I have been a member of the National Speech and Debate Association for 18 years. I grew up doing speech, and as a teacher, moved more into the direction of coaching debate. I love this activity, and I am genuinely rooting for every team that I judge.

I currently coach a large, successful middle school debate team in Harlem, where we do mostly Parli.

1. I appreciate cases that convey a sense of originality of analysis, clarity, and authenticity.

2. When it comes to any data-based evidence, I am going to be more swayed by the narrative you create around the numbers than the numbers themselves.

3. I appreciate thoughtful research, but when it comes down to it -- perhaps it is all the time I spend coaching Parli -- I am easily pulled into the world of ideas and logic. I will have a longer leash for more philosophical reasoning than many PF judges.

4. Whenever I experience PF debate, I am so impressed by the way the best teams are able to manage their time-- because you have so little to work with. Do not be afraid to let things fade from the round in order to focus the round into the real voting issues.

5. In crossfires, get underneath the premise of your opponent's argument rather than the splitting hairs or (in most cases) getting into the nuances of the validity of the evidences. Force concessions from your opponent.

6. Create legitimate clash. Show me the contrast between the worlds of yours and your opponents. Make the contrast obvious to me.

5. As you speak, engage me naturally on a human-to-human level, and read my reactions. (I'm told I am fairly easy to read)

PF: First and foremost, I'm a Public Forum debater at Lakeland High School in Yorktown Heights, NY.

If you still have any questions after reading this, please feel free to ask.

And if you don't have time to read this - TLDR; be clear, have good impacts, no obscure arguments, explain arguments, keep time, and have fun!

Speed

In terms of speed, I'm fine with any speed as long you're clear. If I can't understand you, I will briefly shout "clear". If you don't adjust, I'll be taking off speaker points. If you can't understand your opponents, you can also briefly shout "clear". If your opponent shouts clear, please slow down or I will take off speaks.

Types of Arguments

I generally prefer well-warranted impacts rather than logical leaps to apocalyptic scenarios.

In regards to Theory and K's, I don't feel like they work in PF. I will listen and I will judge fairly, but you'll either lose the round or have low speaks.

I truly dislike obscure arguments. If you throw something random into the round just to throw off your opponent, your speaks will suffer for it. However, if you do run something incredibly obscure and your opponents have good responses, I will be giving them good speaks for it.

Dates

Please read the year for your cards.

Evidence

I strongly prefer cards over paraphrasing. If you misinterpret evidence, or read from authors or sources that are clearly unreliable, you will lose speaks (like don't read off Info Wars, even though it would be kind of funny lmao)

Please know where your evidence is. If you can't provide it for the opponent, it will be kicked.

Bracketing in your cards isn't too bad as long as it is short and doesn't skew your evidence.

Just because you dump a really good card into a round, doesn't mean it'll go to your advantage. Please explain your arguments.

Summary and Final Focus

You don't have to extend your defense from the rebuttal into your Summary but if your opponent has made massive turns, you should put up some defense. In Final Focus, please weigh.

Decorum

Funny jokes and witty puns are welcomed, but be chill about it. As a PF debater, I know how aggressive a room of sweaty teenagers can get, but if I find you being overtly mean, It will affect your speaks.

Prep

I'm lazy so please keep time lmao

Miscellaneous

Signposting does help.

I couldn't care less about what you do before the round. You could throw a chair out the window and I won't take off speaks (but I will testify against you in court)

You could wear a jacket during the round, have ketchup stains on your shirt, or wear pajamas and I won't care. How you debate means more than what you wear.

I don't give perfect speaks unless your arguments make me question my political ideology.

I will try my hardest to go into the round tabula rasa but if you make ridiculous arguments, I wont buy it.

I will shake hands but I would prefer traditional Polish shoe dancing as a gesture of gratitude. Nah lmao, I shake hands.

Feel free to ask me anything about your individual performance, or for any debate related advice.

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Finally, have fun. You guys are doing something that takes a lot of effort and willpower, so just enjoy yourselves and hopefully you'll remember these times fondly.

Parli: I'm very unfamiliar with judging Parli. Please excuse me if I suck as a judge. But none the less, good luck and have fun!

My introduction to debate started in College 2014 -2018 British Parliamentary. I taught BP debate at the College Of Staten Island Summer 2019.

I am not a Policy Debater. I do coach for SA middle school policy debate.

I will vote on framework if you tell me to vote on framework. I will vote on the stock issues if you tell me to vote on stock issues. I will not read evidence unless their is an issue of specific cards being read. I only flow what is said in your speech.

I am a huge fan of voters. Tell me exactly what you want me to know, the ROB and ROJ.

prefer no long "off time" roadmaps

please stick to your time

looking for clear weighing of your impacts vs your opponents' impacts

avoid reading very long passages/quotes

I'm a Public Forum debater at Lakeland High School in Yorktown Heights, NY.

If you still have any questions after reading this, please feel free to ask.

Email if you need an email chain or questions after the round: izabella.wid@gmail.com

And if you don't have time to read this - TLDR; I flow, explain arguments, have evidence, keep time, and have fun!

Flowing

I will be flowing everything except crossfire. Use crossfire as a way to clear confusion or build upon what will be in an actual speech. Emphasize what you really want to have flowed.

Signposting, and telling me what you are addressing, does help.

Speed

In terms of speed, I do not care anymore. Keep in mind, it becomes difficult to understand what you're saying for not only me but for your opponents. I will struggle flowing it. Make sure to emphasize and enunciate appropriately.

Types of Arguments

I generally prefer well-warranted impacts.

As long as you explain well I can handle obscure arguments, but nothing major. I am not all-knowing, sometimes things do not make sense.

Dates

I prefer you read the year for your cards.

Evidence

Evidence is not everything but I find it important.

If you misinterpret evidence, read from authors or sources that are clearly unreliable, or make an argument that isn’t backed up by evidence at all, that lowers the traction of the argument, especially if the other team calls you out on it.

Please explain your arguments in a sensible way that I can vote on.

Summary and Final Focus

You don't have to extend your defense from the rebuttal into your Summary but if your opponent has made massive turns, you should put up some defense. In Final Focus, please weigh. You should be the ones telling me throughout and prominently in final, my reason for decision.

No new arguments in Final Focus.

Decorum

Funny jokes and witty puns are welcomed, but be chill about it. Getting heated is fine but keep things civil, intelligent, and respectful.

If you say "judge" I will look at you with anticipation for something you want on the flow above all.

Prep

I can keep your prep time or speech time if necessary but I would prefer you do that yourselves.

Further, if you go overtime I am fine with finishing a sentence or two but I won't flow evidence over time.

Miscellaneous

I couldn't care less about what you do before the round. You could throw a chair out the window and I won't take off speaks (but I will testify against you in court).

How you debate means more to me than what you wear.

It is your debate, not mine. Do you. Just stay organized and tell me where and why to vote.

Feel free to ask me anything about your individual performance, or for any debate-related advice. At the end of the round, I would not mind if you showed me your own perspective of the round, I would want to help you guys improve as debaters but I also want to improve as your judge. If you think I did something unfair feel free to let me know.

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Finally, have fun. You guys are doing something that takes a lot of effort and willpower, so just enjoy yourselves and hopefully, you'll remember these times fondly.