Lansing BQ Fall
2019 — Lansing, KS/US
BQD Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show Hideplease at me to the email chain: madelyn.atkins.debate@gmail.com
pronouns: she/her
expericence:
Debated at Lansing High School for 4 years
Coaching:
Lansing (2021-2022)
Shawnee Mission South (2023-current)
top level:
- tech over truth but arguments must be warranted
- Read whatever aff/neg strategy that you are the most comfortable with and I will do my best to adapt and be unbiased
- Judge instruction is important and often underutilized
topicality:
- I went for t a lot my senior year and I think it is a good strategy that more teams should go for
- I default to competing interpretations
- Explain what your model means for the topic, case lists can be helpful for this
k affs:
- framework - I think that fairness and clash can both be both impacts (but that's also up to the debaters to prove). Don't just read generic framework blocks - try to contextualize them to the aff. Specific evidence can be helpful for a TVA but isn't absolutely necessary
disads:
- make turns case args and impact calc is helpful
counterplans:
- process counterplans are okay, but I probably err aff on theory
- delay counterplans are cheating
- textual and functional is always good
- err neg on condo but can be convinced otherwise
- all theory args except for condo I default to reject the arg not the team
- I will only judge kick if the neg makes the argument and the aff doesn't contest it, best to start this debate before the 2nr/2ar
kritiks:
- answer arguments on the line by line instead of in a long overview
- specific links are better than generic ones
- clearly explain the link, impact, and alt
case:
- neg should utilize case debates more - could definitely win on presumption
They/Them. You can refer to me as Bailey or Baikey.
I debated at Lansing High school for four years. I am at my second semester debating for KCKCC. In high school i did only did lay debate, but in college I do IPDA, Parli, and LD.
Speed: I am very new to speed as I had never really done it in high school. I can keep up for the most part but I will clear you if needed. Do not go super sonic though, I apologize for my lack of experience in this aspect. I really value my flow now so being able to know what's happening in the debate for me is awesome. I also do expect y'all to be sign posting, I see no reason with y'all having cards to not be sign posting. It also just makes your speech sound cleaner for me.
Ks: I am very new to Ks unfortunately but I really love them! When running them I do think that the framework debate is rather important. Feel free to run them though! For K affs I do not mind them but I'm not a big fan unless there is a good reason. On top of that I feel like the framework is super important and would like that to be touched upon.
T: make it make sense, I think going for T is a a good strat. I like it tho
CP: Run them if you like!
Das: Run them, I like em lot. I think they are really important for impact weighing
#1 thing is don't be mean . I will comment on it and it will change my view on you if you are being for real evil.
Run whatever you like at the end of the day and try your best!
bailey.debate18@gmail.com
debated 3 years at Lansing and graduated in 2020
I've been out of debate completely for 2ish years now - this tournament is the first I've judged in a long time so you might want to treat me as a flay judge
yes add me to the chain
email: amberdawsondebate@gmail.com
general
****please don't go card speed in rebuttals
-condo is usually the only reason to reject the team
-judge kick is fine unless otherwise contested
-dont waste cx, have some sort of plan
-more than 6 off starts to get excessive
-for speed, go just a bit slower for online tournaments then you would at a normal one
T
-please slow down on analytics especially in the 1ar and beyond
-I really enjoy t debates and I think sometimes it under utilized as a strategy
-I generally default to competing interps
-2ar/2nr should do a really good job comparing models and case lists are always good, as well as specific examples on the grounds debate on what you lose/gain
-if you're going for reasonability in the 2ar do a good job of explaining what the reasonable interp of your model looks like contextual to competing interps - most important time to do model debate
cp
-process cp's are fine but I don't think 2a's go for theory enough against explicitly cheating cp's - utilize theory if you can
-functional and textual competition is pretty important
-please say counterplan instead of ceepee, it pains me deeply
k
not my specialty especially high theory but,
-specific links are always good
-links of omission probably aren't links - you'd have to do a lot of work to convince me otherwise
-do a lot of work on alt explanation, please don't leave it up to me to make a guess as to what it does
-if you're aff dont forget you have an aff - weigh your impacts
-explain the perm in some capacity in the 2ac - dont shotgun 14 perms in a row - explaining them gives me ink time and means the neg doesnt just have to group them
k aff
-not much to say here, read whatever you're comfortable with but be prepared to do a lot of explaining
-being in the direction of the topic is probably best
v k aff
-i think a lot of the time teams read a k in the 1nc as a throw away arg which is not a good strat - either put a lot more on case or utilize the k you read
-fairness being an impact is a toss up - this one's up to debaters
-have a terminal impact in the 2nr!!
-even if you dont have a lot of cards on the alt, some good analytics will go a long way
LHS '23
KU '27
For email chain: michaelim2005@gmail.com
Policy General
Debate is a game that can be more than a game, and the ballot is a tool that can be more than signifying win/loss
Disclosure is good (and something that everyone should be doing), and file share is even better (something that everyone should also be doing)
IMPORTANT: Any amount of intended bigotry will result in 0 speaker points and an immediate L, so don't be a terrible person and we won't have a problem
PLEASE ask questions. If you don't understand what my paradigm is talking about, ask me before round
Speed is only a problem once it becomes unreasonable for your opponent(s) to compete. For me, don't worry about going too fast--that doesn't mean you should go as fast as possible--signposting is important
don't be a terrible person
Theory
I love theory and will weigh it first. That doesn't mean that that will be an easy win. Voters need to be extended and are always a reason to reject the arg (only exception is condo)
condo is the only argument I would consider a viable theory 2ar
T
T is very important and I am easily swayed by standards debate. If I am not directed, I'll default to competing interps and weigh the debate from there
Reasonability isn't being reasonably topical. Reasonability is that the aff causes a reasonable amount of abuse
T is generally not an rvi
DA
I'm chill with linear da's or 2 card da's
DO IMPACT CALC & TURNS--that includes how the internal link chain should factor in impact calc
Brevity is still good and doesn't mean you need a 3 minute o/v
CP
Competition theory is important.Solvency is not an internal net benefit and isn't a reason to vote for the counterplan--that includes impact calc
There is no such thing as a cheating counterplan if the aff doesn't read theory. I don't care how abusive the cp is and I will vote on it given that aff offense is lacking
If you're going for a meme/joke advocacy, run it as a k--that makes it funnier on k proper and framework
K
I love kritiks. They are wonderful and are some of my favorites args, but framework is important. If fmwk is conceded, then I can't vote on the k.
