National Speech and Debate Tournament

2023 — Phoenix/Mesa, AZ/US

Shawn Briscoe Paradigm

Lincoln Douglas
Lincoln Douglas Debate Judge Philosophy

Your experience with LD Debate (check all that apply)

Former LD coach
Experienced LD judge
Former Policy debater
Collegiate Policy debater
Speech coach
Community judge

How many years have you judged LD debate?

30

How many LD rounds have you judged this year?

0-10

What is your preferred rate of delivery?

7/91 = Slow conversational style
9 = Rapid conversation speed
 

Does the rate of delivery weigh heavily in your decision?

N
 

Will you vote against a student solely for exceeding your preferred speed?

N

How important is the criterion in making your decision?

It may be a factor depending on its use in the round
 

Do you feel that a value and criterion are required elements of a case?

N

Rebuttals and Crystallization

 

Voting issues should be given:

At the end of the speech
 

The use of jargon or technical language ("extend", "cross-apply", "turn", etc.) during rebuttals:

Is acceptable
 

Final rebuttals should include:

Voting issues
 

Voting issues are:

Absolutely necessary

How do you decide the winner of the round?

I decide who is the winner of the key argument in the round

How necessary do you feel the use of evidence (both analytical and empirical) is in the round?

9/91 = Not necessary
9 = Always necessary

Please describe your personal note-taking during the round

I keep a rigorous flow
Additional remarks: My primary background is policy debate. That said, I prefer that LD be a value-based format as opposed to one-person policy debate. Certainly, debaters in any format can learn from debaters in any other format to make the most of the activity, but I would prefer for LDers to incorporate principle-based argumentation. Also, I found the answers for the question on the final rebuttals should include voters and/or line-by-line analysis insufficient... the NR should include both; however, the 2AR could use both or could just cover voters.

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.