National Speech and Debate Tournament

2023 — Phoenix/Mesa, AZ/US

John Holen 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?

11-20

Which best describes your approach to judging Policy Debate?

Games-playing
 

RATE OF DELIVERY

8/91 = slow and deliberate
9 = very rapid
 

QUANTITY OF ARGUMENTS

5/91 = a few well-developed arguments
9 = the more arguments the better
 

COMMUNICATION AND ISSUES

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

TOPICALITY: I am willing to vote on topicality:

2/91 = often
9 = rarely
 

COUNTERPLANS

5/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

GENERIC DISADVANTAGES

4/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

CONDITIONAL NEGATIVE POSITIONS

3/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

DEBATE THEORY ARGUMENTS

2/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

CRITIQUE (KRITIK) ARGUMENTS

1/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
Additional remarks:

My full paradigm is on Tabroom and includes a detailed overview for each argument type, I would encourage you to read that. 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.

I am a coach of a team that competes on the national circuit. We typically run either critical (of both the PoMo and identity flavors) or middle ground strategies (ie critical twists on stock arguments), but I am familiar with traditional, policy-making strats from novice coaching. I also competed in NFA LD and NPDA/NPTE parli, so I have familiarity with running trad args as 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.