Raymond B Furlong Tournament at Saint James
2019 — Montgomery, AL/US
LD Debate Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideJordan Berry - Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School
Hello!
I have been a coach and judge since 2015. Most debaters over the years categorize me as a traditional L/D judge. My chief weighing mechanism is usually framework (my undergraduate degree is in philosophy), but I can be persuaded to the contrary. I have no value hierarchy. I strive to keep personal views and ballot intervention away from my RFD. I will evaluate only those arguments brought up by the debaters.
Speed is an issue for me. This is primarily an education and communication activity. I highly doubt either Lincoln or Douglas themselves were spreading, and I've never seen spreading in any real-life situation aside from episodes of "Storage Wars." I do flow the round (though not cross), but "winning the flow" isn't the same as winning the round in some cases; this event is supposed to be persuasive and accessible, not a checklist of responses and replies. Thus, I always roll my eyes when one of my debaters complains about "lay" judges: in crafting a case/round, they should receive as much consideration as that ex-policy debater.
Other issues for me: do be respectful. Do engage meaningfully with the resolution. Do be honest. Do have fun.
Break a leg!
P.S. All this extinction stuff is just debaters trolling, right?
I debated public forum for four years in high school and currently coach public forum. I frequently judge PF and LD and am fine with speed so long as you are not spreading.
Please add me to the email chain dciocca@columbushs.com
I am a debate coach with experience judging at national tournaments at the novice and varsity levels. I prefer arguments to be well structured, articulated clearly (please no spreading but I can understand a considerably faster than conversational pace) and supported by convincing evidence. Please slow down on the tags so I can accurately flow. I don't mind listening to a unique or interesting argument but somehow you MUST link it back to the resolution if you are going to get my ballot.
Plans: All good, just make it relatable to the topic
Counter-plans: All good.
Theory: If there is significant violation or abuse in a round that warrants running theory, I will vote on it but generally not a fan of debating about debate.
Ks: Willing to listen to a good K as long there is a really strong and convincing link back. Not a fan of generic links or links of omission as an excuse to run the K you want to run.
DA: I'm fine with them, we are all good here
T: I think aff has an obligation to be somewhat topical and neg has the right to question whether aff is in fact being topical. That being said, while I generally will not vote on a straight RVI, running T for the sole purpose of creating a time suck for aff and then kicking it in the NR is not a strat that is going to sit well with me.
Conditional Arguments: Anything more than 2 conditional arguments is abusive and puts aff in an impossible situation in the 1AR. I will vote off “Condo bad” in these situations.
Disclosure: Seems like it gets run a lot for no purpose other than trying to get a cheap win. However, If the affirmative is reading a case that is so unique, such as a specific plan text, that the negative would have difficulty engaging with then disclosure is the fair thing to do.
Feel free to ask me if clarification is needed
SOOOOOOO TRAD.
Hey Prattville guys, excited for y’all and wish you the best of luck! I haven’t updated this paradigm in quite a long time, and tbh I’ve had a lot of tests this week sooooo…If you want to know the elevator pitch of my judging paradigm, it’s listed below. If you want the detailed version of my paradigm, check out Michael Fain’s paradigm. We agree on 99.9% of things when it comes to judging, except I don’t mind extempted theory (as long as it’s good and formatted:-). I’m also a little more open to reasonability warrants and truth>tech than he is, and I really like phil. Other than that, relax, have fun, take a deep breath, and remember: no one would regret anything in the nature of an interference by the Archdeacon more than I. I trust it will not come to that. But, for the last time, where are your goloshes? The thing is too bad, especially after what uncle said.
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I’ll keep it simple
da’s=yum
speedy=needs speech doc (jee0020@auburn.edu)
T=plz
dad jokes=37.58473829 speaker points
cp’s=cool
plans=might as well
k’s=eww, but sure [please don't run a k-aff tho]
framework=i. love. it.
theory=better be legit, I love my reasonability, so make the interps good
condo=more than one or two and i get reeeeeeeeeaaally sympathetic for the aff
anything I’m forgetting?=ask me!
Summary=my decision matrix rests on who won framing. once i determine what fw to use, i evaluate offense. once i evaluate offense, i make my decision.
Hello I am an ex debater who was ld for auburn highschool
i am ok with speed
make sure to provide an offtime roadmap
not great with progressive debate.
