Florida Blue Key
2019 — Gainesville, FL/US
Public Forum Debate Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideI am a Novice PFJudge, I have judged only
Local circuits.
Please go slow and explain your arguments well, so I can flow the round. Please avoid compound complex sentences, speak louder and clear. Don’t overwhelm me with evidence , rather choose best evidence to support your claims, give a good overview for the voters at the end of the round . I judge on quality of arguments.
I will do my best to be neutral and fair.
Currently a law student. I did PF for three years and have been coaching/judging on and off for Lake Highland for six years. My only request is that you extend arguments, not just author names.
My name is Jodi Arozarena and I am from Newsome High School in Lithia Florida.
I am what most debaters would call a “flay” judge. I have judged a considerable amount of Public Forum Rounds over the past 4 years, most of which occurred at the national level. I can follow your arguments and I will do my best to keep track of them on my flow. It is your responsibility as the debater to speak at a moderate and clear pace so that I can effectively get your argument down, if I don’t flow it, I won’t be evaluating it with my decision at the end of the round.
Please be civil with your opponent and clear in your speaking so that I can most effectively evaluate the round.
Thanks, and Good Luck!!
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.
I am a second-year PhD student in the department of political science at the University of Florida. My research primarily focuses on immigration, citizenship, and national identity issues. I served as a judge a for the past 3 years for the Florida Blue Key Speech and Debate Tournament. I competed in public debates here at UF and in model UN high school.
I do not believe speed speaking or reading are effective forms of debate. I appreciate the usage of reliable sources. I expect debaters to introduce themselves at the start of the debate and to include their gender pronouns (she/her, they/them, he/him, etc)
A former Public Forum and Congressional Debate competitor, I've judged LD, PF, and Congress. I study mathematics and philosophy, so you can probably figure a lot out about me from that. I love well structured arguments with good, clean logic. Don't be afraid to give analysis of evidence and arguments. Make sure to fully understand your competitors arguments and refute them. Don't ask questions to waste time, and don't waste time when answering questions. Back up every claim with evidence, and if your competitor doesn't have evidence call them out on it.
I am a parent Judge. I am relatively new to judging PF.
I am interested in what you have to say, Therefore, Please speak slowly and present your arguments clearly. In order to flow and judge more accurately.
I graduated from the University of Florida with a BS in Advertising. I have worked in high-tech sales, marketing and advertising. I am looking for strong speakers, clear arguments, good evidence and professionalism in tone and body language. Please do not spread. If I cannot understand you, I cannot follow your contentions.
My name is Kellie Bole and this is my first year judging debate, I am a parent judge Florida. I have a Bachelor's in Psychology and a Master's in Counselor Education. I can follow most logical conversations and conflict.
Things to consider: Gracious professionalism goes a long way. Be kind and truthful. Be clear, I do not like spreading and would appreciate a speed of 7 or lower. I am a 100% lay judge and you must be clear and articulate your arguments for me to follow the round. I am not interested in joining an email chain or receiving a speech document.
Time yourself and always be KIND!
I did 4 years of PF in high school at Cypress Bay (class of 2018)
I think debate is supposed to be a fun extracurricular activity so keep the round lighthearted. I am open to all styles of debate, just be respectful of your opponents and the rules of the game. In other words, "SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT"
If you have any other questions feel free to email me andrewbriceno2000@gmail.com or ask me before the round!
anthonyrbrown85@gmail.com for the chain
*Please show up to the round pre-flowed and ready to go. If you get to the room before me or are second flight, flip and get the email chain started so we don't delay the rounds.*
Background
Currently the head coach at Southlake Carroll. The majority of my experience is in Public Forum but I’ve spent time either competing or judging every event.
General
You would probably classify me as a flay judge. The easiest way to win my ballot is through comparative weighing. Explain why your links are clearer and stronger and how your impacts are more important than those of your opponents.
Speed is fine but if I miss something that is crucial to your case because you can’t speak fast and clearly at the same time then that’ll be your fault. If you really want to avoid this issue then I would send a speech doc if you plan on going more than 225 wpm.
I do not flow cross so if anything important was said mention it in a speech.
I would classify myself as tech over truth but let’s not get too crazy.
Speaking
Typical speaks are between 27-30. I don’t give many 30s but it’s not impossible to get a 30 from me.
I would much rather you sacrifice your speed for clarity. If you can’t get to everything that you need to say then it would probably be best to prioritize your impacts and do a great job weighing.
Any comments that are intended (or unintended in certain circumstances) to be discriminatory in any form will immediately result in the lowest possible speaker points.
PF Specific
I’m probably not evaluating your K or theory argument at a non-bid tournament. If you’re feeling brave then you can go for it but unless the literature is solid and it is very well run, I’m going to feel like you’re trying to strat out of the debate by utilizing a style that is not yet a norm and your opponents likely did not plan for. If we're at a bid tournament or state, go for it.
Don’t just extend card names and dates without at least briefly reminding me what that card said. Occasionally I write down the content of the card but not the author so if you just extend an author it won’t do you any good.
I have a super high threshold for IVIs. If there's some sort of debate based abuse run a proper shell.
LD Specific (This is not my primary event so I would make sure I check this)
Cheatsheet (1 is most comfortable, 5 is lowest)
Policy: 1
Theory: 2
Topical Ks: 2
Phil: 4
Non-Topical Ks: 4
Tricks: 5
I’ll understand your LARP arguments. I’ll be able to follow your spreading. I can evaluate most K’s but am most comfortable with topical K’s. I will understand your theory arguments but typically don't go for RVIs. I would over-explain if you don’t fall into those categories and adjust if possible.
Add me on the email chain: nilu6060@gmail.com. Please send constructives at a minimum
Short Version
American Heritage School ‘19
Georgia Tech ‘22
Any offense in final focus needs to be in summary. First summary only needs to extend defense on arguments that were frontlined in second rebuttal. Second rebuttal should answer all offense on the flow.
Tech > truth
Long Version
Presumption:
- If you want me to vote on presumption, please tell me, or else I'll probably try to find some very minimal offense on the flow that you may consider nonexistent.
- I will default neg on presumption, but you can make an argument suggesting otherwise.
Extensions:
- The warrant and impact of an offensive argument must be extended in summary and final focus in order for me to evaluate it.
- Your extensions can be very quick for parts of the debate that are clearly conceded.
Weighing:
- Good weighing will usually win you my ballot and give you a speaker point boost, but please avoid:
1. Weighing that is not comparative
2. Weighing instead of adequately answering the defense on your arguments
3. Strength of link weighing - this is just another word for probability and sometimes probability weighing is just defense that should've been read in rebuttal
4. New weighing in second final focus that isn't responding to new weighing analysis from the first ff.
Evidence:
- I will read any evidence that is contested or key to my decision at the end of the round.
- I won't drop a team on miscut evidence unless theory is read. I will drop speaks and probably drop the argument unless there's a very good reason not to.
Speed:
- Go as fast as you want but I'd prefer it if you didn't spread.
- Don't sacrifice clarity for speed. If I can't understand it, it isn't on the flow.
Progressive Argumentation:
- I have a good understanding of theory and have voted on less conventional shells albeit my threshold for a response and your speaks could go down. Please read theory as soon as the violation occurs.
- I wouldn't trust myself to correctly evaluate a K. Most of the time I find myself thinking they don't really do anything. Read at your own risk and I will try my best to properly evaluate.
- If there are multiple layers of prog. (ie theory vs K vs random IVI) do some sort of weighing between them.
- I don't evaluate 30 speaks theory. I tend to believe disclosure is good, but won't intervene.
Other things:
- I think speaks are arbitrary, but humor helps, especially sarcasm.
- Paradigm issues not mentioned here are up for debate within the round
- Reading cards > paraphrasing, but paraphrasing is fine
- Postrounding is fine
- Preflow before the round start time
- I will not vote on explicitly oppressive arguments.
Hello! Welcome to my paradigm.
Background: I did PF for 4 years in high school in the Broward circuit; it's a great category. My favorite pastime is trashing Congress and LD.
General: I am a tech over truth judge, meaning if your opponent is arguing the sky is orange and you don't respond to that argument, then I guess for the duration of that round I've never seen the sky before, and I will assume it is orange.
Arguments: Public forum is the layman's debate, so keep it that way. If you try running theory or kritiks or whatever crack LD and Policy is on, odds are I won't understand what's going on which is unfortunate for you since I'm your judge, and I don't tend to vote for things I don't understand.
Structure: I don't really have a preference when it comes to structuring. Frontlining in second rebuttal is nice, but I won't penalize you for not doing it. Defense in first summary is also nice, but again I'm not picky if you choose not to (unless it was responded to in second rebuttal, then it is required). Overviews/observations/frameworks are also fun.
Evidence: I'm not going to call for evidence unless it's been heavily disputed throughout the entire round and it's an integral part of me making my decision. That being said, let's not make up evidence. The duty of calling out opponents on their lies falls on you; however, don't end there. Make sure you explain why your opponent's evidence is not what they say it is in your speech. However, all of this dispute could be avoided if everyone just used legitimate evidence without making some obscure interpretation :)
Speed: You can talk as fast as you want, I just won't understand you and/or will miss some important points. I can understand the speed that most PF rounds get to. If you spread, I probably won't even try to flow.
Crossfire: if something important comes up in cross, like your opponent conceding a point, please bring it up in a speech. Cross will not be on my flow, and honestly, I'll probably zone out during that time. Also, I hate that I need to say this, but don't be a dick in cross.
Flow: Don't extend through ink. It doesn't gain you any offense, and it'll make my flow look ugly. Whatever you want me to vote on needs to be in both summary and final focus. Please do not bring up some obscure point barely mentioned in the constructive as a reason you won the round in final focus. Don't forget to extend warrants and impacts!!! Also weigh. Weigh in final focus, summary if you can, and if you are really feeling spicy in rebuttal.
Time: Keep your own time, but also I hold master time. If we have conflicting times, I'm going to trust my clock. If you are starting/ending prep time please make that clear so I can keep track properly. If your speeches go over the allotted time, I'm just going to stop flowing. If you go super overtime, I will say time. Don't let it get to that point.
Decorum: Don't be that annoying person that makes everyone rethink their participation in debate. Thank you.
Speaker points: I think I'm pretty chill on these. Probably a lot more lenient than other flow judges.
Overall: Try to make the round as easy for me as possible; the least work for me the better. If the round isn't easy to evaluate, you might not be happy with my decision
If you have any questions, feel free to ask me before the round :)
I am a formerly top-ranked circuit PFD debater (s/o Hersky). However, I usually come back to judge about once per year so please take it easy on me with speed.
My vote is almost exclusively on the flow, but I do pay attention to your style to assess your speaker points. To win my vote, make sure you signpost well and tell me where you are on the flow so that I can follow. Please provide logically sound claims, warrants, and impacts.
WEIGH YOUR IMPACTS against each other. This is perhaps the most important aspect of winning my ballot! For instance, tell me why a life impact outweighs a fiscal impact, or vice-versa. Besides that, not only do I appreciate respect in-round, but it is also expected. Happy debating and best of luck!
Hi my name is Madison Clise. I debated Public Forum for all four years of my high school career. I was also the Director of Public Forum for the Florida Blue Key Speech and Debate Tournament in 2021. I have been a debater, a judge, and a part of the operations of a tournament.
I value clear speech and professionalism in a round. Your case is only as good as the weakest debater on your team. I will only be able to flow the contentions in your case that I can audibly understand. In other words, place presenting your case with clarity and articulation above presenting as much information as possible at the expense of enunciation.
Crossfire tends to be the most heated part of debate. I ask that each of you is as respectable as possible towards the opposing side. Speaker points will be deducted if I detect any rudeness. Debate inherently is being able to have a respectful conversation with an individual who does not agree with you.
Do not talk to your partner while the other team is speaking. That is what prep time is for. There is no penalty for taking prep. Please ask for it when you need it.
Hello! I did four years of Lincoln Douglas debate for Newtown High School. I'm currently a freshman at the University of Florida. I'm vaguely familiar with Public Forum, but this will be my first time judging the event.
My main preferences are as follows:
Weighing: Please be clear and specific about weighing. Make it as easy as possible for me to understand why I should vote for you.
Speed: If you want to go moderately fast I'm cool with that. Be warned though that if you spread I'll probably miss stuff, which is bad for both of us.
CX: I won't flow CX.
Progressive args: I'm familiar with K's, theory, etc., but don't think they have much of a place in Public Forum. If your opponent is legitimately abusive in a way that puts you at a clear and severe disadvantage, I'm open to theory. If you wanna run font size theory, I'll probably laugh, but I'm not going to vote on it.
Trigger warnings: Use them. Please. If you’re reading arguments about sexual violence, graphic violence, etc. I expect to hear a trigger warning before the round. If your opponent(s) say that they are not comfortable hearing these args, and you read them anyway, I will drop you with zero speaks. End of discussion. It’s important to have conversations about these really real problems, but not at the expense of someone else’s mental health. Debate should be a safe space for everyone.
Above all, be nice to your opponent. If you're being a jerk for no reason your speaks will suffer.
Have fun :)
Name: Alexander Corzo
School Affiliation: South Plantation HS
Number of Years Judging Public Forum/LD: 6 years
Number of Years Competing in Public Forum: None
Number of Years Judging Other Forensic Activities: 6 years
Number of Years Competing in Other Forensic Activities: None
If you are a coach, what events do you coach? All except policy
What is your current occupation? Debate Teacher/Coach
Please share your opinions or beliefs about how the following play into a debate round:
Speed of Delivery: Should not be spreading in PF, Ok in LD ( although I don't enjoy it) Edit for FBK2020:
Spreading is hard for me to follow and will more than likely affect my judging ( in a negative way) because I will be reading instead of listening to you speak. So, do yourself a favor and don't spread if at all possible! you can still run non-Traditional LD, as long as it's not abusive and gimmicky. (you're trying to trick and confuse your opponent)
Format of Summary Speeches Line by Line
Role of the Final Focus: Weighing
Extension of Arguments into later speeches: Required.
Topicality: Very important, don’t stray too far.
Plans: Not a PF thing, LD ok.
Kritiks: How could a lay judge follow this? So, no.
Flowing/note-taking: Essential
Do you value argument over style? Style over argument? Argument and style equally? Definitely argument over style.
If a team plans to win the debate on an argument, in your opinion does that argument have to be extended in the rebuttal or summary speeches? Yes, I don’t flow cross, if you want credit, it needs to be in a speech.
If a team is second speaking, do you require that the team cover the opponents’ case as well as answers to its opponents’ rebuttal in the rebuttal speech? It’s not mandatory, but extremely helpful. Sometimes, time doesn’t allow.
Do you vote for arguments that are first raised in the grand crossfire or final focus? Grand Cross, only under extenuating circumstances, FF, never.
I value weighing over mindless card reading. Good luck!
For LD, many of the same comments apply. I'm more of a traditional judge in LD, meaning that although I understand theory and K strategies, unless there's a really good and compelling reason to resort to these progressive strategies, I enjoy traditional LD. In other words, I find many of the "progressive strategies" to be gimmicky.
For me, I'd like to see you guys clearly flow and extend your points throughout the round. That way in the end, it's easier for me to see which side won which points and I'll be able to weigh the evidence. I did debate in high school as well and have judged plenty of tournaments and I've found that this is something that a lot of the top teams do. If I'm able to clearly differentiate which arguments you won, how many and the impact that the argument has, there is a greater chance I will side with you.
I did PF.
Don't read off-time roadmaps. Odds are, you won't follow them anyway. Just tell me where you're starting and signpost.
I will always evaluate the framework first and then look towards who best provides offense under the framework.
PLEASE COLLAPSE.
I will likely only vote on an argument if it’s present in both summary and final focus. That means extending BOTH the warrant and the impacts of the argument. “Extend the Smith evidence” by itself with no analysis as to what the evidence is actually about isn’t an extension. And saying "we save X amount of people" without the warranting as to how/why isn't extending an argument either. I won’t vote on blippy extensions.
Please do not spread, at all ever, especially not in the morning and if you do, bring me coffee and maybe by summary I will understand what you are saying.
Second rebuttal has to frontline.
Weigh. If neither of the teams weigh, I’ll be forced to intervene and determine what I think is more important which you might not necessarily agree with in the end.
I will vote on theory or Ks if they are thoroughly explained and warranted. However, I believe that both of these should be used as a check back on either an egregious abuse instance in the round or within the resolution itself. Senseless use of theory or a K just to waste time or to limit your opponent's ability to debate will result in less speaker points and depending on how I see it in the round might even cost you the win. I won't buy disclosure theory or paraphrasing theory or any other foolish new theory.
If someone calls for a piece of evidence, please give it to them quickly.
Racist, xenophobic, sexist, classist, homophobic, and other oppressive discourses or examples have no place in debate. 20 L.
If you have any questions, ask before the round.
*Updated for January 2020*
St. Agnes Academy '17 | UT Austin '21
Email: cara.day@utexas.edu
Or FB message me with questions
I am the nat circuit coach of tha bois™ of Strake Jesuit, and this is my third year coaching there. RJ Shah also continuously asks me to coach him. In high school, I did both PF and LD. I’m a junior at UT Austin.
General/TLDR
-Debate's a game. I'm a tech> truth judge; if an argument is conceded, it becomes 100% true in the round.
*Note: The only time I will ever intervene is if you are blatantly homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist, etc.
-Vroom Vroom: Go as fast as you want. Spreading is great if you so desire. If I don't know what you're saying, I'll say "clear" 3 times before I stop flowing, tank your speaks, and throw my computer at you. Slow down on author names, CP texts, and interps.
