I strongly believe in narrowing the debate in the summary speeches. I really want you to determine where you are winning the debate and explain that firmly to me. In short: I want you to go for something. I really like big impacts, but its's important to me that you flush out your impacts with strong internal links. Don't just tell me A leads to C without giving me the process of how you got there. Also don't assume i know every minute detail in your case. Explain and extend and make sure that you EMPHASIZE what you really want me to hear. Slow down and be clear. Give me voters (in summary and final focus). 

Speed is fine as long as you are clear. I work very hard to flow the debate in as much detail as possible. However, if I can't understand you I can't flow you. 

Univ. of North Georgia Freshman Student

Vice-President of UNG Speech and Debate Team Dahlonega Chapter

Extemporaneous Speaking SkillsUSA Region Champ and State Finalist

Speaking Coach (2016-present)

Public Forum

I am fairly new to judging this type of debate so bear with me. Make sure you speak clearly. Speed is not really a problem as long as I can understand you but DO NOT overdo it. Exploring outside facts that relate to your points are fine but they have to relate to your points. Don't get to far away from what you are actually supposed to be talking about. I did not debate in high school competitively so you may have to help me if I seem lost. I did however do many speaking events in high school so your articulation and confidence in your speech will have a great effect on your score and will also help me understand you soo much better. Have fun 😛 and believe in yourself and your content! You can win your round by being nice. Don't be rude because that can ultimately drop your speaker points. From what I have studied I see strongly that this is based on persuasion and I love to try to be persuaded to a certain point or side. Since I have done speaking for a long time and I am also young 😁 certain parts will be important to me but take all parts seriously.

Crossfire. Like I said I am young so I love a great, heated, informational, NICE debate 😎. I will love to listen to facts and points that arise within the crossfire that relate to the resolution and are stronger than your opponents points. Debaters who take the time to create good cross-examinations are appreciated. A goal of the cross-examination is to reveal the fallacies of your opponents' arguments and how their claims appear to run counter to probable impacts or how their silence or ambiguities are cause to vote against their conditional claims. A good cross-examination will go a significant way to winning a debate and scoring high points 🤑. Take time to consider what it is you are going to ask and how to develop your line of questioning.

Summary. As stated before I have done speaking for a while and I was taught the conclusion/summary is where you hit it and consolidate everything to show your side. Throw in some new points/facts that you think may give you a boost but choose wisely 👀.

Final Focus. This Is It! You have given me your thoughts, facts, and tried to persuade me to one side based on the QUALITY of your explanations. Now its time to tell me why you think you won or should win that round. Persuade me! Be strong in your reasoning but don't be rude.

I am a cool judge but I am also serious and will judge fairly. Don't Steal Prep Time !!

QUALITY! PERSUASION! CONFIDENCE! STRUCTURE! OVERALL: HAVE FUN!

History: I debated four years in Public Forum (with some LD debates thrown in there) for Houston County High School and now attend Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA. I have judging experience in both categories.

I like to see direct clash (they say this, we say that), analysis with warrants (prefer our argument, because…), impact/implications (what the world looks like if we don’t do x), warrants for why your impact(s) hold(s) greater significance/is more likely/is the reason I should vote.
Make it clear to me.
Ultimately, debate is an educational activity and a ton of fun! Please try to have a good time in a respectful, inclusive and meaningful way.
I will vote on topicality. These debates should be a clash between two competing interpretations and impacted. You need to tell me why I should prefer one interpretation over the other. Do not just list it as a voter and move on, because that won't convince me that it is important enough to evaluate. Critical Arguments—I really enjoy these debates, and truthfully it is where I focused my attention as a competitor. However, please do not operate under the assumption that I am familiar with your authors or your interpretations. Please be clear in identifying your links and implications. Specificity is key and tell me a story! Always a good choice to slow down! Also a great choice, cut the jargon.
If your strategy when confronted with a critical argument is to rest solely on your Framework laurels, you will have a lot of difficulty winning in front of me. I like to see arguments engaged directly— more on Framework….
So far, observing framework arguments, I am not a fan. I am not of the opinion that debate is the wrong forum and that arguments should, on face, be excluded. A more sophisticated argument, and one that I am definitely willing to vote for, is one that identifies how the argument operates as a disad to the critical case, provides impact comparison, and warranted analysis how they cant capture/access x advantage.

