National Speech and Debate Tournament

2023 — Phoenix/Mesa, AZ/US

Lindsey Weber 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
Occasionally judge Policy Debate

How many Policy rounds have you judged this year?

41+

Which best describes your approach to judging Policy Debate?

Policymaker
 

RATE OF DELIVERY

7/91 = slow and deliberate
9 = very rapid
 

QUANTITY OF ARGUMENTS

6/91 = a few well-developed arguments
9 = the more arguments the better
 

COMMUNICATION AND ISSUES

5/91 = communication skills most important
9 = resolving substantive issues most important
 

TOPICALITY: I am willing to vote on topicality:

5/91 = often
9 = rarely
 

COUNTERPLANS

4/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

GENERIC DISADVANTAGES

1/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

CONDITIONAL NEGATIVE POSITIONS

3/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

DEBATE THEORY ARGUMENTS

5/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

CRITIQUE (KRITIK) ARGUMENTS

2/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
Additional remarks:

I am a traditional judge for policy that holds the stock issues to be the most important. However, with theory and Kritik arguments, I think these can be used and presented well, but require more intention to carry the arguments through the whole round. Interrupting during CX is both important and rude, and must be done tastefully. I have coached in Montana, so we do more traditional out here. However, I have judged policy and PF at nationals before and have the ability to follow very fast paces argumentation if delivered well. 

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.