National Speech and Debate Tournament

2023 — Phoenix/Mesa, AZ/US

Ally Ross Paradigm
Lincoln Douglas
Lincoln Douglas Debate Judge Philosophy

Your experience with LD Debate (check all that apply)

Current LD coach
Former LD competitor
Experienced LD judge

How many years have you judged LD debate?

7

How many LD rounds have you judged this year?

31-40

What is your preferred rate of delivery?

5/91 = 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 is a major factor in my evaluation
 

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

Y

Rebuttals and Crystallization

 

Voting issues should be given:

Either is acceptable
 

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

Is acceptable
 

Final rebuttals should include:

Both
 

Voting issues are:

Not 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?

6/91 = Not necessary
9 = Always necessary

Please describe your personal note-taking during the round

I keep a rigorous flow
Additional remarks: I am a former LDer who competed in parliamentary debate in college. I use she/her pronouns. In general, I am a flow based judge. Ideally, I use the winning value and criterion to determine what arguments are most important in the round, so please weigh your impacts under the framework (recognizing that often, both frameworks boil down to prioritizing the same kind of impacts). And just weigh in general - rounds outcomes can be unpredictable when each debater wins some arguments, but doesn't tell me why those points are more important than what their opponent won. Clear weighing helps me avoid making a subjective decision that you'll be unhappy with! I generally prefer logical warranting and explanations to reading cards that assert something but don't explain why it's true. This all said, I am open to however you want to debate, as long as your opponent can engage with the round (ex. I will not be happy if you speak so fast your opponent cannot keep up). Good luck and have fun!

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.

Judges

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