National Speech and Debate Tournament

2022 — Louisville, KY/US

Lisa Willoughby Paradigm
Lincoln Douglas
Lincoln Douglas Debate Judge Philosophy

Your experience with LD Debate (check all that apply)

Summer LD instructor
Experienced LD judge
Former Policy debater

How many years have you judged LD debate?

36

How many LD rounds have you judged this year?

21-30

What is your preferred rate of delivery?

5/91 = Slow conversational style
9 = Rapid conversation speed
 

Does the rate of delivery weigh heavily in your decision?

N
 

Will you vote against a student solely for exceeding your preferred speed?

N

How important is the criterion in making your decision?

It may be a factor depending on its use in the round
 

Do you feel that a value and criterion are required elements of a case?

N

Rebuttals and Crystallization

 

Voting issues should be given:

Either is acceptable
 

The use of jargon or technical language ("extend", "cross-apply", "turn", etc.) during rebuttals:

Is acceptable
 

Final rebuttals should include:

Both
 

Voting issues are:

Not necessary

How do you decide the winner of the round?

I decide who is the person who persuaded me more of their position

How necessary do you feel the use of evidence (both analytical and empirical) is in the round?

7/91 = Not necessary
9 = Always necessary

Please describe your personal note-taking during the round

I keep a rigorous flow
Additional remarks: I am 'old school' enough to prefer a round where the debater explicitly states a value and criterion, but am not opposed to a different framework. I very much wish for each debater to guide my decision by setting priorities of which arguments they feel I ought to prioritize. I view the obligation of the Negative to clash with the Affirmative position, so I think a 'counterplan' is only a legitimate argument when the AFF states a plan, otherwise, the NEG is offering reasons to support the AFF position. Further, I believe that the NEG must force a decision, so I have a strong bias against what some debaters call a "balance neg." I will not evaluate any AFF arguments that are presented in the final rebuttal that did not appear in the first rebuttal and will vote unilaterally against an AFF debater that introduces a new or dropped argument in the 2AR. I prize civility, humor and good sportspersonlike behavior.

Note: if you wish for your pronouns to appear the debaters you judge on text/email blasts, log into Tabroom, click Profile at top, and add them in the Pronouns field.

Judges

MAIN List Paradigms
Lincoln Douglas List & NSDA Paradigms
Policy List & NSDA Paradigms