Severance is very persuasive on the perm level. I will understand most arguments and it's more likely than not that I kick the arg because I believe severance happens
I debated set col, psychoanalysis, and cybernetics k debate. Don't assume I'm familiar with the lit. I've researched some wacky k's before (STEM, anthro, hauntology, pearl harbor, deleuze, baudrillard, cioran, todestrieb, matrix, etc.) but that doesn't mean I will automatically understand the k
Kicking the alt is bad unless fmwk permits it
I like rejection alts, but material and educational solvency need to be won (depending on fmwk interps)
K Aff
I've experimented with k affs and run a few, but know this: I love them. I'm not a professional, so I need the aff story to be consistent and have a clear reason and strong offense as to why rejecting a plan text is necessary
The advocacy needs to be clearly articulated and have solvency
T is a generic neg strategy, so please spice things up with unique offense other than debate bad--I won't devalue the args if they're generic--although I do believe k affs are good for debate (but who cares if neg is winning the t flow)
Weighing the aff fmwk vs neg k fmwk is messy and typically devolves to impact calc--do that plus compartmentalize
Case
I'm not a fan of primarily stock issues paradigms, but if the round doesn't provide me anything else, I will become a stock issues judge. Inherency, harms, solvency, and t are important
If the aff is exceptionally bad, case 2nr's are fine, but make sure there's offense to talk about instead of exclusively defense
I think human extinction good is a funny arg, but will only weigh it as a joke and possibly as an rvi if the opposition makes genocide/bigotry turns
BTW, I consider impact calc to have 2 levels: the in round impacts and the imaginary fiat impacts and I weigh in round impacts over fiat impacts
Fun fact, kicking the aff can be strategic (and funny), but prob shouldn't be done
Again, ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE ROUND IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING
LD General
I debated LD for 4 years in high school, have gone to nationals and was the 2023 5A state champ, so I have quite a few feelings about the activity
The most valuable part of LD is time: maximize offense and be concise always or you'll lose
I debated pure offense in LD: everyone else's value/criterion is problematic and maximize offense on the contention debates
V/Crit
i believe the value is the primary lens through which the round is voted on and the criterion is the means or thesis the case achieves the value
clash on v/crit is super underrated and makes the debate really easy to win
defense is mid for me because i don't have a clear reason to prefer one or the other without sufficient offense
Contention debate
i interpret the contention debate as your opportunity to meet the criterion by a preponderance of the evidence and will frame impacts as implicit reasons opposing value/criterion structure doesn't work
contentions can take the form of policy speeches or kritiks, but i'd prefer if they were formatted appropriately: don't run policy debate offcase, just read it on case or make it a main contention
topicality is rare, but if the violation is egregious without counter definitions, i'll allow it
Again, ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE ROUND IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING
Baylor University '25 (not debating)
Lansing SR '21 - debated in DCI and TOC varsity (in-state and out) and KDC - stuck primarily to policy debate and public forum
add me to the email chain: chloe.kautt.debate@gmail.com
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Basic Preferences
-I'll ask before the round starts, but I would appreciate it if everyone disclosed their pronouns
-I can handle any speed you are comfortable with it, but I haven't debated for about a year so do with that what you will, but I'll clear you if I can no longer understand
-If you have a question, ask before the round not when you are about to give your speech
-Don't be an ass, debate is a fun activity and we are all here to learn don't let your crappy attitude get in the way of anyone's learning experience
-Read any racist, sexist, homophobic, or any offensive argument in front of me and expect to lose the round and get 0 speaks. I've had someone impact turn queer theory and the past and it didn't go well for them.
-I'm pretty expressive about different arguments so if you see a head nod while I'm flowing, I guess you're doing something good
-I'm not a typical stock issues judge or a "policymaker", you should tell me what I should vote on. I go on a defense vs offense scale. Both teams should have offense. Aff - throw in a link turn or two on the disad or turns arguments on the counterplan, or a good impact turn and GO FOR THEM! Neg - same. Go for impact turns and turns case arguments on the disad. Your one answer to case as "Warming isn't an issue" definitely won't do you any good if they answer it or if there is a broad spill-up claim (same for you aff).
Theory
-Condo is fine as long as you don't read an egregious number of counter plans
-Dispo is weird so I wouldn't do it tbh
-You need an impact to theory and proof of in round abuse
-Most likely, it will be a reason to reject the argument, not the team unless there is substantial abuse that would make it impossible for you to win a round (rare)
Topicality
We stand a good T debate, but there are a few things to consider:
-I'll default to competing interps. You should do analysis on the impacts you have. Don't just give me "FAiRneSs and EdUcaTion aRe ImpActs" explain to me why they are
-*NOVICES*- Start adding standards into your T shells, reading an interpretation and a violation won't cut it as a voting issue - if you don't read standards or don't extend them I won't vote on it
-Pointing out in round abuse is FIRE! Please do it!
-If you read offense on T such as overlimiting or underlimiting good, I'll love you forever
Disads
-I like specific links I don't know who doesn't
-PLEASE have warranted internal link chains that make sense
-Run any disad you want (linear, politics, etc) I don't care
-You should be extending each piece of the disad otherwise you won't get access to different arguments
Counter Plans
-I'll go with Jamie Welch on this one. DON'T SAY CP SAY COUNTERPLAN!
