General Interp Paradigm

I value creativity including very unique informative topics. I enjoy blocking; however, only if it is clear. I also hate obscene movements that don't add to the overall build of the performance. I love realistic characters and absolutely don't enjoy cartoony characters(Unless it applies to the piece). I also feel that the performance should connect to the audience. Lastly, no matter your background in competitive success (Even if you are a national champion) I rank to what your current in round performance shows me.

I am open to any argument, as long as it makes sense and is backed up with evidence. The tagline must be what the card actually says.

In rounds, my main pet peeve is unclear tag lines. Be sure that you clearly enunciate the tagline if you want me to take it into account.

For critiques and theoretical arguments, make sure you clearly explain both the argument and its implications.

I try to be open-minded and fair about any arguments presented.

I have a B.F.A in Acting from University of Houston. I also studied Montessori education at Houston Montessori Center and am a teaching member of the American Montessori Society. I worked in Montessori education for 25 years. I also provide private coaching in acting and public speaking for students.

I have judged speech and forensics for almost 6 years. What is most important to me is that you have a positive, enriching educational experience through your participation in speech and debate.

In regards to debate, be respectful to one another. If your opponent is overly aggressive and rude, do not respond with attitude. This will cost both of you speaker points. I also think it is important to use all your time in cx if you do not it shows me you are not prepared. I am fine with spreading but remember to articulate.I consider myself to be a policy maker and tab. judge. Have fun and good luck.

RULE #1 DON'T BE AN JERK. If you have to ask me whether something counts as being a jerk, it probably does. Be assertive. Be confident. But don't be an asshole. Bringing up new arguments too late in the debate counts as being a jerk.

My background:

I competed in LD, Congress, and Extemp in high school (07-11) in Mississippi. Some PF thrown in there. In undergrad, I did IPDA. I have judged at every opportunity since graduating high school. For a short while, I was the coach at the start-up team at Great Hearts Classical School in Irving. I am no longer affiliated with that school.

Housekeeping/Logistics

-Please do not time your opponent’s speeches. Time yourself, by all means. I will be timing both of you, including prep, so I can give good feedback on how you used your time. I will stop flowing if they go over time. Leave that to me. If your timer goes off during your opponent’s speech, I will hold that against YOU.

- I will give you a signal when you have 15 seconds left. Don’t be alarmed; I’m in no rush. I just want to be prepared in case your timer died, you haven’t thought to look at it, etc. I don’t mind giving additional time signals upon request.

- You can include me in the email chain for your case/sources, but YOU are responsible for defending your sources’ credibility and challenging your opponent’s.

General Paradigms (LD, Extemp, Congress, PF)

This is fundamentally an educational event. I’m a teacher. You are students. Show me you LEARNED something that will translate outside of this activity. Such as . . .

Communication – It doesn’t have to be flowery, but it does need to be clear. I value concise communication and knowing what to emphasize.

Critical Thinking – don’t just throw a bunch of cards at me and expect me to be impressed. Anyone can read cards someone else on their team found. Analyze the claims of the sources and of your opponent. Does it all depend on a faulty assumption or a leap of logic? Is this person creating a false dichotomy? Are you really listening to and responding to your opponent’s arguments, or are you putting them in a box and creating a straw man? Show me you know how to think through this topic like a rational human, like a future voter and participant in public discourse.

Research skills – Not all evidence is created equal. In 2021, information literacy is an invaluable skill. Show me you can analyze a source. Anyone with a search engine can find an “expert opinion” that states whatever they want it to. That doesn’t mean research is worthless. It does mean you have to show discernment about what sources are valuable. Is it a peer-reviewed, data-driven, meta-analysis, or some assistant professor saying something inflammatory in a letter to the editor? Real world case studies > hypothetical talk. For ethical/philosophical sources, it doesn’t all have to be empirical. In fact, it shouldn’t. Even then, appeal to authority is still a fallacy. Why do they claim what they claim? Good debaters always ask why.

