High School Debate/Forensics – Shawnee Heights (2014-2018)

College Policy Debate (NDT/CEDA) – Wichita State (2018-2022)

Previous Assistant Debate and Forensics Coach at W. East and W. Southeast

Current Head Debate/Forensics Coach at Wichita Southeast High School

Email: kaylab222@gmail.com

I like clean, organized, and well thought out debates that focus more on the depth of the arguments. I also value and reward teams that engage in high levels of clash and attack the warrants of the evidence. I am a policy centric judge, that has coached all types of debate styles. That being said, do what you are comfortable with. However, I am best in debates that revolve around some sort of policy or plan. The best way to win my ballot is doing clean line-by-line and explain why the weight of your arguments matter more than that of the opposing team.

When debating on the affirmative, what I look for is a team that can articulate a story about what the plan is, how the plan solves, and what the advantage of the plan is. I am noticing more and more in debate rounds that teams are not extending each part of the AFF, with explanations of all the moving parts. Even if the neg does not respond to a part of the aff, your job as the aff is to still extend that argument if you want to keep it viable.

If you are going to read topicality, there are a few things to consider. First, I am a judge that is a sucker for in round abuse. Even if you have to bait them into giving you the link on your ground/limit’s arguments, it is something that I am willing to vote on.

I love a good CP/Net Ben/DA Debate. This is the debate I am probably the most comfortable in, and the best judge for. The only thing I ask for in this type of debate is for the negative to explain how the CP solves the link on the DA/Net Ben, I am not going to be this gracious and do the work for you.

I don’t have a preference on whether teams go for theory or topicality. The biggest thing I look for in these types of debates are 3 things: 1. Proven in-round abuse, I don’t really care for the hypotheticals of “well this could happen” I want to know why the other team violated the rules so egregiously that it made this debate impossible for you to win. 2. Voters, this is something that is being overlooked and I am not sure why. Tell me how and why I should evaluate this argument in the context of the debate. 3. On topicality, I am more apt to vote for T if there is some version of a TVA – especially if you make an argument as to how the tva solves the advantages.

I don’t have much thought on K Debate, well-articulated links and solvency is what I look for in a K debate. I am not the most familiar with K literature, so please make sure to articulate any complex components of solvency or any buzz words.

Other niche thoughts, be nice to people, don’t steal prep, please signpost, analytics is not a part of a roadmap (what are the analytics about?), and have fun.

Questions? Ask me before the round.

My name's Adelle, I debated policy for NYU in novice, jv and open divisions running mostly performance and k args. I was a speech kid in high school, so when I came to college I decided to see how the other half lives.

Preferences: I don't love voting on existential scenarios. Your framework should check throughout your arguments, I think perfcon is a voter. If you run theory don't just rattle off your blocks, contextualize. When extending ev, don't just read, engage: dates, author credentials, sources are all meaningful and can help immensely in a close round.

Speaker Points: Fluency and engaging speaking style are key here. I appreciate personality! You can spread, but be mindful about your enunciation and speed - I should still be able to understand every word you are saying.

PF/LD: Don't be shifty with evidence, have sources downloaded before the round and ready to share if prompted.

Above all, be respectful. Debate is a game but in round we still implicate ourselves in the rhetoric we use and the arguments we make.

My email is adelle.fernando@gmail.com if you would like to include me in the email chain or if you have any questions.

No talking fast.  No philosophical contentions.  No citing philosophers as evidence.  Persuade me with your excellent public speaking skills and a little bit of empirical evidence.