-I don't like PICS that much, but I've run them so don't think you can't run one in front of me- you should block out answers to PICS bad though
-the better the solvency advocate, the better the counterplan
-If your only answer to "perm do both" is that it links to the disad, probably holding it to a high threshold
-PLEASE READ OFFENSE ON COUNTERPLANS- aff make the neg have to defend every single portion of the counterplan
K
-I've run them and I've gone for them. Feel free to read anything but Nietzche and Baudrillard. I am the most familiar with neolib, fem, settler colonialism, and militarism. If you plan on reading one in front of me that isn't those, please be sure to explain it.
-You should have specific links, that's always a good thing.
-Links of omission are bad and uneducational, please block out specific links to the affirmative
-You can have an alt or you can go for the linear DA, whatever you think the best strat is, go for it
-If you are going for the alt, you must explain how the alternative is able to solve for every link you read and why its key to access your impact.
-Be prepared to answer the framework debate please!
K affs
Like I said before, I don't care what you read in front of me. I would prefer if you read one with some residual link to the topic. If your aff has literally no link what so ever to the topic, probably gonna lean more on neg for framework. Please be prepared to answer framework. I've read a K aff before so I know what's up.
For framework, you need to explain to me what the impacts are. Fairness to me is an internal link to clash and education, but if you think it is a legitimate impact go for it.
If you plan on reading one in open, please talk to your coach about framework, the last things I want to see is you not knowing what the hell you are talking about. If you read a K aff in open for clout, you are doing more harm for the group you are talking about. Doing it for a ballot is not the best way to debate. That being said, if it is a strange K aff explain it, but I'm open to many types of literature including the ones mentioned in the "K" section
LD
For the sake of clarity, I am somewhat familiar with the value/criterion style of this debate, but offense/defense is easier for me to follow (everything above applies)
Hello, I am Stephen Kautt, I am a traditional debater, but I vote tech over truth. If you drop an argument you lose that argument, make sure you extend everything. This is my 4th year debating at Lansing High School. I do know some technical arguments in debate, also I love clash, if there is no clash, the debate is just boring.
If you are doing an email chain, my email is: stephen.kautt.lansing@gmail.com
TLDR: Debate the way you want to, but make sure you signpost, extend, and are clear, so that I can make sure I flow the round properly, if you are not clear, I may lose arguments you read, and I am voting off my flow. I also have a high threshold for new arguments in the rebuttals, you can read new evidence (even though you really should not unless you absolutely need to), but do not read new arguments. I also read evidence, but if your evidence does not make the claim you said, I will not vote you down unless the other team brings it up. I will just mention it on the ballot.
Speed
I can handle fast speeds, I speak fast myself, but I do take clarity over speed, so if you just sound like you are mumbling, I will deduct speaks.
Topicality
I like topicality, but do not make topicality the focus of the debate, do not make it the one thing you go for, unless it makes sense, I will vote on T if the aff does not do a good job answering the parts of T, also make sure you extend your counter interpretation standards, and the impact of the T.
Disads
I have ran disads a ton, so I know whats going on. Make sure when you run a disad, I buy the link chain, I do not want some stupid link chain to make me believe that the Aff leads to your impact. I will vote on generic links, but I prefer specific links, I will read evidence. Also make sure you extend your link, impact, and internal link. Just extend and make me buy the argument. If the Aff is able to make me believe there is no link or there is no impact, then I will flow the disad to the aff.
Counterplans
I have ran counterplans a ton, so I know what's going on. Make sure the counterplan is able to solve the aff, make sure the cp has a net benefit, if you lose the net benefit you lose the cp. I also love perms, read a lot of them but do not forget to extend them, or answer them on the neg.
Kritik
I know what ks are, and i do not mine hearing. I am the most comfortable with setcol and cap. Be careful though, i am especially attentive when it comes to framework. And be careful, I am attentive, I will hear if you make the debate space unsafe on the topic of race or gender. If it does not make sense, I will not vote for it. Explain your k and the world of the alternative.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I enjoy debate, I am excited to hear everyone debate, just listen to what I said above, and listen and have fun. Debate is all about having fun.
Cant wait to judge you,
Stephen
4 years of debate (KDC) at Lansing High (2017-2021)
KCKCC Debate (NPDA/NFA LD) (2021– current)
Assistant Coaching at Lansing High School
I'm down for speech drop or email whichever works best for you. christopherlapeedebate@gmail.com
TLDR: I've learned that as I judge more the more I realize I don't particularly care for certain arguments over others. Rather, I care more about debaters doing what they're good at and maximizing their talents. Granted to whereas I'm ok with you reading whatever, do keep in mind that the experience I've had with debate/arguments might not make me the best decision maker in the back of the room for that round. So if you get me in the back of the room read what you want but be mindful it might need a little explanation in the Rebuttals.
Speed–I'm cool with it if I can't keep up i'll say speed if you arent clear i'll say clear. People never slow down on analytics so imma just start clearing folks if I cant understand what your saying without the doc. This will allow me to keep up better. If you ignore my speed/clear signals I'm gonna be bound to miss stuff so if you get an rfd you don't like after the round thats prolly why.
LD– All of the stuff below applies if you wanna read a plan and have a policy debate do it idc its your debate have fun!
More in depth version of how I evaluate
Top level:I default tech over truth. The only time I'll use truth as a means of decision making is to break a tie in an argument which usually will only happen if the debate is very messy.
T: On T I'll default to competing Interps unless I get a good reason to favor reasonability or if reasonability goes conceded. I think T is a debate about models of a hypothetical community agreement to what the the topic should look like, in this I think the debate comes down to the internal links like who controls limits and ground and who's limits/ground is best for education and fairness. I don't think you need proven abuse but if there is you should point that out.
