I'm currently a student at Iowa State University. In the past, I've competed mainly in LD and Original Oratory. I have judged here and there around Eastern Iowa and on the National Circuit.

In terms of my preferences for debate, I like to see the following:

-Please be informative about the topic.

-Keep speed reading to a minimum.

-I would also like to see clear speaking, direct argumentation, etc.

-Be nice to your opponents.

-I don't enjoy theory-heavy rounds. However, I like to see some theory.

-Don't make my decision difficult because it was a murky round. Try to make it clear who won.

Lastly, I'm not a super serious judge, and I still love speech and debate. So, please just enjoy the debate/speech and have fun.

Background: Public Forum debate for three years. Dabbled in Congress for all four.

My preferences are as follows:

1. Weighing: A debate round can have many different arguments/contentions flying around. Unless you weigh them and tell me what's important, I'm not gonna know who to award the win to. Draw your line in the sand, and let me know what you value and how your side of the argument does it better.

2. Extensions: I will not accept one-off arguments that are mentioned once and never brought up again. Mention your argument and your evidence, even if its a surefire win on that particular contention, it won't matter if it is never addressed again.

3. Cross Ex: Cross is one of the few times that you can interact with your opponent, use it wisely. Don't use a bunch of background as a preface for a simple question, it wastes my time and yours. Ask questions, don't just bring up a bunch of info in place of one, cross is not the right place for it, that's what speeches are for. If you have a gotcha moment and have a great response, bring it up in a speech or I won't count it in my decision.

4. Courtesy: If its necessary, I will judge around based off of courtesy alone. Debates can get heated, I get it, but you should attack the arguments, not the person. Acting intentionally rude over the course of the round is the quickest way to get a surefire loss and a complaint to your coach.

5. My bad ears/brain: I have difficulty hearing sometimes, so clear pronunciation would be great. I can only judge things I can hear and understand after all. I'm fine with speaking fast, as long as it doesn't compromise my comprehension of your arguments. So no inaudible spreading, etc...

I'd like to see clean logical debates; keep it civil and respectful. I'd prefer to hear slower and clearer arguments so that I can best understand you.

Experience: I am a senior at the University of Iowa where I study political science, international affairs, and philosophy. I was a competitor in public forum for 6 years and was the collegiate national champion in 2018. I have experience and working knowledge with all speech and debate events. I have previously coached in Des Moines, Iowa, and for NSDA China. I am currently unaffiliated with any team, school, or individual competitors.

PF: I value accessibility. Public forum ought to be an event that is able to be understood by any member of the public. Clear, concise communication at a reasonable speed is expected ie conversational. I WILL DROP YOU IF YOU TRY TO SPREAD. Each team will be given one warning on speed in the form of a dropped pen or calling out “Speed.” If spreading/speed persists after the warning I will immediately drop the team with the most violations. (If both teams accumulate one violation in their respective constructive, the next team to violate will be dropped.) I will flow cross-examination if you make important points. I value complex arguments and respectful clash. Being rude in my rounds is a great way to lose speaker points and a round.

Important things:

- If at all possible, I would like to start rounds early. I understand that's not always possible or teams need to prep, so I'm just appreciative if we do start early. No problem if you need to take your time though.

- While in evidence exchange, I expect all students to have their hands on screen and mics unmuted to ensure that time is not used for prep.

- Summaries should SUMMARIZE the round.

- FF should Crystalize not line by line, give me impact calculus and weighing. Impact calc within every speech is most persuasive.

- Summaries and FF should have voters not line by line.

TL;DR, Be respectful, conversational, bring solid evidence and analysis to my rounds and you’ll do fine.

