I am a former speechie who began coaching public forum debate a year ago. This makes me either the best lay judge or the worst flow judge you've ever had.

I have no preference for whether you sit or stand. I can keep up with speed, but not spreading. I appreciate clearly organized speeches. I like a final focus that makes my job easy by expertly articulating the voting issues of the debate. I really like a creative case that anticipates stock arguments.

You can assume if it's public forum that I have a pretty good understanding of the topic, so don't feel like you have to break things down for me. For other forms of debate, I tend to catch on quick, so you probably don't need to explain things to me like you might for a lay judge.

I have a fairly solid understanding of debate jargon, so don't be scared to get technical.

I appreciate strong, confident speakers, but I'll never vote on speaking ability.

Ultimately, I think of debate as a mental chess match, and I vote on the team or speaker who best plays the game.

I am a teacher with 28 years of teaching experience with a master's degree but not in political science. I am a lay judge but I have been judging since 2015.

Please don't talk so fast that I can't follow you. If I can't follow you, I can't vote for you. No off time road maps. Everything is timed because I am the official time keeper. Feel free to time yourself but my time is the only time.

Please be clear and precise in your presentation. Be respectful and not condescending. Build your case, tell your story because I am looking for the thread that binds your case, your crossfire, summary and final focus together.

During your rebuttals be respectful and not condescending. Make sure to don't just attack the others but also defend your case.

During your summary restate the facts and clearly address any misunderstandings.

During your Final Focus make me want to vote for you!

I am an ordained Episcopal priest and I teach elementary religion. I have a B.A. in history and an Mdiv. in theological studies and study mostly classical and patristic theology. I also study classical philosophy.

This is my second year judging and coaching debate.

Lincoln Douglas

Spreading: No. this is Lincoln Douglas, I want to hear it all.

The most important aspect to winning my ballot is threefold:

Clash: I enjoy and appreciate the clash of debate (who doesn’t). I am pretty tolerant of debates getting heated, but my patience runs thin when one debater is arrogant to another. Keep it civil, but engage each other in some way. The debater that engages the clash first and most will tend to get my ballot. I do not appreciate tricks, so you will want to stay away from them.

Clarity: I heard a judge say last year, “I prefer quality over quantity.” This is where I stand. If I cannot understand or follow your argument, I will struggle to judge you and you will lose the ballot.

Evidence & Philosophy: I prefer clear, concise evidence and sourcework. Don’t bring up evidence you can not support with documents, you will lose my ballot. This poses an ethical dilemma. I am an Aristotelianite. I find Aristotle's philosophy a breath of fresh air, as I prefer logic and reason in arguments. Do you have to argue Aristotelian philosophy to win my ballot? Of course not. Adding philosophical discourse will help your ballot.

Finally, Respect is key. That includes perceived arrogance and inappropriate comments or body language. Keeping under control is part of the civil debate process.

Policy

Spreading: YES for 1 & 2 AC and 1 & 2 NC. NO for CX, 1 & 2 AR and 1 & 2 NR. Add me to the email-chain if you are sending (Jay.Angerer@stmsaints.com)

I like and appreciate creativity in policy argument. Please have your evidence ready and back up what you say.

I take notes, but not flow. The better I understand, the better I can judge.

So, classically, I'm a hybrid of Tabula rasa (Blank slate) and Policymaker (Whatever is the better policy will win). Keep this in mind when choosing cards and setting your framework.

PF

Spreading: No. (PF needs clash more than Lincoln Douglas!)

Most importantly, keep the arrogance to a minimum, no disrespect and any inappropriate comments or behavior (including facial expression) will automatically lose speaker points.

Point out to me clearly why your case should win, why the other should lose and a clear framework is very helpful on both sides. If you can not show your cards (evidence) then all case work based off that card will be dropped.

Hi everyone,

I have no background as a debater or coach, and I have limited experience as a judge. My judging experience is in Public Forum.

Excessive speed and jargon are a no. Please don't presume I know the deep research on the resolution. I expect you should be able to break down the debate on the resolution for anyone and convince them why your side is right. Finding a way to make me care about your side is a plus. Being mean or being a bully does the opposite.

Be sure to time your speeches and respect the time limits. I'll also be keeping time, but one of the marks of a good debater for me is self-respect for time.

Your best bet to keep me engaged in your argument is to limit your number of contentions. If I can't flow it, I will have a hard time remembering it exists.

I have no problem listening to arguments related to identity groups (comparing the effects on one group to the effects on another group), but I suggest you use respectful language that does not degrade or dehumanize.

email: dbeutel@impactamerica.com

This is my tenth year judging speech and debate. I also competed for all four years in high school. I have judge tournaments for both national and local circuits across the country and enjoy seeing great rounds. I understand and respect the hard work given to prepare and

DEBATE

I am a flow judge so make sure to make extensions for every speech. Debate rounds should have clash. Be sure to address arguments made by your opponent. Speed is fine as long as it is clear. I also do not mind theory arguments. I consider myself a blank slate and believe it is important to not let personal opinions sway the round. However, I am normally persuaded by arguments being unfair. Do not waste time explaining if something is abusive during the round. Below is the ranking of what I will use to determine who picks up the round:

1. Framework (Value and Criterion Required in LD)

2. Key Issues

3. Voters

4. Impacts

Speaker points: I generally evaluate speaker points on things like clarity, argument structure and development, extensions, and overall how presence. However, I expect civility in the round. Please avoid ad hominem attacks.

