National Speech and Debate Tournament

2023 — Phoenix/Mesa, AZ/US

William Soper Paradigm

Policy
Policy Debate Judge Philosophy

Your experience with Policy Debate (check all that apply)

Coach of a team
NDT/CEDA debater in college
Policy debater in high school
Frequently judge Policy Debate

How many Policy rounds have you judged this year?

41+

Which best describes your approach to judging Policy Debate?

Tabula rasa
 

RATE OF DELIVERY

5/91 = slow and deliberate
9 = very rapid
 

QUANTITY OF ARGUMENTS

2/91 = 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:

3/91 = often
9 = rarely
 

COUNTERPLANS

1/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

GENERIC DISADVANTAGES

1/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

CONDITIONAL NEGATIVE POSITIONS

5/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

DEBATE THEORY ARGUMENTS

1/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

CRITIQUE (KRITIK) ARGUMENTS

1/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
Additional remarks:

I did NDT/CEDA debate at the University of Kansas for four years. Evidence is very important to me, teams should try to read high quality evidence to support their position. I am usually more persuaded by arguments which are specific to the topic over process CPs and generics. I have a paradigm on tabroom if you search my name. 

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.