-I judge debates without intervening, and I keep a pretty clean flow. If you want me to vote on something, you have to extend it. ** Your extension should include author last name and content or I won't give it to you. Extend the UQ, link, internal link, and impact, or you don't get access to the argument.
-You can literally do anything you want -- don't care at all if it's sus (other than miscut evidence or planning a hostile takeover) -- and if the other team has a problem, they can read theory. Just know that I won't intervene if I think that you are being abusive unless you get called out on it. Ex: If they read a link turn, you can read an impact turn in the next speech and extend both lol
-If you really want me to listen, make it interesting (Roman Candles are highly encouraged). Sass is appreciated. I'm fine with flex prep and tag team cross in PF because it usually makes things a little more bearable to watch.
-Please do comparative weighing and meta-weighing if necessary (i.e. why scope is more important than timeframe). Rounds are so hard to adjudicate if no weighing is done because I am left to decide which impacts are more important. Absent weighing, I default to to the most terminalized impact in the round aka lives (hint: i fw extinction scenarios heavy).
- CX is binding
- Warrant your arguments -- I'll prefer an analytical claim with a warrant over some random stat with none.
- Contextualize in the back half of the round, or you're gonna beg some type of intervention from me which you probably won't like.
- If you know me, you know I think judge grilling is good for the activity. Judges should be able to justify their decisions, or they shouldn't be making them. Feel free to ask me questions after the round. It's educational!:)
-Please tell me what flow and where on the flow to start on. Signposting is astronomically important and should be done throughout the speech. If you call it an off-time roadmap, I won't be flowing you speech because I'll be too busy cleaning tears off of my keyboard due to my loss of hope for this activity.
-I'm a super easy judge to read. If I am nodding, I like your argument. If I look confused, I probably am.
- If you at any point in the debate believe that your opponent has no routes to the ballot whatsoever i.e. a conceded theory shell, you can call TKO (Technical Knock Out). The round stops as soon as you call it. What this means is that if I believe that the opposing team has no routes to the ballot, I will give you a W30. However, if there are still any possible routes left, I will give you a L20. (TKOs are 1/1 in front of me rn)
Speaks
I average around a 28. Ways to get good speaks in front of me: go for the right things in later speeches and don't be bad. Getting a 30 is not impossible in front of me but very difficult (I've only ever given out three). I give speaks more on strategy and whether I think you deserve to break than on actual speaking skills.
Because evidence ethics have become super iffy in PF, I will give you a full extra speaker point if you have disclosed all tags, cites, and text 15 mins before the round on the NDCA PF Wiki under your proper team, name, and side and show it to me. I want an email chain too, preferably with cut cards if I am judging you.
If I catch you stealing prep, I start stealing ur speaks:/
If you can work a BROCKHAMPTON quote into your speeches (except from iridescence), I will give you a .5 speaks boost.
For PF:
General
Please go line by line and not big picture in every speech.
Rebuttal
2nd Rebuttal should frontline all turns. Any turn not frontlined in 2nd rebuttal is conceded and has 100% strength of link -- dont try to respond in a later speech (trust me, i'll notice).
Summary
My thoughts on defense: Since you now have a three minute summary, any defense -- regardless of whether you're first or second -- needs to be in every speech. If you're collapsing properly, this shouldn't be an issue.
Turns and case offense need to be explicitly extended by author/source name. Extend what you want me to vote on.
Every argument must have a warrant -- I have a very low threshold to frontlining blip storm rebuttals.
Mirroring is super crucial to me: If you want me to evaluate an arg, it must be in BOTH summary and FF. Man ... it better be ...
If you're gonna concede a delink so that turns go away, you have to say which delink because some delinks don't necessarily take out turns.
Final
I'm fine with new weighing in final, as long as it's comparative because I think this is what final is for -- contextualization and weighing to win the round, otherwise the round could just stop after summary.
First final can make new responses to backline defense, since the second speaking team's frontlines won't come out until second summary.
Ks/Theory/T/CPs/etc.
I'm fine with progressive PF- I think that policy action resolutions give fiat, and I don't have a problem w plans or CPs. Theory, Kritiks, Tricks, and DAs are fine too. If you wanna see how I evaluate these, see my LD paradigm below. PLEASE extend and weigh these just like you would with a normal substantive argument. Every part of them should be extended.
Please have a cut version of your cards; I will be annoyed if they are paraphrased with no cut version available because this is how teams so often get away with the misrepresentation of evidence which skews the round.
If you clear your opponent when I don't think it's necessary, I'll deduct a speak each time it happens. Especially if there's a speech doc, you don't need to slow down unless I'm the one clearing you.
For LD:
My Level of Comfort with these arguments is as follows (1, highest, 5, lowest)
Policy Arguments (DAs, CPs, Plans): 1
Oppression-based affs, util, and non-ideal FWs: 1
Ideal FWs: 1
Theory/T: 2
Tricks: 2
K: 3
Non-T Affs: 5
Policy Args: I ran these primarily when I debated. I love hearing these debates because I think they tend to produce the most clash. I default that conditionality is fine unless you abuse it by reading like 6 condo CPs.Extinction is one of my favorite impacts if linked well. I default to comparative worlds.
FW: I'm a philosophy major, so anything you wanna read is fine. I read authors like Young, Butler, Winter and Leighton, and Levinas in high school- I like hearing these and don't think FW debate is done enough. I will gladly listen to any other author. My specialty in my major is in ethics - Mill, Kant, Ross, Dancy, etc
Theory/T: I default competing interps (especially with T) because I think that it is a more objective way to evaluate theory. I default giving the RVI unless it's on 1AR theory. Obviously, If you make arguments otherwise for any of these, I'll still evaluate them.
If you want me to vote on your shell, extend every part of it.
Presumption: In PF, I presume neg because it is squo unless you give arguments otherwise. In LD, I presume aff because of the time skew- I will vote neg on presumption if you warrant it.
Ks: I'm probably not a great K judge. I never read Ks, and I'm generally unfamiliar with the lit that isn't super common. I will obviously still evaluate it, but if I mess up, don't blame me lol. I am REALLY not a fan of non-T affs. I hated debating against these and think they put both the judge and the opponent in an uncomfortable position because often, it seems as though voting against these or responding to them is undermining the identity of an individual. Please don't commodify an oppressed group to get a ballot in front of me.
DISCLOSE! If I am judging you at a circuit tournament, I sincerely hope you will have disclosed. I will listen to answers to disclosure theory, but know that my predisposition is that the shell is just true.
Pretty much, do anything you want, and I will listen. You are the ones debating, not me!
If at any point you feel uncomfortable because of something your opponent has said, you can stop the round to talk to me, and we can decide how to go forward from there.
The most important thing to me is that debaters read positions they like. I will do my best to judge everyone and every argument fairly.
CONGRESS PARADIGM IS BELOW THIS PF Paradigm
PF:
ALMOST EVERY ROUND I HAVE JUDGED IN THE LAST 8 YEARS WOULD HAVE BENEFITTED FROM 50% FEWER ARGUMENTS, AND 100% MORE ANALYSIS OF THOSE 50% FEWER ARGUMENTS. A Narrative, a Story carries so much more persuasively through a round than the summary speaker saying "we are going for Contention 2".
I am NOT a fan of speed, nor speed/spread. Please don't make me think I'm in a Policy Round!
I don't need "Off-time roadmaps", I just want to know where you are starting.
Claim/warrant/evidence/impact is NOT a debate cliche; It is an Argumentative necessity! A label and a blip card is not a developed argument!
Unless NUCLEAR WINTER OR NUCLEAR EXTINCTION HAS ALREADY OCCURED, DON'T BOTHER TO IMPACT OUT TO IT.
SAVE K'S FOR POLICY ROUNDS; RUN THEORY AT YOUR OWN RISK- I start from ma place that it is fake and abusive in PF and you are just trying for a cheap win against an unprepared team. I come to judge debates about the topic of the moment.
YOU MIGHT be able to convince me of your sincerity if you can show me that you run it in every round and are President of the local "Advocacy for that Cause" Club.
Don't just tell me that you win an argument, show me WHY you win it and what significance that has in the round.
Please NARROW the debate and WEIGH arguments in Summary and Final Focus. If you want the argument in Final Focus, be sure it was in the summary.
There is a difference between "passionate advocacy" and anger. Audio tape some of your rounds and decide if you are doing one or the other when someone says you are "aggressive".
NSDA evidence rules require authors' last name and THE DATE (minimum) so you must AT LEAST do that if you want me to accept the evidence as "legally presented". If one team notes that the other has not supplied dates, it will then become an actual issue in the round. Speaker points are at stake.
In close rounds I want to be persuaded and I may just LISTEN to both Final Focus speeches, checking off things that are extended on my flow.
I am NOT impressed by smugness, smiling sympathetically at the "stupidity" of your opponent's argument, vigorous head shaking in support of your partner's argument or opposition to your opponents'. Speaker points are DEFINITELY in play here!
CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE:
1: The first thing I am looking for in every speech is ORGANIZATION AND CLARITY. 2. The second thing I am looking for is CLASH; references to other speakers & their arguments
3. The third thing I am looking for is ADVOCACY, supported by EVIDENCE
IMPORTANT NOTE: THIS IS A SPEAKING EVENT, NOT A READING EVENT! I WILL NOT GIVE EVEN A "BRILLIANT" SPEECH A "6" IF IT IS READ OFF A PREPARED SHEET/TUCKED INTO THE PAD OR WRITTEN ON THE PAD ITSELF; AND, FOR CERTAIN IF IT IS READ OFF OF A COMPUTER OR TABLET.
I value a good story and humor, but Clarity and Clash are most important.
Questioning and answering factors into overall placement in the Session.
Yes, I will evaluate and include the PO, but it is NOT an automatic advancement to the next level; that has gotten a bit silly.
I am the current director of speech and debate and Yearbook adviser at Coral Springs High School.
From 1997-2000, I competed in LD and extemp. From 2004-2018, I was an editor at The Miami Herald.
I am in the learning stages for judging PF and LD, so I will need clear arguments and technical explanations. I cannot keep up with spreading yet.
In PF I appreciate unique arguments, but they must be conveyed clearly and in a way most people can understand. In LD, feel free to use any wild arguments or theories, just be able to back them up!
I have no bias toward any argument or theory or style but I require respect for your opponent(s).
Any other specifics, please ask.
I am a parent judge from Nova High School. I judged PF, HI, DI and OO for four years (between 2010 and 2014) and began judging again last year. My judging method for Public Forum is simple and based upon how convincing and supported the arguments are and how appropriate the responses are to those arguments. Participants should not presume that I have any knowledge, other than common knowledge, of the topics or of the supportive evidence used to further their arguments. I appreciate clear, articulated speech at a normal speed; if I cannot understand what the debater is saying, I cannot judge what argument is being made. I further expect debaters to be courteous and well-mannered; to not create any disruption when the other side is speaking; and to not speak over each other during crossfires. Participants should feel free to ask any questions of me prior to beginning, and again afterwards, but not during the event.
Who am I?
I'm a senior economics major at the University of Florida with a minor in Russian. I participated in debate in high school (mostly Lincoln Douglas, but I helped write PF constructives), and served as president of the club my senior year. I've judged two debate tournaments in the past, one of them the Florida Blue Key tournament at UF last year. I have only ever judged PF debates.
How do I judge?
I am not a super technical judge--I think the best debates are relatively straightforward and not too difficult for an outsider to the topic to understand. It should be well supported by facts. Signposting is not a necessity, but I definitely prefer it, as it helps keep the flow more organized. I am pickiest as a judge when it comes to rebuttals or generally trying to disprove the opposition's argument; I think that is the true heart of debate, and shows how well you know your topic, how comfortable you are with debating in general, and whether or not you can keep things civil (it is the hardest time to keep your head, I have noticed). If you're arguing you outweigh on something, you do not have to harp on it forever, but make it very clear why you outweigh. If I think it's too weak, or there was something obvious you didn't respond to, it's not going in your favor, and will go against it if the other team picks up on it. To expound more on that--if something is obvious, like a poor response or a not-thorough-enough outweigh, make sure you say it, or I'll worry you didn't catch it. If you're excessively rude, I will most likely vote for the other team, because civility is a hallmark of a good debate that truly cannot be overstated. To make it very simple: Make solid, clear points, thoroughly defend your argument, and BE CIVIL.
Hi! My name is Marybeth and I debated in high school and coached/independently drilled with some students in college!
Contact info: mehlbec@emory.edu
Read this, if anything:
Please just have as comfortable of a round as you want, let's all treat each other with respect, empathy, and camaraderie.
Stolen from Malcolm Davis's paradigm: As I get old and grumpy, I am increasingly frustrated with PF's bells and whistles. We are all regular people. You don't need to 'strongly urge an affirmation' or proudly declare what the 'thesis of your case' is or anything, you just need to debate the round and explain what's going on clearly. There needn't be pomp and circumstance in a room where we're talking about ideas for fun on the weekend.
Main Preferences
1. I will vote for an argument (hopefully under a framework [one that is warranted and fairly won] ) if it is warranted, impacted, and weighed against the other args in the around under a default of comparative worlds unless instructed otherwise. Blippy and unwarranted offense will likely produce an audible sigh from me. Exceptions to this rule: the arg is offensive/exclusionary, not in both summary/FF, card is misconstrued/grossly paraphrased.
2. MY HEARING IS NOT THE BEST. please be VERY CLEAR with signposting, extending author names etc.
3. Weighing has to be explicitly comparative and contextualized to your opponent's offense.
4. No off time roadmaps unless you are reading an off.
5. The extension of defense into first summary is not required. It is required if the defense has been frontlined.
Random things due to the cultural decline of public forum:
1. read cards in front of me please, I don't care to hear paraphrased evidence but I will evaluate it when push comes to shove
2.i think disclosure theory in PF is pretty unconvincing/bad strat, although it is a good norm.
3. i would much rather you read theory in paragraph form rather than shell if that's what you're comfortable with and wont look down upon such when I'm evaluating it.
Good luck and have fun!
I am a parent judge. I am new to judging and this is my first tournament. That said, please limit spreading so I can focus on the strength of your argument, and speak slowly enough that I can follow your logic. Also, I'd prefer that you signpost so I am clear about your main contentions and subpoints. I will judge on content, delivery, and resolution. Mind the time and in the spirit of keeping a level playing field, I will not allow you to go over the limit to make your final points.
Consistency and intelligence of argument are always going to mean the most to me. With that being said, I have three easy recs to follow:
1. Please provide a framework (it will help me conceptualize how to view the round).
2. Please weigh impacts for me. If this is not done, I will do it myself.
3. You will secure your vote in summary/FF. Logically, you can't extend anything into FF if you didn't mention it in summary.
Also, have fun and challenge yourself!
Put me on the email chain: keganferguson@gmail.com.
Previously ADOD at North Broward Prep for 3 years. Did policy debate at Indiana University and PF/LD/Extemp at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, IN.
***Policy***
Debate is primarily a competition. Yes it teaches us many skills and influences how we develop as people, but is still a game with a winner and a loser at its core. I believe that central truth produces debate’s best and worst outcomes.
It can result in thorough, well-researched rounds that delve into the nuances of a specific issue. Or it can produce scattershot 12-off strategies that rely on mistakes to have a chance of victory. It can make people view competitors with respect and admiration for their commitment to the activity. Or it can make us view them as our opposition, to be steamrolled and reduced to nothing whenever possible. I’ll evaluate arguments fairly regardless of the strategy used or the way you treat opponents, but will use speaks to reflect what I perceive as the quality of the round. It's not too hard to get high speaks in front of me. Have a clear strategy, execute it well, and make the debate enjoyable for all involved.
No argument is ‘too bad’ to win in front of me. If it’s truly so egregious, it’s the burden of the opposing team to explain why in the debate. I try hard not to intervene and inject personal biases, but I do still have them (listed below) and they influence the decisions I make.
All this being said – I’m an educator at the end of the day, and debate is an activity for students in an academic setting. If you do things to make the debate space feel unsafe for those involved I will intervene.
K AFFs
I prefer critiques to include research about the topic, but it’s not required. Clear impact turns to the core negative standards on framework are vital – spewing nebulous and blippy arguments titled things like ‘Plasticity DA’ to T in the 2ac is terminally unpersuasive. If you’re not contextualizing your impact turns as direct answers to fairness, clash, etc. you’re in a hole from the start. Ideally, you will also present a straightforward and well explained vision of debate and develop reasons why it can preserve a limited argumentative venue.
I’m more persuaded by presumption arguments vs. K affs than most judges. 2AR’s tend to mishandle offensive, cruel optimism-style arguments and get themselves into trouble.
T USFG
You need to explain how the aff’s C/I explodes limits and to what extent, same as you would against a policy affirmative when going for T. What style affirmative does it allow for? Why is it bad for debate, and how bad?
When I vote affirmative it’s usually because of a sequencing claim about dropped case arguments or an unclear response to the aff’s impact turns to framework impacts.
When I vote negative it’s usually because you win fairness is a priori and the only thing the ballot can resolve, that a limited model of debate internal link turns aff impacts through improved research/iterative testing, or that the Aff’s scholarship is included in your model.
Theory
Not a fan of heavy theory debates, but I’ve judged quite a few. Definitely lean neg on conditionality – but willing to vote for it if competently extended and technically won by the affirmative. As a 2a, process counterplans were not my favorite argument in debate, and I tend to lean aff on competition arguments depending on the scope of the topic + CP mechanisms. Still not afraid to vote neg quickly and easily if you’re ahead on the technical aspects in this portion of debate.
Theory debates that rely on me to fill-in arguments where you have just said random technical debate jargon - nonstarter. You should slow down on your theory analytics as well – I often find myself missing nuance when it’s extended by reading blocks as fast as possible.