SPEECH

I will first and foremost value delivery including tone, clarity, and gestures. Creativity is the second factor that influences my ranking. For extemp, I enjoy hearing sources incorporated into the speech. Most important, be sure to have fun. I will give time signals from 3 down.

If you ever have any questions, feel free to email me at jl.bradford@hotmail.com. It may take a little while, but I will respond.

Experience:

Public Forum & World Schools: 2015-2018.

College IPDA

General:

1. Signpost, weigh, voters.

2. Be as fast as you want, but if I stop flowing know you are unclear.

3. Don’t be homophobic, sexist, racist, or offensive in anyway. Be respectful to your opponent and judge.

4. If you have any questions feel free to email me at branchka2@gmail.com

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!

Policy Debate Paradigm:

Overview:

The things you are probably looking for:

Speed: I’m fine with whatever you are comfortable with--no need to try to impress me.

Performance: I do not mind a performance but make sure the performance is tied directly to the case and purpose of the debate. I am NOT some old fart, but I am a bit old school with a blend of progressive ideology.

Pre-dispositions: Please do not make arguments that you do not understand/cannot explain in order to fill the time or to confuse the opponent—I will definitely take notice and probably will not vote for you. Keep things well researched and logical and everything should be fine.

Sportsmanship: Please always be respectful of your opponents. Mean-spiritedness is not a way to show me you’re winning. Even though I will always vote for the better arguments, if you display signs of cruelty towards your opponent, your speaker points will suffer.

****Make sure you have great links…nothing worse than sitting through a round where no one understands how any of the arguments relate to the topic*********

Specifics:

Disadvantages: Unless if your strategy is extremely sophisticated/well thought out/well-rehearsed (I have encountered quite a few when I competed), I think you should always run at least 1 DA.

· The Counterplan: If done well, and the strategy around them is logical and thought-out, these are generally winners. If done poorly and you just inserted one to fill the time, I will be sad and bored.

· Procedurals/Topicality: I love a good meta-debate, and I am open to these if you guys have a solid strategy around these arguments (for example: if your opponents are illogical/made mistakes, point that out to me). However, I usually see T’s used as generic fillers, and I will not vote for a generic filler.

· The Kritik: Love Ks if done well and showcases your knowledge of the topic and argument. However, if I can sense that you don’t know what you’re talking about, running a K might hurt you.

Overall, have fun ( I understand how stressful this event can be), show me you're prepared, and always try to learn something.

Lincoln-Douglas, Big Questions Debate, and Public Forum Debate Paradigm:

My job as a judge is to be a blank slate; your job as a debater is to tell me how and why to vote and decide what the resolution/debate means to you. This includes not just topic analysis but also types of arguments and the rules of debate if you would like. If you do not provide me with voters and impacts I will use my own reasoning. I'm open all arguments but they need to be well explained.

My preference is for debates with a warranted, clearly explained analysis. I do not think tagline extensions or simply reading a card is an argument that will win you the debate. In the last speech, make it easy for me to vote for you by giving and clearly weighing voting issues- these are summaries of the debate, not simply repeating your contentions! You will have the most impact with me if you discuss magnitude, scope, etc. and also tell me why I look to your voting issues before your opponents. In terms of case debate, please consider how your two cases interact with each other to create more class; I find turns especially effective. I do listen closely during cross (even if I don't flow), so that is a place to make attacks, but if you want them to be fully considered please include them during your speeches.

Email: dhbroussard1763@gmail.com

I haven't judged much LD and I cannot judge spreading. I need to understand the argument to vote on it, and I want to clearly see your defense. Also, I do not like theory - at all.

I am an experienced English teacher. I focus on rhetoric and overall persuasive appeal. I do not think spreading is the best plan of attack. I appreciate when debaters adapt to their competitor and the judge with focus on pace, information, and explanation.

I need to feel passion in your argument. Prioritize defense.

Truth over tech.

CX is binding.

PF is about public appeal; present yourself accordingly.

I am an English teacher and former IE competitor.

While judging, I focus on rhetoric and your ability to effectively persuade.

I appreciate being able to understand your arguments, so spreading and speeding are discouraged.

Dr. Carrie Crenshaw

Director, SpeakFirst

Birmingham, AL

24 Years of Debate Experience at Middle School, High School and Collegiate Debate Level

Philosophy:
I love debate. My high school coach Patti Edwards first gave me the gift of debate in 1979. I am happy to be here to listen to your arguments and will carefully consider all you have to say. I appreciate your hard work and courage in speaking out and learning to argue well and think critically.

I have always considered myself an argument critic. I will vote for the team who makes the best arguments backed by high quality reasoning and evidence. I expect you to be tight in the line by line meeting your burden of rejoinder while also weighing the arguments, issues and evidence in a solid explanation of why you win the debate as a whole.

Do
-Speak clearly and persuasively. I don't mind a rapid rate of speaking but I have found that very few are actually able to speak rapidly and clearly at the same time.
-Use high quality evidence and make clear arguments about why your evidence is good.
-Be strategic and smart.
-Be kind.

Don't
-Be obnoxious or rude. I expect everyone to be treated with respect.
-Expect me to read volumes of evidence after the debate is over. If a card is highly contested, I may occasionally ask to see it but, in general, I expect you to clearly read and refer to your evidence in your speeches.
-Speak fast if you can't do it clearly.

I competed in multiple Speech events for all four years of high school and in Lincoln/Douglas for my last three years, including going to CFL Nationals my Junior year. Public Forum was not yet an event when I was competing, so I approach debate rounds from the perspective of an L/D competitor.