I am the Coach at Carrollton High School, Carrollton, GA. I have been coaching for a number of years. I have coached policy, LD, and PF debate.

I expect debaters to weigh arguments, if you don’t then I'm going to weigh them and you probably won't like that. I like warrants in case. If they provide a warrant and your only response is "they don't have evidence for this" but it logically makes sense, I'm likely to give them some ground on it. Tell me why your response matters and delinks their case. Speed is okay as long as you speak clearly. Arguments that you want me to vote “off of” should be extended through summary and final focus. I don't flow crossfire. If it's important, say it in a speech. I think that debate should be about integrity and truth, meaning be aware of the language you use and the validity of your evidence. There is no place in debate for misconstruing and/or using fake evidence. The flow is important for me in making a decision. If an argument is to be evaluated it should be cleanly extended through the debate. I hate voting on arguments that were not well developed. The debate should not be about blindly reading cards without understanding them. I'm unlikely to vote on theory unless there's an actual violation in the round. Contextual analysis is always good.

I am a former high school debater that has dabbled in everything. I’ve been judging for the past six years and have judged everything, but policy. I recently graduated with a degree in Anthropology, with a focus on cultural anthropology. I’m a pretty typical PF judge and will vote for the team with the most compelling argument, however, I do like a solid framework. As far as cross goes, I don’t care if you sit or stand—whatever is most comfortable for you works for me. I don’t like when you address me during cross because I feel like you should be focused on your opponents instead. My BIGGIE is DO NOT SPREAD. If you are going too fast, I will not flow the round and drop you. This is PF, not policy. I have an extensive speech background and will be pretty merciless when it comes to speaker points. Other than that, remember to be respectful during the debate. Things can get pretty heated sometimes, but that is no excuse for rudeness. If you say things during the round that that are sexist, racist, homophobic, etc., I will drop you immediately. Let’s be kind to one another and remember to have fun! I look forward to hearing some good debates!

Overall, Have Fun!

Public Forum

No matter the competition, I look at the structure. If I can't keep up with you then I will not be able to understand the information I am being given. I want to be given information and explanation. I want to learn what you know and what you are trying to debate.

Individual Events

Extemp- Facts and stats that can help your information. Also, stand on a firm topic, do not sway to both sides of the argument.

Improptu- I want to see stories and fun. This competition is a way to put personal stories into an argument.

DI- While this is a part of Speech, it is very dramatic. I want to forget it is a competition and enjoy each performance.

I am a debate coach in Georgia. I also competed in LD and Policy out west. Take that for whatever you think it means.

• LD - Value/Value Criterion (Framework, Standard, etc,) - this is what separates us from the animals (or at least the policy debaters). It is the unique feature of LD Debate. Have a good value and criterion and link your arguments back to it. I am open to all arguments but present them well, know them, and, above all, Clash - this is a debate not a tea party.
• PF - I side on the traditional side of PF. Don't throw a lot of jargon at me or simply read cards... this isn't Policy Jr., 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 - Debate is a SPEAKING event. I like speed but not spreading. Speak as fast as is necessary but keep it intelligible. There aren't a lot of jobs for speed readers after high school (auctioneers and pharmaceutical disclaimer commercials) so make sure you are using speed for a purpose. If you spread - it better be clear, I will not yell clear or slow down or quit mumbling, I will just stop listening. If the only way I can understand your case is to read it, you have already lost. If you are PRESENTING and ARGUING and PERSUADING then I need to understand the words coming out of your mouth! NEW for ONLINE DEBATE - I need you to speak slower and clearer, pay attention to where your mike is. On speed in-person, I am a 7-8. Online, make it a 5-6.
• Email Chains Please include me on email chains if it is used in the round, but don't expect me to sit there reading your case to understand your arguments - pchildress@gocats.org **Do not email me outside of the round unless you include your coach in the email.
• 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.
• Casing - Love traditional but I am game for kritiks, counterplans, theory - but perform them well, KNOW them, I won't do the links for you. I am a student of Toulmin - claim-evidence-warrant/impacts. I don't make the links and don't just throw evidence cards at me with no analysis. It is really hard for you to win with an AFF K with me - it better be stellar. I am not a big fan of Theory shells that are not actually linked in to the topic - if you are going to run Afro-Pes or Feminism you better have STRONG links to the topic at hand, if the links aren't there... Also don't just throw debate terms out, use them for a purpose and if you don't need them, don't use them.
• 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, I don't either), who made the most successful arguments and used evidence and reasoning to back up those arguments.
• Speaker Points are awarded to the best speaker - I end up with a rare low point win each season. I am fairly generous on speaker points. I disclose winner but not speaker points. Even is you are losing a round or not feeling it during the round, don't quit on yourself or your opponent! You may not like the way your opponent set up their case or you may not like a certain style of debate but don't quit in a round.
• Don't browbeat less experienced debaters; you should aim to win off of argumentation skill against less experienced opponents, not smoke screens or jargon. 7 off against a first-year may get you the win, but it kills the educational and ethical debate space you should strive for. As an experienced debater, you should hope to EDUCATE them not run them out of the event.
• 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.
• Rule of Debate Life. Sometimes you will be told you are the winner when you believe you didn't win the round - accept it as a gift from the debate gods and move on. Sometimes you will be told you lost a round that you KNOW you won - accept that this is life and move on. Sometimes judges base a decision on something that you considered insignificant or irrelevant and sometimes judges get it wrong, it sucks but that is life. However, if the judge is inappropriate - get your advocate, your coach, to address the issue. Arguing with the judge in the round or badmouthing them in the hall or cafeteria won't solve the issue.
• Immediate losers for me - be disparaging to the other team or make racist, homophobic, sexist arguments or comments. Essentially, be kind and respectful if you want to win.
• Questions? - if you have a question ask me.