CP: I think CP's can be a good test of solvency mechanisms of the aff I wont vote on a cp unless it has a net benefit. I think the CP is a reason why 1% risk of the DA means I should probably vote neg if the CP solves, even if case outweighs. I don't think the CP alone is a reason to vote neg, just because there is another way to solve the aff doesn't mean I shouldn't give it a try. Internal net benefits are real and I'll vote on a CP with one.
Condo: I tend to think condo is good unless the neg is just trying to time suck by reading like 5 CP's and then just going for whichever you cant get to in time
DA's: I have quite a bit of experience with these but not a lot to say on them, I think a DA being non uq means no risk. I think no Link means the same, I think the I/L strat is commonly underrated if the link doesn't actually trigger the mpx then there is probably no risk, MPX turning a DA is underrated too. If you go for the DA in front of me focus on the story of the DA and form a coherent story and focus on the internals if I understand how the plan actually causes the MPX I'm more likely to vote for the DA.
Spec: If you go for spec go for it just like you would T. I'll listen to 5 mins of spec and vote on it. Same thing as T I view it as a models debate and you should focus on the internals because that tends to show who actually controls the mpx debate.
The K: On the link level first. I think the links to the k page operate in the same way as links to the Disad. What I mean by this is that the more specific the better. Just vaguely describing "the apocalyptic rhetoric of the 1ac" seems like a very generic link which is prolly not that hard for a turn and or no link argument.
On the impact debate. I think you need to be weighing the impact of the kritik in the round I find that a lot of debaters get jumbled up in line by line and forget to actually weigh the impact. Just extending it and saying "they cause xyz" isn't good because it isn't developed and lacks the warranting of why that matters and why I should vote neg because they cause that.
On the alt debate. It's a common stereotype of K debaters that we can't explain the alt. What does the alt look like? Why is that good? And so on so forth. I think that while I hate this stereotype I dislike even more that in the rounds I've watched debaters have tended to just read their tag line of the alt solvency and the alt whenever asked in cx what does the alt look like, and or do that to extend the alt in later speeches. This is not a good way to debate and doesn't help you convince anyone your alt is good, you should be able to articulate the method of your alt whatever that may be and how that changes the debate space or the world. I don't think this means you need to be able to tell me exactly what goes on at every waking point of the day.
K aff:
On the case debate– I think k affs should link to the topic/debate in some way shape or form otherwise they feel very generic. specificity >>>>>>>> generics (on every arg tho). There should be a clear impact/impacts to the aff. I think where the aff falls short is in the method/advocacy debate I think that I should be able to understand the method and how it is able to resolve the impact in some way shape or form. I think the rob/roj should be clearly identified (the earlier in the round the better). That way I understand how I should evaluate the rest of the debate and process through things (I think in close debates both teams wind up winning different parts of the flow, I need to understand why your flow comes first). I think that performance K affs lose the performance aspect which sucks, I think that applying the performance throughout the rest of the debate is >>>>>> rather than losing it after the 1ac.
V FW– I tend to think debate is a game that shapes subjectivity – Ie y'all wanna win rounds and fairness is good, and also the arguments we make/debate shapes who we become as advocates. I will technically sway based off args made in the round (ie debate doesn't shape subjectivity/debate isn't a game) I think from the neg I need a clear interp with a brightline for what affs are and are not topical extended throughout the debate. I need a clear violation extended throughout the debate. I think standards act as internal links to the impacts of fairness and education. I think you should be able to win that your fairness is better than the affs fairness and that it outweighs their education. for the aff I also think you need a clear interp for what affs are and are not allowed under your model of debate extended throughout the debate. If you go for a we meet I think that the we meet should be clear and makes sense and also be throughout the debate. I think the aff should win that the TVA doesn't resolve your offense/education, that your fairness is just as good or better than the neg's model of fairness. And that your education outweighs. I think top level impact turns to t/fw are good. And use the rob/roj against the T debate (remember it all comes down to filtering what arguments are most important and come first)
KvK– uhhhhhhh I tend to get a little lost in these debates sometimes tbh bc I think its tough to evaluate and weigh two methods against each other especially if they aren't necessarily competitive with each other. I think in these debate the fw debate including the rob/roj is most important, and judge instruction is likely how you'd pick me up if I'm in the back of the room. If you don't tell me how to evaluate arguments and what they mean in context to the round we'll all prolly wind up frustrated at the end of the round bc I'll intervene or make a bad choice. (I'm not perfect and make mistakes so judge instruction is crucial to make sure I don't make them)
Email (For Email chains): natalieriggs05@gmail.com
Pronouns: They/Them
Policy Debate
I am mostly going to be judging based on knowledge of your resolution, speaking skills, and ability to answer arguments. I have done both debate and forensics throughout High School.
I debated at Lansing High School for 4 years
I currently do speech and debate at Western Kentucky University
email: nik.schintgentf@gmail.com
they/them
I don't care if you say judge, N, or Nik... just not Niklas
\\ I have an apd which makes it difficult to hear spreading so I'm probably not the best judge if you wish to do that, im sorry. Either way, you can go slow or spread in front of me but on the chance that you do spread don't blitz through the tags so I can actually pick up what you're trying to put down - the same goes for analytics or the rebuttals - if you need me to write make it so I can hear it. I cleared people at the end of my career as a debater and I will clear you now.//
General
Be respectful towards you're opponents
I think pre-round disclosure is good
Judge Instruction is going to be the most important for me. I want to know why you win the debate and how. Do comparative analysis, should be able to explain your evidence and why it is better than theirs and why this one thing means the debate goes entirely in your favor. If you don't then that's on you and will probably require me to do more intervening on my part.