*** Public Forum Debate ***
I competed in Indiana in high school, and very much understand the frustrations of losing debates on new arguments, evidence spin, ‘I just don’t believe you,’ etc. in front of lay judges. I’ll try my hardest to purely evaluate the debate off of the flow, which means giving equal weight and consideration to arguments that are not traditionally made in Public Forum. I think judges should approach debate with an open mind, and be ready to listen to students who put just as much effort and thought into their non-traditional strategies as other teams have.
Indicating an openness to theoretical and critical arguments does not mean that you should necessarily try reading these arguments in front of me for the first time. I find myself judging very poorly executed strategies in these lanes pretty often, and the speaker points reflect it. Please stick with what you’ve been practicing, as this is the best way to win my ballot. Trying to punk another team on theory if you never go for it will usually not work out well for you.
Competing in policy for 4 years in college has left me with many, somewhat negative, opinions on the pedagogical quality of argumentation in PF. Research is often not presented to me in a clear and digestible way (read: cards), and I’ve been handed a 20+ page PDF as the ‘source’ for an argument too many times to count. Saying ‘nuclear war doesn’t happen, MAD checks that’s Ferguson,’ and then handing me a piece of evidence with 2 minutes of highlighted text will not go your way. I won’t read deep into evidence that has not been explained and warranted during the debate, as I think that leads to pretty sizable judge intervention and more arbitrary decisions than one that remains flow-centric.
I’m a big advocate of disclosure in PF. The best debates are ones where one team has a thoroughly prepared strategies against a case, and the other team really knows the ins and outs of their own contentions. I’m not sympathetic at all to arguments about prep-outs – I’m terminally convinced that they’re good. I’m not convinced by arguments about how they hurt small schools – I competed at a very tiny college program that ONLY survived because of the wiki. I’m not sympathetic to arguments about people ‘stealing research,’ because it’s obviously not ‘stealing’ and lazy debaters that download wiki cases usually get beaten because they don’t know the nuances of the arguments they’re reading. If you disclose on the wiki, you will get a slight speaker bump. If you disclose pre-round, same deal. Note: this does not mean that disclosure theory is an auto-win by any means. You will have to technically execute it and win that disclosure is good during the debate – I won’t copy and paste my paradigm into the ballot.
Nitpicky other thoughts that may be helpful:
· Don’t take forever finding your evidence – especially if it’s in your own case. If it drags on too long (3-4 minutes) I will begin to run prep time. There’s clearly a reasonable window of time in which you can find a piece of evidence you claimed to have literally just read. If you can’t find it, you probably didn’t actually cut/read it.
· Don’t ever go back to your own case in first rebuttal just to ‘build it up some more.’ I will not be flowing if you are not making new arguments, and it’s a complete waste of time to rebuild a case they have not yet answered. There are some exceptions to this if you have framing arguments or whatnot – but 99% of the time you should just be answering your opponent’s case. To me, it reads as a clear sign that someone is a relative beginner in Public Forum when this occurs.
· Second rebuttal should frontline their case.
· Summary should include defensive and dropped arguments, but time should be allocated according to the other teams’ coverage.
· Impact framing arguments that are simply ‘X issue is not discussed enough, so prioritize it’ are not convincing to me in the slightest. You need to have a clear and offensive reason why not prioritizing your impact filter is bad, not just say that it’s important and people never give it notice. Ask yourself this question: what is the impact of your framing being ignored?
· Warrants beat tagline extensions of cards 99% of the time.
None of the above are ‘rules’ for how to go about earning my ballot. You could violate any one of the above and still win, but it’s likely only going to happen if your opponent is making major mistakes. Lastly, I think that topic knowledge wins just as many debates as a cleverly constructed case does. You should try your best to be the most knowledgeable person in the room on any given PF topic, because you’ll usually have what it takes to flexibly respond to unpredicted arguments and embarrass your opponents in cross.
Speaker point scale:
29.5+ - You’re debating like you’re already in the final round, and you deserve top speaker at this tournament.
29-29.5 – Debating like a quarterfinalist.
28.5 – 29 – Solid bubble/doubles team
28-28.5 – Debating like you should be around .500 or slightly below
27.5-28 – Serious room for improvement
Below 27.5 – You were disrespectful to the extreme or cheated. Probably around here if you just give up as well.
I've been involved with debate from 10+ years and have enjoyed witnessing its expansion. I believe in any and all debate styles, provided you are clear, your arguments link directly to the resolution, and you do not abuse your opponent. I have a zero tolerance policy for disrespectful opponents or any form or racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, etc.
Lincoln Douglas
Do not run arguments that are disrespectful/abusive toward your opponent. Feel free to run whatever you want, provided it is not superficial/frivolous theory. I believe the purpose of debate is to actually have a debate. Try to remain topical. I lean toward reason and logic, but will evaluate theory, definitions, and topics as you have defined. I tend to prefer classic strategies, but will vote for Ks if they are applicable, well developed, and are explained sufficiently. If you run Ks, make sure you provide specific links, and not just omissions. When using theory shells, avoid abuse or the appearance thereof, and do not become so evasive as to not be able to engage in a meaningful way with your opponent.
Public Forum
Feel free run whatever you want. I lean toward reason and logic. I enter the round as a blank slate and will evaluate the round based on definitions and topics as discussed. Make sure your arguments include impacts - the more specific and tangible, the better. When providing numbers and statistics, make sure you have evidence to support your arguments.
I participated in public forum debate for four years in high school. I also dabbled in policy debate and extemp. After being out of the debate circuit for a few years I have come to realize that one style of debate has pervaded through all the different debate events. Namely, the style which originated in policy debate. I will not venture towards normative comments on whether this style of debate is good or bad, however, I will take a clear stance on the fact that public forum, Lincoln Douglas, and policy debate are different events. These debate events were meant to be distinct and unique. This is not the case in the status quo. That being said here is what I expect in a public forum debate round.
Public forum debate was created to allow the average person to be able to understand the topics being discussed. I believe it is the debater's job to tactfully articulate their arguments such that a layperson can follow them. Due to the severe lack of this type of debate occurring, I feel as a judge it is my responsibility to enforce certain standards upon competitors who I judge.
To be perfectly clear, I will drop you in the round if you spread or read theory shells (unless there are serious abuses occurring in the round). I do believe that different frameworks can play a role in public forum debate but I think that these should be read at the beginning of your case, not in the middle of the round. I am also much more inclined to vote for a team with a cohesive narrative that they have been pushing throughout the round. I think that in order to be fair no new evidence should be read in final focus.
Additionally, perhaps the most important speech in the round is the summary. Due to the increase in the time limit of this speech I have witnessed teams try to extend every single argument they have in the round during this speech. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS. The entire point of a summary is to distill the round into its key components and start WEIGHING. If you do not do this in your summary speech I will much less inclined to vote for you.
Lastly, as I have already iterated weighing is the most important thing for a debater to do in the round. It helps to have a weighing framework established, but this is not necessary as a CBA is a standard in PF. However, even in a CBA, it is important to distinguish how different impacts can be weighed against each other, and why yours are more important than your opponents. If you do not weigh, I have to decide what's more important which is not fun for either of us.
Background:
Competed in Public Forum on the national circuit level for two years (Junior/Senior).
Speeches:
-Please extend extend extend arguments, evidence, and rebuttals. It helps to strengthen your points in your summaries and persuade me more.
-I appreciate clear impacts with comparative weighing between your arguments and your opponents on the most important issues in the round.
-You can go fairly quickly in terms of speed, but spreading may hurt you as I will not be able to flow accurately.
Evidence:
-I may call for a card if the meaning of the evidence seemed to have change throughout the round
-I may also call for a card if there has not been a clear, persuading interpretation of the evidence by either team.
-A name, year and if possible a very brief qualification of the author (simply the
name of the site, institution, etc) for each card will give more credibility to your arguments.
Final thoughts:
-Please be civil. We aren’t fighting to the death.
-A clever and subtle Office reference/analogy is appreciated:)
My name is Mindy Glazer. I am a Miami-Dade Circuit Judge. I am currently assigned to the Criminal Division. I have presided over hundreds of trials and hearings over the past 20 years. In this forum, I am a parent judge with three years experience judging PF.
At the outset, please introduce yourself and inform me what position you will be arguing. Please stand when speaking. Be mindful of the time your are allotted. I may deduct points if you exceed your time.
I want to understand your argument, so please speak clearly and not too fast. Organized and well reasoned arguments supported by evidence earn points. Points will be deducted for rude and offensive behavior. Please allow your opponent to answer questions during crossfire before asking more questions.
Hey Debaters!
I’m Ben, I debated my senior year on varsity PF at Lake Mary High School in 2017. I have gone on to judge multiple local tournaments and FBK in 2019. My favorite moment was mavericking at Blue Key in 2016 and winning a round against a normal team of 2! I recently graduated from UCF with a degree in Marketing. I like data and appreciate a good story told using that data.
My paradigm is simply be kind, respectful, and courteous. Avoid interrupting each other and demonstrate professionalism when debating. I am going to show you guys a high level of respect during the rounds and I expect you to do the same to your peers. Don’t be afraid to have fun. If this is your first tournament or TOC, you will always improve from where you started so go all out this time.
For virtual debate, if you, the other debater, or I cut out or have connection issues, I’m totally okay with off-time clarifying questions about the speech to make sure you understood everything.
I am a very chill lay judge, I have no intentions of attacking your evidence and asking for proof for every word you say. If you say something wild, the other team has that duty to ask about it, and I may ask to see that evidence as well just to cross T’s and dot I’s. Regarding evidence, I will link my email AND/OR a create a google doc for each team so they may send me their evidence if it is called for any reason.
I look forward to hearing your cases, good luck!
I typically can't hear/follow full speed spreading. If I can't hear you I will yell clear.
I will listen to any arguments I understand. If you are running progressive arguments I expect clear explanations for every part of the case. You can read tricky arguments but if I can't hear them I will not vote on them.
Traditional approach is probably best.
I value tech over truth, once again as long as the argument is explained to me.
During rebuttals I expect clear, heavy impact work. Explain how your arguments interact with theirs and tell me why to vote for you.
My judge paradigm is fairly straightforward.
1. I can handle speed, but will not follow spreading. Please be concise in what you are arguing.
2. I expect you to treat your fellow competitors with respect. Being condescending, talking over people, interrupting people (especially in CX) will not score you points.
3. I am a mix of flow and lay judge. Having years of prior debate experience, I can flow your argument, weigh your arguments, and make my own decision about which side of the debate is correct. However, this would defeat the purpose of you debating the issues. Thus, it is your responsibility to tell me what arguments are the most important, how to weigh arguments, and why your arguments should be standing at the end of the round ("my opponent dropped this argument so I automatically win it" is not persuasive to me). I do not want to be doing the analysis/work at the end of the round to weigh the evidence and come to my own decision. It is your job as a debator to give me everything I need during the round to vote in your favor.
4. Please handle evidence disputes and timing between yourselves. I will not be asking for cards at the end of the round.
I am what most debaters would call a “flay” judge. I have judged between 20-30 Public Forum Rounds in my time as a judge. I can follow your arguments and I will do my best to keep track of them on my flow. It is your responsibility as the debater to speak at a moderate and clear pace so that I can effectively get your argument down, if I don’t flow it, I won’t be evaluating it with my decision at the end of the round.
Please be civil with your opponent and clear in your speaking so that I can most effectively evaluate the round.
Thanks, and Good Luck!!
I am a parent judge. Please go slow and clear so I can understand what you're saying. Please don't use any discriminatory language.
While I encourage you to use whatever method you need to time yourself, I will have the official time with me, including your prep time. When the time is up, complete your sentence and be prepared to move on to the next part of the debate.
You may speak as fast or as slow as you like - however - if I can't understand what you are saying, it may not be helpful to your argument.
1st and 2nd cross are individual crosses. Your partner should not be assisting you during this time.
My personal opinions on whatever the topic might be will not interfere with how well you make your case. Convince me and you will win my vote.
Best of luck to everyone!
Thanks for checking out my paradigm! I apologize in advance for how long it is and for not providing a TLDR.
I am a 24 year-old college graduate who has debated public forum in high school for about 3 years, and have judged (specifically only blue key, and public forum up until varsity semi's) for the last 4 years. My background is in the field of medicine.
Here below are 5 key points to make note of for when I serve as your judge.
Respectfully,
1. In my eyes, to debate means to critically synthesize and evaluate information with specific relevance to the status quo. The more that you help me, the more that I can help you.
- Therefore, impact analysis and ,specifically, impact manifestation in the final focus are crucial to winning my vote.
- Clearly outline and organize your flow. This gives you the best chance that I make note of your arguments and weigh them appropriately.
- Give me clearly defined and weighed voting issues. SIGNPOST, and give me brief off-time road maps (when appropriate) that can help me organize my flow. Summarization exhibits your ability to read, but analysis lets me know that you understand what you are reading.
2. I have not read ANY formal evidence or argumentation prior to my first round of judging on this specific topic.
- Therefore, try to clearly organize and formulate a framework, or a standard upon which I can more accurately judge your contention(s).
- If neither team agree upon an appropriate framework, I will be forced to moderate the debate according to my own personal background knowledge. This can lead to transparency issues/favoritism issues if/when I disclose on the round.
3. I do not have experience in LD or Policy
- Therefore, I know VERY little about progressive argumentation, "Kritik framework", and theory argumentation, etc. If you believe that any of the aforementioned topics apply to you and are crucial to your victory in the round, please strike me.
- If possible, PLEASE do not spread. I understand that spreading is an acceptable strategy and I will make an honest attempt to keep up, but will most likely fail.
4. Evidence clashes are bound to happen.
- I will usually call for the evidence at the end of the round if it is centered around one of my key voting issues. I will only evaluate the card based on what is said in round, but may give you advice on the analysis of the information if you want me to post-round.
- I will often disregard the quality of the source of evidence if you use rational logic in creating a warrant that supports a presumed "faulty card"
5. I will judge as if the debate round is in a vacuum, and will make an honest effort to not evaluate arguments based on personal bias/worldview.
- Therefore, in terms of the nuance between Tech vs Truth, I am 70:30 in favor of Tech. Using novel argumentation displays your critical thinking prowess; but, if you cannot reasonably defend each of your links and give me beyond reasonable doubt that your impacts will manifest, I have little reason to support your claims.
- As a common rule of thumb, the stronger the claim that you make, the stronger the evidence/warrants/links needed to support it.
IMPORTANT: Any form of the following (but not limited to) prejudices between competitors will result in an automatic loss from me. No exceptions. Demonstrating basic humanism and empathy is far more important than winning any debate round.
· Racism.
· Sexism.
· Ageism.
· Classism.
· Homophobia.
· Religious prejudice.
· Xenophobia.
- On my honor, I will not base any part of my decision on these prejudices. Moreover, where you go to school, how well you have performed in the past, or whether I have previously judged you or not are irrelevant to me. Leave out all the rest—what happens in round is the only thing that matters to me.
Speaker points:
I generally give very high speaks (will treat every round as a bubble round). However, my leniency is often a soft function of your membership as Varsity or Novice—I hold varsity to a higher standard.
Takeaway: Do not worry about speaks. As long as you do not violate my rule on prejudice and are not blatantly laughing at your opponents (regardless of how ridiculous their arguments may seem to you), you will receive a minimum of 28. Disagreement is perfectly valid and encouraged—humiliation is not; how you carry yourself while others speak speaks volumes of your character. Though this will not affect the outcome of the debate, it will affect your speaker points, and my view of you as a person (for what it is worth).
Final notes:
Relax. Take a deep breath, and love yourselves.
You guys are already so incredibly awesome for choosing to wake up on a weekend and chase your interests. You guys have struggled and have shown courage and resilience just by being here. Know that regardless of the outcome that I decide upon in the debate round, I have the utmost respect for each and every one of you. I recognize that I am not you and do not understand how much you have been through to get this far, but I hope that I can perform up to your standard with my transient privilege as your judge.
***Please have fun, be respectful, and treat your fellow competitors as if they were from your own school. Your victory here will be but an imprinted numerical code entered into tabroom accompanied with a possible wooden stick (trophy) at the end; but your class, humanity, and humility will serve as your legacy and will define the remainder of your life. One is objectively more valuable to me than the other.
If you have made it this far, Thanks for reading!
I am currently a first year student at Emory. I have done four years of public forum and have attended several tournaments for both Policy and Congress. I have no issues with speed and am comfortable with most speaking styles.
I see debate as a game and feel that any effective argument can be presented within a debate round. I will vote for the team that performs better at the "game" and am not afraid of giving low point wins. In most cases, if it falls under the resolution, I will listen to any argument.
In Public Forum, I am probably the most strict when it comes to the resolution. I do not believe that teams should be running specific plans, and instead should have cases that are applicable to the entirety of the resolution. I will not immediately vote down a team for violating the resolution, only if it is thoroughly pointed out in round by the opponents.
I would prefer that weighing begin in the rebuttal speeches, but am fine with it being presented in summary. If no weighing is done by either side, I am left with having to do it myself and making a decision off of that. I would also prefer that by the final two speeches, both sides reduce the debate to a few key arguments, rather than debating everything that was initially presented within the round.
Speaker points will determined by the quality of arguments, speaking style, and overall composure within the round. I have no key to a 30, but a joke every now and then never hurts.
I am an assistant coach at The Potomac School, and previously was the Director of Forensics at Des Moines Roosevelt. If you have any questions about Public Forum, Extemp, Congress, or Interp events, come chat! Otherwise you can feel free to email me at: quentinmaxwellh@gmail.com for any questions about events, the activity, or rounds I've judged.