Be as respectful as possible I’m crossfire I will not take off from the actual debate but will lower speaker points
try and use all ur time and try use all ur prep time
framework is very important to me so make sure ur framework is carried throughout ur case
I flow rounds. Alerting me to clear contentions and off time road maps assists me in completing my flows. I am absolutely not capable of flowing if you SPREAD, in fact, if you choose to SPREAD, I will stop flowing and listen. I prefer to hear you present your arguments verses reading your prepared material. The documents will provide me the name of your source when I review before making a final decision. I favor up to date resources as changes happen daily, when presenting your argument I focus on the year of the evidence to include in my flow. Cross fires should be civil. I generally look to typical speech characteristics when determining speaker points, such as speaking with clarity and articulation. I also consider the general characteristics of giving a speech such as how you present yourself through your demeanor both individually and as a team, as well as with your opponents.
In High School I competed in poetry and extemp. I dabbled in Debate in college for a year and I fell in love with debate. I graduated from West Texas State University with a degree in Speech Communication and Theater Education. I coached and judged Speech and Debate events in Texas in the UIL circuit for 10 years. I judged events for a homeschool/private school group in Huntsville for 2 years. I have coached and judged in the NSDA circuit for 3 years.
1. I am NOT a fan of SPREADING and if you speak so fast that I am unable to flow your arguments, I will put my pen down and I can no longer judge you. Spreading is unnecessary for a well-crafted case.
2. EVIDENCE is very important, and it needs to back up the case you are presenting. I am not opposed to you doing this pragmatically, and I enjoy when you can back this up with real world examples.
3. I will judge this case on your use of evidence, direct clash and speaking style. Did you prove your case, did you present the best case, did you attack your opponent’s case?
1: In LD, the value and criterion is important, and should be relevant throughout the round
2: Speed is ineffective if I can't understand what is being said
3: Avoid an over-abundance of jargon.
Hey there, Debater! My name is Reil and here is my paradigm:
1. Speak Clear and with Confidence. Speak at your own pace, but make your points clear.
2. Please Sign-Post: when refuting your opponent's case, make it clear where you are in their case.
EXAMPLE: "In their Contention 3, they said ......... "
3. Make Your Impacts Clear and why I should weigh them.
4. For LD: Make your Framework clear and please justify it.
For PF: Make sure your contentions points align and are clear.
5. Smile and Have a Great Time
*If you sneak in any One Direction or Michael Jackson lyrics, I'll give you extra speaks!!!*
I debated for three years with Auburn High School. I have debated PF, LD, and Congress. My specialty is in LD and I have been to both local and national circuit tournaments, so I am accustomed to all types of arguments, and/or speed no matter how traditional or progressive as long as you are clear about your arguments. The points below apply to all forms of debate. If you have any questions about my paradigm or have a question about something I do not cover below, feel free to ask before the round.
--DO NOT bring up new arguments in your last speech. They will not be weighted. Go for a few strong arguments that you have made throughout the round rather than running out of, and wasting time trying to go for every argument on the flow. If you think your opponent has made a new argument, tell me if it happens to be on my flow nothing will be counted against you.
--In the round, I typically vote off of FW, impacts and dropped arguments (in that order unless it's PF and then impacts weigh highest) unless there is a reason either on my flow, or weighed by the debaters in the round, as to why something else ought to be voted on.
**Disclaimer for weighing: I will not do your impact cal for you. Spell it out for me. If you think something is important and you don't tell me I won't guess. Also if you think something is important, bring it through to the end of the round in ALL of your speeches.
--On a scale of 1-10 for speed, I can handle somewhere around 8 but would prefer around 6-7. However, I will not downvote you, or drop your speaks if you spread at an 8 unless I cannot understand you. If you speak quickly, but unclearly it is very frustrating for me trying to flow, and in some cases, I would say it can border on the violation of education of the round. I would prefer you to slow down or pause for taglines.
**Disclaimer for speed: If I am unable to understand you, or need you to slow down I will say clear. I will say clear two to three times before I stop trying to flow.
--I do not flow cross so unless you bring it up in your next speech it will not hold weight in the round.
--I am fine if you time yourselves
--In the instance of direct evidence clash tell me why to prioritize your evidence over theirs or your line of thinking over theirs. Otherwise, I will consider the whole thing a wash and will find something else to vote on.