Social science – have you actually learned a decent bit about this topic, or just some talking points? Can you think about this in a dynamic way (what would happen if . . . ?) Have you really taken the time to understand the international relations, the economics, sociology, psychology, history, or philosophy that informs this discussion? In short, did you learn?

Also, no matter how good of a speaker you are, no matter how thorough your research, no matter how cutting your rebuttals, I’m not voting for a bully. Firm and assertive is fine, but if you compromise the civility of these events, you lose my vote. Period.

Lincoln-Douglas Paradigms

I don’t penalize spreading, but you lose the opportunity to get points for eloquence and communication. Spreading to fit in more important analysis, I don’t mind. Spreading to fit in more filler to pad your weak case – you’re making my hand cramp for nothing. Better to make one point well than five poorly. If you can do five well, be my guest. It is your responsibility to make yourself understood. Please signpost and emphasize taglines.

I don’t have one argument that I absolutely penalize. I’m open to anything and enjoy seeing unconventional approaches. However, as I said, I value YOUR education. Making an important point about restorative justice is better for your brain and your future than making a meta-debate point no one outside our activity would understand.

Should you focus on Value-Criterion framework or Contentions and Impacts? Depends on the topic and round. Plea bargaining? You both value justice. Who achieves it? If it is one of the myriad liberty vs. safety issues, it’s ALL about the value & criterion framework. Don’t compare constitutional rights with “According to Office of Management and Budget . . . .” That’s apples to oranges.

Congress Paradigms

I want to see some deeper arguments than your uncle’s ramblings on Facebook, something that is based on evidence, not partisanship.

Every speech should bring up something new about the bill. Either bring up a new point or forward what has been said by rebutting others. If you took a speech from someone else who had an original point just to restate what others have said, you have actively made the chamber a worse place.

Know your economic principles. Talk to me about supply and demand, unintended consequences, social mobility. Don’t just quote figures if you don’t understand them.

I also want to see real foreign policy analysis, not just “things are bad here – someone should do something!” Tell me why this intervention will or won’t work.

The more long-term your arguments, the better.

In terms of parliamentary procedure, I want to see a smooth chamber that prioritizes civility and in-depth discussion. Don’t trample on anyone to get in another speech or question. It will not win you any points in my book. If you want to suspend the rules, etc, follow proper parliamentary procedure, not just handshake agreements.

I like P.O.’s who anticipate the pitfalls they have seen in other chambers and take steps to prevent them. I also respect your right and privilege to address the chamber on the nature of the conversation.

Public Forum Paradigms

PF isn't policy. It was created specifically for lay judges. I can flow spreading well enough to judge, and I can follow technical jargon, but in PF, that won't win you any points. More than any other event, I reward rhetoric and persuasion. Especially in the final speeches, don't feel like you have to go point by point down the flow. Step back, tell me the main issues.

I like to see CX that creates real clash. Don't be afraid of confrontation, but don't turn it into a rebuttal. I want to see in CX where the real clash is.

In Congress, follow NSDA rules in speeches and questioning. If your speech is the second or third add or beg, make sure you articulating a new point or giving significant evidence to further the add/ neg case. Do not preface in questioning, if you have new information, give a speech rather than ask a question. Questions should only be one part, the goal is to unpack what the speaker just said.

In Events involving research, verbal citations of unknown authors should include some context for why that author may be an authority, verbal citations of known news sources should include an author or year for context. Make sure you are using information ethically, and not magnifying or misrepresenting the claims you make about the data that you cite.

Spread only if the speed you use also allows for enough enunciation that I can understand. I can keep up, but only if I can comprehend.

I believe in traditional debate. In LD, everything is about the V/VC construct and should apply to it. I don't really care about definition debate unless it is absolutely vital. Observations don't really matter to me unless both sides agree to them.

In, PF I try to take the position of a typical citizen judge and base "my knowledge" only on what you tell me in the round and not what I already know. Civility is still important in cross-examination so it is important to remember that with me.

In Policy, I am least familiar, so I base everything on my flow and which side has the most arguments standing by the end of the debate. Also, and I know it may be unusual, but I do care if the plan actually makes sense because I can't vote for it if it doesn't.