I'm not going to read the evidence unless you tell me to. Don't just insert a rehighlight - tell me why it proves the aff/neg thesis to be false and then prove where that is in the ev.
I'm open to pretty much any arg - I've never had a problem with too many but if you as a debater think ev is bad and can be violent or exclusionary then tell me why. My debate partner and I in highschool made arguments like this in highschool so I can find them compelling.
IK this doesn't have a lot in it but I have a lot of the same debate philosophy as Jam Hoffman, Azja Butler, Joshua Michael, Alaina Walberg, Nate Nys, and some other folks as they have greatly influenced my debate career
___________________________________________________
Tech/Truth
I always find myself to be tech over truth - unless you give me a reason not to be
Disadvantages
I like disadvantages and think the creative ones with a good link story end up winning my ballot the most. There are lots of tricks teams don't utilize enough, especially with ptx DAs. Do the impact calc and link work - you know.
Counterplans
I love counterplans and I don't feel like they get used creatively enough. I don't think a counterplan needs to solve for the entirety of the aff but you should have a reason why it doesn't need to.
Kritiks/K-Affs
I did K debate my last year of highschool reading Afro-Pessimism, Afro-Futurism, Vampiric Necropolitics, Taosim, Cap, Empire, and Ableism. I think the link debate is always important, you need to be able to answer questions like how does it link to the aff/topic? Impacts need to be impacted out- duh. You need to explain the alt/advocacy and how it resolves your impacts. Teams don't do this enough and just repeat the name of their alternative and other teams don't call them out enough on it.
T-FW/Framework
I don't think the negative spends enough time trying to frame aff offense out of the debate and that causes the negative to lose lots of rounds. Same goes for the aff, there are sometimes just lots of easily conceded arguments that can cause you to immediately lose the debate. I find these debates become extremely messy and make following very difficult so please keep it organized.
Topicality
A lot of the same stuff on T-FW applies over here. T violations are better when they are carded and I don't see people answering we meets well enough
MISC.
Clipping is an academic malpractice and will result in a loss and low speaks.
Same with slurs, etc.
I've noticed I have lots of feedback sometimes, especially for novices, so I'm sorry if you do not like that. Sometimes my writing tone can come off as mean or passive aggressive, I pinkie promise its not.
3rd year Lansing debater, I've mainly debated in tech circuits, but am doing more open debates recently.
add me to the email chain elise6713@gmail.com
she/her
In terms of general argument types, I'll listen to and vote on anything except bigoted/exclusionary args.
speed: I've debated tech for a couple years so I'll probably be able to keep up with whatever speed you're comfortable at, that being said, I do prefer clarity on tags for flowing purposes and won't be impressed by people trying to go faster than they can just because. Speak at a speed you can be clear at and always check with the other team's comfortability with speed
DO NOT be unnecessarily aggressive in round- we're here to debate, not attack each other.
I tend to prefer T or K debates but can also enjoy more generic policy rounds.
DAs: Disads are great, try and contextualize the link as much as possible and do a lot of impact calc
Kritiks: I love K debates, but they need to make sense and not be used as a way to confuse the other team. I am partial towards perf con args on the aff and will probably weigh it more heavily than other judges as long as it is warranted out properly and given voters. On the neg contextual links are super important and I like line-by-line after the 1NC.
Counterplans: Honestly I don't really do a lot of intense counterplan debates, so you'll probably have to do a little more explanation on why the cp is net good, but I'll still vote on them.
Topicality: I love good topicality debates, but if it isn't correctly done I'll probably end up disregarding it. Standards and voters are super important. I don't really like reasonability, but if it isn't answered well I'll weigh it.
Overall, just have fun and read what you want.
Lansing High School '21
University of Kansas '25 (not debating)
Please add me to the email chain: maddie.souser@gmail.com
Pronouns: she/her
top level
Do your thing. I'll try to resolve the debate with as little intervention as possible. I'd rather you read something you enjoy reading, I'll do my best to adapt to what arguments you read.
I’ve done limited research on this topic and have only judged a few rounds this season.
If anything on my paradigm isn't clear or your have questions - feel free to ask me before round or shoot me an email
Planless affs:
I'm best at adjudicating and giving constructive feedback in debates with policy affs because that's where most of my experience as a debater was, but I enjoy watching and evaluating planless affs.
Make sure you're explaining the literature/process that your aff takes
Being in the direction of the topic is important
Framework - 2nc/2nr's should interact with the aff at some level, ie. don't just read generic uncontextualized t-usfg blocks. Give a detailed explanation as to why the specific model/aff is worse for debate. Most debates that don't contextualize framework arguments to the aff end up sounding like "K affs are bad for debate", which is a strat you can go for but it's much easier to win with specific offense and more difficult to convince me that any and all planless affs are bad for debate.
Fairness and education can both be impacts (unless argued otherwise), but I personally think fairness is argued best as an i/l to education
Topicality:
I default to competing interpretations
TVA's are good to help explain impacts and help contextualize what offense you lose under the aff's model
Slow down a little bit on analytics
Disads
Da/cp debates are usually pretty fun and probably my favorite to watch
Specific links>topic links
Not much to say here
Counterplans:
Default condo is good, but can be convinced otherwise
Process cp's are fine, but I eer aff on theory
I default to judge kick
Condo is the only theory argument that is a reason to reject the team
2a's - please utilize going for theory more, negative teams can be pretty abusive when it comes to fiat - even if you don't end up going for it, having it in your arsenal is good practice and might save you from losing to a random process cp one day
Kritics:
Assume I don't know your lit, make sure you are explaining your ev and contextualizing it to the topic/aff
Not the best judge for kvk debates, very limited experience here
Line by line>long overviews
Other:
Judge instruction is important - your 2nr/2ar should outline what you want the decision on my ballot to look like
Be kind to everyone in the round! Debate is a fun and educational outlet for people - don't make me intervene because you've made someone else feel uncomfortable/unsafe in the debate space.