-- If your opponent calls into question your evidence and you cannot provide what is being asked of you within one minute I will assume that either you do not have the evidence or the card is not as valid as I was led to believe, and may lead me to question the validity of the rest of your evidence.
--Please signpost/roadmap (tell me where you are on the flow/the chain of your arguments)- I hate when it is unclear where you are and I get bounced around the flow.
--Please do not be rude to your opponent during CX (especially during grand in pf.) There is a difference between being aggressive/assertive, and rude. If you are rude I will drop your speaks.
--Humor is a great way to boost speaks :)
EMAIL CHAIN: jsydnor@altamontschool.org -- all rounds should set up email chains before scheduled start time. I would like to be included.
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Former policy debater in HS and College. I come into LD from that background, and I love seeing where LD and policy are in communication with one another. While I'm familiar with K's, CP's, PICs, plan-focus debates, planless K Affs, T, Theory... I'm less familiar with some of the other arguments like high phil, a prioris, NIBs, etc. that are more well known in LD.
I am am open to most arguments, but I am unwilling to vote on arguments I don't understand enough to give a coherent RFD. The burden remains with the debater to make a sufficiently clear argument I can grasp and understand as a path to the ballot. I don't feel bad saying "I didn't understand this, so I didn't vote on it."
I don't buy into the argument division between "circuit" and "local" debate and that I should inherently discount arguments or styles because it's Alabama not a "national" tournament. Any kind of exclusion needs to be theoretically justified.
Speed: 7.5/10. Speed is fine but debate is still a communication-based activity and I'm a poorly aging millennial. Sending speech docs is not a substitute for clarity.
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-CP: I default sufficiency framing and will judge kick unless told otherwise. Would rather hear args about solvency deficit, perm, and issues with NB than rely on theory to answer.
-K: I think all forms of debate are great, but K's and K Affs offer something unique to the activity that enhances its pedagogical value. However, that doesn't mean I know your specific literature or that I am going to immediately buy what you're selling. I like close readings of the 1AC to generate links as quality critical work.
-K Affs: Go for it. I believe the Aff has to advance some contestable methodology beyond "res is bad, reject the res." I usually believe offense on method is the most interesting site for clash. T-USFG/FW isn't off the table as a true guaranteed generic response and can be a really strong option given the way some K teams write their 1AC.
-Theory: Not my favorite debate but I know it can be important/strategic. Go a little slower on this if you want me to get follow the intricacies of the line-by-line. I have some hesitation with the direction disclosure and wiki theory arguments are going, but I still vote on it.
-T vs Plan Affs --I believe plans have the burden to be topical, and topicality is determined by interpreting words in the resolution. If you read a plan that is not whole res then you should always go into the round proving you definitionally are topical. I generally believe analytic counter-interps (like mainstream theory debates on norms) and reasonability alone are not winning options. Has the Neg read a definition that excludes your plan? If yes, you have a burden to counter-define in a way that is inclusive of your Aff. I am very persuaded that, absent a sufficient "we meet," if the Aff cannot counter-define a word in the resolution that is inclusive of the plan then I should A] not consider the plan reasonable, even if reasonability is good, and B] no sufficient competing interpretation of the topic, which is an auto-win for the Neg. (K Affs can be an exception to most of this because the offense to T and method of establishing limits is different.)
- T vs K Affs -- Willing to vote on it insofar as you win that you've presented a superior model for debate and that voting for you isn't violent/complicit. I generally believe fairness is not an impact. I like strong answers to meta-level questions, such as Aff descriptions of what debate and proceduralism vs debate as a game/site for unique type of education and iterative testing of advocacies.
-Phil: You should assume I know 0 of the things necessary for you to win this debate and that you have to do additional groundwork/translation to make this a viable option. I've only seen a few phil debates and my common issue as a judge is that I need a clear articulation of what the offensive reason for the ballot is or clear link to presumption and thus direction and meaning of presumption.
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I debated LD for Vestavia for 3 years and PF for 1 year. I did debate on the national circuit, so I can handle speed, theories, and other off-cases. I do not like K's so I will not vote on them. I'll let you know if you need to slow down by saying clear. I love a good framework and standards debate, so I'd generally prefer that it be the focal point. Clear extensions and turns are of course preferred. I also dislike "squirrelly" arguments, so that's another topic that I largely will not vote on. Other than that, I've had 4 years of judging experience and I have judged at Nationals.