Pittsburgh Central Catholic Head Speech Coach

If you have any questions about your ballot, my email is pjb82@pitt.edu

((Extemp Paradigm for National Circuit, if you care))

1) Hooks - Connections to pop culture hinder your ability to deliver a good speech. Please do not waste anyone's time by connecting Afghanistan to SpongeBob. I much prefer the first ~45s-1m to be explaining the context of the question: How did we get here? What historical information do I need to know? Any Definitions?

2) Structure - Detail your structure, and stick to it. Make sure you let me know when we are transitioning points, and keep these transitions simple. Keep your points relatively similar in length. 3 points is better than 2. Put your most salient & impactful point last.

3) Warranting - Along with analysis, you need to warrant your claims clearly. This means connecting your analysis back to your claim for the particular point & connecting it to your overall answer to the prompt, in one fell swoop. Strong warranting means you have real skill in argumentation.

Otherwise, be confident, be clear, don't speak too fast, etc. I will also probably count your sources. Diversify them. Don't lie about citations. Arguing directly with a source that disagrees with your conclusion is strong argumentation.

((Paradigms for other speech events are stupid because you can't change your piece midway through a tournament))

I was a former competitor in Original Oratory, Congress, Commentary, and Impromptu. I have also made it to the State Tournament for Impromptu advancing to the quarterfinals round. Also, I was the previous president of the Speech and Debate team at Deer Lakes High School. I have judged for numerous years in the Pittsburgh District and other online tournaments after high school. In 2019-2020, I was the coach for the Deer Lakes High School Speech and Debate team.

Judging Experience

I am very familiar with all of the types of speech events. For debate events, I have judged as a parliamentarian in Congress as well as judged numerous rounds of Public Form debate and Lincoln Douglas. My main area of interest in judging is primarily speech events.