I'm a flow judge that wants to be told how to feel. Ultimately, Public Forum is supposed to be persuasive--a 'winning' flow is not inherently persuasive. My speaker points are generally reflective of how easy I think you make my decisions.
Things to Remember…
0. The Debate Space: R E L A X. Have some fun. Breathe a little. Sit where you want, talk in the direction you want, live your BEST lives in my rounds. I'm not here to tell you what that looks like!
1. Framework: Cost/benefit unless otherwise determined.
2. Extensions: Links and impacts NEED to be in summary to be evaluated in final focus. Please don't just extend through ink--make an attempt to tell me why your arguments are comparatively more important than whatever they're saying.
3. Evidence: If you're bad at paraphrasing and do it anyway, that's a reasonable voter. See section on theory. Tell me what your evidence says and then explain its role in the round. I also prefer authors AND dates. I will not call for evidence unless suggested to in round.
4. Cross: If it's not in a speech it's not on my flow. HOWEVER: I want to pay attention to cross. Give me something to pay attention to. Just because I'm not flowing cross doesn't make it irrelevant--it's up to you to do something with the time.
5. Narrative: Narrow the 2nd half of the round down with how your case presents a cohesive story and 1-2 key answers on your opponents’ case. I like comparative analysis.
6. Theory: If an abuse happens, theory shells are an effective check. I think my role as an educator is to listen to the arguments as presented and make an evaluation based on what is argued.
Disclosure is good for debate. I think paraphrasing is good for public forum, but my opinion doesn't determine how I evaluate the paraphrasing shell. This is just to suggest that no one should feel intimidated by a paraphrasing shell in a round I am judging--make substantive responses in the line-by-line and it's ultimately just another argument I evaluate tabula rasa.
7. Critical positions: I'll evaluate Ks, but if you are speaking for someone else I need a good reason not to cap your speaks at 28.5.
8. Tech >< Truth: Make the arguments you want to make. If they aren't supported with SOME evidence my threshold for evaluating answers to them is, however, low.
9. Sign Post/Road Maps: Please.
**Do NOT give me blippy/underdeveloped extensions/arguments. I don’t know authors of evidence so go beyond that when talking about your evidence/arguments in round. I am not a calculator. Your win is still determined by your ability to persuade me on the importance of the arguments you are winning not just the sheer number of arguments you are winning. This is a communication event so do that with some humor and panache.**
I competed on the national circuit in Speech from 2005-2008. I coached nearly all Speech and Debate events at local and national levels from 2009-2021.
TL;DR: I care most about your impact narrative and warranting to support it. Random underdeveloped offense on the flow is pretty meaningless to me if your opponent’s offense makes more sense.
I've done this enough that I can keep up with more than a lay judge can. However, we will all have a better time if you keep the debate as accessible as possible.
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Important Stuff for PF
- I prefer whichever side is able to give me a clearer impact narrative for the round. If you do better weighing I will always vote for you over a team who tries to cover the entire flow.
- My threshold for blatantly fake arguments is low. Something isn't automatically true just because you said it in the round. You have to warrant it.
- Please signpost. In every speech. I beg of you. "Extend our impact from contention 2, sub-point B" makes it very easy for me to find what you're saying!
- I'm cool with speed, so go fast as long as the words coming out of your mouth make sense. Actual spreading is more difficult for me, so if you do that and I miss something it's your fault not mine.
- I do not flow author names so if you rely on only extending authors without furthering the impact analysis in the later speeches I'll have a harder time voting for you.
- While I did engage with PF regularly while coaching, it is to your benefit to treat me more like a parent in terms of jargon.
Progressive Stuff in PF
- Policy-type arguments (plans/DAs/etc) are fine in all circumstances even with novice opponents or mom judges. Otherwise...
- I will only vote for a progressive arg/K/theory in PF if your opponent and all judges consent to you running it. Lay parents cannot consent to this. People who volunteer their time to debate tournaments should be respected and valued. Wasting 90 minutes of a person's life with debate tech that a normal person can't understand isn't cool.
- If you are going to read theory, you should weigh it as a voting issue. I am unlikely to vote for this unless the violation is clear and egregious. The exception is disclosure theory in PF. If you read disclosure theory in front of me I will stop listening. If you read disclosure theory in front of me and I know you are a circuit team I will drop you. It's not your opponent's fault that you're too lazy to debate something that wasn't on the wiki.
- If we're being real with each other I'm not likely to vote for you if you're reading a K in PF. I will have a harder time understanding it and how it works in a PF round. I would much rather you take the impacts from the K and prove that your side of the resolution achieves them in a more traditional substance debate.
- Anything else is beyond my experience level and you should not do it.
Other Stuff
- If you make arguments that are racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise blatantly discriminatory (ex: if you tell me poor people just need to stop being lazy and living on government handouts) you can expect me to give you the lowest possible speaks that tab will allow me to and you will lose.
-----------------------
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Have fun
Preferences:
- Speak clearly and slowly, speed at 7 or slower
- Be clear in your contentions. Example, #1....... #2.....
- On rebuttals, clearly state which argument you are refuting
- I typically do not have extensive background on the topic. So throughly explain your contention.
- Eye contact shows confidence and knowledge of the topic vs. reading from your computer
Etiquette: Do not like bullying approach. Can be passionate but must be respectful of the other team.
Length of Judging: first year judge
Background
- 3 years national circuit PF at American Heritage-Plantation in Florida (2013-2016)
- 2 years policy debate at FSU (2016-2018)
- 2 years coaching PF for Capitol Debate (2017-current)
Paradigm
- Do anything you want to do in terms of argumentation. It is not my job as a judge in a debate community to exclude certain forms of argumentation. There are certain arguments I will heavily discourage: Ks read just to confuse your opponent and get an easy win, theory read to confuse your opponent, anything that is racist, classist, transphobic, xenophobic, sexist, ableist, etc. I will not immediately drop you for trying to confuse your opponent, I might for the latter half. The threshold for trying to confuse your opponents will be if you refuse to answer crossfire questions or give answers that everyone knows aren't legit.
- The most frequently asked questions I get are "can you handle speed?" and "how do you feel about defense in first summary/does the second speaking team need to cover responses in rebuttal?" To the first, if you are spreading to make this event in accessible to your opponents, I will give you no higher than a 20 in speaks. I am fine with spreading, but if either your opponents or I clear you, I expect you to slow down. If your opponents need to clear you 3 or more times, I expect you send them a speech doc (if you had not already done that). To the second, I do not care. It is probably strategic to have defense in first summary/ respond to first rebuttal in second rebuttal, but if you do not do that, I'm not going to say it has magically become a dropped argument.
- K's are cool, theory is cool. You need to know what you are talking about if you read these. You should be able to explain it to your opponents. If you are doing performance stuff give me a reason why. You should be prepared for the "we are doing PF, if you want to do performance why not go back to policy" debate.
- I default to whatever debaters tell me to default to. If you are in a util v structural violence framing debate, you better have reasons to defend your side. I do not default "util is trutil" unless it is won as an argument.
- Sound logic is better than crappy cards.
- The TKO is in play. If you know, you know.
- Speaker points will be reflection of your skill and my scale will remain consistent to reflect that. The average is between a 28.2-28.5. If you are an average debater, or your performance is average in round, that is what you should expect. Do not expect a 30 from me unless the tournament does not do halves.
Any questions:
email- ryleyhartwig@gmail.com
Or you can ask me before the round.
I am a traditional judge but I am willing to listen to any content. I do have two requests:
- Please do not spread!
-I do not disclose after rounds.
University of Florida Class of '22 Political Science - Pre-Law Major.
Email: hunterahurley@gmail[.]com or hunterhurley@ufl[.]edu
Experience -
University of Florida Speech and Debate - 1.5 Years - Co-Captain of Public Debate Team
PF, Impromptu, Congress judge in National Catholic Forensic League (St. Augustine Region) - 1 year.
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For PF
Remember - Public Forum should be accessible to everyone - hence 'public' forum. That means it should be easy for me and my fellow judges to follow your speeches.
I generally focus heavily on the logic of the arguments and less on the presentation of the argument - that means speak at a normal conversational pace and lay your arguments out effectively to win the round. Try not to use too much jargon as that will muddle my understanding of your argument and will probably cause you to lose ground in the round.
Do not spread - while it won't directly cause an L, it will make you seem like you are trying to pile on arguments onto the debate, which is a problematic strategy in my opinion.
Remember Logos, Pathos, Ethos, slowing down, and making it an accessible (and FUN) debate and you will be fine. - I will not disclose at the end of a round.
I am a lay judge so that means:
Explain your arguments well and how they interact with the opponents arguments
Try not to use debate jargon and if you do explain what that means
Do not speak fast. If you do I will not be able to understand your arguments and you will probably lose
If the other team drops something make sure to tell me that they drop something
If you have any questions, ask me before the round starts and I will do my best to answer.
I am judging for the very first time. I want to do justice to your hard work. So please speak slowly and convince me why I should vote for you. Pl make clear, concise arguments. I am a layman. Please remember that. Please don’t spread. I want to be persuaded. It won’t mean much if you read a lot of responses but don’t tell me why it is important or why it should win you the round. I will try to flow as best as possible. I will write arguments as they materialize and follow along. Please be respectful. I will not disclose as it will take some time to make my decision. Please don’t make outlandish arguments without evidence and warranting to support it
Director of Speech and Debate at Lake Highland Prep - Orlando, FL
Email chain info: njohnston@lhps.org
The Paradigm:
Debate is meant to be a fun activity! I think you should do whatever you need to do to ride your own personal happiness train. So have a good time in our rounds. That said, remember that riding your happiness train shouldn't limit someone else's ability to ride their's. So be kind. Have fun, learn stuff, don't be a jerk though.
I've been around debate for over 15 years. You can read whatever arguments in front of me and I'm happy to evaluate them. I'm fine if you want to LARP, read Ks, be a phil debater, do more trad stuff, or whatever else. I'm good with theory as long as you're generating genuine, in-round abuse stories. Frivolous theory and tricks are not something I'm interested in listening to. If I'm judging you online, go like 50% of your max spreading because hearing online is difficult. I'd like to be on email chains, but we all should accept that SpeechDrop is better and use it more. Otherwise, do whatever you want.
Rankings:
K - 1
Phil - 2
Policy - 1
High theory - 2.5 (it'll be ok but I'm going to need you to help me understand if its too far off the wall)
Theory - 1 (but the good kind), 4 (for the bad, friv kind)
Tricks - you should probably strike me
The Feels:
I'm somewhat ideologically opposed to judge prefs. As someone who values the educative nature of our events, I think judge adaptation is important. To that end, I see judge paradigms as a good way for you to know how to adapt to any given judge in any given round. Thus, in theory, you would think that I am a fan of judge paradigms. My concern with them arises when we are no longer using them to allow students the opportunity to adapt to their judges, but rather they exist to exclude members from the potential audience that a competitor may have to perform in front of (granted I think there is real value in strikes and conflicts for a whole host of reasons, but prefs certainly feed into the aforementioned problem). I'm not sure this little rant has anything to do with how you should pref/strike me, view my paradigm, etc. It kind of makes me not want to post anything here, but I feel like my obligation as a potential educator for anyone that wants to voice an argument in front of me outweighs my concerns with our MPJ system. I just think it is something important and a conversation we should be having. This is my way of helping the subject not be invisible.
I am an experienced flow judge, but please do not spread; as long as you give me any type of roadmap prior to your speaking time the round will go smoothly. Please have cards prepared, I will ask for proof if I find any questionable.
Debaters are responsible for keeping time, I will only enforce it if necessary.
In terms of arguments, I am not picky, as long as you argue them clearly and effectively.
Good Luck :)
I did public forum for 4 years in high school and I coached for 2 years. That being said, I'm now 4 years out from high school so my flowing isn't quite as fast as it used to be. Do with that information what you will.
Otherwise my paradigm is pretty simple:
The most important thing is that I will always choose the easiest/cleanest path to the ballot.
Terminal defense does NOT have to be in first summary.
I like weighing. Judging is super hard when I have a bunch of arguments on both sides with no way to analyze them and if I'm feeling rushed I might analyze them wrong on my own. So do it for me.
Don't trust my facial expressions. You can say the best argument I've ever heard and I'll still look bored.
Don't be rude in round. I know the difference between aggressive and mean, and I'm not afraid to dock points if I see the latter.
If you have any questions feel free to ask before the round.
I used to have something on here saying "strike me if you're gonna run theory", however; it would seem that they have become so pervasive in debate that everyone would have to strike me. So now I will just say: I barely understand how progressive arguments work, I have no understanding of the rules behind them, and I really really REALLY prefer arguments that stick to the topic. So like I said at the beginning, do with that information what you will.
paradigm!
i did pf in high school
- signpost and warrant and weigh
- mirror summary and ff
- frontline offense in second rebuttal
- dont read theory or k's or that kinda stuff cause idk what it is
- dont be sexist, racist, homophobic, ableist, etc.
- julia wu’s paradigm is good too
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music!
- top five: frank ocean, tyler, the creator, travis scott, brockhampton, and kanye west
- others: playboi carti, a$ap rocky, rex orange county, aries, sza, lana del rey, steve lacy, earl sweatshirt, childish gambino, young nudy, lucki, jaden, vince staples, daniel caesar, kali uchis, dominic fike, weston estate, and ceddy bu [r.i.p.]
- p.s. if you can get lana and rocky married, 30's + win
NO SPREADING PLEASE!!!
I will call for evidence if I think it is falsified.
1) Be respectful and polite. Do not disrespect your opponents in any manner.
2) I can comprehend everything you say at whatever speed you say it. However, if you speak faster than I can write, then there might be some arguments missing from my notes.
3) Do not use hyperboles and faulty logic. When assessing impact, probability is as important as the scope, so if your argument is hyperbolic and unlikely or if the logic trail leading to that end is discontinuous, you have no impact.
Hello My name is Anthony Maglaqui. A little background about myself, I did public forum debate for all 4 years of my high school debate career.
My paradigms are as follows:
I am capable of flowing, so consider me a flow judge.
I do not flow cross-x, I believe cross-x is for both teams to extrapolate/gather information and present to me in your rebuttals, summaries, and final focuses.
If you start spreading, I will not continue to flow. I expect you to articulate your arguments in a timely manner.
Please signpost in your arguments.
Hi guys! My name is Jenna and I am a junior at University of Central Florida. I graduated from Lake Mary High School in 2017 as their speech and debate team's president. I did PF for all of my years on the team, and loved every minute of it. This is my 3rd time judging this tournament and 5th time attending!
So, the way I judge my rounds are pretty simple. Be nice to each other. If I hear or see any sort of malicious comments, body language, gestures, etc. I will drop your team. Respect each other. Focus on the contentions and content at hand. Do not resort to ad hominem because it weakens your argument, resulting in you receiving a loss for that round. While you are giving your final focuses and summaries, weigh and sign post. I want to know that you all know what is the most important in your round, because if you don't, then what is the point of me picking you up as a team? And last, no off-time roadmaps. I don't need a summary of what you're going to say because I am going to hear it in the next 4 minutes or so, so they are unnecessary.
If you have any questions about anything, please do not be afraid to ask me! Good luck!
Within the debate, I need to be able to clearly hear all of your contentions. I understand that you don't have much time, but please do your best to speak at a human pace. As a judge, it is my responsibility to listen as you speak, but as a speaker, it is your responsibility to make clear and concise claims. Please also signpost throughout, and know that final focus should offer very clear voters. I look forward to hearing you speak!
Hi, I did Public Forum debate for four years at Lake Mary Prep in Orlando, Florida.
Some things I like:
Warrants and lines of logic over evidence that is unwarranted
Weighing, the earlier the better
Front-lining in Second Rebuttal. You don't have to do this but I think it is a good idea
Narratives
Collapsing ***** 3 min summary does not mean go for more, just COLLAPSE BETTER *****
My coach always used to say "50% fewer arguments and 100% more analysis"
Some things I don't like:
Miscut Evidence. I am fine with paraphrasing but please make sure its an accurate representation of the evidence (I reserve the right to drop you if it is seriously misrepresented)
Blippy Arguments that are not weighed, warranted, or implicated
Spreading
Theory / Ks unless there is a serious issue or abuse in the topic or the round. I am also really bad at understanding these, so you should probably strike me if this is your thing.
Any bigoted argument I will immediately drop you no questions asked.
To Summarize, In the poetic words of Ozan Ergrunor:
weigh
i begged you
but
you didn’t
and you
lost
As it should be, speaker points are rated on how well you speak in a public setting and wins are based on the logic and evidence of your arguments. I am fine with spreading as long as you articulate but I will not read your case. This is a speech and debate event, not an essay submission. Spreading can get you the win if arguments are not addressed but please note that you may have lower speaker points if you are incomprehensible or make mistakes. I will not make any assumptions and you must address everything that your opponent says but please do not reexplain the same argument just refer back to the tagline. MOST IMPORTANTLY!! no toxic behavior! cutting people off if they are taking up time is fine but do not be unnecessarily rude. Each instance will lose 1/4 speaker point after a warning.
Good luck and have fun!
I did Congress for four years but I actually know how to flow so it's whatever. I don't really care if you spread. Please include voters in FF and summary. Don't be a meanie in round please.
**Optional Section**
If any individual in the round would prefer these rules not be applied, let me know at the start and I'll waive them for the round, no questions asked.
1. Effective use of Kanye West lyrics and/or Frank Ocean references will bump speaker points
2. If you want walk-up music of any kind before ur rebuttal or summary or whatever lmk i'll try to play it for you
Have fun, and best of luck! Seriously. Have fun. Otherwise it's not worth it.
