National Speech and Debate Tournament

2022 — Louisville, KY/US

Kate Thomas Paradigm

Policy
Policy Debate Judge Philosophy

Your experience with Policy Debate (check all that apply)

Coach of a team
Policy debater in high school
Frequently judge Policy Debate

How many Policy rounds have you judged this year?

31-40

Which best describes your approach to judging Policy Debate?

Stock issues
 

RATE OF DELIVERY

6/91 = slow and deliberate
9 = very rapid
 

QUANTITY OF ARGUMENTS

4/91 = a few well-developed arguments
9 = the more arguments the better
 

COMMUNICATION AND ISSUES

7/91 = communication skills most important
9 = resolving substantive issues most important
 

TOPICALITY: I am willing to vote on topicality:

1/91 = often
9 = rarely
 

COUNTERPLANS

1/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

GENERIC DISADVANTAGES

4/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

CONDITIONAL NEGATIVE POSITIONS

4/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

DEBATE THEORY ARGUMENTS

2/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

CRITIQUE (KRITIK) ARGUMENTS

6/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
Additional remarks:

I am a stock issues judge, make sure you explain how you attack the stock issues on NEG and defend all of them on AFF. I was a 4-year policy debater and am now a college debater. I am also the assistant debate coach at Manhattan High School so I am very familiar with the topic. I don't care if you spread but make sure I can understand you. My least favorite argument is the recency of your cards. Do not tell me to prefer your evidence because of the year unless you absolutely have a good reason why their evidence is invalid. Obviously no new args in rebuttals but feel free to run new cards in your 2AR. Not liking an argument is not an excuse to not interact with it. Always take your opponent's argument at its best. I'm not a fan of K debate but I will definitely vote on a K if it is well explained and well-argued.

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