National Speech and Debate Tournament

2022 — Louisville, KY/US

John Holen Paradigm

Lincoln Douglas
Lincoln Douglas Debate Judge Philosophy

Your experience with LD Debate (check all that apply)

Current LD coach
Former LD competitor
Summer LD instructor
Experienced LD judge
Former Policy debater
Current Public Forum coach or judge

How many years have you judged LD debate?

14

How many LD rounds have you judged this year?

11-20

What is your preferred rate of delivery?

8/91 = 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:

Line by line analysis
 

Voting issues are:

Not necessary

How do you decide the winner of the round?

I decide who is the better speaker regardless of whether they won specific arguments

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 a flow judge. My full paradigm is on Tabroom and includes a detailed overview for each argument type. In short, you do you and if you do it well, you'll likely get my ballot. Run whatever you want as long as it isn't offensive (examples of offensive arguments: 'racism does not exist' or 'sexism good' or 'ableism inevitable'), just make sure you can justify whatever you are doing because I am open to debates about debate (ie theory, framework, and topicality). I enjoy creativity and a well-organized flow. As you can see from my judging record, I have also judged quite a few LD rounds nationally and I frequently am one of the highest preffed judges in the pool for whatever that is worth. The team I coach runs a wide array of arguments ranging from "LARP" (plan text cases) to Ks (of both PoMo and identity flavors) and value/crit cases. In other words: you dod you and do it well and you'll be alright.

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.