I don't listen to parenthetical documentation as a source. What does that mean anyway???

hi, its Shannon Ehrmann's debater writing this paradigm to make it easier for people to pref

Quick prefs:

1 - Larp

Strike/Pref Low - Everything else

understands larp, probably best if you go slow i.e. lay

can definitely understand if you go quicker i.e. spread, just slow down on the taglines, when switching flows, and pls pls add analytics on the email chain if you can

but overall just go slow - thats your best bet to get the ballot

make logical arguments, extend warrants clearly, truth ov tech,

email chain: shannon.ehrmann@apsb.org

Good luck!

LD Paradigm

I am a parent judge and usually judge speech. I did compete in LD (albeit 30+ years ago).

If you have me for LD, to win the round:

• peak clearly and not too fast (don’t spread),
• flag unanswered/dropped arguments,
• connect your arguments to your value criterion, especially in the NR/2AR,
• follow up your winning XC admissions or points in the subsequent rebuttals.
• More often than not, debates come down to values and clever arguments, rather than evidence. Reading long cards of evidence is tedious - while artfully turning your opponent's evidence to support your own case is sublime.

I competed in college in Policy Debate [so long ago- melting polar ice caps was an unlikely impact :(] and was a DSR*TKA National Champion in Duo. I was a litigation attorney for 14 years. Since 2011 I have coached high school speech and debate for Christ Episcopal School. We primarily compete on our local circuit.

Please clash directly with your opponent's argument, tell me what is at stake, what I am weighing, and impact your case out. I prefer "calm and fast" to a rapid- fire breathless diatribe; in other words, speed is fine IF I can understand you AND take a few notes. If I am not writing during the constructives- you are going too fast. I like clear voters with a good summary.

I try to come to the debate as a blank slate and will consider anything, but I have heard few kritiks that impressed me; maybe I just don't get them. I am more open to topicality/ fairness because I am primarily interested in reasoned debate on the topic than in gamesmanship.

I like respectful debate, especially when the round is lopsided; points for graciousness. Kill with kindness and be ethical with your evidence and in stating what was/wasn't said/dropped by your opponent.

The quality of the evidence matters to me, but you have to make it an issue. If you want me to vote off of a dropped argument, tell me why it matters.

Be prepared, be ethical, have fun-

NO SPREADING 

1. Articulate your argument

2. Listen to your opponent

3. think on your feet

4. attack the speech not the speaker

Returning to debate after years (ok, decades) absence. I come mainly from a professional theatre, then theatre teacher background. Communicating effectively is of utmost importance for me. Variation, eye contact, sign posts all indicate that you are in control of your material.

I want to hear your argument not read it. I am NOT a fan of spreading. If I cannot hear your argument, it i very difficult for me to vote for your argument. I also do not consider jargon an effective tool in argument; your argument should stand on its own merits

Be sharp of mind, precise of speech, kind of heart

Quick paradigm- I feel I am strongest in judging interpretation. I enjoy Informative and Oratory speeches as this gives me an opportunity to learn what is important to the performer. My least favorite event to judge is extemporaneous as I am not well versed in politics.

Greetings everyone! My name is Timothy Huth and I'm the director of forensics at The Bronx High School of Science in New York City. I am excited to judge your round! Considering you want to spend the majority of time prepping from when pairings are released and not reading my treatise on debate, I hope you find this paradigm "cheat sheet" helpful in your preparation.

2023 TOC Congress Update

Congratulations on qualifying to the 2023 TOC! It's a big accomplishment to be here in this room and all of you are to be commended on your dedication and success. My name is Timothy Huth and I'm the director at Bronx Science. I have judged congress a lot in the past, including two TOC final rounds, but I have found myself judging more PF and Policy in recent years. To help you prepare, here's what I would like to see in the round:

Early Speeches -- If you are the sponsor or early speaker, make sure that I know the key points that should be considered for the round. If you can set the parameters of the discourse of the debate, you will probably have a good chance of ranking high on my ballot.