Experience:
I debated for 3 years at Lansing High School (Education, Immigration, Arms Sales). I do not have college debate experience.
This tournament (CFL) is my first experience judging the 2020-21 topic.
t/l:
pronouns: he/him
Add me to the email chain: wstrickland.debate@gmail.com
If you have any questions about the debate after it happens, you can email me at the above.
I'm flowing on paper - slow down for tags and make sure the content of cards is at a pace where it's not complete gibberish.
i am a STRONG believer that: just because you read a card doesn't mean your opponent's analytics can't beat it
i should never hear only "they didn't have ev so we win x argument". If you're saying this, it means they made an argument and your response is "we have ev and they don't". What this translates to on paper is an extension of your tag with no warrants. I want to be able to flow your warrants.
i don't want to hear new arguments in the 2nr or 2ar. i'll flow them just in case i'm wrong in the moment about hearing them earlier, but that doesn't mean i'll listen to them.
presumption goes neg UNLESS the neg is running a counterplan without a judge kick argument
as for types of arguments:
I was a 2a for nearly all my debates - 1nr was typically a disad or t, so I'm most experienced with those
Theory:
i won't discourage any specific type of theory because I don't have any solid, in-depth thoughts on it at the moment
disclosure is good.
know that, as i said above, i was a 2a the large majority of debates. I have gone for condo 0 times in 3 years. That said, neg teams, don't get excessive.
T:
competing interpretations > reasonability
depth > breadth
limits control ground
fairness is an i/l to education. if you're not trying to win fairness, you'll have a very hard time telling me educational debates not related to the topic o/w fair AND educational debates related to the topic.
i like predictability. having the most predictable interp is strong in front of me
i've been told that people now think not having voters in the 1nc is cool. i think it is. put voters in the 1nc.
DAs:
specific link > generic link
impact calc: have it, please. as much as i wish i could, i can't give you thresholds at which magnitude o/w probability or probability o/w timeframe. this is up to you to decide. i don't know if this is a thing that happens still, but winning the yes nuclear war vs their no nuclear war evidence does not mean you get a 100% chance of probability. If you're on the opposite side of this situation, i'd love to hear something about how link chains reduce probability.
CPs:
i dislike topical counterplans
i default to sufficiency framing
i don't know how you can have any other reasonable approach than this, but feel free to enlighten me
Ks/K affs:
I have minimal experience running Ks, so you probably don't want to run one in front of me. If you want or have to, I'm most experienced with cap/neolib.
I'm heavily inclined towards the affirmative having a plan, and it will probably be easier to win this in front of me on average than another judge.
Pronouns: They/them - yes I am fem-presenting, doesn't matter. I will vote you down for repeatedly misgendering me or anyone else in the round. On the subject, I will probably ask for everyone's pronouns.
Email for email chains: defeateddrum@gmail.com
PLEASE use an email chain OR speechdrop, my computer doesn't like flash drives for some reason lol.
Experience:
3 years of Varsity Debate at Lansing High School. I was a finalist at Iowa Caucus and made it to Quarters at Glenbrooks. I was a competitor for Lansing at Kansas Regionals and State Tournaments for two years , I also qualified and competed at CFL and NSDA's tournaments.
Foreword: Be good people. I will not hesitate to vote you down for any transphobia, homophobia, sexism, racism, ableism, and whatnot, no matter who it's directed towards. I will take off speaker points and leave a comment on the ballot if a male debater is blatantly speaking over a woman or fem-presenting person in cross-ex or anywhere else; this has happened to me in-round, I know what the difference between an aggressive cross-ex and misogyny is. If I hear or see you in any way harassing or bullying your opponents before, during, or after round, you will be voted down. This includes running things like Heidegger; I will vote you down if you run a Nazi's arguments. If you think the other team/ anyone in the room has been transphobic/homophobic/ misogynistic/racist/etc, call it out.
FOR PAPER TEAMS: If you debate on paper, I have certain requirements, these are not optional. 1) You cannot use a laptop in other speeches. A paper 1AC and a digital every other speech is needless gatekeeping of information. 2) You MUST have a copy of the aff for the neg AND the judge, they must have access to this at the START of the 1AC.
I consider violation of these an ethics violation, I will auto downvote you for it. If there are unique circumstances, talk to me.
DISCLOSURE RULES: Disclosure is REQUIRED unless the aff is breaking new (aka this is the first time running this aff). If you refuse to disclose, I will ask if you are breaking new. If you are not, I will require that you disclose.
On to the actual paradigm lol
I was a very tech-y debater, so if something's not covered on here, assume I have a really tech opinion. I am tech over truth.
Topicality:
-I ADORE a good T debate.
- Standards like limits, ground, and brightline are where the bulk of the T debate should be.
-I default to competing interpretations. It's really hard to convince me to vote on reasonability but I can do it if it's well-done.
-Having good interp cards is not as important to me as the impact your interp has on the topic/debatespace.
-TVA's are great, but you don't need them to win a T debate with me.
-Squirrely T definitions are fine with me. Just run them well.
-You don't really need to explain to me why education and fairness are impacts, but DO explain how limits and ground shape them.
Disadvantages:
-I really dislike DA's that have no internal link chain or one that makes no sense.
-I will accept generic links, but some analytic explanation of how they link to this specific case (esp if the Aff calls you on it) is good.
Kritiks:
-I. LOVE. K'S. I ran the Cap K all the time, I love them!
-That being said, I don't know a ton of deep deep K literature. I am fine with the basics. Anything else I'll need some explanation for.
-Links of omission/masking links are NOT LINKS.
-Language and reps links are great, love em.
-Use whatever framework you want, just justify it.