Patrick "Chaed" Clements

History Major at University of North Georgia

Debate Team

Public Forum

I am fairly new to judging this type of debate so bear with me. Make sure you speak clearly. Speed is not really a problem as long as I can understand you but DO NOT overdo it. Exploring outside facts that relate to your points are fine but they have to relate to your points. Don't get to far away from what you are actually supposed to be talking about. I did not debate in high school competitively so you may have to help me if I seem lost. Have fun and believe in yourself and your content! You can win your round by being nice. Don't be rude because that can ultimately drop your speaker points. From what I have studied I see strongly that this is based on persuasion and I love to try to be persuaded to a certain point or side. Since I have done speaking for a long time and I am also young certain parts will be important to me but take all parts seriously.

Crossfire. I attend Crossfire Debates weekly at UNG. I love a good debate. I will love to listen to facts and points that arise within the crossfire that relate to the resolution and are stronger than your opponents points. Debaters who take the time to create good cross-examinations are appreciated. A goal of the cross-examination is to reveal the fallacies of your opponents' arguments and how their claims appear to run counter to probable impacts or how their silence or ambiguities are cause to vote against their conditional claims. A good cross-examination will go a significant way to winning a debate and scoring high points. Take time to consider what it is you are going to ask and how to develop your line of questioning.

Summary. As stated before I have done speaking for a while and I was taught the conclusion/summary is where you hit it and consolidate everything to show your side. Throw in some new points/facts that you think may give you a boost but choose wisely .

Final Focus. This Is It! You have given me your thoughts, facts, and tried to persuade me to one side based on the QUALITY of your explanations. Now its time to tell me why you think you won or should win that round. Persuade me! Be strong in your reasoning but don't be rude.

I am a cool judge but I am also serious and will judge fairly. Don't Steal Prep Time!

Best wishes,

Patrick C Clements

Experience/Background: I have debated Public Forum for all four years of high school (Starr's Mill High School); thus, I understand public forum and debate terms very well. I also have former judging experience in Public Forum. I am currently a Junior at Kennesaw State University majoring in Middle Grades Education with concentrations in Language Arts and Reading.

Judging Preferences: If you have any questions or concerns about the round or me as a judge, please don't hesitate to ask. As a judge, I flow on my laptop. As far as flowing speed goes, speed is okay with me as long as you are CLEAR. I prefer debaters giving me a roadmap, but I will survive if you don't. If you want me to flow something mentioned in CX, you must mention it in speeches.

Please, please, please, do NOT be rude to your opponents because that is one of my biggest pet peeves. I want you guys to win a fair debate and not winning by being rude because that doesn't help anyone in the process; it will only hurt your scores. I will not weigh any new information mentioned in the final focus in the round. While I do understand everything Public Forum related, please speak clearly and organized so that I can flow accordingly.

