Last changed on
Tue December 1, 2020 at 5:37 PM CDT
Background
I'm a current Debate student for 3 years now, so for the most part I know what you'll be talking about. Assuming you didn't just randomly click this button because you got bored, I assume you want to know how to cater to me as a judge. Well, here's the gist of it.
Speaking
When it comes to speaking, all I care about is that you're clear in telling me what you want me to know regardless if fast or slow, loud or soft. There's no pressure to need to talk a certain way because you'd think it would work better or follow the flow of the round.
Case
Personally, this is where the meat of any round should be. Off-case will always be a thing and technically weighs more on who wins the round, but I still like that you keep in mind that the round began in the case and thus should conversely tie back into it one way or another.
Topicality
I prefer that if it's brought up, you talk about it at the beginning of your speech as it lets me know if you actually care about arguing whether the case is topical. Topicality isn't just an argument that you can run as a method of getting a win, but something you need to dedicate your speeches to. If you're not willing to put the time into telling me why the case is or isn't topical, I may as well just stop taking notes on that argument and just flow that argument cause you've convinced me otherwise about how much you care about the argument.
Disads
All I can say is, structure it right and make it significant to this round. Every piece needs to be set up correctly, but mainly focus on making sure it links and has an impact that makes sense, has warrants, and isn't a dated claim.
Counter Plans
If you can, try to pick a CP that's somewhat relevant to the case. Generic CPs are fine, but note it can be taken as you just trying to fill up arguments when you could probably argue something else. Make sure that there is net benefit to the CP than just saying "it'll solve faster" because you're not challenging the aff, just giving me a different way to do aff and gives the aff more warrants.
Kritiks
I don't really care too much for these. I'll still judge them and evaluate the arguments with the presumption that it's relevant and has a reasonable amount of work into making the argument, but generally I don't want to have to sit through one.
Impact Calc
Make sure you're actively trying to weight out the debate, even if you don't have specific evidence for the arguments, if you can reasonably weigh out the arguments in cohesive fashion that isn't just you trying to pull random information out of your head to win, than I'll go for it. I still expect you to try to take out evidence and argue it, but if push comes to shove, work it out on your feet.
I also expect that you do it, even if I can deduce which one weighs more in the end, I'm only going to follow what you try to tell me will weigh more. It's not my job to weigh in arguments you bring up.
Online Video based stuff
Please be on time for your round, keep your video on at all times, and be ready to set up an email chain or drop the speech in at the start when you can. Technical difficulties are a thing, but I expect that at the beginning we should be prepared at the start.
Miscellaneous Stuff
# of Off-case arguments: Please be smart about how you use them. Just because you only need to win one of these doesn't mean I should expect to see you dump a bunch of arguments and be inconsistant in how you argue them.
Cross-Ex: I will always presume that we'll approach it closed. However, if you want to do open cross-ex then that's fine with me, but please talk about it at the beginning of the round. As for the actual cross-ex, get to the point, I know you can use it as time to extend your points but the point of it is to ask questions, rambling tells me you have no answers.
Personal Attacks: Please be professional, this somewhat of an extension of speaking but when you talk please try to focus on the round and not your opponents. You can be aggressive, but make sure it's in the line of being a sensible person.
Speeches and Speech Docs: When making a speech, please only include cards that you'll actually be reading or make it so that we can use it to follow along as the point of having it is to keep up with the speaker. I understand that there'll be times where you mistime how long you'll actually be using to which I ask that you specifically address it and move on. Conversely, this means the only arguments I'll recognize in the debate are the ones that have been verbally discussed. To me, it doesn't matter if your speech doc has the evidence for that argument, if you don't talk about it, I won't consider it fair ground in the debate and won't take it into account when determining the victor even if you reference the argument.
Aside from all that, I hope that both teams give it there all and have fun most of all.