**end**
I debated for four years on the national circuit.
My paradigm breaks down quite simply:
1. Engage arguments constructively. Clash is so important but increasingly teams don't know what that means. When I'm given an argument and a response that just make the polar opposite claims, it becomes impossible to evaluate if both teams don't do extra analysis, so do the extra analysis. Warrants are infinitely more important than card-stacks – good logic beats bad evidence every time.
2. Weigh on the link and impact level. Don't just give me prewritten reasons your impact is large (i.e., "scope and severity"), but instead tell me why your link into the impact is explicitly stronger than any other links/turns your opponents go for, and why your impact is more significant than theirs. Direct comparison of impacts/links will take you far – one good, common sense weighing mechanism adapted to the content of the round is better than four weak pre-typed ones.
3. Be consistent. Not only between summary and final focus (first summary defense is optional but strongly encouraged if important), but also with a story throughout the round. If you read arguments that explicitly contradict each other for strategic value, I might not drop you, but you'll have a hard time establishing credibility (or high speaks). Instead, defend a cohesive worldview throughout the round – and pull that story through (extending both warrants and impacts at minimum).
The easiest way to win my ballot is to follow these three rules. Pick an issue and defend against responses constructively with more than just a re-assertion of your argument. Weigh the link against other links and the impact against other impacts. Use this issue to tell a clear story that leaves me confident when I vote.
With regards to pretty much everything else, I am non-interventionist. I won't tell you how fast to speak, or force you to answer turns in second rebuttal, or ban specific types of arguments, but exercise good judgement. If you do something that a majority of reasonable people would find unfair, abusive, rude, or prejudicial to members of any minority community, I will do something about it. Your speaks will certainly be impacted and the threshold at which I will cast a ballot for your opponent will fall. In elims, that threshold will fall faster because I can't tank your speaks. Don't risk it, and when in doubt, ask.
And on that note, ask me if you have any other questions.
I have judged PF for about at year. I have judged about 25 PF debates of which over half have been at national tournaments. I look for a logical approach to the topic with specific contentions supported by solid evidence. The debate should be enthusiastic but professional. I am a retired Marine Corps Officer and former Chief Systems Engineer for C-130 Programs at Lockheed Martin.
Hello Hello!
My name is Fiona McLeod as I hope you already know. I am a Junior at Florida State University, working towards a double major in International Affairs and Economics.
Debate: I competed in Public Forum for three years on the National Circuit as well as Congress and World Schools Debate. In 2019 I became 7th in the State of Florida for Varsity PF and 9th in the World for World Schools Debate at the NSDA Dallas Nationals.
Understand that I know the rules like the back of my hand and therefore will not tolerate deviation.
Preferences: I don't believe that listing what I want to see speech by speech helps you in the slightest. Thus the following 5 preference should be all you need to succeed at this level of competition.
1. I can follow fast speaking but as this event is not LD, spreading will only hurt your speaker points and my flow.
2. I will call for cards after the round if a piece of evidence is questioned in round. I will call before my decision if it is questioned in round. If evidence is not questioned but I find it interesting or puzzling I will make my decision and then call. be prepared for both.
3. EXTEND! If you do not extend your own case through I will drop arguments. I understand that we get caught up in rounds attacking the other side but please do not forget to defend you side as well.
4. Voters: I want you to tell me what happened in the simplest terms possible. Which of your contentions are still standing? Which contentions of your opponents did you defeat and why.
5. Finally, I understand clash gets aggressive, if you attack your opponents on a personal level I will deduct speaker points... it may not lose you the round but it will cost you my respect.
I was an LD debater for Strake Jesuit from 2011-15. I primarily judge LD and occasionally PF. I encourage you to ask questions before the round, or email me at johnmcmillanjl@gmail.com.
Feel free to read any arguments in any style you desire. Please be clear, both in your manner of speaking (I have no issue with speed), in weighing, and in articulating the reasons I should vote for you.
I will say ‘clear’ if I can’t understand you, and I believe it’s your obligation to make arguments and structure clear to me. Please emphasize or slow down for authors, tags, etc.
I prefer competing interps for theory but I will entertain RVI arguments. I would prefer to avoid ‘drop the debater’ shells as well, and if your shell is exceptionally stupid I reserve the right to ignore it. Beyond that I’ll try to keep an open mind, but I judge infrequently so I may need more explanation than others.
I expect you to keep track of your own prep time and keep a written record of how much time is left.
If I don’t understand your argument or it’s simply untrue I will not vote on it. Please be respectful to me, your opponent, and the standards of the activity.
For PF: Please avoid paraphrasing whenever possible. I will prefer ethically cut evidence over paraphrased evidence in all circumstances. Clearly SIGNPOST and say the tags and AUTHOR NAMES of your cards before beginning the quotation.
I debated in Public Forum debate (2013-2017) at Western Highschool in Florida.
I have a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Florida and a Master's degree in Liberal Studies from Georgetown University. Attending Northeastern University Law School in the fall.
a couple of things:
-Y'all should be timing the debate. I am the judge, not a babysitter. I like when teams hold each other accountable.
- don't read a new contention in rebuttal. that's not going on my flow
- The first summary should extend defense if the second rebuttal frontlines the argument. I think it is strategic for the second rebuttal to respond to turns and overviews.
- My attention to crossfire will probably depend on the time of day and my current mood. Please use it strategically if not I'll probably switch to watching youtube videos. - do not just read evidence explain the evidence in your own words. Tell me why the evidence matters to me at the end of the day.
- the summary is cool and all but don't go for everything on the flow, condense the round and give me a narrative. Quality of voters> Quantity of voters.
- Weigh, weigh, weigh, weigh, weigh.
-any other questions ask me before the round
SPEAKER POINT BREAKDOWNS
"30: Excellent job, you demonstrate stand-out organizational skills and speaking abilities. Ability to use creative analytical skills and humor to simplify and clarify the round.
29: Very strong ability. Good eloquence, analysis, and organization. A couple minor stumbles or drops.
28: Above average. Good speaking ability. May have made a larger drop or flaw in argumentation but speaking skills compensate. Or, very strong analysis but weaker speaking skills.
27: About average. Ability to function well in the round, however analysis may be lacking. Some errors made.
26: Is struggling to function efficiently within the round. Either lacking speaking skills or analytical skills. May have made a more important error.
25: Having difficulties following the round. May have a hard time filling the time for speeches. Large error.
Below: Extreme difficulty functioning. Very large difficulty filling time or offensive or rude behavior."
***Speaker Points break down borrowed from Mollie Clark.***
if you want to learn more about debate and get better under my guidance.
Click on the link below and sign up now!!!!
https://vancouverdebate.ca/intrinsic-debate-institute-summer-camp-2022/
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.
Hi, I am a mom judge who takes notes. This is my fourth year judging and I have a daughter in Public Forum. I love to judge and listen to interesting argumentation, however making a decision in a close round is often a challenge for me so it would be to your advantage if you follow my paradigm and make this cleaner and easier for me to evaluate. P.S. if you ask for my paradigm it most likely won’t be as in depth as this; follow this don’t just “do your thing”.
- LINGO- Chances are, you all know more about the topic than me because you’ve been researching for weeks. this being said, make sure that you don’t throw around “topical lingo”. Make sure you explain to me the terms fairly clearly. Also, don’t use fancy debate rhetoric that is typically spammed for flow judges. If you say “turn” or “flow to our side” or “extend” I’m probably gonna get a little confused. Just explain to me where and how I should evaluate the argument. Also why are you giving a roadmap if it’s super complicated and you’re hopefully going to tell me where you are anyway???
- SPEAKING- The way I look at it, debate is about adapting to whoever your judge is. For the purpose of this round, it would be strategic to just persuade me. Make eye contact and show me that you’re engaged in the activity. ..It’s okay to be aggressive to an extent but don’t be rude to your opponents. If you’re getting “beat up” fight the fire with fire though… Usually I give midstream speaks around 26-28s but a 29 is relatively easy to get if you argue effectively, professionally, fluently, and have good argumentation the whole way through. That being said, I don’t think I’ve ever given a 30 but don’t let that stop you from trying to change that. Don’t go too fast, I want to be able to understand something your saying but even perfect diction probably won’t be able to compensate for this entirely- the slower the better.
- ANALYSIS- Please weigh. This will make both of our lives so much easier. I really don’t want to revert to being the judge who votes off of something random because it’s the only thing I remember or understand at the end of the round. Tell me why your link chain makes sense and why I should prefer it over your opponent’s. Also if both teams are weighing then tell me why to vote off of your weighing mechanisms, don’t just repeat them. When weighing, don’t just throw out random words like “scope” and “magnitude”- explain them to me and why it applies directly your argument.
- CLASH- I like when in debate, both sides are actually debating and not just giving two completely different sides. Obviously you don’t know if your cases are going to clash but in later speeches engage in the debate, this is probably where I’ll end up voting.
My name is Anna Moneymaker and I am a parent judge from Newsome High School in Lithia Florida. I have never judged Lincoln Douglas, however I judged a few, local level, Public Forum rounds. My preference is no spreading, theory, or technical arguments. I am a 100% lay judge and you must make slow and clearly articulated arguments for me to follow the round. I am not interested in joining an email chain or receiving a speech document. My preference at this time is to judge a slow, traditional round.
If your strategy is to use spreading, theory, or technical arguments, I suggest for you to not select me as a preferred judge.
I am the Director for an Engineering firm since 2012 and regularly prepare marketing and project presentations on civil engineering projects and infrastructure. I have judge in speech and debate for more than six years and enjoy the opportunity to judge.
I have judged sevral categories of speech and debate, but prefer judging Public Forum, and like to see well researched smart arguments.
Presumption
I do not presume to any side. I listen to student arguments. The stronger your argument during cross-examination the better.
Speed
Be clear. Be very clear. If you are spreading politics or something that is easy to understand, then just be clear. I can understand very clear debaters at high speeds when what they are saying is easy to understand. Start off slower so I get used to your voice and I will be fine.
Slow down for analytics. If you are comparing or making analytical arguments that I need to understand, slow down for it.
Time
I am a stickler to your debate time, please be careful. Watch your time during questioning/crossfire(s).
Theory
Make it make sense and interesting.
Evidence
I want to hear the sources/cards in the evidence. Be clear when reading evidence. I penalize for quoting non-existing cards for evidence.
Do not take it out of context. I do ask for cites. Cites should be readily available. Do not cut evidence in an unclear or sloppy manner. Cut evidence ethically. Do not take evidence out of context by cutting qualifiers like "might" or "maybe".
Convince me with a good argument that is delivered in a simple way.
I like kind and diplomatic debate, no fast-paced speaking, disrespectful or overly aggressive debating.
Decorum is important!
Hi guys :) I hope Blue Key is going well for you and if not, keep your head up! I did PF in Broward for 3 years. Why am I back? For the youth... and to get that coin.
I'm a tired college student with bad attention issues, don't spread. If you see me with caffeine in front of me, you may talk at a fast pace that isn't spreading.
Extend and weigh things pretty please. Call each other out on BS or else I'm going to begrudgingly believe the BS. I'm going to try my best to understand, but if you have a complicated argument explain it. Ask me any questions you have before the round.
If you are mean to your opponents at any point during the debate (especially crossfire), automatic 20 speaks. Other than that, don't worry, your speaks will probably be fine.
Say "Is everyone ready?" not "Is anyone not ready?"
Ashley (she/her)
Hello! I'm a PhD student in 20th Century US history. I used to do PF in high school. Feel free to email if you have questions about your round.
General:
I will always do my best to minimize intervention within the round — this is your time to be creative with your arguments and to have fun with developing your own style of debate.
I am generally open to any arguments, but especially love to see how far left you can go with each argument.
If you treat novices/obviously less-experienced debaters with anything but the same respect you'd want in a round, you will not pick up my ballot. Debate is an educational activity. I really value debaters who try their best to interpret the debate in the most humane and just way possible. I will not tolerate homophobic, sexist, racist, etc. arguments in debate.
LD:
Please refer to Charles Karcher's paradigm!
Speaking:
I don't encourage you to speak quickly if it's a virtual tournament - hardly anyone speaks clearly enough for it to translate well over a Zoom/Jitsi call. However, speaking quickly is different than spreading. If you spread (which if fine with me), send over the doc first or else I won't be able to flow.
Framework:
If you don't contextualize the argument, I will do it myself and you don't want that. also please engage with the framework debate as soon as it's brought up in round.
PF:
YOU CANNOT AND WILL NOT WIN EVERY ARGUMENT. Collapse, collapse, collapse.
The earlier you start weighing, the better the round will be for you. I won't weigh anything in FF if it's not in summary (please condense and weigh impacts in these two speeches rather than going line-by-line.)
Please answer defense.
If you bring theory/spreading into a PF round, I will automatically drop you and your speaks will be a 25.
—————————————————————————dededede ——————————————————————————
what's good, debaters!
what has four letters,
occasionally has twelve letter,
always has six letter,
and never has 5 letters?
—————————————————————————dededede ——————————————————————————
I did public forum for all 4 years of high school, Im a pretty standard judge. If it’s not extended through summary into final focus I’ll count it as dropped. Follow the basics of debate, please don’t be rude to one another and try not to hop around. Make it clear what you’re going for and the direction you’re taking. It’s your job to convince me to vote for you. I can handle speed but if your opponents can’t understand it, it’s against you. Weighting, warrants, impacts, etc are important.
I've judged rounds of: Public Forum, Congress, Lincoln-Douglas, Extemporaneous Speaking, Original Oratory, Informative Speaking, Interpretation of Literature, and Impromptu Speaking.
Strong debaters have a balance of facts, statistics, engaging rhetoric and clear delivery. Help me flow! I like lots of taglines and signposting, even during cross ex. If you're speaking fast, make sure you're not sacrificing clarity. Although I don't prefer when competitors spread, I can understand what they are saying (during the cross examination sessions). If you're interrupting your opponent habitually, it may count against you.
The winning team / debater is able to deliver and extend strong, well-supported, and prepared arguments while pointing out and breaking down flaws in the opponent's arguments.
I have been a judge for 2 years. I have judged all events on the speech side at local tournaments and both nationals. I have judged PF at every local tournament for the last year. I want to hear concrete, logically connected arguments. Before you start your speech tell me which side of the flow you are starting on, stating clearly your contentions and sub-points. I have issues with spreading, if I cannot flow your arguments, you cannot win, simple as that. Please weigh at the end. I expect professionalism and good sportsmanship. Most important have fun and good luck!
My name is Jordan Press. I debated for 4 years at Cypress Bay High School, graduating in 2016. I was very active as a debater/judge/coach from 2012-2019. I now work at NSU University School as an educator.
jordan.press1998@gmail.com for email chains – also feel free to email questions
The purpose of an email chain is to speed up evidence exchange, not to have the judge read off your doc during your speeches while you go incomprehensibly fast. I cap out at around 250 WPM, but would prefer you stay around the 200 WPM range. I refuse to flow off your doc. If I can’t hear it or comprehend it, then I won’t flow it, and I will be even more disappointed if it feels like you are spreading a less experienced team out of the round. Prioritize being efficient over being quick.
Back half strategy: I strongly prefer rounds where you make it clear to me what voting for you does. What does the Aff/Neg world look like and why is your world better? I want a clear, concise, cohesive, and crystalized narrative. Additionally, extensions require context and warranting that evolves around the events occurring in the round. The best rounds are the ones where debaters shape their extensions and warrants around the clash happening in the round instead of reading off a pre-written extension file. If you just tell me to “extend Smith” with no context, I probably won’t extend it on my flow. If you are going to read blippy card extensions in Summary/FF I am not the judge for you. Moreover, Depth > Breadth. I am much more likely to vote for a team extending 1 cleanly explained, weighed and fleshed out argument than a team extending 3-4 arguments that they are winning but are not explained in-depth in the back half of the round.
You should weigh early and often – it helps develop your narrative and helps me know what issues to look to first when filling out my ballot.
On Speaker Points – teams who do this stuff ^^ well will get higher speaks.
My threshold for accepting responses to unwarranted garbage is really low. This applies to weighing, link chains, reading new offense or responses super late in the round, and especially impact chains. If you don’t tell me WHY and HOW we are getting from point A to point B and point B to point C and point C to point D in your impact chain I will be extremely unlikely to vote off that impact chain. EVERYTHING in the chain NEEDS TO BE WARRANTED AND HAVE ANALYSIS (Yes, that means I want you to explain why a nuclear war would cause extinction instead of just asserting that it does). I find this issue to be especially apparent in constructive in modern PF.
I am generally tech over truth, but there is a threshold for offensive arguments. I will vote off ridiculous (in real world context) arguments if they are properly warranted, and easily not vote off things that are universal truths if they are not properly warranted.
Progressive Arguments: I am still learning. I am not the best judge to read Kritiks/Theory in front of, but I will do my best to evaluate the arguments. You may need to dumb them down for me or overexplain. I believe there are valid reasons for reading Ks and Theory in PF, and I also believe there are valid reasons for why students should not be reading Ks and Theory in PF. I am open to both sides of that conversation and think that discussions about if those arguments belong in PF can be made in the round and make for interesting debates. I would consider myself a better judge for substance rounds than for K/Theory rounds, but I am more than willing to listen to a good K/Theory debate. At the end of the day, yes it is your job to adapt to me, but I also want you to be comfortable and debate in a style that you enjoy.
On Disclosure specifically, I am genuinely indifferent. I think there are valid reasons for why disclosure is both good and bad for PF and I am happy to listen to a good in-round discussion on that topic.