Furthermore, please include warrants for all your claims. I will only weigh your claims if there is a warrant provided. You must carry your points that you want me to weigh in the round in both your summary and final focus. I will weigh your debate on offense/defense. At the end of the round whoever has more offense or more defense, will win the round.

As far as evidence goes, you must cite your evidence (whether it be in your case, CX, or speech). Each card you present in the round MUST be available to be reviewed by your opponents and myself. Each card you present must be ready then and there because I don't want time to be wasted looking for the card. Please, please, please don't lie about your evidence because I promise I will find out and drop your speaks.

Lastly, have FUN! :-)

Hey, my name is Sam! I debated on the GA circuit for 3 years and nationally for 2 (2014-2017), breaking even my senior year at ToC and Nationals. Since then, I have judged and coached for several programs. Weigh your arguments and their terminal impacts against your opponent's arguments and impacts in summary/final focus. Second-half cohesion is important, make sure the summary and final focus work well together. I will not vote off of anything that fails to be extended from speech-to-speech. I can follow most speeds you're used to, but please do your best to speak clearly. Be polite to each other and enjoy the learning experience: D.B.A.A!

Experience/Background: I coached at Columbus HS from 2013-2021, primarily Public Forum, and now coach at Carrollton HS (2021-present). I did not debate in high school or college, but I have been coaching and judging PF, a little LD, and IEs since 2013, both locally (Georgia) and on the national circuit, including TOC and NSDA Nationals. I spent several years (2017-2022) as a senior staff member with Summit Debate and previously led labs at Emory (2016-2019).

Judging Preferences:

If you have specific questions about me as a judge that are not answered below (or need clarification), please feel free to ask them. Some general guidelines and answers to frequently asked questions are below:

1. Speed: I can flow a reasonably fast speed when I'm at the top of my game, but I am human. If it's late in the day/tournament, I am likely tired, and my capacity for speed drops accordingly. I will not be offended if you ask me about this before the round. For online rounds, I prefer that you speak at a more moderate speed. I will tell you "clear" if I need you to slow down. If I am flowing on paper, you should err on the slower side of speed than if I am flowing on my laptop.

2. Signposting and Roadmaps: Signposting is good. Please do it. It makes my job easier. Off-time roadmaps aren't really needed if you're just going "their case, our case", but do give a roadmap if there's a more complex structure to your speech.

3. Consistency of Arguments/Making Decisions: Anything you expect me to vote on should be in summary and final focus. Defense is not "sticky" -- meaning you cannot extend it from rebuttal to final focus. Please weigh. I love voters in summary, but I am fine if you do a line-by-line summary.

4. Prep (in-round and pre-round): Please pre-flow before you enter the round. Monitor your own prep time. If you and your opponents want to time each other to keep yourselves honest, go for it. Do not steal prep time - if you have called for a card and your opponents are looking for it, you should not be writing/prepping unless you are also running your prep time. (If a tournament has specific rules that state otherwise, I will defer to tournament policy.) On that note, have your evidence ready. It should not take you longer than 20-30 seconds to pull up a piece of evidence when asked. If you delay the round by taking forever to find a card, your speaker points will probably reflect it.

5. Overviews in second rebuttal: In general, I think a short observation or weighing mechanism is probably more okay than a full-fledged contention that you're trying to sneak in as an "overview". Tread lightly.

6. Frontlines: Second speaking team should answer turns and frontline in rebuttal. I don't need a 2-2 split, but I do think you need to address the speech that preceded yours.

7. Theory, Kritiks, and Progressive Arguments: I prefer not judging theory debates. Strongly prefer not judging theory debates. If you are checking back against a truly abusive practice, I will listen to and evaluate the argument. If you are using theory/Ks/etc. in a way intended to overwhelm/intimidate an opponent who has no idea what's going on, I am not going to respond well to that.

8. Crossfire: I do not flow crossfire. If it comes up in cross and you expect it to serve a role in my decision-making process, I expect you to bring it up in a later speech.

9. Speaker points: I basically never give 30s, so you should not expect them from me. My range is usually from 28-29.7.

Second Year at Georgia Tech

History: Debated PF in high school and had previous experience judging.

