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 Debate

How many Policy rounds have you judged this year?

0-10

Which best describes your approach to judging Policy Debate?

Hypothesis tester
 

RATE OF DELIVERY

4/91 = 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

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

TOPICALITY: I am willing to vote on topicality:

8/91 = often
9 = rarely
 

COUNTERPLANS

1/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

GENERIC DISADVANTAGES

3/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

CONDITIONAL NEGATIVE POSITIONS

5/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

DEBATE THEORY ARGUMENTS

5/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

CRITIQUE (KRITIK) ARGUMENTS

1/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
Additional remarks:

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.