LD/CX: Pretty much anything goes. I absolutely prefer arguments that are directly resolutional (ie not a fan of certain Ks, love me some T and theory though) but if the debate goes a certain way, it is not my place to wrangle it. LARP is chill. On the rare occasion, I may ask you to slow down a little bit or clear you, but that will not be weighed against you. I'm almost always good with speed. I prefer competitors disclose to ensure flow clarity. I will flow cross-examination if you make important points.

flow judge

My paradigm centers around the fact that this is a policy debate. You are debating public policy which means that there has to be a benefit to the people of the United States for the policy which you are advocating. Benefits can come in many forms, such as but not limited to, financial (actual cost or impact on economy), security, better position on the world stage such that it can be leveraged to benefit the United States. Some of these benefits are more tangible than others and can stand on their own. Others, such as humanitarian or other emotion-based arguments, while often powerful and persuasive, are only effective if they then contribute to a tangible benefit. For example, being seen as “nice guys” or “it is the right thing to do” is compelling but how does it actually benefit the citizens of the United States? In the converse, the argument against a public policy suggestion is that it negatively impacts the people of the United States, therefore it goes against public policy. The team that can best synthesize the various arguments pro and con is that team that is most likely to win.

I am a former public forum debater. When you make arguments, make sure you understand what they mean. Impacts are always benifical throughout the entire debate. But extend the argument not the card. If you believe you have won a point, you should be able to summarize why you have into a brief statement as opposed to not mentioning it. By the end of the final focus I should have a clear presentation of why your team won the round. If you use evidence in the round, please have that evidence ready to be shown in case it is called for by the opposing team or me.i will give a verbal RFD about what need to be worked on or give suggestions for possible help.

Please be respectful, speak well, and remember this activity is one for education and fun

Hello! I competed in public forum for 4 years at Kennedy High School (2015-2019).

While I do find debate to be strategy based, I prefer arguments that follow a logical well thought out narrative. I keep a flow, but I prefer truthful and reasoned arguments.

There are a couple of things to do to win my ballot:

1. Have a clear narrative throughout the round. This helps me understand which argument is most important to each team rather than having a ton of random arguments that aren't clashing.

2. Extend claim+warrant+impact

3. Extend the cleanest piece of offense

4. Weigh. It is important that you weigh because if you don't I am forced to choose what I think is important and you lose control over my ballot

Flowing

- Signpost! At the end of the round I evaluate what is on my flow so it is important to be clear where you are making arguments.

- I prefer teams to not just say "extend Smith 19"- you need to explain the evidence and what that is directly responding to

- I can handle fast PF speed, but be aware of how fast I can write- speed is not always an advantage if I am unable to write it on my flow in time (also if you do choose to speak faster than normal do not exclude the other team)

Rebuttal

- I prefer well thought out articulated responses over a bunch of blippy responses (quality>quantity)

- I like carded responses, but don't card drop excessively

- For 1st rebuttal just solely respond to the opponent's case- please don't go back to your case because I just heard it and there are no responses on it yet

- For 2nd rebuttal it is your choice what you do strategically. It would be smart to do some frontlining, but I have no personal preference

Summary

- For first and second summary I would like you to extend responses on your opponent's case in order to extend it to final focus

- within this speech it is important to collapse and make grouped responses

Evidence

- I will call for a card if the other team calls for it and it becomes a point of discussion within the round or it you bring up a specific card that is very important to winning your point

- If it takes you more than 2 minutes to find a card we will have to move on and I will cross that card off the flow

K's/Theory

- I have no experience in LD or Policy so if you choose to run this type of argument you need to dumb it down for me. Personally, I would prefer a traditional contention over this type of argument. I am not a fan of disads read in rebuttal.

Other Things

- pre flow before the round! please don't delay

- I am open for discussion after the round, but please be respectful

- I understand rounds can get heated and I like respectful humor and sassiness, but do not be condescending or rude to your opponents

- Have fun!

Speech must be clear and understandable if reading quickly. I appreciate when rounds stay topical however I am open to theory as well as other types of arguments.

UPDATED: Nov. 2021

I am an assistant coach at Bettendorf High School in Bettendorf, IA. I am now in my 6th year as a coach at BHS. I coach primarily speech.

1. When it comes to judging debate, I am looking for a speed level slightly above conversation speed. I do not care for fast speakers since competitors are supposed to be convincing the judge and not outspeaking the competition.

2. For the delivery of the case, I am looking for competitors to clearly lay out their case by stating what are their contentions and subpoints.

3. While debating, I am looking for clear connections to the impacts of your evidence and case.

4. Also, while debating I am looking for competitors to be civil and allow each other to ask questions and not cut each other off.