Speaking style: I don't have a preference for fast versus slow, as long as you communicate all you want communicate.

I always enjoyed some good old fashioned debate, but please keep it in hand. If one person is being too aggressive, just keep your cool, and know they will be penalized for it. Don't let the opponent dominate this round.

Frameworks are fine, but PLEASE don't abuse them.

The closing parts of the debate should focus on the main issues of the round, and does not need to touch on everything. Please tell me what you want me to vote on as well as what I should weigh during this time if it is not clear already.

The execution of the argument is almost as important as the quality of the argument. A sound argument with good cards that is poorly explained and poorly extended does little to compel. I like well-developed arguments that I can understand. I prefer debates that are intelligent, articulate, and persuasive rather than a speed-talking jumble of statistical evidence.I have to be able to comprehend and flow the internal logic of your arguments. If you are clear, enunciate well, with good diction and voice inflection it helps me understand the key parts of what you are saying.

Evidence is extremely important, but debate is more than just tag and card. I expect debaters to spend time talking about the implications of evidence and making analytical comparisons between arguments. Description of arguments through analogy, examples, testimony, or hypothetical situations is a much more persuasive style of debate than just presenting a flurry of statistics.

Debaters who take the time to create good cross-examinations are appreciated. A goal of the cross-examination is to reveal the fallacies of your opponents' arguments and how their claims appear to run counter to probable impacts or how their silence or ambiguities are cause to vote against their conditional claims. A good cross-examination will go a significant way to winning a debate and scoring high points. Take time to consider what it is you are going to ask and how to develop your line of questioning.

I wish to hear clear and impactful speeches. You must spend time accentuating the evidence as you read it and after you read it. Contentions should be more than a number and a few words. You must articulate the warrant extended to the claims you are offering up for consideration.

Everyone in the debate should be courteous through-out the debate, and it is preferable that you keep your own accurate time. Winning arguments are good arguments, not necessarily plentiful ones.

Have fun and show how your arguments matter and why you should win!

This is also my paradigm for LD - Please NO SPREADING for LD.

I debated in PF at Nova High School for four years. I go with the flow. Please do not spread. I will only vote on impacts that are well warranted. Please weigh. Please collapse. Please.

Preflow before the tech check.

Judging philosophy specifics:

I am not familiar with theory so please do not read it unless an egregious violation has occurred in the round.

Frontlining is not an extension. It simply grants you the ability to cleanly extend. Make sure you go back and actually extend your arguments after frontlining.

2nd Rebuttal: Should respond to turns presented in 1st rebuttal.

1st Summary: Doesn't need to extend terminal defense that hasn't been responded to.

Final Focuses: Any offense gone for in FF must have been in summary.

Crossfires: I do not listen to them. If a concession is made, it must be brought up in a speech for me to consider it as something to vote on.

Have fun and be civil :). You can win the round while being nice. Rude debaters will have their speaker points dropped and offensive debaters will have that and lose the round.

If you have additional question feel free to ask me.

I would say that I'm pretty open about what kinds of arguments I will listen to so I'll just give some likes and dislikes to make debating in front of me easier.

Likes:

Clear links and impacts. I have seen high level debates where people have a lot of great stuff but it's either out of nowhere or I'm not told what to do with it. Have a weighing mech or something similar and then use it.

Arguments that would make sense outside of debate. I'm not necessarily opposed to fiat, but I think a lot of people get really into debate-world and forget that reality is still relevant. I'm okay with fiat being used, but I'll definitely consider probability weighing if it's brought up. That being said, if you're running something like...ironically or as a parody I'm not necessarily opposed. I've run Ks that the whole point was aliens=capitalism. Just tell me what it means.

If you have a plantext, perm text, or any kind of text like that, and you give the other team a copy, make me one too. It just makes my life easier.

Weigh things at the end of the round. Don't make me do it, please or you might not like my result.

Dislikes:

Spreading. I can listen to speed--I've debate 8 years. But I have never seen a single round where it was necessary. Most spreaders tend to say the same 3 arguments 5 ways, so just only have 3 good arguments. If your strat is to spread out the other team by making 15 blipped arguments and then expanding on the 3 that were dropped just be better at defending 3 good arguments. I won't vote you down on this, but I might miss something you say and I'll definitely dock speaks.