I flow cases when I judge and appreciate (but do not need) for you to give me a road map of how you will present your CX. Please keep any comments about your competitor respectful. Feel free to point out any points and sub-points dropped by your competitor, as long as it is contained within your rebuttals. I judge based on how well and how much of a person's case is attacked, as well as the quality of the attack. I appreciate sound evidence in a case; however, a solid attack of the philosophy and ideas presented over an emphasis solely on the validity of the evidence will go further with me.

I am a former high school Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum debater, and a current coach in both events.

In Lincoln-Douglas, I look for strategic and respectful cross-examination, strong logic and reasoning behind evidentiary arguments, and the ability to carry the thread of the value-criterion clash throughout the round. I weigh the framework debate heavily.

In PF, I expect debaters to divide crossfire time fairly and treat their opponents with respect while also strongly asserting their questions and answers. I expect all major arguments to be carried through each speech, from constructive to final focus.

In general, I expect arguments to logically follow and flow well together; I appreciate strong persuasive speaking and rhetorical skills, especially when backed up by solid evidence and argumentation.

Sawyer Emerson (he/him) – seemerson19@gmail.com

TLDR: Minimal Topic Knowledge, Topical Action Good, Non-Contradictory Condo Good, Disclosure Good

I am a first-year out debater from Samford University. I qualified to the NDT all four years that I debated in college. I am currently working in Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence Software Development in Huntsville, AL.

Since graduating, I have done zero topic research, and I have zero topic knowledge. As of the season opener, I didn't even know the resolution until Friday aside from personhood. In-depth topic-related arguments are going to need some background for me, and topic-related acronyms are not preferable. To an extent, this will remain consistent throughout the season. I have no plans of being deep in the topic at any point in the near future. 

Below I have some major points of my takes on debate, they will not change.

1. The affirmative must affirm the topic - how you want to do that is up to you but be prepared to defend your aff through the topic. Being "in the direction of the topic" is not sufficient. 

2. The pairings are binding as is on Tab. If the first speech is not from the school assigned affirmative, I will auto-vote for the negative.

3. Condo is good - contradictory and unlimited condo is not. Perf con is not condo and is definitely bad

4. I will vote negative on presumption for solvency or internal link takeouts. I think there is a possibility of 0% risk of a DA or an Advantage. I would definitely vote for presumption against an AI aff that totally mischaracterizes AI.

A couple of other notes you may find useful: 

1. I went for separate sheet impact turns frequently. I think these debates are really fun when executed, not so fun when disorganized or mishandled.
2. Debaters are too hesitant to litter pages with analytics. 
3. I default to consequentialism and utilitarianism, but the tech could lead me to use a different standard. I will not reject util if you don't provide an alternative. Reading 10 util is evil/bad cards is not an alternative weighing mechanism. 
4. Disclosure in debate of broken arguments is good. Using the wiki is good. I will vote on disclosure theory in these instances. Sending analytics is nice, but in no way required. 
5. If your cap k is anything other than How the World Works by Bo Burnham on repeat for every speech, I probably don't want to hear it

I did LD debate for three years, served as an assistant LD coach for 5 years, and have coached LD and PF debate as a head coach for 6 years. I have coached and judged on the national LD and PF circuits, including coaching numerous TOC qualified debaters in both LD and PF and judging at both TOC and NSDA Nationals multiple times.

GENERALLY

I will look for the easiest way to evaluate the round. In general, I will determine the round based upon the standard in LD or any framework in PF. You should link explicitly and clearly back to the standard/framework for me to weigh your offense. I will typically vote on whatever argument is clearest and allows me to do the least amount of work. If you use a different type of framework, please make sure to explain the decision calculus you prefer me to use. Weighing analysis is crucial.

SPECIFICALLY

PF PARADIGM:

Arguments you want me to vote for must be consistently extended and present in both summary and final focus. Dropped arguments are dropped. Please focus on clear weighing and argument interaction to allow for a cleaner decision.

LD PARADIGM:

It’s probably best not to run Ks or other alternative forms of argumentation in front of me. I’m not theoretically opposed to voting for such arguments (and have voted for debaters running such arguments), but I will not do any work for you and you will need to clearly win at every step of the link chain.

I will not flow new arguments in the 2AR. I will not vote on warrants fabricated later in round for in case assertions.

It has been some time since I have judged consistently on the national circuit. I am fine with some speed, but likely can no longer handle elite circuit speed. If I cannot understand you, I will say “slow,” “clear,” or “louder” as necessary.

THEORY

I have decided to use the power of the ballot to curb certain theory trends in debate or, at the least, to avoid having to listen to certain types of arguments.

I will not vote on theory which alleges abuse that I do not consider unfair or uneducational. If you run theory in front of me you must run it to rectify real abuse in the round, not for strategic purposes. If you run theory for strategic purposes and ask me to drop an argument or a debater for practices which I do not consider unfair or uneducational, I will vote you down. Even if you are winning on the flow, I will vote against you for running theory needlessly.

What constitutes real abuse in a round is my decision as it concerns my ballot. Practices which constitute real abuse in my opinion include (but are not limited to): abusive remarks (racism, sexism, sexual harassment, etc.), positions which exclude the other side from accessing ground under the resolution, positions which severely and unfairly limit ground, unethical practices (lying, purposely miscutting cards, other intentional misrepresentation, etc.), and other unfair or uneducational practices. Practices which do not constitute real abuse in my opinion include (but are not limited to): having to adapt to an unprepared strategy, having to kick one’s own arguments to win on your opponent’s side of the flow, arguments which appeal to structural issues in the activity (side skews, time skews, etc.), and any other practices which I consider to be consistent with the educational goals and fair parameters of debate.

