National Speech and Debate Tournament
2023 — Phoenix/Mesa, AZ/US
Lori Fulk Paradigm
Policy
Policy Debate Judge Philosophy
Your experience with Policy Debate (check all that apply)
Occasionally judge Policy DebateHow many Policy rounds have you judged this year?
0-10Which best describes your approach to judging Policy Debate?
Hypothesis testerRATE OF DELIVERY
4/91 = slow and deliberate9 = very rapid
QUANTITY OF ARGUMENTS
5/91 = a few well-developed arguments9 = the more arguments the better
COMMUNICATION AND ISSUES
5/91 = communication skills most important9 = resolving substantive issues most important
TOPICALITY: I am willing to vote on topicality:
8/91 = often9 = rarely
COUNTERPLANS
1/91 = acceptable9 = unacceptable
GENERIC DISADVANTAGES
3/91 = acceptable9 = unacceptable
CONDITIONAL NEGATIVE POSITIONS
5/91 = acceptable9 = unacceptable
DEBATE THEORY ARGUMENTS
5/91 = acceptable9 = unacceptable
CRITIQUE (KRITIK) ARGUMENTS
1/91 = acceptable9 = unacceptable
I do not like toxic or overly punitive styles of policy debate. When debaters attack each other as opposed to the arguments, I do not find that style influential. I dislike policy debates that rely on knowledge of the lexicon as opposed to the presentation of solid arguments. Basically, attacking the opponents ability to follow the esoteric nature of policy debate as opposed to having solid research is not influential. Speaking far too quickly for a judge to follow a plan or recitation of research is equally disconcerting. I encourage a deliberate pace with cited research, and a collegial manner of debate.
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.