Middle Speeches -- Refute, advance the debate, and avoid rehash, obviously. However, this doesn't mean you can't bring up a point another debater has already said, just extend it and warrant your point with new evidence or with a new perspective. I often find these speeches truly interesting and you can have a good chance of ranking high on my ballot.

Late speeches -- I think a good crystallization speech can be the best opportunity to give an amazing speech during the round. To me, a good crystal speech is one of the hardest speeches to give. This means that a student who can crystal effectively can often rank 1st or 2nd on my ballot. This is not always the case, of course, but it really is an impressive speech.

Better to speak early or late for your ballot? It really doesn't matter for me. Wherever you are selected to speak by the PO, do it well, and you will have a great chance of ranking on my ballot. One thing -- I think a student who can show diversity in their speaking ability is impressive. If you speak early on one bill, show me you can speak later on the next bill and the skill that requires.

What if I only get one speech? Will I have any chance to rank on your ballot? Sometimes during the course of a congress round, some students are not able to get a second speech or speak on every bill. I try my very best to evaluate the quality of a speech versus quantity. To me, there is nothing inherently better about speaking more or less in a round. However, when you get the chance to speak, question, or engage in the round, make the most of it. I have often ranked students with one speech over students who spoke twice, so don't get down. Sometimes knowing when not to speak is as strategic as knowing when to speak.

Questioning matters to me. Period. I am a big fan of engaging in the round by questioning. Respond to questions strongly after you speak and ask questions that elicit concessions from your fellow competitors. A student who gives great speeches but does not engage fully in questioning throughout the round stands little chance of ranking high on my ballot.

The best legislator should rank first. Congress is an event where the best legislator should rank first. This means that you have to do more than just speak well, or refute well, or crystal well, or question well. You have to engage in the "whole debate." To me, what this means is that you need to speak and question well, but also demonstrate your knowledge of the rules of order and parliamentary procedure. This is vital for the PO, but competitors who can also demonstrate this are positioning themselves to rank highly on my ballot.

Have fun! Remember, this activity is a transformative and life changing activity, but it's also fun! Enjoy the moment because you are at THE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS! It's awesome to be here and don't forget to show the joy of the moment. Good luck to everyone!

2023 - Policy Debate Update

I have judged many debates across all events except for policy debate. You should consider me a newer policy judge and debate accordingly. Here are some general thoughts to consider as you prepare for the round:

Add me to the email chain: My email is huth@bxscience.edu.

Non-Topical Arguments: I am unlikely to understand Ks or non-topical arguments. I DO NOT have an issue with these arguments on principle, but I will not be able to evaluate the round to the level you would expect or prefer.

Topicality: I am not experienced with topicality policy debates. If you decide to run these arguments, I cannot promise that I will make a decision you will be satisfied with, but I will do my best.

Line-by-line: Please move methodically through the flow and tell me the order before begin your speech.

Judge Instruction: In each rebuttal speech, please tell me how to evaluate your arguments and why I should be voting for you. My goal is to intervene as little as possible.

Speed: Please slow down substantially on tags and analytics. You can probably spread the body of the card but you must slow down on the tags and analytics in order for me to understand your arguments. Do not clip cards. I will know if you do.

PF Paradigm - Please see the following for my Public Forum paradigm.

Add me to the email chain: My email is huth@bxscience.edu.

Cheat sheet:

General overview FOR PUBLIC FORUM

Experience: I've judged PF TOC finals-X------------------------------------------------- I've never judged

Tech over truth: Tech -------x------------------------------------------- Truth

Comfort with PF speed: Fast, like policy fast ---------x--------------------------------------- lay judge speed

Theory in PF: Receptive to theory ------x------------------------------ not receptive to theory

Some general PF thoughts from Crawford Leavoy, director of Durham Academy in North Carolina. I agree with the following very strongly:

- The world of warranting in PF is pretty horrific. You must read warrants. There should be tags. I should be able to flow them. They must be part of extensions. If there are no warrants, they aren't tagged or they aren't extended - then that isn't an argument anymore. It's a floating claim.