Note: I have already been asked how this paradigm interacts with so-called AFC/parametricization etc. I originally thought I would permit such arguments to be made so long as they were not extended and used in the round. However, to be more consistent with the aims of this new approach, I believe it is better to discourage the reading of these and similar arguments altogether. Therefore, I will vote down debaters who run these arguments in case.

It is still possible to win on theory in front of me. However, you must meet the above guidelines. Your theory must be in response to something that I believe is truly abusive in the round. If the issue is borderline and you think you can convince me that the practice is abusive, I will hear you out and will not vote you down for attempting to go for theory. In such a case I would evaluate the debate normally, determining who wins on theory and other arguments in the round. If an abusive practice does occur in round and you decide to run theory, please note that I don’t think theory is an inherent voting issue in the round, so you will need to clearly explain to me why theory is a voter if you want me to vote on it. You will need to explain thoroughly and clearly how the violation constitutes abuse in the round and I will not make inherent links for you.

Please take this theory paradigm seriously. I will not tolerate the running of theory for strategic, trivial, or other reasons, except to combat what I consider to be real abuse. I will drop you and drop you immediately. You will receive the lowest speaker points I can convince myself to give you.

If both debaters violate my preferences regarding theory, I will drop the debater who violates the paradigm more egregiously. I will make that determination and will not listen to arguments made by debaters in round that one has violated my paradigm worse than the other. Both debaters will receive low speaker points as well. If this situation occurs at a tournament which somehow allows double losses, both debaters will receive a loss.

If I drop you on theory for the above reasons, it is not because I dislike you or because you are a bad debater or any other reason except that you ran theory in a manner that I explicitly do not wish to see in rounds any more. I have changed my paradigm to respond to the prevalence of theory arguments of this type, which I consider to be bad for debate for a variety of reasons.

If you have any questions, please ask me before the round.

***Include me in your email chain.*** callieham479@gmail.com

It would be best for everyone if you kept your own time.

Public Forum

To be a true PF judge, I shouldn't have one of these...right? But see below...

Lincoln Douglas

LD debate should remain distinct from policy debate. While the passage of new policy may be deemed essential for AFF ground with some resolutions (i.e. Sept/Oct 2018), value debate should remain central to the round. I don't mind speed or progressive/policy-style arguments in an LD round as long as you provide analysis of those arguments and link them back to the value debate.

Policy - I haven't coached or judged CX since 2016...but just in case...

As a judge, I am open to all arguments and styles of policy debate. Your job as a debater is to convince me that what you have to say matters and should be preferred to your opponent. The way you go about that is entirely your choice (within reason…professionalism and decorum are key). If you have questions pre-round, please ask. Having said that, here are some specific likes/dislikes as a judge which you can choose to follow or completely ignore (because I will objectively evaluate whatever lands on my flow whether I really like it or not):

Case: I do love case debate. I find it hard to vote NEG when case goes relatively untouched and hard to vote AFF when rebuttals focus on off-case arguments. Rounds where case is essentially dropped by both sides are my worst nightmare.

K: Not my favorite, but I will evaluate K. I’m not really well-versed in kritikal literature, so if you choose to run kritikal arguments (AFF or NEG), please provide thorough explanation and analysis. Don’t expect me to know the ideals that Whoever promoted because, unless you tell me, I probably don’t.

T: I tend to be pretty lenient on the affirmative as far as T goes. In order to win on T, the negative must completely prove that the affirmative has totally harmed the fairness and education of the round.

CP/DA: Sure? Run them? Why not?

Theory/Framework: Don't love it, but sure. Whatevs. Just tell me how/where to flow it and why it matters in this round.

The Flow: Tell me how to flow the round. Roadmap. Sign post. Please slow down for clarity on tags and citations. If you insist on spreading tags and cites, please provide me with a copy of your speech. If your arguments don’t make it on my flow, they cannot be evaluated on my ballot. I also do very little (feel free to read that as “no”) evidence analysis following the round. It is your job as a debater to clearly articulate the argument/evidence/analysis during your allotted time.

Have fun! Be nice! (or at least reasonable)

For my general paradigm, I consider myself tab. There are no arguments I do and don’t like. I will judge the arguments presented in the round and I don’t want to impose my own beliefs or arguments into the round. You have to tell my why the arguments made in the round matter. If you fail to give me a way in which to evaluate the round, I will default to a policy maker. Being a policy maker, I am looking for the negative team to run disadvantages, counter plans, kritiks, and anything else. As a policy maker, I am looking for you to terminalize your impacts. Why specifically is nuclear war bad? Does it kill millions of people? Just saying dehumanization or nuclear war is bad isn’t an impact. I will gladly listen to counter plans, theory arguments and Kritiks. My only advice on the k is to tell me what the role of the ballot is. Why is my ballot key to your alt?

Topicality/Theory

I will vote on T when there is proven abuse. I need to see in-round abuse for me to pull the trigger. I think T is a legitimate tool for a negative team, but I strongly urge the team that goes all in for T to make sure they can prove in-round abuse. If the aff is just failing to make arguments on the T, I will vote for it, but my preference is for in-round abuse to be occurring.

Spikes
I am not a fan of LD 1AC spikes. I honestly don't think that the Aff gets to remove ground from the negative. I don't think these arguments are legitimate. Let the neg make claims and then argue against them. I will tell you now, that I WILL NOT vote on them. I see them as a waste of time for you to run and they are highly abusive. I also rarely vote on RVIs. If you plan on trying to run spikes in the 1AC, I am not the judge for you. I will give the Neg a lot of access to simple arguments to knock down your spikes.