Feel free to post-round me or ask questions – I want to help you learn and grow- just don’t be rude or belittling towards me and especially not towards your opponents. I am an adult; I can just leave if the conversation becomes unproductive. Yes, debate is a competitive activity, but even more importantly it is an educational one. Be good humans, don’t let your drive to win rounds cloud your judgement.
Most importantly have fun and good luck! If you have any questions feel free to ask before the round begins.
I am a lay judge from Westlake.
Here are tips to win my ballot:
- Talk Slow, like don't break 150 WPM
- Make Sense
I will try my best to not intervene for either side, but please be aware that I will probably vote for arguments that make sense to me over arguments that don't. I do not know the intricacies of the flow but I will take notes and pay attention.
Was in PF for 3 years and I competed on the local and national circuit. Flow judge.
I will always evaluate the framework first and then look towards who best provides offense under the framework. PLEASE COLLAPSE, going for everything in round takes away from your ability to provide a narrative for your arguments. I will only vote on an argument if it’s present in both summary and final focus. That means extending both the warrant, giving a detailed analysis, and the impacts of the argument. Extending card tags alone is not enough. Most importantly, Weigh. If neither of the teams weigh, I’ll be forced to intervene and determine what I think is more important, which you might not necessarily agree with in the end. On a final note, I'm a stickler with evidence, meaning I appreciate evidence that explicitly says what it is that you are trying to communicate in the round; I appreciate logical analysis as well, but there are some instances where having both may serve to benefit you. Probably didn't cover everything so feel free to ask any specific questions before the round.
I competed from 2012-2016 at Lake Highland Prep and went to TOC, I went to UF and was director of Blue Key's PF tournament in 2018. I can handle some speed but I 100% would prefer slower speakers, especially during online tournaments like this.
I value hard numbers and statistics because they are easy to weigh. WEIGHING will earn you my ballot. If you introduce new evidence in any capacity that doesn't allow your opponents to respond, such as 2nd summaries/final focus/grand cross, it will not be evaluated due to my personal fairness philosophy. So if you're speaking 2nd and you think you have to respond to something like that, don't even waste your time on it! Just skip it.
Be as clear as possible. If you say something brilliant that I can barely understand because of your speed and clarity, I won't be able to evaluate it well.
Hello competitors and judges!
About me: I have a background in linguistics, with a bachelor's degree from UF and a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Glasgow. Therefore, I pay special attention to wording, phrasing, and speech during rounds. Semantics matter!
I was an LD and PF debater for three years during high school, so I have some experience with the techniques and formats, although slightly dated. That being said, I am not a full-time judge or debate coach - I likely do not have the background on the topics, so make sure to explain this thoroughly.
I have no preference between offense or defense as long as your overall case is well-supported and these arguments are maintained until the end of the round. This is another important point for me - your arguments should be reiterated during rebuttals and summaries and I do consider contentions dropped if they are not carried through.
Please speak clearly. I am not trained in spreading, although I can follow speed reading. If you choose to use this technique and I cannot understand you, I will not be able to judge the round appropriately. Other than that, be respectful and do your best!
Background:
I am a first year student at the University of Florida on the Policy Debate squad.
Throughout high school I participated in both Public Forum and Parliamentary Debate.
Judging:
I am a pretty open judge when it comes to how you want to approach the debate round, just make sure that your approach is clearly laid out and understood by your opponents.
Give me clear reasons to vote for you and be consistent throughout the round.
Quality of voters>Quantity of voters.
I will call for cards if I think its necessary and they are contested throughout the round.
I will flow everything except for CX.
If you have any concerns/questions that are not addressed here, please ask me before the round.
I recently graduated from Vestavia Hills High School in Birmingham, AL. I debated at Vestavia in public forum for 4 years. I went to camp and competed locally and nationally. I’m flow. I did probably 5 Congress rounds in my entire career but I feel pretty confident in my abilities to judge it.
Here's my actual paradigm:
1. Weigh weigh weigh weigh
2. If you have claim then impact without warrants and link in between you do not in fact have an impact
3. If your evidence is miscut/power tagged/wrong the highest speaks I’ll give you is 25.
4. Time yourselves
5. I don’t require defense extension in first summary, only offense is required
6. If both teams agree to skip grand before the round, I’ll give everyone 2 extra speaks.
7. Collapse!!!! If you find yourself going for every argument in summary, you're doing this wrong. Everything in FF must also be in summary. This is true for both first and second FF.
8. Don't keep prep time for your opponents. I'll doc speaks it's a pet peeve I think it's rude
9. Roadmaps are always welcome
10. I’m good with speed but don’t spread PF is not the place for that lol
11. Framework debate is so boring plz don’t
12. If you're flight two, go ahead and flip for sides and order before the round, that way I have more time to give you feedback at the end
13. I don't require disclosure but I do appreciate it so you can add me to the e-mail chain if you feel so inclined/are not on the wiki
14. If your evidence is shady I will probably call for it. If I do call for evidence, cut card/website are both fine, but a paraphrased version of said evidence is not fine. Refer to #3
15. A 3 minute summary does not give you permission to go for all 800 arguments in the round. Spend more time weighing if you need to fill the time. Please continue to condense the round.
16. Honestly a ~saucy~ crossfire really doesn't bother me just don't be rude or degrading in cross and I won't doc your speaks
17. random but I don't shake hands I think it's gross lol
LD/IE:
uhhhh nothing in particular just time yourselves lol
Please e-mail me or find me if you have questions!! aronson0524@gmail.com or apr0023@auburn.edu
If the tournament doesn’t allow disclosure or if we’re running late and I don’t get to disclose/give feedback, feel free to post round me via e-mail or in person. Have fun y’all I love his activity don’t make me hate it after your round !
Mr. P. J. Samorian
Mr. Samorian is the Communications Department Chair at American Heritage Schools Palm Beach Campus. His teams compete in Lincoln Douglas, Public Forum, Congressional Debate and Individual Speech Events, Worlds School Debate with possible Policy Debate addition. AH Achievements: LD State Champion, Declamation State Champion, Sunvite PF Champion, Emory PF Champion, NSDA/NCFL Finalists in IE and Congress, Grapevine PF Champions, Bronx Congress RR Champion, Blue Key PF and LD Champions, GMU Congress Champion, Blue Key 3rd Place Sweepstakes, NSDA district champions. He is the former Director of Forensics at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois. He was the Director of Forensics at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois for 18 years and before that was an Assistant IE Coach at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois under the direction of William (Mark) Ferguson. He coached the NFL Poetry Reading National Champion (1993), NFL Congress(Senate) Runner-Up (2000), ICDA State Congress Champions (2000), IHSA State Congressional Debate Runner-Up (2008), and his team won one of five NCFL Eleanor E. Wright Debate Awards (2009). He has coached finalists and champions at Wake Forest, Grapevine, The Glenbrooks, Blue Key, The Barkley Forum, U.C.Berkeley, Sunvite and Harvard. Mr. Samorian is an NSDA Triple Diamond coach. He holds a B.A. from Northern Illinois University and a M.Ed. from Loyola University Chicago. He attended Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois where he was involved with drama and music. He was involved with hosting five NCFL National Tournaments in Chicago, and was the President of the Chicago Catholic Forensic League and has served on both the Northern Illinois NFL District Committee as well as the IHSA State Debate Committee. He was the director of public forum for Millennial Speech and Debate (Georgetown and Boston College) and was the Co-Director for Public Forum Debate at the Harvard Summer Workshop. He has hosted NSDA webinars on different aspects of congressional debate. He has been the director of public forum at Georgetown as well as teaching and directing programs in Business, Stem, and Debate for Capitol Debate at Notre Dame Baltimore, American University Washington DC, Yale University, Babson College, Dartmouth College, The Hun School. He is currently the PBMSFL Treasurer and serves on the congress TOC advisory committee.
FOR ALL DEBATE EVENTS, the flow is so important. You have to listen and make note of what your opponents are saying. I am flowing, so you should be as well. Then it is important that you DO something with that information.
I am open to any argument you may make and then ask that you support that idea.
If you are going to spread, please sign post and accent key terms you want me to get down on my flow.
I work hard to not let any of my personal opinions have any place in the round.
I prefer that debaters be strong in their conviction but not be abusive in their treatment of others.
I also require you to be truthful. Present accurate evidence. I have been witness to false information and it really bothers me that you would just present it as though it is true and keep going until someone questions it.
Persuade me that you are right and your opponents are not.
I DO NOT SHAKE HANDS AT THE END OF A ROUND (Obviously in person debate) This was posted BEFORE Covid and still applies now.
LINCOLN DOUGLAS
I prefer that contestants stick to the philosophical arguments in the round. It bothers me when LD turns to a plan of action. (With exception of a topic that requires a plan...) While topics are sometimes hard, I am looking for the theory that is supporting what you are saying. To this end, you may consider me "old school" when it comes to LD. Yes, I do think that Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau and others should provide foundation for the direction you are going. That doesn't mean I am not open to other theories and philosophies, however if you do run theory or other arguments, know why you are running them. Please don't run them because you do that at every tournament so you don't have to prep each topic!!! An entire round of arguments not related to the topic will not win my ballot. Ignoring a judge who says "clear" when you are spreading, will not win my ballot. Clear, persuasive arguments will win my ballot. Arguments that are constructed and carried through the debate will win my ballot. Weighing at the end or your final rebuttal could win my ballot. I do not shake hands at the end of a round.
PUBLIC FORUM
I like the original intention of this event that it should be a debate that would take place in a public setting and would have ideas and delivery that any person off the street could understand. To this end, I don't want you to be a policy debater. While I do want structure to what you are saying and evidence to support your ideas, it is the PUBLIC approach that I prefer. Are you clear? Do your points make logical sense? Are you able to persuade me that your side is the side that is best for our current population? I have been extremely bothered in the past few years with students who are falsifying evidence. I judged a semi-final where one team built an entire case around one key piece of evidence. Their opponents called for the evidence during the round, but it was never produced. The judge next to me called for the evidence after the round and sure enough, they were blatantly misquoting the evidence. I have also researched evidence that simply does not exist. Have some integrity. Do the work needed to prepare yourself for the topic. I do not shake hands at the end of a round.
CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE
Yes, I was around when the event was called Student Congress and it has been an honor to have been a part of the evolution of the activity. I think there are many roles that congressional debaters play. To that end, there are many styles of speeches that I enjoy when judging a congress round. The authorship should explain the legislation and set the tone and standard for the round. The first con should be equally as strong. Both should have strong supportive evidence and equally strong explanations. Every speech after that should further debate with new evidence and should also extend or refute previous speakers. For me, politics are a waste of time. That being said, I also don't like it to be a speech competition. It should be a series of debate speeches on both sides so that at the end of debate on each piece of legislation, I have a better idea of the issues and in a sense; I have been persuaded to one side or the other. If you are speaking near the end of the debate, then a top-notch crystallization is in order and very much enjoyed when done well. If you are a presiding officer, I want it to run so smoothly and fairly that I never have to step in. A good PO brings energy to the room and fosters an atmosphere of healthy debate. I enjoy students who have their own unique style and don't just copy what everyone else is doing and saying. Play to your strengths. Recent developments in more complicated scenarios have been interesting as has the development of 30 second questioning periods (direct questioning). Traditional questioning is one question one person, it should not be called indirect questioning.... Congressional Debate is still evolving and I think we should enjoy the growth. Some styles work better than others, but I am not convinced there is just one way to speak or preside. I enjoy some of the regional and league differences. I serve on the TOC Congressional Debate Advisory Committee. I do not shake hands at the end of a round. Can we please put an end to frowning chairs? Congress does not have an equal number of speeches for or against a piece of legislation so why should we. It is natural that one side will have more than the other. So stop frowning. If you cannot extend, refute, or produce new arguments, then don't rehash, vote to move on to the next legislation and speak early on that. EVERYONE SHOULD BE PREPARED ON BOTH SIDES. Then strategically you should choose which side will benefit you the best and speak on that side.
INDIVIDUAL EVENTS
I don't think anyone checks the wiki for IE philosophy. LOL I mean, its not like you could change your cutting of speech because I am in the back of the room. IE was my first love and passion. Do well in performance. Be honest and true and you will win me every round. I often write an IE ballot as though I am coaching you. So, if I give you ideas and then see you a month later and have to just write the same exact ballot again, what did you learn and do my notes even matter at that point. IE students often try to read the judge. You can't really read me. I may be writing feverishly to give you as many suggestions for improvement as possible, I may be writing how much I am enjoying every moment, or a may stop writing because I don't have much to say because you are so amazing. I also rank as I go so there is no advantage or disadvantage to your speaking order.
ONLINE SPEECH AND DEBATE - At first, I had enjoyed moving to online speech and debate. I was involved in rules development, ideas for communicating online and framing ideas. I worked all summer with online speech and debate and so understand glitching etc but you also need to make sure no other devices in your home are on and that your framing doesn't include anything moving, like a ceiling fan, as they will detract from the strength of your signal. FOR DEBATE EVENTS, I prefer that you present your speech seated. I think in person standing is fine, but when you stand online we often lose facial expression, gestures are hard to see, walking off camera isn't good, and your voice may drop off. FOR SPEECH EVENTS-For many, ok, most, events you must stand and that is perfectly fine. Have fun and enjoy that we are still able to keep our activity vibrant and growing. 2022 Update - I am tired of being online and I am crossing fingers we will soon return to in person speech and debate. I AM IN FAVOR of students who are finding creative ways to perform online and I am not in favor or adults making new online rules that limit creativity. (Ex: Moving toward or away from the camera for emphasis)
**ALL TOURNAMENTS: I learned of the topic the morning of the tournament. PLEASE assume I know nothing. Except Sunvite 2024, half my masters degree was section 230 so I know a decent bit.***
Background:
Competed in Public Forum @ Cypress Bay HS (2013-2017)
BA in Political Science @ University of Central Florida (2017-2021)
MA in Bioethics, Tech Ethics and Science Policy @ Duke University (2021-2022)
PF (If you have me for another event go lay) Paradigm
- Look, I know NSU is a tech school and all, but they hire me to coach lay debate i havent cut a card in maybe 6 years (but like ive been around the circuit so i sometimes know what's going on) . if you're spreading or speaking too fast i probably wont catch a lot of it and will probably look confused
- if possible, number your responses so i know if I missed anything
- Set up email chains/preflow during tech check. I am a big believer in sending case docs to make it easier for everyone but I won't force yall to do so. You'll get a bump in speaks if you do. sharansawlani@gmail.com and uschoolpf@gmail.com
- Please don’t shake my hand.
- You can ask to look at ev during your partner or opponent's speech/cross. Idk why or when people started considering this as "stealing prep time".
- Quality of voters> Quantity of voters.
- Weigh, weigh, weigh, weigh, weigh. Which weigh? Dat weigh.
- Keep the round lighthearted. I think debaters are way too angry now and some humor would be appreciated. Jokes and puns are highly encouraged.
- Not a fan of super squirrelly arguments or theory (the next 2 bullets might answer your next questions). Idk too much about K's and im not the best at evaluating them, but if that's what you wanna read just make sure you explain it well. If I'm confused at the end of the debate I promise you won't be happy with my decision.
- READ and SEND cut cards. paraphrasing is whack. i wont penalize you for it but if the other team reads theory or tells me to evaluate paraphrased evidence as analytics and not real evidence, and you dont respond, it's going to be a really uphill battle.
- Disclosure in PF is a good thing. Same thing as paraphrasing; If someone discloses and either a) you do not and they read disclosure theory OR b) you LIE about what you've disclosed, I consider this a TKO. This means if disclosure theory is read in the round (reasonably) and it is conceded then it is basically over.
- Your final focus should be telling me what to write on my ballot. If i don’t have to spend time thinking about how im voting after the round, you and i will both be happy (half of you at least).
- Apparently this needs to be clarified now but regardless of speaking order, in the rare situation where there is no offense on either side at the end of the round I will presume neg.
If you have any other questions feel free to email me sharansawlani@gmail.com or ask me before the round provided your opponents are present as well. Hated my decision? send all complaints to sophialam@uchicago.edu and hold nothing back.
TLDR:
Bold: Collapse, weigh, signpost, don’t make me think, galaxy hoodie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai3UfW-dFi8&ab_channel=HeXyaCe
Fold: being mean, friv theory, no email chain/disclosure, partial quads lmao.
*Last updated 11/7/19*
Background:
Schools Attended: Boca '16, FSU '20
Teams Coaching/Coached: Capitol, Boca
Competitive History: 4 years of PF in high school, 2 years of JV policy and 2 years of NPDA and Civic Debate in college
Public Forum Paradigm:
TL;DR: You do you.
General:
1) Tech > Truth. If you have strong warrants and links and can argue well, I'll vote off of anything. Dropped arguments are presumed true arguments. I'm open to anything as long as you do your job to construct the argument properly.
2) The first speaking team in the round needs to make sure that all offense that you want me to vote on must be in the summary and final focus. Defense in the rebuttal does not need to be extended, I will buy it as long as your opponents don't respond and it is extended in the final focus. The second speaking team needs to respond to turns in rebuttal and extend all offense and defense you want me to vote on in BOTH the summary and the final focus.
3) If you start weighing arguments in rebuttal or summary it will make your arguments a lot more convincing. Easiest way to my ballot is to warrant your weighing and tell me why your arguments are the most important and why they mean you win the round.
4) I don't vote on anything that wasn't brought up in final focus.
Framework:
Frameworks need clear warrants and reasons to prefer. Make sure to contextualize how the framework functions with the rest of the arguments in the round.
Theory:
I will listen to any theory arguments as long as a real abuse is present. Don't just use theory as a cheap way to win, give me strong warrants and label the shell clearly and it will be a voter if the violation is clear. Also, if you're going to ask me to reject the team you better give me a really good reason.
