I have experience debating Public Forum, and I've judged primarily PF and LD for the past two years.

In terms of speed, I have no issue with spreading so long as you enunciate your words. I can't judge what's incomprehensible.

During crossfire, the education of the round is severely limited if it is just used by a side to list off their contention without allowing for questions. Keep it to question and answer. There is a difference between fully explaining what was asked and running the clock down.

I am a speech coach in Georgia. I competed in IEs but I can follow debate very well.

• LD - Value/Value Criterion - This is the unique feature of LD Debate.  Have a good value and criterion and link your arguments back to it.
• PF - I side on the traditional side of PF.  Don't throw a lot of jargon at me or simply read cards. Compete in PF for the debate animal it is.  Remember debate, especially PF, is meant to persuade - use all the tools in your rhetorical toolbox: Logos, Ethos, and Pathos.  
• Speed -Since I did not debate in High School, I don't follow speed well. Speak at your own risk, but if I didn't hear it, I don't flow it.
• Know your case, like you actually did the research and wrote the case and researched the arguments from the other side.  If you present it, I expect you to know it from every angle - I want you to know the research behind the statistic and the whole article, not just the blurb on the card.
• I like clash.  Argue the cases presented, mix it up, have some fun, but remember that debate is civil discourse - don't take it personal, being the loudest speaker won't win the round, being rude to your opponent won't win you the round.
• Debating is a performance in the art of persuasion and your job is to convince me, your judge (not your opponent!!) - use the art of persuasion to win the round: eye contact, vocal variations, appropriate gestures, and know your case well enough that you don't have to read every single word hunched over a computer screen.  Keep your logical fallacies for your next round.  Rhetoric is an art.  
• Technology Woes - I will not stop the clock because your laptop just died or you can't find your case - not my problem, fix it or don't but we are going to move on.  
• Ethics - Debate is a great game when everyone plays by the rules.  Play by the rules - don't give me a reason to doubt your veracity.
• Win is decided by the flow (remember if you don't LINK it, it isn't on the flow), who made the most successful arguments and Speaker Points are awarded to the best speaker - I end up with some low point wins.  I am fairly generous on speaker points compared to some judges.  I disclose winner but not speaker points.
• Enjoy yourself.  Debate is the best sport in the world - win or lose - learn something from each round, don't gloat, don't disparage other teams, judges, or coaches, and don't try to convince me after the round is over.  Leave it in the round and realize you may have just made a friend that you will compete against and talk to for the rest of your life.  Don't be so caught up in winning that you forget to have some fun - in the round, between rounds, on the bus, and in practice.  
• Questions? - if you have a question ask me.

I judge based on the following priorities arranged in the order of their importance in winning the debate:

1. Clearly defined contentions with no ambiguities in their stated meaning
2. Crisp and well documented factual evidence with sources and data supporting each contentions
3. Presenting the contentions in the order of their significance/importance (start with most important)
4. Spreading is fine as long as you enunciate clearly and make a pause ( brief but distinct) as you move between presenting the contentions or distinct arguments
5. Unambiguous mapping of presented contentions to the value criteria

I am an economist and a policymaker, so I am most swayed by evidence that the arguments or plans proposed will do the greatest good to achieve the aims you propose. I am not tabula rasa. I base my evaluation of your arguments on whether they are factual as well as how well your logic is tied to your conclusions. One thing I have seen from a lot of students is a propensity to make as many arguments as possible to win on weight. In general, I have found that most debates I have judged tend to come down to a few major arguments rather than the sum of the two arguments. Often, if your most important effects really matter, I don't care about minor ones. Still include them because they may help win a close debate but know that a small increase in the price of oil will not beat nuclear war in a head to head comparison.

Most importantly, have fun!

Congressional Debate:

I have judged and/or been parliamentarian at local, regional and national tournaments, including Isidore Newman, Durham Academy, the Barkley Forum and and Harvard. My students have found success at both the national and state levels.

POs- I default to you. Remember, your tone as PO has a big influence on tone of the chamber. Be efficient, clear and consistent and have fun.

As far as the round and debate within the round, consistency is important to me. The way you speak and vote on one piece of legislation should most indeed influence your position on similar limitation unless you tell me otherwise. Debate and discourse does not exist in a vacuum.