Counterplans:
-I'll allow pics and plan-plus cp's IF the neg explains them, why they're competitive, etc. You'll have to do a LOT of work to convince me to vote for these. Affs are very welcome to run a million theory violations on you for it, though.
-Consult cp's are absolutely cheating though. I'll vote these down if the Aff calls it out for being cheaty.
-You need a net-benefit (internal is ok if explained) and to be mutually-exclusive, as per usual.
Case Debate:
-Affs, if you lose the case debate, you lose the round. If the 2AC doesn't extend case, and the neg mentions it, I'm putting Neg on the ballot immediately. Same with any case turn.
-I will not grant the 1AR any new arguments. You get what the 2AC says, nothing else (unless the neg reads something new in the block).
K Affs:
-I'm okay with y'all reading them, as long as you a) explain them to me, and b) run them well.
-T USFG vs K Affs is always fun to watch. I find that T-Framework is the easiest way for the neg to win against a K Aff.
-K v K debates need explanation: I find that these debates often go so high into k theoryland that I just kinda sit there not understanding a thing.
Miscellaneous Stuff:
-JUDGE. INSTRUCTION. GIVE IT TO ME. I WILL NOT give you conceded arguments unless you point them out. On that note, I hate judge intervention and will avoid doing so if possible.
-Extension = extending the claim + author/date. I am very strict on this - shadowextensions do not count, I will not flow them.
-Ask me questions before and after rounds! I love answering questions, please come ask me! If you disagree with one of my decisions, come ask me why I voted the way I did (respectfully, of course).
-Barry 17
-Lighthearted banter and jokes between teams is a-ok with me
-If you need bathroom break or a breather if you're super anxious, let me know and go ahead.
-I don’t care if you eat/drink in round, just don’t be disruptive.
-I consider more than 7 off a jerk move and abusive. You're giving the 2AC a minute per offcase. Don't push it. Neg, you should be able to win a round with as little as 1 off or just case - running 7 off shows me that your strategy is "I hope we send the aff into a panic and exploit it" - that makes the debate worse for everyone.
-Have fun, do your best, and don't run Heidegger.
Good luck :D!
Well, tabroom literally deleted my paradigm and I hate repeating myself so here's the condensed version. #FREELUKE
239 rounds judged (yes I update this every round) (going for a record or something) and I'm a 4th year coach.
Debate : I literally don't care what you run. As long as you know what you're reading. If you're rude to other people in the round, I'll think it's cringe and vote you down. Impact calc is always nice. I actually read your evidence so don't self-sabotage. Mean what you say, because a captain goes down with their ship.
Forensics : ALL OF THIS IS CONDITIONAL AND VARIES BY EVENT - Well-developed blocking is always appreciated. A good intro and conclusion are important. Voice impressions or differentiation is nice as well. If applicable, your speaker's triangle is crucial. Confidence is key. Getting in your own head only messes you up.
I'd like to be added to the email chain mwoodcock692@gmail.com
(he/him)
email chain >> speech drop
Experience:
Debating:
I debated at Lansing High School for 4 years
Debated two years at KU (alliances and antitrust)
Coaching:
Lansing (2020-2022)
Shawnee Mission South (current) :)
Top Level -
1. Tech over truth, the only scenario in which I may look towards truth rather than tech is as a means to break a tie in portions of debates that are extremely difficult to resolve (i.e. lack of clash)
2. Don’t let anything said in this paradigm discourage you from reading/going for any argument, the best debates are ones where people have devoted ample time in researching the argumentative positions they read. I enjoy debate and will put my best effort into my decision because of the ample work that debaters put into the activity should be seen and rewarded as such, which I believe requires judges to do the same.
3. If any arguments that are homophobic, racist, and etc. are presented you will lose the debate and be rewarded the least amount of speaks as possible. This also includes any other way that you may make the debate space less safe for people.
4. Taking CX as prep will be rewarded with lower speaks.
5. JUDGE INSTRUCTION! If you think that a portion of the debate should be the deciding factor, then tell me why that is and how I should evaluate it. The more judge instruction that you do, then the more happy you are to be with the decision I give.
Topicality -
I default to competing interpretations, if you believe I should evaluate this differently, then tell me to do so. Some big things that matter to me here is that I think both teams should have a robust explanation of what they think the topic should look like. I find limits to be more compelling than a loss of ground as internal links to the impacts that you are going for.
Impact comparison is still important here, like why does fairness outweigh education or the impacts that your opponents are going for. If the debate takes the course where both teams are going for fairness, then this should be done at the internal link level, but regardless there needs to be more impact comparison in topicality.
I think that I am pretty relaxed with my biases as to what aff's are topical and I like to think that I reward teams who invest research into these arguments and think that teams who read aff's that are perceived to be regarded as topical to the community should be punished for lazy debating on whether their aff is topical or not.
Critical Affs –
I prefer aff's have some relationship with the topic, I also want you to tell me what and how this relationship is established. I feel pretty comfortable adjudicating these debates but also believe that the more judge instruction you give me, the happier you will be. I also think that the more offense that you generate on the fw page, then the better position you put yourself in. I think if you are reading a version of an anti-cap lit based aff, then generating this offense can be more difficult, but not impossible. The ones that I have seen on this topic feel pretty defensive on fw and I think you should invest time into creating this offense.
For the neg --- I believe there is a trend where teams are choosing to read definitions that stop at Ericson, and/or some sort of evidence that is similar to it. I don't think this puts you in a position to win your limits offense and my threshold for aff defense and offense is increasingly more compelling. So, if this is your strategy, then you need to invest time into creating a vision of the topic that is actually limiting.
The 2nr should have some discussion of case, or tell me how fw interacts with the case page and give me ample judge instruction on why it should come first. Reading positions other than just framework are more enjoyable debate to watch, but fw debates can be equally as interesting as long as there is time devoted to it and your strategy.