If you are running theory, such as disclosure theory, and you want it to be a voter, you need to bring it up for a fair amount of time.
Kritiks:
I was primarily a K debater when I competed in policy in college, so I am familiar with how they function in round. However, I don't know all the different K lit out there so make sure you can clearly explain and contextualize.
Offense v. Defense:
I find myself voting for a risk of offense more often than I vote on defense. If you have really strong terminal impact defense or link defense, I can still be persuaded to vote neg on presumption.
Weighing:
I hate being in a position where I have to do work to vote for a team. Tell me why your argument is better/more important than your opponents and why that means I should vote for you. Strength of link and/or impact calc is encouraged and appreciated.
Evidence Standard:
I will only call for cards if it is necessary for me to resolve a point of clash or when a team tells me to.
Speaks:
- If I find you offensive/rude I will drop your speaks relative to the severity of the offense.
- I take everything into consideration when giving speaks.
- The easier you make my decision, the more likely you are to get high speaks.
Misc:
- I'm fine with speed, but if you're going to spread send out speech docs.
- Keep your own time.
- I will disclose if the tournament allows me, and feel free to ask me any questions after my RFD.
- I only vote off of things brought up in speeches.
Bottom line: Debate is supposed to be fun! Run what you want just run it well.
If you have any questions email me at joshschulsterdebate@gmail.com or ask me before the round.
Do not lie about or manipulate evidence. All arguments and rebuttals must be across my flow throughout the round. Do not make a point in rebuttal and drop it in summary and final. You must weight and you must link to impacts. I appreciate good speakers but will award low point wins in any round where the better speakers fail to cover the flow, weigh, link to impacts or address framework (when applicable).
I debated for four years with Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in Massachusetts from 2015-2019.
Reminders:
1) Please try to weigh comparatively. Tell me not only why your impact matters, but specifically compare it to your opponents.
2) Please don't throw arguments or cards at me without explaining them. I won't be able to evaluate anything I don't understand.
3) Please don't extend through ink! Interact with the responses your opponent presents before you extend your case.
4) Be respectful. It's fine to get into the debate and be impassioned, but just make sure it doesn't tread on being rude or disrespectful.
General:
1) I think its strategically advantageous for second rebuttal to respond to new offense/turns from first rebuttal, but I don't require it.
2) First summary should extend defense if second rebuttal frontlined it. Otherwise, first summary doesn't need to.
3) I personally don't think judges should intervene and call cards unless they are specifically told to. So this means that even if you opponents read me a card that's egregiously miscut, I won't doubt its validity unless you a) tell me why I should and b) TELL ME to call the card. It's your burden to point out bad cards.
4) Similarly, it's your burden to point out ridiculous arguments to me. If your opponents read an argument that is highly unlikely to be true, don't expect me to assume that. TELL ME why its not true, otherwise I will evaluate it.
5) I don't like abusive tactics like running a new contention in rebuttal.
Disclaimers:
1) I don't like speed. I can manage slightly more speed than a lay judge, but I never enjoyed debating against debaters who spoke really fast. If I think you're speaking too fast to the point where it's sacrificing clarity, you will be able to tell by looking at my facial expression, so pay attention.
2) I have very little understanding of theory arguments and all. If you are going to run one, keep that in mind and decide accordingly.
3) I consider myself to have a fundamental misunderstanding of economics. If the topic or your argument has an economic aspect to it, please be sure to explain it thoroughly.
If you're worried about anything specific, ask me before the round. In regards to during the round, my face is usually pretty expressive; look at my face to get an idea of if I like/don't like what you're doing and adjust accordingly. Generally, scrunched eyebrows indicate confusion, frantic behavior means you're talking too fast, tilted face means you've made an interesting point that I'm intrigued by and want to hear more about, and slight nodding means you've done something I had hoped you would have.
If you're unhappy with a decision I made, talk with me about it after the fact. It won't change my decision, but just as I'll give you feedback to help you as a debater, I'm open to feedback to help me as a judge.
Have fun and don't stress :)
Background
I competed in Public Forum on the national circuit from 2013-2017. This is my fourth year coaching for Durham Academy in Durham, North Carolina. I currently am a senior attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in Peace, War, and Defense with a concentration in international security and intelligence.
Please have pre-flows ready when you get in the round so we can start immediately.
I will disclose unless the tournament tells me otherwise.
General
I will buy any argument and vote off of it. This includes kritiks and theory... Just warrant such arguments well.
I don't care if you paraphrase. Just don't misconstrue what your evidence actually says.
Split rebuttals are impressive/strategic but they are not necessary. Just make sure your first speaker frontlines effectively in summary. However, feel free to make their job easier and frontline for them in rebuttal.
My threshold for warranting arguments is very very high. If you are winning an argument in case or in rebuttal, clearly articulate the link chain of the argument when you are extending it. This does not mean shout random card names at me. Just walk me through the logical link chain of what you are extending.
Speed/Signposting
I can flow at just about any speed
However.....
If you are going to speak quickly, PLEASE SIGNPOST. ie: "We are winning our 2nd response on their first contention, which is *insert well explained warrant* *insert well explained impact*." I also do not know all the names of authors in your case so tell me what authors say!! Do not just extend specific authors!!
I flow fairly quickly but if I do not know where you are you will likely see me scrambling to figure out what to do with my flow. You should pay attention if I do this because that means slow down or signpost better.
Also....
If you have an issue with your opponents evidence make it very clear to me in the round. You can do this in many ways. Examples include reading your opponents evidence out-loud during a speech, explaining how the evidence is misread, and/or telling me to call for the evidence post round.
I will not call for your evidence unless asked to call for something. In my opinion, calling for evidence without a reason is a form of judge intervention.
How to get 30 speaks:
Make the round entertaining/make me laugh.
I personally hate rounds that are way too serious and debaters are not questioning the analytical logic of each others arguments in an entertaining way. This does not mean turn the round into a joke but rather pretend like there is an audience on the zoom call/in the back of the room. This is generally a good strategy to seem perceptually dominate too.
I am a lawyer, but a lay judge. I don't want to struggle to understand, so please do not spread. I expect the teams to behave respectfully toward each other. Derision is not persuasion. I will listen carefully to your arguments and your responses, as well as your sourcing. I am truth over tech, so keep that in mind. Ridiculous arguments will be rejected out of hand. Arguments must be related to the topic and well sourced. Likewise, no theory. I will not vote for a baseless claim.
I competed in PF at Nova High School in South Florida from 2014 to 2019. I just graduated from Duke University and am finishing up my fourth year coaching PF at Durham Academy.
For Nats 2023, please put me on the email chain- smith.emmat@gmail.com.
How I make decisions-
I tend to vote on the path of least resistance. This is the place on my flow where I need to intervene the least as a judge in order to make a decision. Explicitly identifying your cleanest piece of offense in the round, winning that clean piece of offense, completely extending that clean piece of offense (uniqueness, links AND impacts in BOTH summary and final focus), and then telling me why your cleanest piece of offense is more important than your opponents' cleanest piece of offense is usually an easy way to win my ballot.
General Stuff-
- Do all the good debate things! Do comparative weighing, warrant your weighing, collapse, frontline, etc.
- Please preflow before the round. Holding up the tournament to take 15 min to preflow in the room is really annoying :(
- Warrants and full link chains are important! I can only vote on arguments I understand by the end of the round and won't do the work for you on warrants/links. Please do not assume I know everything just because I've probably judged some rounds on the topic.
- I won't read speech docs, so please don't sacrifice speed for clarity.
- I have a really low threshold and 0 tolerance for being rude, dismissive, condescending, etc. to your opponents. I'm not afraid to drop you for this reason. At the very least, I'll tank your speaks and write you a kindly worded educational ballot about making rounds unnecessarily hostile.
Evidence-
- I personally feel that calling for evidence as a judge is interventionist. I will only do it if 1- someone in the round explicitly tells me to in a speech or 2- reading evidence is literally the only way that I can make a decision (if this happens, it means both teams did a terrible job of clarifying the round and there is no clear offense for me to vote on. Please don't let this happen).
Progressive Stuff-
- I'll vote on Kritiks if they are clearly warranted, well explained, and made accessible to your opponents. (I am admittedly not a fan of K's but will vote on them if I absolutely must.)
- I will also vote on theory that is clearly explained, fleshed out, and well warranted. I believe that theory should ONLY be used to check egregious instances of in-round abuse and reserve the right to drop you for frivolous theory. I won't buy paraphrase or disclosure theory.
- HUGE DISCLAIMER: My biggest pet peeve in PF right now is the use of progressive args to make rounds inaccessible to teams who don't know how to handle them. Reading progressive args against a clearly inexperienced team to get a cheap win is an easy way to auto lose my ballot. ALSO I am really not confident in my abilities to evaluate progressive arguments. If you choose to run them, you take on the risk of me making the wrong decision despite doing my best. Proceed with caution!
- If you plan on reading arguments about sensitive topics, please provide a content warning before the round.
The Blake School (Minneapolis, MN) I am the director of debate where I teach communication and coach Public Forum and World Schools. I also coach the USA Development Team and Team USA in World Schools Debate.
Public Forum
Some aspects that are critical for me
1) Be nice and respectful. Try to not talk over people. Share time in crossfire periods. Words matter, think about what you say about other people. Attack their arguments and not the people you debate.
2) Arguments must be extended in each speech. This idea of "sticky defense" and not answering arguments in the second rebuttal doesn't understand how debate works. A debater can only make strategic choices about their speech if they base it on what was said in the speech previous to them.
3) Read evidence. I don't accept paraphrasing -- this is an oral activity. If you are quoting an authority, then quote the authority. A debater should not have to play "wack a mole" to find the evidence you are using poorly. Read a tag and then quote the card, that allows your opponent to figure out if you are accurately quoting the author or over-claiming the evidence.
4) Have your evidence ready. If an opponent asks for a piece of evidence you should be able to produce it in about 60 seconds. At two minutes or so, I'm going to just say the evidence doesn't count in the round because you can't produce it. If I say the card doesn't count then the card doesn't count in the round. If you say you can't produce the card then you risk losing. That is called fabrication to cite evidence and then not be able to produce it. If I ask for a card after the round and you can't produce it, again you risk losing the round. Good evidence practices are critical if this format is to rely on citing authorities.
5) I tend to be a policymaker. If there is no offense against trying a new policy then I suggest we try the new policy as it can't hurt to try. Offense is important for both sides.
6) Use voting issues format in summary and final focus. Learn that this allows a clear story and weighing. A voting issue format includes links, impacts, and weighing and provides clarity to just "our case/their case". You are still doing the voting issues on "their flow" or "our flow".
7) Lead with labels/arguments and NOT authors. Number your arguments. For example, 1) Turn UBI increases wage negotiation -- Jones in 2019 states "quote"
8) Racist, xenophobic, sexist, classist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, and other oppressive discourses or examples have no place in debate.
Enjoy the debate and learn from this activity, it is a great one.
My roommate, Charles Karcher, has looped me into debate and judging at this tournament. I am econ major at UF with a background in political science and general history and consider myself to be fairly competent.
Speak at a conversational pace and break the round down for me in your final foci.
I don't disclose after the round.
If you weigh your arguments (explain their importance in relation to your opponent's) you'll probably win the round.
Do not go for everything. Pick and choose your arguments as the round go, ideally I'd like to have only one or two arguments at the end of the round to evaluate.
All offense (arguments you want me to vote for you on) have to be in summary and final focus.
Hi! I am Selma Tabakovic (she/her pronouns) and I debated Public Forum in high school. I went to American University. Now I'm going to Brooklyn Law School. I am an external PF coach for American Heritage Palm Beach/Boca.
Generally: Debate in a way that will make you feel most comfortable and confident within the round! I will be able to adapt to you and your style. My paradigm below is just some specifics about my preferences, but you should feel free to compete in your own style.
I definitely look at the flow to decide who wins the round, but if I think that something is not handled effectively on the flow (ex: really under-covered argumentation in response to major points in the round), I will likely vote on the truth of an argument.
What I like to see in the round:
Comparative weighing in FF is key! Tell me why an argument matters more than another. Comparing worlds to each other will make the round more wholistic. If I have to decide which argument matters more than another, it is technically intervening and I would prefer if I didn't have to do that.
If you want me to vote for an argument it has to be extended from Summary to FF. Please extend the warrants for your arguments from case that you want to go for. Please frontline in second rebuttal and collapse on the argument you want to win on!
I love hearing unique arguments in PF! Feel free to run any argument about imperialism/colonialism/etc within the PF topic. I think engaging with these types of arguments within a round makes debate more educational, impactful, and interesting.
What isn't necessary in the round:
Please do not give me an off-time roadmap unless you are running theory. I will be able to follow your train of thought if you sign post!
Please do not ask "I am first speaker, so can I have first question?" Please just assume that first speaker in the round has first question.
Please do not spread! I would prefer if the round is slower so that I can fully understand the warranting of your contentions. I prefer slow, well warranted debates over fast, blippy debates.
Evidence Exchanges:
Please share me on the evidence exchanges -- selma.tabakovic@ahschool.com.
I do not like paraphrased evidence and would much rather prefer you read cut cards.
Progressive Debate Rounds:
I am happy to adjudicate progressive rounds, but I strongly prefer adjudicating rounds that engage on substance within the resolution. I will adjudicate progressive rounds purely off of the flow, so all responses must be on the flow. If you run theory please clearly explain your link. For Ks, please clearly explain how the alternative is worse and how voting pro solves.
I'm a teacher, I know how hard you work and how much this means to you.
I'm a fan of decorum, professionalism, yet a sense of humor can win me over every time. Diction is extremely important to me, as is body language.
I like it when you can incorporate into your arguments why you "solve" or "win".
I flow, I follow impacts and links, and cards matter.
When teams are well matched and cases are both strong, I will often make decisions during Grand cross fire.
I competed in public forum for all four years in high school so that's most likely what you'll see this paradigm for. I'll be short and to the point about what i like to see in round:
- Nothing is more important to me than impacting out your arguments. I don't care how compelling your claim is if the impact is not there for me to weigh on
- I'd like to see some weighing in every speech besides your constructive. If for nothing else it will remind me and your opponents of what is important in the round
- DO NOT DROP ARGUMENTS IN SUMMARY. I will not weigh your points in final focus if they were not brought up in summary.
- Don't talk down to your opponents. The moment your tone moves from argumentative to insulting you have lost me
- Spreading is fine, the only thing i ask is that you make it understandable for me and your opponents. If at anytime your opponents ask you to speak more clearly id ask that you accommodate for them
- I'll shake your hand at the end of the round. You don't have to ask. It makes things awkward.
I did not do debate in high school or college.
I have coached speech and debate for 20 years. I focus on speech events, PF, and WSD. I rarely judge LD (some years I have gone the entire year without judging LD), so if I am your judge in LD, please go slowly. I will attempt to evaluate every argument you provide in the round, but your ability to clearly explain the argument dictates whether or not it will actually impact my decision/be the argument that I vote off of in the round. When it comes to theory or other progressive arguments (basically arguments that may not directly link to the resolution) please do not assume that I understand completely how these arguments function in the round. You will need to explain to me why and how you are winning and why these arguments are important. When it comes to explanation, do not take anything for granted. Additionally, if you are speaking too quickly, I will simply put my pen down and say "clear."
In terms of PF, although I am not a fan of labels for judges ("tech," "lay," "flay") I would probably best be described as traditional. I really like it when debaters discuss the resolution and issues related to the resolution, rather than getting "lost in the sauce." What I mean by "lost in the sauce" is that sometimes debaters take on very complex ideas/arguments in PF and the time limits for that event make it very difficult for debaters to fully explain these complex ideas.
Argument selection is a skill. Based on the time restrictions in PF debate, you should focus on the most important arguments in the summary and final focus speeches. I believe that PF rounds function like a funnel. You should only be discussing a few arguments at the end of the round. If you are discussing a lot of arguments, you are probably speaking really quickly, and you are also probably sacrificing thoroughness of explanation. Go slowly and explain completely, please.
In cross, please be nice. Don't talk over one another. I will dock your speaks if you are rude or condescending. Also, every competitor needs to participate in grand cross. I will dock your speaks if one of the speakers does not participate.
For Worlds, I prefer a very organized approach and I believe that teams should be working together and that the speeches should compliment one another. When each student gives a completely unique speech that doesn’t acknowledge previous arguments, I often get confused as to what is most important in the round. I believe that argument selection is very important and that teams should be strategizing to determine which arguments are most important. Please keep your POIs clear and concise.
If you have any questions, please let me know after I provide my RFD. I am here to help you learn.
Pronouns: he/him
I am a high school counselor. My husband is the speech and debate coach at Westlake High School in Austin, TX.
I am a lay judge. You need to speak very, very slowly (like you are having a casual conversation). I will not flow the round; however, I will take copious notes. If I am staring at you, you are probably speaking too quickly and I cannot understand what you are saying. If I have my head down and am taking lots of notes, that means I am following the arguments.
Instead of trying to cover every single argument in the round, I would rather you choose the most important arguments and explain those arguments thoroughly.
I will not evaluate new arguments that are brought up in the summary and/or final focus.
I will base your speaker points on the clarity with which you speak. I will dock your speaker points if you are rude or condescending. For example, if you cut your opponent off when they are trying to explain something during crossfire, I will dock your speaker points.
In the end, the arguments that are going to win you the round are ones that are clearly and consistently explained.