Ethos

I think it is important that you are an ethical and nice person in the debate. It is ok for the round to get heated, but I don't see the need to be rude to your opponent. This will result in a hit to your speaker points.

Speed
I don't have a problem with speed, but make sure that you are clearly telling me your tags. Slow down on the tag if you can. Be clear in your transitions. I like next or and to let me know you are moving from the end of a card to another tagline. The same thing applies to your plan text or alt. Slow down for the plan text/alt or repeat it for me.

I debated in high school and a good bit in college. I flow well and can follow most any kind of argument, but do have definite preferences in regard to style. I am happy to provide verbal feedback/critique after the round, time permitting.

As a judge, I really enjoy hearing clear clash of ideas. Make sure to show me your claim, warrant, and impact. I'm not really a games-play type judge. While I can appreciate the skill and strategy it takes to catch an opposing team with a "gotcha" technicality, I much more appreciate deep, analytical discussion of values, philosophy, and pragmatic implementation. I'm also old fashioned in the sense that civility and delivery are important to me and your speaker points will reflect my evaluation of those items most.

I will be flowing your cases. I don't mind fast delivery, but I don't appreciate spreading. You will have a hard time getting my vote if I could not flow your case due to unintelligible speech.

Weigh your arguments, especially in final focus (I appreciate voters). I expect to hear well-developed pro and con cases about the resolution. I appreciate traditional cases.

History: I am a parent judge and this will be my 4th year judging Speech and Debate. I have judged at our local tournaments, Blue Key, Isidore Newman, and at State.

Updated February 2023

Caveat: This is my perception of what I think I do. Those who have had me in the back of the room may have different views.

The TL;DR version (applies to all forms of debate).

1. The resolution is pretty important. Advocate for or against it and you get a lot of leeway on method. Ignore it at your peril.

2. Default policymaker/CBA unless the resolution screams otherwise or you give me a well-reasoned argument for another approach.

3. “Roles of the ballot” or frameworks that are not reasonably accessible (doesn't have to be 50-50, but reasonable) to both sides in the debate run the risk of being summarily thrown out.

4. Share me to the speech doc (maierd@gosaints.org) but I’m only flowing what you intelligibly say in the debate. If I didn’t flow it, you didn’t say it.

5. Fairness and reciprocity are a good starting point for evaluating theory/topicality, etc. Agnostic on tech v. truth debate. These are defaults and can be overcome.

6. Rudeness, rules-lawyering, clipping, falsifying evidence and other forms of chicanery all make me unhappy. Making me unhappy reduces your speaker points. If I’m unhappy enough, you might be catching an L.

The longer version (for all forms of debate)

The Resolution: Full disclosure – I have been a delegate to the NFHS Debate Topic Selection Meeting since 2011 (all years for Mississippi except 2022 when I voted on behalf of NCFL) and was on the Wording Committee from 2018-2020, the last of those years as chair. There’s a lot of work that goes into crafting resolutions and since you’re coming here by choice, it should be respected. Advocate for or against the resolution and I’ll give you a pretty wide degree of latitude on method. If you’re just going to ignore the resolution, the bar is pretty low for your opponent to clear to get the W (though I have seen teams bungle this).

File Sharing and Speed – Yes please, but understand I’m only flowing that which comes out of your mouth that I can understand – I don’t flow as fast in my mid-50s as I did even in my 40s. I only go to the speech doc if a) I lost concentration during the speech through no fault of your own, b) I need to read evidence because there is a dispute about what the evidence says, or c) I want to steal the evidence for a future round. If you bust out ten blips in fifteen seconds, half of them aren’t making the flow. Getting it on my flow is your job and I have no problem saying “you didn’t say that in a way that was flowable”.

Arguments: Arguments grounded in history, political science, and economics are the ones I understand the best – that can cut both ways. So while I understand K’s like Cap, CRT, and Intersectionality, I have a harder time with those that are based on some Continental European whose name ends with four vowels in a row who says that not adopting their method risks all value to life. Your job is to put me in a position to be able to make the other team understand why they lost, even if they disagree with the decision. If you don’t do the work, I’m not doing it for you. Regarding “framework” or “role of the ballot” arguments – if what you’re advocating isn’t at least reasonably accessible to both teams, I reserve the right to ignore it.

Deciding Rounds – I try to decide the round in the least interventionist way possible – I’ll leave it to others to hash out whether I succeed at that. I’m willing to work slightly harder to adjudicate the round than you do to advocate in the round (basically, if neither debater does the work and the round’s a mess, I’m going to look for the first thing I can embrace to get out of the round). If you ask me to read evidence, especially your evidence, you’ve given me a tacit invitation to intervene.

Point Scale – Because I judge on a few different circuits that each have different scales, saying X equals a 28.5 isn’t helpful. I use the scale I’m asked to use to the best of my ability.

Things that will cost you speaker points/the round:

1. Rudeness – Definitely will hurt your speaks. If it’s bad enough, I’ll look for a reason to vote you down or just decide I like to make rude people mad and give you the L just so I can see you get hacked off.

2. Gratuitous profanity – Saying “damn” or “hell” or “the plan will piss off X” in a frantic 1AR is no biggie. Six f-bombs in a forty second span is a different story.

3. Racist/sexist/homophobic language or behavior – If I’m sure about what I saw or heard and it’s bad enough, I’ll act on it unilaterally.