- You can paraphrase. You can read cards. If there is a concern about paraphrasing, then there is an entire evidence procedure that you can use to resolve it. But arguments that "paraphrasing is bad" seems a bit of a perf con when most of what you are reading in cut cards is...paraphrasing.

- Notes on disclosure: Sure. Disclosure can be good. It can also be bad. However, telling someone else that they should disclose means that your disclosure practices should be very good. There is definitely a world where I am open to counter arguments about the cases you've deleted from the wiki, your terrible round reports, and your disclosure of first and last only.

Now, back to my thoughts. Here is the impact calculus that I try to use in the round:

Weigh: Comparative weighing x----------------------------------------------- Don't weigh

Probability: Highly probable weighing x----------------------------------------------- Not probable

Scope: Affecting a lot of people -----------x------------------------------------ No scope

Magnitude: Severity of impact -------------------------x----------------------- Not a severe impact

(One word about magnitude: I have a very low threshold for responses to high magnitude, low probability impacts. Probability weighing really matters for my ballot)

Quick F.A.Q:

Defense in first summary? Depends if second rebuttal frontlines, if so, then yes, I would expect defense in first summary.

Offense? Any offense you want me to vote on should be in either case or rebuttal, then both summary and final focus.

Flow on paper or computer? I flow on paper, every time, to a fault. Take that for what you will. I can handle speed, but clarity is always more important than moving fast.

What matters most to get your ballot? Easy: comparative weighing. Plain and simple.

I think you do this by first collapsing in your later speeches. Boil it down to 2-3 main points. This allows for better comparative weighing. Tell me why your argument matters more than your opponents. The team that does this best will 99/100 times get my ballot. The earlier this starts to happen in your speeches, the better.

Overviews: Do it! I really like them. I think they provide a framework for why I should prefer your world over your opponent's world. Doing this with carded evidence is even better.

Signpost: It's very easy to get lost when competitors go wild through the flow. You must be very clear and systematic when you are moving through the flow. I firmly believe that if I miss something that you deem important, it's your fault, not mine. To help with this, tell me where you are on the flow. Say things like...

"Look to their second warrant on their first contention, we turn..."

Clearly state things like links, turns, extensions, basically everything! Tell me where you are on the flow.

Also, do not just extend tags, extend the ideas along with the tags. For example:

"Extend Michaels from the NYTimes that stated that a 1% increase in off shore drilling leads to a..."

Evidence: I like rigorous academic sources: academic journals and preeminent news sources (NYT, WashPo, etc.). You can paraphrase, but you should always tell me the source and year.

Theory in PF: I'm growing very receptive to it, but it really should be used to check back against abuse in round.

Pronouns: I prefer he/him/his and I kindly ask that you respect your opponents preferred gender pronoun.

Speed: Slow down, articulate/enunciate, and inflect - no monotone spreading, bizarre breathing patterns, or foot-stomping. I will say "slow" and/or "clear," but if I have to call out those words more than twice in a speech, your speaks are going to suffer. I'm fine with debaters slowing or clearing their opponents if necessary. I think this is an important check on ableism in rounds. This portion on speed is credited to Chetan Hertzig, head coach of Harrison High School (NY). I share very similar thoughts regarding speed and spreading.

Hello, I’m Khalil Jackson! In high school, I mainly competed in Congressional Debate but have some experience in all debate events. This paradigm applies to all debates.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Keep me in the loop on file sharing (kjspeechanddebate@gmail.com), and make your subject lines specific. I will only flow what I comprehend in round, but I will go through the files if I was thrown off track or need to double-check something.

I am not not too good with speed, especially being so far removed from debate. So, try to maintain a relatively normal speaking pace, if possible. If you want to speed up, we can try it out. I will be forgiving when it comes to clarity and will notify you of it as often as it takes. When signposting, let me know which arguments are especially important and weigh it when you get there. Fewer, more-developed arguments are preferred.

I am more than willing to listen to any arguments or approaches to your side of the resolution. However, assume that I am not familiar with the literature or your arguments. You need to be intentional about what you say and how you tie it together. So, I will not piece together what went unsaid, and I will not vote for you if your arguments are unclear.