Post-Emory thoughts:
Honestly, I think debate is in a relatively good space overall. It's usually this time of year that I find myself pessimistic on a few different tracks, but this year I'm incredibly optimistic. But still, a few thoughts as we're moving into championship season:
- Concepts of fiat need a revisiting in PF. No one believes it to be real, and the call back for it to be illusory as an answer to offensive arguments is not adequate. The distinguishment between "pre" and "post" fiat is relatively unneeded and undeveloped, most of this is being mistaken for a debate about topicality really. In fact, the pre/post debate is rooted in a weird space that policy resolved or at least moved past in the 90s. If non topical offense is your game, why not explore some wikis of prominent college teams that are making these arguments?
- I cannot stress this enough, the space of post modern argumentation is confusing for me. I can more easily dissect these arguments when constructives are longer than four minutes, but in PF I especially do not have the ability to ascertain as to what the specific advocacy is or why it's good in a competitive setting. I am an idiot and the most I can really talk about my college metaphysics course is a dumb rhyme about Spinoza and Descartes(literally if you are well read on your subject, this should be ample warning as to what I can work through). That being said, criticisms focused on structures of power or the state specifically I can understand and don't need hand holding. Just not anything to do with the French(French speakers like Fanon do not count).
- Deep below any feelings I have about specific schools of thought or even behavior in round, I do know that debate as an activity is good. That does not mean I am full force just deciding ballots on ceding the political, but rather I need to hear why alternative methods to approaching the competitive event have distinct advantages. There is a huge gulf between somehow creating a more inclusive space and burning that same space to the ground that no team in PF has even begun to explain how to cross or even conceptually begun to explain why it can be overcome.
- RVIs != offense on a theory shell. No RVIs being unanswered does not mean the opponent cannot go for turns or a comparative debate on the interp vs the counter interp
- A competing interpretation does not conceptually create another shell.
- Teams need to signpost better, I will not read from docs and I truly believe that the practice is making everyone worse at line-by-line debate.
For WKU -
The last policy rounds I was in was around 2015 for context. I do err neg on most theory positions though agent counterplans do phase me. Other than that, the big division when it comes to other arguments I don't really have much of a stance on.
Affs at the end of the day I do believe need to show some semblance of change/beneficial action
Debate is good as a whole
Individual actions I don't think I have jurisdiction to act as judge over.
Who am I?
Assistant Director of Debate, The Blake School MN - 2014 to present
Co-Director, Public Forum Boot Camp(Check our website here) MN - 2021 to present
Assistant Debate Coach, Blaine High School - 2013 to 2014
This year marks my 14th in the activity, which is wild. I end up spending a lot of my time these days thinking not just about how arguments work, but also considering what I want the activity to look like. Personally, I believe that circuit Public Forum is in a transition period much the same that other events have experienced and the position that both judges and coaches play is more important than ever. That being said, I do think both groups need to remember that their years in high school are over now and that their role in the activity, both in and out of round, is as an educator first. If this is anyway controversial to you, I’d kindly ask you to re-examine why you are here.
Yes, this activity is a game, but your behavior and the way in which you participate in it have effects that will outlast your time in it. You should not only treat the people in this activity with the same levels of respect that you would want for yourself, but you should also consider the ways through which you’ve chosen in-round strategies, articulation of those strategies, and how the ways in which you conduct yourself out of round can be thought of as positive or negative. Just because something is easy and might result in competitive success does not make it right.
Prior to the round
Please add my personal email christian.vasquez212@gmail.com and blakedocs@googlegroups.com to the chain. The second one is for organizational purposes and allows me to be able to conduct redos with students and talk about rounds after they happen.
The start time listed on ballots/schedules is when a round should begin, not that everyone should arrive there. I will do my best to arrive prior to that, and I assume competitors will too. Even if I am not there for it, you should feel free to complete the flip and send out an email chain.
The first speaking team should initiate the chain, with the subject line reading some version of “Tournament Name, Round Number - 1st Speaking Team(Aff or Neg) vs 2nd Speaking Team(Aff or neg)” I do not care what you wear(as long as it’s appropriate for school) or if you stand or sit. I have zero qualms about music being played, poetry being read, or non-typical arguments being made.
Non-negotiables
I will be personally timing rounds since plenty of varsity level debaters no longer know how clocks work. There is no grace period, there are no concluding thoughts. When the timer goes off, your speech or question/answer is over. Beyond that, there are a few things I will no longer budge on:
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You must read from cut cards the first time evidence is introduced into a round. The experiment with paraphrasing in a debate event was an interesting one, but the activity has shown itself to be unable to self-police what is and what is not academically dishonest representations of evidence. Comparisons to the work researchers and professors do in their professional life I think is laughable. Some of the shoddy evidence work I’ve seen be passed off in this activity would have you fired in those contexts, whereas here it will probably get you in late elimination rounds.
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The inability to produce a piece of evidence when asked for it will end the round immediately. Taking more than thirty seconds to produce the evidence is unacceptable as that shows me you didn’t read from it to begin with.
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Arguments that are racist, sexist, transphobic, etc. will end the round immediately in an L and as few speaker points as Tab allows me to give out.
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Questions about what was and wasn’t read in round that are not claims of clipping are signs of a skill issue and won’t hold up rounds. If you want to ask questions outside of cross, run your own prep. A team saying “cut card here” or whatever to mark the docs they’ve sent you is your sign to do so. If you feel personally slighted by the idea that you should flow better and waste less time in the round, please reconsider your approach to preparing for competitions that require you to do so.
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Defense is not “sticky.” If you want something to count in the round, it needs to be included in your team’s prior speech. The idea that a first speaking team can go “Ah, hah! You forgot about our trap card” in the final focus after not extending it in summary is ridiculous and makes a joke out of the event.
Negotiables
These are not set in stone, and have changed over time. Running contrary to me on these positions isn’t a big issue and I can be persuaded in the context of the round.
Tech vs truth
To me, the activity has weirdly defined what “technical” debate is in a way that I believe undermines the value of the activity. Arguments being true if dropped is only as valid as the original construction of the argument. Am I opposed to big stick impacts? Absolutely not, I think they’re worth engaging in and worth making policy decisions around. But, for example, if you cannot answer questions regarding what is the motivation for conflict, who would originally engage in the escalation ladder, or how the decision to launch a nuclear weapon is conducted, your argument was not valid to begin with. Asking me to close my eyes and just check the box after essentially saying “yadda yadda, nuclear winter” is as ridiculous as doing the opposite after hearing “MAD checks” with no explanation.
Teams I think are being rewarded far too often for reading too many contentions in the constructive that are missing internal links. I am more than just sympathetic to the idea that calling this out amounts to terminal defense at this point. If they haven’t formed a coherent argument to begin with, teams shouldn’t be able to masquerade like they have one.
There isn’t a magical number of contentions that is either good or bad to determine whether this is an issue or not. The benefit of being a faster team is the ability to actually get more full arguments out in the round, but that isn’t an advantage if you’re essentially reading two sentences of a card and calling it good.
Theory
In PF debate only, I default to a position of reasonability. I think the theory debates in this activity, as they’ve been happening, are terribly uninteresting and are mostly binary choices.
Is disclosure good? Yes
Is paraphrasing bad? Yes
Distinctions beyond these I don’t think are particularly valuable. Going for cheapshots on specifics I think is an okay starting position for me to say this is a waste of time and not worth voting for. That being said, I feel like a lot of teams do mis-disclose in PF by just throwing up huge unedited blocks of texts in their open source section. Proper disclosure includes the tags that are in case and at least the first and last three words of a card that you’ve read. To say you open source disclose requires highlighting of the words you have actually read in round.
That being said, answers that amount to whining aren’t great. Teams that have PF theory read against them frequently respond in ways that mostly sound like they’re confused/aghast that someone would question their integrity as debaters and at the end of the day that’s not an argument. Teams should do more to articulate what specific calls to do x y or z actually do for the activity, rather than worrying about what they’re feeling. If your coach requires you to do policy “x” then they should give you reasons to defend policy “x.” If you’re consistently losing to arguments about what norms in the activity should look like, that’s a talk you should have with your coach/program advisor about accepting them or creating better answers.
IVIs
These are hands down the worst thing that PF debate has come up with. If something in round arises to the issue of student safety, then I hope(and maybe this is misplaced) that a judge would intervene prior to a debater saying “do something.” If something is just a dumb argument, or a dumb way to have an argument be developed, then it’s either a theory issue or a competitor needs to get better at making an argument against it.
The idea that these one-off sentences somehow protect students or make the activity more aware of issues is insane. Most things I’ve heard called an IVI are misconstruing what a student has said, are a rules violation that need to be determined by tab, or are just an incomplete argument.
Kritiks
Overall, I’m sympathetic to these arguments made in any event, but I think that the PF version of them so far has left me underwhelmed. I am much better for things like cap, security, fem IR, afro-pess and the like than I am for anything coming from a pomo tradition/understanding. Survival strategies focused on identity issues that require voting one way or the other depending on a student’s identification/orientation I think are bad for debate as a competitive activity.
Kritiks should require some sort of link to either the resolution(since PF doesn’t have plans really), or something the aff has done argumentatively or with their rhetoric. The nonexistence of a link means a team has decided to rant for their speech time, and not included a reason why I should care.
Rejection alternatives are okay(Zizek and others were common when I was in debate for context) but teams reliant on “discourse” and other vague notions should probably strike me. If I do not know what voting for a team does, I am uncomfortable to do so and will actively seek out ways to avoid it.
Educational Background:
Georgia State University (2004-2007) - English Major in Literary Studies; Speech Minor
Augusta University (2010-2011) - Masters in Arts in Teaching
Georgia State University (2015-2016) - Postbaccalaureate work in Philosophy
Revelant Career Experience:
English Teacher/Debate Coach (2011-2015) Grovetown High School
LD Debate Coach (2015-2018) Marist School
English Teacher/Debate Coach (2018-2022) Northview High School
English Teacher/Debate Coach (2022-present) Lassiter High School
Public Forum
Argue well. Don’t be rude. I’ll flow your debate, so make the arguments you need to make.
Policy
I haven't judged a lot of policy debates. I'm more comfortable with a little slower speed since I don't hear a lot of debates on the topic. I'm ok with most any time of argumentation, but I'm less likely to vote on theory arguments than K or Case arguments. Add me to your email chains.
Lincoln Douglas
I appreciate well warranted and strong arguments. Keep those fallacies out of my rounds.
If the negative fails to give me a warranted reason to weigh her value/value criterion above the one offered by the affirmative in the first negative speech, I will adopt the affirmative's FW. Likewise, if the negative offers a warranted reason that goes unaddressed in the AR1, I will adopt the negative FW.
I appreciate when debaters provide voters during the final speeches.
Debaters would probably describe me as leaning "traditional", but I am working to be more comfortable with progressive arguments. However, I'll vote, and have voted, on many types of arguments (Plans, Counterplans, Ks, Aff Ks, and theory if there is legitimate abuse). However, the more progressive the argument and the further away from the topic, the more in depth and slower your explanation needs to be. Don't make any assumptions about what I'm supposed to know.
Debates that don't do any weighing are hard to judge. Be clear about what you think should be on my ballot if you're winning the round.
Speed
If you feel it absolutely necessary to spread, I will do my best to keep up with the caveat that you are responsible for what I miss. I appreciate folks that value delivery. Take that as you will. If you're going to go fast, you can email me your case.
Disclosure
I try to disclose and answer questions if at all possible.
Cross Examination/Crossfire
I'm not a fan of "gotcha" debate. The goal in crossfire shouldn't get your opponent to agree to some tricky idea and then make that the reason that you are winning debates. Crossfire isn't binding. Debaters have the right to clean-up a misstatement made in crossfire/cross ex in their speeches.
Virtual Debate
The expectation is that your cameras remain on for the entirety of the time you are speaking in the debate round. My camera will be on as well. Please add me to the chain.
Axioms
“That which is asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.” — Christopher Hitchens
”There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way to be kind.” — Mr. Rogers
Contact: jonwaters7@gmail.com
I did extemp and policy debate in high school at College Prep in California. I did policy debate in college, at UC Berkeley. I am a lawyer, and my day job is as a professor of law and government at UNC Chapel Hill. I specialize in criminal law.
I coached debate for many years at Durham Academy in North Carolina, mostly public forum but a little bit of everything. These days I coach very part time at Cedar Ridge High School, also in North Carolina.
I'll offer a few more words about PF, since that is what I judge most frequently. Although I did policy debate, I see PF as a distinct form of debate, intended to be more accessible and persuasive. Accordingly, I prefer a more conversational pace and less jargon. I'm open to different types of argument but arguments that are implausible, counterintuitive or theoretical are going to be harder rows to hoe. I prefer debates that are down the middle of the topic.
I flow but I care more about how your main arguments are constructed and supported than about whether some minor point or another is dropped. I’m not likely to vote for arguments that exist in case but then aren’t talked about again until final focus. Consistent with that approach, I don’t have a rule that you must “frontline” in second rebuttal or “extend terminal defense in summary” but in general, you should spend lots of time talking about and developing the issues that are most important to the round.
Evidence is important to me and I occasionally call for it after the round, or these days, review it via email chain. However, the quality of it is much more important than the quantity. Blipping out 15 half-sentence cards in rebuttal isn’t appealing to me. I tend to dislike the practice of paraphrasing evidence — in my experience, debaters rarely paraphrase accurately. Debaters should feel free to call for one another’s cards, but be judicious about that. Calling for multiple cards each round slows things down and if it feels like a tactic to throw your opponent off or to get free prep time, I will be irritated.
As the round progresses, I like to see some issue selection, strategy, prioritization, and weighing. Going for everything isn't usually a good idea.
Finally, I care about courtesy and fair play. This is a competitive activity but it is not life and death. It should be educational and fun and there is no reason to be anything but polite.
I did PF for all 4 years of high school. I had a breaking record at state twice, and I had a breaking record at Blue Key twice. I always debated in a traditional style. I have seen my fair share of progressive debaters, however, and I know how that style works. I have also judged Blue Key and FFL Varsity State in the past. I urge you to abide by the things I listed below. It could greatly influence your round.
1. DO. NOT. SPREAD. I will not flow spreading. Spreading has no place in PF. I will listen to fast speaking, but if it gets anywhere close to being a form of spreading, I will stop flowing.
2. AVOID OVERLY PROGRESSIVE ARGUMENTS. While I CAN follow progressive debate styles, I feel that progressive debate is corrupting PF. PF was designed to be easy to follow. Any average person should be able to understand everything said. Progressive debate simply does not accomplish this goal. This doesn't mean you will lose if you run progressive arguments. There are some arguments styles that I will not flow. Others that I will flow. I urge you to ask me beforehand if you are running something overly progressive.
3. Link with evidence. I’m not going to buy simply logic that the resolution causes human extinction.
4. Do not debate the validity of the resolution to me. I don't care what you think is wrong with it.
5. I’m a flow judge. I credit responses to every point so be sure to signpost.
6. I don’t flow crossfires. If something important comes up, bring it up in the speeches.
7. I weigh heavily. I like to hear a "framework" for the round.
8. I like to see similarities between the summary and the final focus. If you don't mention a point in at least one of those speeches there is no chance I will weigh it.
9. Keep your own time. If you go over time, I will just stop listening I won’t stop you. It looks bad on you if you can’t even watch the time.
10. Be professional. Shaking your head, talking while the other team is speaking, laughing at things being said, or any other form of showing an attitude or lack of professionalism in round will count heavily against you.
An important part of debate that many people forget is that the judge decides if you win or lose the round. It doesn’t matter if you think you won or not. It matters what the judge thinks. Whether you agree with my paradigm or not, follow it. Ask questions before the round if you are unclear on something. I am happy to clear stuff up.
Jon Williamson
B.A. Political Science; M.A. Political Science; J.D. & Taxation LL.M Candidate - University of Florida Levin College of Law
Experience:
Competitor: HS Policy Debate 2001 - 2005; College Policy Debate 2005-2007; College NPDA Parli Debate 2009-2010
Coach: 2007-2020: Primarily Policy and Public Forum; but coached all events
Basic Judging Paradigm Haiku:
I will judge the flow
Weigh your impacts at the end
Don't be mean at all
Public Forum: All arguments you want me to vote on in the final focus must have had a minimum of a word breathed on them in the summary speech.
Lincoln Douglas/Policy:
I attempt to be tabula rasa, but when no decision-rule calculus is provided, I default to policymaker. I tend to see the debate in an offense/defense paradigm.
I default to competing interpretations on Topicality, and reasonability on all other theory.
I am fine with speed, but clarity is key.
I particularly enjoy critical debate like Feminism, Foucault, and Security and impact turn debates like Spark & De-development. Not a fan of nihilism but I get the argument.
I tend to avoid reading evidence if it is not necessary. I would like to be on your email chain (my name @gmail.com) so I can look at cards that you reference in cross-examination.
LD Note: I tend to view the value/value criterion debate as less important than substantive arguments. Impacting your arguments is incredibly important. Cheap shots / tricks are not the way to my ballot (because: reasonability). I also will not vote for an argument I don't understand based on your explanation. I will not read your case later to make up for a lack of clarity when you spread. If I can't flow it, it's like you never made that argument.
I debated at Western High School in Public Forum for 4 years. I am currently a senior and my only current involvement in debate is judging Blue Key every October. I would describe my judging style as a flow judge who cares a lot about a speaker's presentation and persuasion skills. I plan to flow throughout the round, including during crossfires; however, do to the nature of being an online tournament (with possible internet latency) I encourage important points to be discussed throughout the round and not simply briefly mentioned. I will not flow through ink and expect that FF arguments extend arguments from either of the 2 Summary speeches. Anything else, feel free to ask me before round.
I am a parent judge. I prefer a moderate speed. I need clear weighing and extension of warrants, links, and impacts.