4. Falsifying evidence/clipping cards/deliberate misrepresentation of evidence – Again, if I’m sure about this and that it’s deliberate, I’ll act on my own.

5. Rules-lawyering – Debate has very few rules, so unless it’s written down somewhere, rules-lawyering is likely to only make me mad. An impacted theory objection might be a different story.

Lincoln-Douglas Observations

1. Way too much time on framework debates without applying the framework to the resolution question. I’m not doing this work for you.

2. The event is generally in an identity crisis, with some adhering to the Value Premise/Criterion model and others treating it like 1 on 1 policy, some with really shallow arguments. I’m fine with either, but starting the NC with five off and then collapsing to one in the NR is going to make me give 2AR a lot of leeway (maybe even new argument leeway) against extrapolations not specifically in the NC.

3. Too many NR’s and 2AR’s are focused on not losing and not on winning. Plant your flag somewhere, tell me why you’re winning those arguments and why they’re the key to the round.

Public Forum Specific Observations

1. Why we ever thought paraphrasing was a good idea is absolutely beyond me. In a debate that isn’t a mismatch, I’m generally going to prefer those who read actual evidence over those who say “my 100 page report says X” and then challenge the other team to prove them wrong in less than a handful of minutes of prep time. Make of that what you will.

2. I’ve never seen a Grand Crossfire that actually advanced a debate.

3. Another frustration I have with PF is that issues are rarely discussed to the depth needed to resolve them fully. This is more due to the structure of the round than debaters themselves. To that end, if you have some really wonky argument, it’s on you to develop your argument to where it’s a viable reason to vote. I will lose no sleep over saying to you “You lost because you didn’t do enough to make me understand your argument.”

4. Right now, PF doesn’t seem sure of what it wants to be – some of this is due to the variety of resolutions, but also what seems like the migration of ex-debaters and coaches into the judging pool at the expense of lay judges, which was supposed to be the idea behind PF to begin with.

5. As with LD, too many Final Focuses are focused on not losing instead of articulating a rationale for why a team is winning the debate.

My experience in debate is primarily based in coaching. I have coached with both Middle School and High School teams in public forum. For me every part of a round is important, although I weigh the rebuttal, summary, and final focus speeches above the constructive. I particularly look for the ability to create strong clash between the strengths of your case and the weaknesses of your opponent's case throughout the round. I do not flow crossfires; however, I will note how well you defend your case or attack your opponent in crossfire.

Lay Judge

Explain everything

Be polite

Carry all points through all speeches

Speak slowly

Hi, my name is Katie. I am a former competitor from both high school and college. I did LD, PF, Congress, and in college: IPDA and TeamIPDA (think Extemp debate). For Speech: Extemp was the name of my game, so I generally know what I'm talking about regarding politics and whatnot. I don't judge terribly often, so be merciful with acronyms, abbreviations, and debate nuance.

SIGNPOST(x1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000)

Please weigh impacts and give voters. Otherwise, I will create my own voters, and you don't want that.

If it is not on the flow, I will not look to it. That being said, I will not extend things for you. If you want it to be important, it needs to be extended all the way through all speeches you give.

I don't adore speed, but I can listen to it and flow it. Be strategic about it.

If it seems a little out of the box as an argument, please break it down for me.

Also, unnecessary yelling is not really something I vibe with. I get it, passion good, but if It's the first round of the day and you make a conscious effort to not give me a headache, I will be much nicer on speaks and ballot comments.

If you want to run theory, either put it in a shell or make sure that you talk about all the important parts of the theory. If it isn't impacted or accompanied by how I should change my vote, it has wasted round time

(Please, please, please, unless you are well prepared for a theory round, do yourself a favor and strike me if you don't cut accurate cards, don't send evidence in email chains, or don't disclose at circuit tournaments.)

Background: He/Him/His; 3L at NYU Law; an assistant coach at Durham Academy (NC); previously assistant director/head debate coach at Delbarton (NJ). "Tech" but increasingly more "flay" by the day?

Email Chains: Please add nmdebaterounds@gmail.com to the email chain with the following subject line: Tournament Name - Rd # - School Team Code (side/order) v. School Team Code (side/order). Teams should send case evidence (and rhetoric if you paraphrase) by the end of constructive – copy and paste all text and send it in the body of the email. The same applies for rebuttal evidence.

Evidence: Even if you paraphrase, I will only evaluate evidence in cut cards. These are properly cut cards.

Accommodations: Yes, just ask before round.

Main PF Paradigm:

• Preflow before the round; speaks start at 28.

• Offense > Defense; clear and whole backhalf extensions matter.

• Slow down for tags when spreading.
  Second rebuttal / 1st summary should frontline all turns + their collapsed argument(s).

• New weighing in first final is okay, depending on if it’s responsive to 2nd summary

• Please do comparative weighing with timeframe, mag/scope, and probability.

• Tabula rasa to an extent – longer link chains will still be difficult to vote for and I will intervene on anything blatantly racist, sexist, homophobic, or fabricated (i.e., major evidence issues).

• Don’t crash out in cross. Put cross analysis in ink with your speeches.

• Trigger warnings with opt-outs are only necessary with graphic depictions or identity-based Ks read. Otherwise, content warnings are generally good. Use your best judgment and follow tournament guidance.

"Progressive" PF: I prefer topical debates but open to the following arguments at varsity/open national circuit tournaments.

• Ks: Run at your own risk, but mostly okay with IR, Capitalism, Securitization, and Killjoy arguments, and significantly less familiar with high theory lit (i.e., Baudrillard, Bataille, Nietzsche). Generally, you should check with your opponents before running nontopical identity Ks.