Anything homophobic/racist/sexist ect. If someone tells you their pronouns use them. If you think you'll throw a debater of color off by saying something racist, don't. If it's offensive enough I might just vote you down on that even if you won on your flow. In the same vein, I'm not the kind of judge who will vote up edgy stuff like "genocide good actually".

Theory arguments that seem false on face: I'm not opposed to theory arguments. Some of them have changed my mind actually. But if you run a T on every word of the resolution, my bar to clear for kicking them is gonna be pretty low. Basically any version of "run 14 time sucks instead of being good at defending my arguments" is gonna be annoying to me. In the same vein, multi condo bad is something I'll vote on pretty easily if brought up. One or two kickable arguments is one thing, but again, 14 arguments you kick in the neg block is something I'll definitely buy the neg team saying isn't really fair for them.

In general, the type of argument doesn't matter as a matter of personal preference, so much as that both teams are given the ability to debate. The person with better arguments will usually win in front of me, not the person who came up with some off the wall strat to not have to debate.

I am a freshman at Oglethorpe University and attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts High School for four years. I debated with the not for profit organization SpeakFirst. I have debated public forum for three years and I have a tiny bit of Lincoln Douglass experience. I have experience judging novice Public Forum debates.

Firstly, I will not vote for you if your argument in sexist, racist, homophobic, ableist, or running an argument that is based on prejudice beliefs or include sexist, racist, homophobic, or ableist slurs. I do not condone or appreciate it and you will not get my vote.

Most talking speeds are fine with me but I would prefer it if you didn’t spread. If you do decide to spread make sure you are still being clear in your arguments. Crossfire is for further understanding your opponents’ arguments so please remember to stay polite throughout it. I judge pretty heavily on both framework and clash. Don’t forget, you’re trying to persuade me, not your opponent!

Jeffrey Miller

Current Coach -- Marist School (2011-present)
Lab Leader -- National Debate Forum (2015-present), Emory University (2016), Dartmouth College (2014-2015), University of Georgia (2012-2015)
Former Coach -- Fayette County (2006-2011), Wheeler (2008-2009)
Former Debater -- Fayette County (2002-2006)

jmill126@gmail.com and maristpublicforum@gmail.com for email chains, please (no google doc sharing and no locked google docs)

Last Updated -- 2/12/2012 for the 2022 Postseason (no major updates, just being more specific on items)

I am a high school teacher who believes in the power that speech and debate provides students. There is not another activity that provides the benefits that this activity does. I am involved in topic wording with the NSDA and argument development and strategy discussion with Marist, so you can expect I am coming into the room as an informed participant about the topic. As your judge, it is my job to give you the best experience possible in that round. I will work as hard in giving you that experience as I expect you are working to win the debate. I think online debate is amazing and would not be bothered if we never returned to in-person competitions again. For online debate to work, everyone should have their cameras on and be cordial with other understanding that there can be technical issues in a round.

What does a good debate look like?

In my opinion, a good debate features two well-researched teams who clash around a central thesis of the topic. Teams can demonstrate this through a variety of ways in a debate such as the use of evidence, smart questioning in cross examination and strategical thinking through the use of casing and rebuttals. In good debates, each speech answers the one that precedes it (with the second constructive being the exception in public forum). Good debates are fun for all those involved including the judge(s).

The best debates are typically smaller in nature as they can resolve key parts of the debate. The proliferation of large constructives have hindered many second halves as they decrease the amount of time students can interact with specific parts of arguments and even worse leaving judges to sort things out themselves and increasing intervention.

What role does theory play in good debates?

I've always said I prefer substance over theory. That being said, I do know theory has its place in debate rounds and I do have strong opinions on many violations. I will do my best to evaluate theory as pragmatically as possible by weighing the offense under each interpretation. For a crash course in my beliefs of theory - disclosure is good, open source is an unnecessary standard for high school public forum teams until a minimum standard of disclosure is established, paraphrasing is bad, round reports is frivolous, content warnings for graphic representations is required, content warnings over non-graphic representations is debatable.

All of this being said, I don't view myself as an autostrike for teams that don't disclose or paraphrase. However, I've judged enough this year to tell you if you are one of those teams and happen to debate someone with thoughts similar to mine, you should be prepared with answers.

How do "progressive" arguments work in good debates?