Acting/characterization is fine as long as there is a reason and has a positive impact.

Finding a balance of logos, ethos and pathos is important. Difficult to accomplish in three minutes? Absolutely. The balance is what gets my attention.

I'll be honest. I don't like when debate jargon leaks into the chamber. SQUO, affirmative/negative, counterplan, link/turn, etc. This event is it's own unique event with norms.

Additionally, Student Congress is not Extemp-lite. If you are trying for three points in a speech, how do I know what to focus on? If everything is equally important then nothing is important. Take a stance, go for the impact and make the balance between logic and emotional to persuade. Include previous debate points, elucidate your point of view and have fun.

I am a parent of two children that have competed in PF (for Grady High School) over the last three years. I'm relatively new to judging, but have been presenting and viewing presentations for years, so have a good sense for what could serve you well in your future professional lives.

I have a business/consulting background, so I appreciate brevity and clarity. Please give me at least a few seconds background on what you're going to do, whether it's stating the case, putting into "layman's terms" if the topic is at all complex, or just giving me a "head's up" on what to expect. I recognize that there are time constraints, but please don't speed through your points so quickly that I can't even understand you. Summarize your points if you have time.

Also, don't be a jerk (which includes condescension) to your competitors.

Most importantly, try to have fun!

Speed: Do not lose clarity for quantity.

Substantive arguments should be well supported, organization helps the flow. My background is a history/philosophy/psychology/forensics teacher and debate coach. It is important to stay on topic, be concise and to directly address the resolution/topic.

Laura McGregor
Assistant Dean of Students at Marist School

Former biology and chemistry teacher.  I graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a BS in Biology and from Washington University in St. Louis with a MS in Biology.  

I prefer more conversational speed with consistent argumentation throughout the second half of the debate.  Make sure to provide clear clash in your arguments.  

I'm and old and slow "dad judge".  Talk too fast and I'll miss much of what you said.  Slow and clear wins the day.  Two points that I can hear and comprehend will do you more good than six points that all came out so fast I could't follow any of them.  You've been warned.

I coach PF Debate and have judged LD for 15+ years. I love to see professionalism, real logic in cases and rebuttals, impeccable speaking skills, and good time management. Please avoid barraging me with questions about my expertise before the round starts.

“Off-time road maps” serve no purpose. Framework and observations are not just for show; I weigh them throughout the round. Spreading does not belong in PF or LD, and I will not flow arguments that I cannot hear.

Good argumentation matters the most to me. I should hear incisive warrants to support all claims. Your impacts should be specific and resonate throughout your contentions. Good debaters achieve turns and can group arguments well.

In regard to PF:

Summary speeches should, above all, situate the round and extend the rebuttal.

Try not to turn the round into just an “evidence-off”. Know when to move on from a dispute over one piece of evidence.

In the Final Focus, you must weigh arguments with specificity and effective persuasion, but the focus should be on the holistic argument and impacts, not line-by-line analysis at that point.

I don't give long-winded verbal feedback at the end of rounds, but I try to give an abundance of ballot comments for your benefit.

About Myself

I'm a parent judge from Starr's Mill. I started judging PF during the 2015-2016 school year.

Preferences

Some speed is okay, but if your arguments don't stand out because they're buried in verbiage, I won't weigh them. (As other judges have noted, "quality not quantity.") When you refer to your evidence, your initial reference should give some context other than the author's name. You have thoroughly researched the topic, but I haven't, so "the Smith card" means nothing to me.

Be sure to clearly signpost and reiterate your signposting throughout the round. Enunciate when you state your contentions, or they might get lost.

Being passionate about the topic is good, but don't let an overly forceful speaking style detract from your argument.

Please avoid speeches and personal attacks during crossfire. Adhere to the Q&A format.

I will time as well, but please keep track of your own prep time, and clearly indicate to me when you are using it.

How to Get My Ballot

All arguments need to be clearly resolutional. Convey your impacts in specific terms; provide clear justification that is extended throughout the round. I'm more impressed with solid offense than clever defense.

I realize that flow is part of a PF debate, but don't spend all of your time refuting the other side's case. If your entire final focus attacks the other side's case and I hear no reasons to vote you up, I probably won't.