I am generally substance over procedure, truth over tech, but that is not a hard and fast rule. I am willing to vote for anything that is well-explained.

I have a habit of giving non-verbal cues, but do not mistake them as an indication that I agree with you. They only indicate that I understand the point you are trying to make, not necessarily that I buy what you are saying.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Here are some of the ways you can lose the round immediately:

- Being deceitful by clipping cards, falsifying evidence or any number of shady things

- Being rude or disrespectful to me or anyone else

- Being racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, etc. in any way shape or form

I try not to intervene but will do so if I am invited to, like being asked to read evidence or if I feel that bad behavior is taking place.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions or concerns before round!

I did debate the entirety of high school. Focused on LD but also did PF, Big Questions, Congress, and World Schools at different points. Also did interp and my main focus was speech. Was state semi-finalist and national qualifier in debates.

Both speaking and debate are important to me- speak well so I understand your points.

Please do not get overly caught up in debate style but instead focus on the actual topics at hand. If there is a MAJOR issue, sure point it out, but most other technical issues I will catch anyway.

Do not be rude/condescending to your opponents. This is a fun activity, and I know it can get heated, but being rude won't make me vote for you. Anything racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise discriminatory is not accepted.

Have strong links between evidence and logic. Highlight your impact. I don't care how much evidence you have if you don't tell me why it matters.

Speaker points are determined by clarity, professionalism, and overall contribution to the debate.

LD:

- Don't forget to argue value and criterion, but it also shouldn't be the only thing you argue

- Please do not try to make LD into Policy. They are separate events. Don't spread.

PF:

- Do not become overly stylized or complex. Anyone should be able to understand your arguments without prior knowledge.

I'm primarily a lay/local circuit judge. I value judge instruction and greatly appreciate judge adaptation.

To add me on email chain: jenpecasting@gmail.com

Minimize spreading.

No rude/offensive behavior, please.

I prefer quality argument(s) over quantity.

Please weigh.

I don't vote for arguments I don't understand. Slow down on theory and analytics. Feel free to over-explain.

Welcome back and I'm glad to be back for another year.  Here is my updated paradigm.  This has general information and then items specific to LD

PERSONAL:

I have been a coach for 22 years and I have judged all forms of speech and debate.  This means I am pretty open to any time of argument. I will go with what I hear in the round and will not input myself into the debate.  I am a judge, not a competitor so I will not inject myself into the debate.  You don't need to send me your case.  I only want to judge what I hear, not what I can read.  So while I am okay with speed and I can handle spreading, only use spreading in Policy.

DEBATE:

Don't be condescending in your cross ex. Acting like you don't care about the answer the other person gave or interrupting them before they get the answer out is not okay. If you wanted a shorter answer then ask a more succinct question. All debates need to clash. I don't want to only hear prepared speeches on both sides. Show me that you are listening to what the other person/team is saying and advance the debate.

LD

I am definitely more traditional than progressive but I will listen to progressive arguments IF they still fall under the philosophical ideas of LD. I do not want to hear a plan or use the motion as the plan text. That doesn't do anything for me. Don't use a K to avoid debating. That's not what debate is about.  I WILL NOT vote on disclosure theory so don't take the time to run it.  That is not debating the topic but finding a way to not have to debate.  Otherwise, I will listen to Ks, Ts, Disads, etc if they are relevant to the debate. If you don't have a V and a VC, you won't get the win from me!  

Also, I am creating this paradigm for you so don't ask me about other items before the round. Everything else is fair game as long as it is done well! Address the resolution and give me reasons for your claims. I don't need to be on your email chain. Also, I do not disclose unless required to and it will be brief. As a coach, I want the coaching to come from me and not the judges.  As I said earlier, I am not here to relive my competitive days so I won't explain all that I am thinking.  

Good luck!

I teach rhetorical analysis and argumentation; consequently, I carry that awareness with me in my judging. I do my best not to let prior knowledge impact my opinion of arguments.