Like I said above, arguments work best when they are in the context of the critical thesis of the topic. Thus, if you are reading the same cards in your framing contention from the Septober topic that have zero connections to the current topic, I think you are starting a up-hill battle for yourselves. I have not been entirely persuaded with the "pre-fiat" implications I have seen this year - if those pre-fiat implications were contextualized with topic literature, that would be different.

My major gripe with progressive debates this year has been a lack of clash. Saying "structural violence comes first" doesn't automatically mean it does or that you win. These are debatable arguments, please debate them. I am also finding that sometimes the lack of clash isn't a problem of unprepared debaters, but rather there isn't enough time to resolve major issues in the literature. At a minimum, your evidence that is making progressive type claims in the debate should never be paraphrased and should be well warranted. I have found myself struggling to flow framing contentions that include four completely different arguments that should take 1.5 minutes to read that PF debaters are reading in 20-30 seconds (Read: your crisis politics cards should be more than one line).

How should evidence exchange work?

Evidence exchange in public forum is broken. At the beginning of COVID, I found myself thinking cases sent after the speech in order to protect flowing. However, my view on this has shifted. A lot of debates I found myself judging last season had evidence delays after case. At this point, constructives should be sent immediately prior to speeches. (If you paraphrase, you should send your narrative version with the cut cards in order). At this stage in the game, I don't think rebuttal evidence should be emailed before but I imagine that view will shift with time as well. When you send evidence to the email chain, I prefer a cut card with a proper citation and highlighting to indicate what was read. Cards with no formatting or just links are as a good as analytics.

For what its worth, whenever I return to in-person tournaments, I do expect email chains to continue.

What effects speaker points?

I am trying to increase my baseline for points as I've found I'm typically below average. Instead of starting at a 28, I will try to start at a 28.5 for debaters and move accordingly. Argument selection, strategy choices and smart crossfires are the best way to earn more points with me. You're probably not going to get a 30 but have a good debate with smart strategy choices, and you should get a 29+.

This only applies to tournaments that use a 0.1 metric -- tournaments that are using half points are bad.

* Quality of argumentation

* I don't like people getting angry, personal, or condescending during debate

I am a parent judge - 2020-2021 was my twins' final year as high school debaters, and I usually judged at almost every tournament, so I have been lucky enough to see a bunch of really great rounds. I typically judged PF, but have also judged a fair amount of LD.

I am looking for a DEBATE - not just the best speeches. I will give the win to the team that makes the most compelling case as to why their side is right and/or the opponent is wrong. I tend not to flow every specific point, but rely more on which team's overall argument is stronger. I probably put more weight on cross-ex and final summary arguments than most judges.

I usually am more convinced by a smaller number of really great points that are well defended than a whole bunch of pretty good points (quality of argument versus quantity). I am also looking for the debaters to pay attention to what their opponent says and specifically give a good counter argument to those points.

I am a former high school debater and now a law school student.

Do not spread. Speak clearly.

Be nice to one another.

Make sure to respond to your opponent (don't just sit there and not take notes when they're talking) and clash.

Tell me why your side is better and why I should vote for you.

I value good arguments, so make sure you state the best ones first.

When I call time, finish your sentence and stop.

ALL DEBATE: I focus on structure and substance. As long as I can follow the debate of your argument and you make the case for your framework, I vote in your favor.Make sure you speak clearly. Speed is not really a problem as long as I can understand you but DO NOT overdo it. Exploring outside facts that relate to your points are fine but they have to relate to your points. Don't get to far away from what you are actually supposed to be talking about. During Crossfire, I am all for a heated and informational debate. A good cross-examination will go a significant way to winning a debate and scoring high points. The conclusion/summary is where you hit it and consolidate everything to show your side. Final Focus. This Is It! You have given me your thoughts, facts, and tried to persuade me to one side based on the QUALITY of your explanations. Now its time to tell me why you think you won or should win that round. Persuade me! Be strong in your reasoning! Don't steal prep time!

I debated PF throughout High School at St. Pius X in Atlanta, was team co-captain, and went to Nationals. Graduated from University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign studying Architecture in 2017.

At its core, PF is a combination of sound arguments and solid public speaking, therefore I weigh both very heavily. Arguments should be well-structured and well-researched but also accessible to the average person.