Disads -
Not much to say here...
I think there has been a trend towards reading the least number of cards as possible, while there may be SOME cases where those cards make all the arguments needed, I will be sympathetic to new 1ar arguments should they be extended into the block.
Link specificity and spin are what I look for and reward if it is being done. Obviously, the more specific the link the better, but good spin can go a long way.
I like and reward aff strategies that straight turn disads and/or other offense generating strategies.
Counterplans –
Counterplans can make for interesting debates. I tend to side with the neg on pics and agent counterplans. I think other competition questions are typically decided on whichever team has invested more time in their strategy revolving around competition. Furthermore, I am more than happy and comfortable in adjudicating these debates, again judge instruction is important here.
With theory debates I think I am most compelled to reject the team only in context with condo but can be persuaded with other theory arguments if you are able to impact them out well enough. I enjoy watching aff teams double-down on condo and I don’t think there is a certain number of off that makes me more/less likely to vote on the argument, just win your interpretation if this is what the debate boils down to.
Kritiks –
The more specific of a link I think the better (this goes very any argument though) whether or not this is a link to the plan or the aff's performance, link spin can also go a long way. Pulling lines from evidence and contextualizing them to your link analysis is good. I do not think there must be an alternative in order to win the debate, just make sure you are wining other arguments that justify you doing this (i.e. framework). With these debates telling me what and why x matters are very important in framing my ballot.
With permutations I think the neg has to do more than just say, “all links are disads to the perm,” make sure to explain how they operate as such, and if you are going for the perm being intrinsic and/or severance make sure to explain why and tie an impact to it. On the flip side, I think that aff teams need to do a better job at answering each individual piece of offense to win a permutation (i.e. each link, disad, or solvency question) with a net benefit.
Case -
Don’t neglect case, it never hurts to extend some sort of defense or offense no matter how miniscule it may be. I think neg teams going for k’s sometimes get away with not going to the case page, if this happens make sure to use your aff.
I don’t understand the use of framing pages. They are often things that don’t matter if the neg just wins the disad or kritik that they are going for. I think the best examples of framing pages were affs written on the immigration topic and have since not seen one that was inherently offensive rather than defensive. The same goes for pre-empts. This is not to say don’t have a fed key warrant, but rather don’t just read a bunch of thumper cards or random pieces of impact defense. In this instance you should just read another advantage.
Pronouns: She/her
Lansing '22
4 Years Lansing HS Debate & Forensics
Lansing HS Assistant Coach
KU '
i don't really care what you run as long as you are clear about it, if i don't know what you're saying then i probably won't vote for you. i have a pretty good understanding of debate and basic arguments, if you run something confusing then EXPLAIN IT, jargon should also be explained if it's not a fairly common term just in case i don't know what you're getting at. i would rather you focus on fewer good arguments than try to run 9 off and not know how to explain any of it. if you wanna run a k or anything like that i don't care but i would prefer for it to be something you can clearly convince me of, your k should basically be an alternate reality and if i'm not convinced it can exist then i won't vote for it. win me on basic stock issues before you try to win me on some off the wall argument that is only vaguely relevant to the current debate. as for speed i'm not a huge stickler about speed but i do ask that whatever speed you go that you are clear. if i am left in the dust, cannot understand you, or it's unclear of what's going on i'll probably just stop listening and i'm guess you probably don't want that. if i am judging you then i definitely want to be a part of the document sharing however that may be done, if there's an email chain that's cool: alexa.ymker@gmail.com. i also believe that the 1AC should be able to send the speech out as soon as the round starts so please make sure you are able to do that
Debated 4 years at Lansing High School on the National Circuit
Email: brettzimm4@gmail.com (please put me on the email chain)
Firstly:
I was mostly a policy debater in high school and that is what I am most comfortable with. However, I do have some limited experience reading kritiks, on the aff and neg, so read what you need to read to win the debate. Tech over Truth.
Topicality:
I think topicality is really under utilized and gets a bad name sometimes because generic interpretations can feel disingenuous. That being said I don't have a problem with generic interps, but perhaps the threshold for the neg to win that part of the debate is lower if they read a contextual interp.
Limits over ground
I think debating impacts is super important in T debates and in order to win the argument you should explain to me what your impact looks like and why it outweighs, in a very thorough way.
Disads:
Disad debates are great. Do what you want here.
A specific link goes a long way.
I think straight turns are cool.
Counterplans:
Read whatever kind of counterplan you want to read, process counterplans, PICs, etc. you just have to win the theory debate.
Condo debates are fun and I encourage the aff to start them if they think its justified.
Kritiks:
Specific links over generic ones
The aff gets to weigh their impacts
I have experience with a few kritiks and I've read some books, but I'm not going to sit here and pretend like I know what I'm talking about when it comes to kritiks. Explain the link, impact, and alt in detail and if you think I might be confused, more explanation on any part of the flow is always good.
Case:
Neg teams should use it, like really use it, you could even garner some offense off of it if you're feeling up to it. Just don't ignore it, especially in the rebuttals.
K affs:
I read one for a while my senior year and it was great, but obviously all k affs are different so I need you to explain how the k interacts with the resolution. I understand that K debate is meant to be complex in some ways but at the end of the day if I can't understand your argument it's really hard for me to vote for it.
I think garnering offense off what the neg reads is very persuasive and smart.
v K affs:
FW: This is a strategy I am very familiar with, but it is important for you to contextualize the argument you go for on the fw page to the aff so that I know what voting negative looks like. I think that contextualization starts in the 1NC.
Kritiks: Read them if you want, they're a good way to test the aff and get some offense on the flows.
CPs: I've always found these to be a stretch and very incompatible with the aff. You should read one if you have it, just know that you'll have to do a lot of work.
"Learn lots, have fun." - Sean Duff