In judging LD, I concentrate on the values and contentions; I am more excepting of far-reaching contentions as long as you can make the connections. Definitions aren't everything, but I like to know which ones you are using; subtle differences matter. My focus will be on the actual argument, the claims and rebuttals, and the crosses in the debate. I find "arguments" that rely on exhorting the rules of the process to be disingenuous.

In PF, I appreciate seeing a cohesiveness in the team. I focus on the structure of the argument, are adequate supports provided, and is everything rebutted. Again, I do my best not to let prior knowledge impact my decision. Unnecessary speaking over each other and attempting to drown each other out is uncivilized and irritating. It also works against following your argument.

In Policy, I am looking for a logical argument that should pass, and for the negation, I am comfortable with nearly all on-topic and off-topic measures. I do find continuous definition attacks to be pedantic. As for spread, not an issue. I have clear hearing and have taught English to non-native speakers, so enunciation is not really an issue.

Joshua D Rogers Paradigm

B.A. Classics, Ph.D. Linguistics

Director of Forensics & Latin Teacher - Presbyterian Christian High School (Hattiesburg, MS)

Forensics Head Coach - William Carey University

Experience:

Oratory and Communication experience in High School

Discourse and Communication theory in Undergrad and Graduate work

Teaching Speech and Debate since 2015

Basic Judging Paradigm:

I will judge the flow

I want substantive arguments and clash

Weigh your impacts at the end

Bad sportsmanship leads to reduction of points

Don't talk down to the judge

Public Forum: Give evidence, cite, analyze - don't just restate claims three ways. I encourage Neg, don't just rebut, build a world in which you can win.

Lincoln Douglas/Policy:

I attempt to be tabula rasa, but when no decision-rule calculus is provided, I default to understanding and applying morality arguments. I tend to see the debate in an offense/defense paradigm.

I default to competing interpretations on Topicality, and reasonability on all theory. If you define value and criteria, stay with your parameters.

I am fine with speed, but clarity is key.

I particularly enjoy critical debate with strong theoretical argument and links, but just citing them without showing how they apply will not help you out.

I would like to be on your email chain (jdrogers @wmcarey.edu) so I can look at cards that you reference in cross-examination, though I will still judge the flow.

LD Note: Impacting your arguments in a practical way is 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.

Policy: I like to hear clash on evidence. Evaluate evidence since you have it in front of you. But more important, outline and build a plan. Explain how and why it works.

Don't give me outrageous impacts, we all know the world COULD end. Show how the plan results in impact, not just slippery slope.

Neg feel free to build Kritic if you can, always enjoyable; but must be applicable and the links should be strong.

I would like to be on your email chain (jdrogers @wmcarey.edu) so I can look at cards that you reference in cross-examination.

Experience:

I am somewhat new to judging debate. I performed in speech in high school and I am a performer so rhetoric and persuasive appeal does play a big role with me, please show me that you are confident about your case, even if you’re not. That being said, I do want to take the role seriously and I have done what I could to prepare for it in recognition of your hard work in preparation for debate. Of course I don’t need to tell you that good sportsmanship and professionalism are of the utmost importance.

Expectations:

1. Please do not spread. This just loses my attention in your debate and I will just vote for the person from whom I caught the most thoughts/ideas. Help walk me through your arguments and make sure I hear them: evidence and rebuttals. It would be helpful if you sent me your case: saylorw@gosaints.org

2. Avoid progressive arguments unless you are 100% comfortable and prepared to defend them.

3. During rebuttal/final focus be specific with why you think you won and your opponent lost. This really stands out to me.

Hi!
I am a lay parent judge who is very new to debate, I was a speech judge for several years so make so to talk clearly.

Couple of key things

1. Don't be rude or mean to opponents, debate is an educational safe space. 2. No spreading!! I understand the need to go fast but make sure you can be understood or else it's simply counterproductive. 3. Make sure to CRYSTALLIZE and WEIGH and produce a few key voters, really TELL ME why I should be voting on your side! 4. Have fun!