In terms of speed - please speak with clarity and enunciation. I consider quality over quantity. (Remember, this is PF not Policy!) Even if your argument and evidence is the best out there, if I can't follow you or understand your argument because you're speaking too quickly then I'll miss a lot of what you're trying to say.

Please make sure to cite your evidence properly - enough that I should be able to find it if I really wanted to! If your opponents ask for evidence please give it to them in a timely and polite fashion - don't abuse and waste time in the debate round though. If your opponent can't check evidence when requested, then I consider the evidence to be unsubstantiated.

Throughout the debate, frame the arguments, tell me where the debate is going, and tell me why you have won. Any arguments you want me to vote on should be mentioned in the summary and final focus.

Don't assume that I, nor any other judges, know what any acronyms stand for or what some debate terminology/phrases mean. Explain things in lay terms - remember the point of PF is to be able to debate topics so that an average lay-person can understand your concepts.

Use your prep time! You get two minutes, use it wisely.

Please be respectful - to your opponents, to the judges, to school that is hosting the tournament.

Please do not make speeches in cross, It's rude and takes away from the debate.

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.

I am a Hamilton High School (AZ) and Emory University alum. I debated in public forum in high school in the local and national circuit.

TLDR: Speed is fine but be clear, Warrants and Impacts are important so please extend them, Know your evidence and have your full cards ready, Don't be rude.

*For the medicare for all topic* ---- I am currently pursing a career in medicine and also currently work with patients everyday. I would say I have a pretty good understanding of how health insurance coverage and lack there of directly impacts patients and medical practices. I do not judge tabula rasa. With that in mind, please do not argue or state something that blatantly goes against humanism or makes no sense in a clinical setting. Even though the topic is on a bill and can be political, remember that patients are human and doctors actually care, regardless of what some random person in your evidence states.

Speed

I’m fine with speed as long as you are clear and audible and enunciate. Please do not spread. If you do choose to speak quickly, please go down the flow line by line or signpost. Even if you give an overview, signpost. If you're going to read your case quickly, slow down or pause before and after giving me taglines.

Speeches

My decision is mostly based on what is said in the final focus. If you’re going for something in the final focus, you absolutely need to flow it through in your summary EXCEPT for defense from rebuttal. You should frontline if you have time.

When extending impacts/responses/cards, you need to extend at least one warrant with it or else it's not going on my flow. Do not extend through ink. Please weigh and tell me what I'm voting for.

I don't pay attention to crossfire. On the off chance that something important happens during cross, bring it up in later speeches for me to consider it.

I tend to focus a lot on evidence. If I end up calling for a card at the end of the round and I see that you've clipped it to help your side and your opponents didn't call you out on it, I'm still going to use the evidence against you. So, it's in your best interest to not to use sketchy cards; make sure you know what your evidence actually says. PLEASE DOWNLOAD FULL CARDS.

Some other things:

• I am by no means really good at or extremely informed in the history, polisci, or economics department, and possibly current events. This means that any background information that I need to know in order to understand your arguments needs to be addressed either in your case or at some point in the first half of the round. This is something that I think debaters should do anyway, but I find that it is not the case for most. Feel free to ask me about my familiarity with the topic/subject before the round. You can also assume that I know more of the topic the later the round is in a tournament.
• I do not judge tabula rasa, but that doesn't mean I will develop your arguments for you. If there is something very wrong/flawed about your argument, I probably won't give it to you even if the other team doesn't call you out on it.
• I would probably describe myself as a 85% flow judge 15% lay judge. If the round is between 2 very strong teams (i.e. multiple bids) and/or it is a late outround at a national tournament, treat me like a 50% flow 50% lay judge in the 2nd half of the round because my RFD at that point will probably be "you were more convincing" or "your side makes more sense to me."
• Please don't assume I know what your acronyms stand for because I probably don't.
• Please keep things like counterplans and Ks away from PF. I will look at disads, tho I prefer more traditional arguments.
• Most importantly, please be respectful; there is a fine line between being aggressive and being condescending/rude. Be aware of what you're saying and how you're saying it, and be aware of your actions regardless if you're speaking or not.

Bonus points if you incorporate puns, song lyrics, or the words “duty” and "lugubrious" in your speeches or get creative with fun/nontraditional taglines :)

If you have any questions, feel free to ask before the round!