• Theory: Topicality, Disclosure, Paraphrasing, and Vague/Utopian Alts, and their derivatives/CIs are fine to read in front of me. I default to competing interps and spirit over interp text. I generally think open-source (cut card + tag) disclosure is good and paraphrasing is bad, but won't intervene on the flow. If your disclosure is unintelligible because you pasted pages of article text, then I believe you did not disclose (open to this as a debate response). Introducing excessive off positions (e.g., 4) will decrease the chance of a comprehensible RFD.

Questions? Ask before the round.

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).

I have judged infrequently for the last few years, so I may not be up on the latest trends in progressive arguments, but I understand debate and I flow.

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 really don't want to judge theory debates. If you are checking back against a truly abusive practice, I will listen to and evaluate the argument, but theory is not my forte and I generally feel that fairness and educational value are going to lean toward having a debate that is topical to the resolution. 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.

Tl;dr: Please debate the resolution. It will make me happy.

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.

kplunkett@stmdhs.org for cases/cards

Traditional judge, I prefer no spreading or Ks. I won't take off for them, but I encourage you not to! I have judged policy rounds but am by no means a policy judge, if it's possible to debate a little slower that's appreciated, but I understand that you may not have a case cut short enough to make that happen.

• The easiest way to earn speaks is to clarify the voting issues and prove how and why you outweigh. I'll weigh the round based on the criteria you give me, so be sure to give me a metaphorical rubric!
• I'm a tabula rasa, so I'll vote exactly how you tell me. Hit your framework/V/VCs early and often.
• I like to see claim-warrant-impact. I flow what you say, not what I think you mean.
• Spreading will not affect your speaks, but I prefer conversational speed and good delivery. Quality, not quantity, for arguments.
• Cards should be clearly cited and available for review should there be a conflict over source validity or context. Clipping will not be tolerated.
• Signpost - reference the contention # or subpoint in speeches and CX.
• CX is for questions, not rebuttals.

* Quality of argumentation

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

High school and college Speech judge. My emphasis is on evidence, practical analysis, and ultimately the persuasiveness of the argument

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 try to interfere as little as possible, and the best way to make your case is weighing. However, debate is an art, not a science, and just because you win the flow doesn’t mean you’ll win the round 100% of the time.

Debate Theory usually plays poorly-run at your own risk. At this level, presentation and delivery should be strong; clash is often the differentiator in my rounds. I’m fine with a little speed, but I won’t flow anything that’s TOO fast. Probably 225 words per minute is an upper limit. At this pace I strongly encourage the presenter to emphasize key points.

Additionally: Warrant extensions are crucial. Give me a strong argument and apply your warrants through the round.

Obviously practice good evidence ethics. I will call cards if necessary and judge how they fit the round. Feel free to keep your own time. Don’t be rude or disrespectful- we’re here to have fun. I’m happy to provide more insight at the beginning of the round.

I am a parent judge who thinks a high quality debate combines evidence and analysis. Explain why your evidence is important and how it relates to the resolution.

I am not a fan of spreading (speed does not equal persuasiveness for me).

Signposting is good.

Clearly articulate the voting issues in your final focus.

There is a fine line between being assertive and being rude. Rude behavior or condescending tones detract speaker points.

This is my second year judging (and coaching) speech and debate. I've judged LD, PF, Extemp, OO, DEC and DI. I am a veteran educator with a theatre background who believes that speech and debate are foundational activities to train well rounded students and leaders.

LD Debate

Speed: Clarity and speed are important to me. Speak clearly; it is just easier to follow your reasoning when I can take notes. NO spreading please.

Decorum: The best speakers are polite and respectful to their opponent(s), especially when the round is lopsided. Please stand when you speak.

Framework: Framework is very important. It tells me my role in the debate and how I should decide who won the debate. Remember, this is a competition.

Things I find beneficial: Crystallization, Weighing, and Voters. I'm judging on the substance of the arguments. I love a good summary in rebuttal.

Andrea Sisti

I have teams that participate in Lincoln Douglas, Policy Debate, Public Forum Debate and Congressional Debate.

Public Forum Paradigm:

I enjoy a clearly organized debate. Organization is key to maintain clash throughout the round.

SPEED: From my experience, debaters that card-dump and speed through speeches sacrifice a great deal of clarity and persuasiveness that is the fundamental in nature of Public Forum debate. Typically, the amount of evidence added to the case when spreading through speeches is not worth the sacrifice. I would rather hear fewer contentions and quality arguments over quantity.

Read arguments that have a clear link to the resolution. Also, be sure to provide clear warrants for your impacts. I appreciate big impacts, but it is critical that you flesh out your impacts with strong internal links. Explain and extend and make sure that you emphasize what is most important in the round. Provide clear voters in those final speeches.

Don't be abusive with time. When the timer goes off, I stop flowing. Plan your speeches accordingly. Keep track of your own time as well as your opponent's. You and your opponent are responsible for keeping track of times, including prep.

Make sure that your cards tell the same story as what you are saying. If cards come into question and it's fundamentally important in my decision, I will call for them at the end of the debate. I do value the quality of evidence highly in the round. 1 quality card outweighs 5 poor pieces of evidence.

If you have any questions, please ask me prior to the round.

Avoid arguments that are homophobic, sexist, racist, or offensive in anyway. Be respectful to your opponent and judge.

Overall, this is your debate so have fun with it and get creative. Best of luck.

