AC against a Kritikal 2NR, I probably see myself voting Affirmative 53-47. Similarly, if two equally skilled teams have a Framework/T debate then I see myself going Negative 53-47. 

Not Much Time? Read this!

Just do you and don’t worry. I will listen to and evaluate whatever you may want to read. I've gone for arguments across the argumentative spectrum on both the affirmative and the negative. I'll be happy to answer any specific questions in person or by email. 

Miscellaneous

If there is an email chain, I would like to be a part of it, my email is Bhatti.DebateJudging@gmail.com 

Debate is first and foremost a communication activity between the speaker and the judge. As your judge changes from round to round I believe it is necessary to adapt your argumentative style to resonate with the judge. A lapse in effective communication can potentially decide the round. That may mean include from slowing down, staying clear, remaining organized, or ensuring your explanations are top notch. 

I generally default to tech over truth. This means that I also evaluate the debate from a very line-by-line perspective. It will be very hard to convince me that I should adopt a different lens for evaluating the debate.

I will strike new arguments from my flow if they are explicitly pointed out and deligitimized.

I’m a fan of unconventional deployment of the spin zone.

No prep for flashing unless, during the round, things become out of hand.

Aggressive argumentation is good; being rude is not.

I’ll kick the CP or the Alt for you only if explicitly told to do so; cover all your bases.

Evidence comparison is paramount to good debates.

I have a low threshold for dismissing your silly argumets (ex. Justice League CP) and a high threshold for voting on them.

No Buenos

Accusations of clipping evidence are serious. If you have clipped, or if you have incorrectly accused someone of clipping, you will receive 0 speaker points and a loss. Don't make me adjudicate this and if you do, make sure you have proof.

Stealing prep-time isn’t cool, the game is fun because you’re supposed to be under a time crunch while competing. Adrenaline is where it’s at.

Specifics! 

Disadvantages

Probably the best part about debate. Topic specific and case specific DA’s make for the best debates, but politics is cool too. Specific and unique link analysis is definitely preferred over your core generics. Impact calculus, turns case, and other framing issue arguments can swing debates dramatically. Make my job easy and compartmentalize areas on the flow well. 

Counterplans

The second best part about debate. There is probably some fine line between reading as many (including planks) as you want and making it impossibly hard for the affirmative but being negative is hard. I guess my general rule would be the more specific your counterplans are in relation to the aff the less I am inclined to care about conditionality. If there is a scenario where a 2AC undercovers a not-so-specific 1NC that may be excessive in terms of number of counterplans, I'm sympathetic to a 1AR's recovery.

Solvency advocates are bueno but even better are counterplans with solvency advocates written by affirmative authors. Net benefits need to be clearly articulated. PIC’s are strategic and inevitable but if they result in the entirety of the 1AC then you’re in some dangerous theoretical waters. Advantage CP's are poppin'.

With regards to competition: Consult and delay CP’s aren’t the most persuasive. Agent and process CP's are slightly more acceptable. With these arguments, the more specific your solvency advocate the better. Be prepared to theoretically defend them well and clearly. 

Case

I love in-depth and heavily researched case debates. Analytical arguments can suffice in taking out whackier advantages. I'm willing to vote on 0% risk of the affirmative if the work is put in - BUT you'll have to put up a conclusive and thoroughly convincing effort. Point out the flaws and inconsistencies in the 1AC's evidence and internal link chains as early as possible. You can't always be specific and I get that, this is where top notch comparison and utilizing the spin zone come in. If you pressure the affirmative significantly on case in the block, I'm not very sympathetic to a 1AR that brushes over the case debate. 

Theory

More than anywhere else in the debate, it is imperative that you slow down during the theory debate. Besides egregious examples of conditionality, most theory arguments hardly ever warrant rejecting the team. I will, however, evaluate warranted analysis that is specific and thorough. That being said, conditionality is generally cool (being negative is hard), but the more conditional positions you read, the less cool it becomes. Shady and tricky theory can be fun and strategic; obviously, do not default to these arguments as your round winners before the debate starts. If you ARE banking on these arguments for whatever reason, it is your best interest to do whatever you can to make sure I flow everything and have a clear picture of what's happening (i.e. slow down, be clear, be concise). 

Topicality

Technical decisions and miscues most heavily impact my decision in T debates. That being said, it is of the highest significance that both sides are clear in their articulation of framing their meta-level impact issues on what is evaluated first (for example, why I should evaluate education over fairness OR why your definitions/interpretations should be the lens through which I frame the round). When going for Topicality, you should make my job easier by having a very structured and highly organized 2NR. 

Framework

Meta-level framing issues that are better fleshed out by a team will probably be the ones deciding the debate. Make sure your impact claims interact with your opponents. Non-state based framework and T arguments are highly strategic. Fairness IS an impact in and of itself (structural and procedural fairness are different). I probably think debate is primarily a game that has added benefits. I can definitely be convinced otherwise but I advise you to be very prepared to respond to the procedural impact level claims that result from debate being viewed as a game. Explanations of why dialogue, agonism, ideas-testing, skill, etc. turn case, prevent solvency, or come first in my decision calclus are absolutely necessary for winning the debate. When going for institution-style framework, be prepared with specific examples and evidence that prove institutions can be used to resolve the impact claims of the affirmative.

Kritiks

A large portion of my career has consisted of Kritikal debate. That being said let me say this:  

Different authors discuss and use similar terminology in different ways. Do not expect me to already know your buzzwords, fundamental critical theory, or other shenanigans. This does NOT mean that you shouldn’t read your argument if you think it will win you the round - it simply means you might need to go the extra mile of giving a more thorough explanation of what your buzzwords mean to ensure everything connects. Just remember I evaluate your argumentation and explanation – not my own prior knowledge of your argument. 

I honestly don't mind 'generic' K's, but the more specific they are the better position you'll be in. I'm fine voting on just the framework portion of the K. Thorough link analysis is your friend. 

Kritikal Affirmatives

I respect the decision of reading an affirmative that doesn’t affirm the topic or defend a plan text. I often read these types of affirmatives and understand their strategic benefit. I do believe that the affirmative should have something to do with the resolution and annual topic. If your affirmative is substantially outside the scope of the topic you have an uphill battle ahead of you. If your affirmative has largely nothing to do with the topic, regardless of the importance of the subject matter, I am not the judge for you.

Speaker Points

I probably give higher speaker points than the average judge. I evaluate strategy and execution first and foremost. This does, however, include clarity, ability to coherently explain your position, and argument structure. 

Your jokes will be evaluated on the following scale:

[+.2] Incorporation of well explained, specific stories that I might know about

[+.1] General references about people I went to school/debated/might associate with

[+.1] Jokes about me

[+.1] Witty remarks that reflect intelligence

[+.1] {Friendly} Quips directed towards your partner or opponents

Additionally, if you happen to mention certain mystery subjects, you will not only net yourself some extra speaker points, but also a coveted, eternal spot on this page with the date and tournament corresponding to the accomplishment.

[+.1] Huskies - November 1, 2014, Round 5, The Meadows Tournament, Elliot Kovnick and Jaden Lessnick

[+.1] ???

[+.1] ???

[+.1] ???

[+.1] ???

*Bonus points cap at a combined maximum of [+.3] and may deviate [-.1] based on your jokes.