Congressional Debate Paradigm:

As a Congressional Debate coach, I enjoy rounds with a lot of clash, creative speech structures, fiery speaking, and thoughtful questions. In terms of delivery and argumentation breakdown, I value speeches as a 50/50 split in importance. Delivery and content are equally important in my mind.

I understand you may be hesitant to give speeches early on in the session for lack of clash, but I won't take that into account when ranking. However, as the session progresses, there should always be direct refutation.

Please be passionate in your speeches, but remember decorum and professionalism. Respect your opponents.

camera update: 9/3/2021- I live in an apartment complex with spotty internet. So I will be defaulting to keeping my camera off during the speeches. If the speeches sound clear after the first two constructive lsu I’ll try turning my camera on. Also no need to ask me if I’m ready, just default that I’m ready, and if I’m not I’ll unmute myself and let you know.

TLDR: Not super in touch with recent trends in debate, and very heavily prefer policy. Speed is no problem for me, just start slower and slowly work up to about 80% Max speed. Please note if you’re reading Non T or Phil, please do a good job explaining it to me. Oftentimes in these rounds I’m not getting enough info about why I should be voting one way or the other. I do not disclose unless the decision was extremely easy. Otherwise I prefer to give detailed info on my ballot and am open for questions using the email chain that you sent me your case in.

1: LARP/ Substance

2: Kritik

3-4: Theory

5-Strike: Performance, High Phil

Add me to the email chain: abbusp@gmail.com (REMEMBER send me cards before your speech that you'll be reading. If you're spreading analytics send me that as well. If analytics will not be spread I don't need them in the doc)

1. Speed: Here's my take. I've been debating for a while so I can keep up with speed. HOWEVER, with everything being online clarity has become a HUGE issue. Please go much much slower than you normally would. You don't have to go at a lay pace, but just remember I only say clear twice, before I put my pen down. What I miss will be held against you.

2. Theory: Remember fairness and education come first. Debate is an activity about fairness, and theory is meant to address that. IT IS NOT meant to let you opt out of substantive arguments. For this reason, I don't really enjoy theory and RVI debates. Keep everything on the resolution. Theory just serves the purpose that the debater running the shell, lets me know the violation and why it should warrant dropping the other debater. The debater going against the shell, just defend yourself and move on, don't drop everything and go for winning off the RVI because it won't hold any weight for me.

3. Stylistic: I'm very lenient with speaker points and usually give extremely high speaks. Please give me concise voters in your final speeches. They will have the most magnitude for me because it allows me to determine what the main issues you are going for are. Please impact everything, don't just read random cards and move on. Also don't just card dump, I want to see you construct meaningful arguments.

4. VERY IMPORTANT: Please Read. Before your speeches I want the cards you will be reading. Too many competitors send the cards after their speech, at which point there is not enough time to evaluate the cards because the next speech has started. I want to be able to follow along as you read your cards. Please note that this means sign posting will be VERY important. If you're going 600 WPM, and not sign posting anything you've already lost me. SLOW DOWN On tags and authors. Let me hear those clearly before you ratchet up your speed. Any analytics or non cards not in the case doc need to be at a reasonable speed. You can spread what's on the doc.

Experience

Mountain Brook High School Speech and Debate Coach (2018 - Present)

Wheaton North High School Speech (2003-2007)

Wheaton North Public Forum Debater (2006)

As a judge, I want to see debaters that are:

Focused and Organized: The more thoughtful you are about how you present your contentions initially, the easier it for me to judge and for your opponents to interact with your case. Evidence should be succinct and questions during cross should be thoughtful and targeted. A PF round goes incredibly quickly, and it's important that you use each second to your advantage. In particular I appreciate when debaters weigh and discuss impact throughout the round. By the end I want to be sold on why your contentions are stronger and your impacts are more significant. Remember that as I judge I may not have seen all of the evidence that you have, and in Public Forum it is your job to talk to me as if I know nothing about the topic, even if I do.

Prepared: Nothing hurts the quality of a debate more than debaters who do not fully understand the resolution or their opponents’ claims. Good clash can only be built through understanding all facets of the resolution and the evidence available. That being said, citing a piece of evidence is never a substitution for a strong warrant. If you cannot explain your evidence and connect it logically to your argument, then I am less likely to consider it when judging. I do not like calling for evidence. It usually means that you have stopped debating the topic and started debating cards that I have not read.

Professional: Professionalism will not lose you a round with me, but it will absolutely impact the speaker points I award. Being confident and convincing me that you have won your debate is expected. Being rude, disrespectful, or condescending to the judge, your opponents, or your partner is never acceptable. Debate is an enormous undertaking, and every person’s time and commitment should be respected. It is also incredibly difficult to know what your opponents are saying if you do not give them their time to talk, or when you are overly focused on your own case.

I debated LD and Policy all throughout high school. In college I judged tournaments in Utah, Arizona and California.

While judging, I like debaters to tell me why they should win. By this I mean clearly state which of your arguments (contentions) I should flow through. The ones your opponent hasn't addressed are easy. With the contentions they have addressed, tell me why your argument is better (you have better sources, better stats, etc.). Many judges will circle the contentions they think you have won and draw an arrow across the flow sheet. Think of these as points for your side. But, I prefer you to tell me which of these you have won and why. I don’t mind spreading, just make sure you don’t transition to jibberish. Learn to read your judges. If I put my pen down, I probably can’t understand you.

The best advice I have is to relax and have fun! Debate shouldn't be torture--tournaments should be fun. Let’s face it, most people are terrified of public speaking. Debate tournaments give you the chance to practice critical skills you’ll use the rest of your life, both personally and professionally.

Good Luck!