Monticello Invitational
2020 — Online, VA/US
Public Forum Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideContact Info
Email: joshadebateemail@gmail.com (please add me to the email chain) w/ Tournament Name: School Name (Aff) vs School Name (Neg)
Pronouns: He/Him
Currently: One of the assistant coaches at Dulles HS and I Coach a few other kids.
Background (Updated For 2023-2024 Season)
I am a current Freshman at Rice University & I graduated from Challenge Early College High School w/an extremely small and underfunded debate program. I've been part of the activity for a while and want to give back to the community. I've tried every format at least once, and I am a progressive debater who started off traditional who has made it to a few BID Rounds, including Emory & Stanford, qualified to TFA State 2x and made it octos, qualed to UIL State for Congress and LD a bunch of times, etc.
I have taught at camps such as TDC & NSD
*I Specialize in Non-T Afropess, Afro Opt, Afro-Futurism, Performance, Cap, Security, etc. (K debater things) but started off stock/lay/traditional and understand Policy args well.
Conflicts
Institutions: Frank Black Middle School; Heights HS; Challenge Early College HS; Dulles HS
Individual Debaters: Carnegie Vanguard KF; Garland LA; & St John TI
TLDR: What I don't like
1) If you are running identity args and you don't identify with that identity i.e afropess, queerpess, feminism and you say "I" and "We" when you don't know the struggle
2) Promoting racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, lack of necessary content warnings, etc.
3) Rudeness- I understand aggression, but I am not a big fan if you are mean to others in the round. Debate rounds can cause anxiety, and people are human... remember that. Rudeness will not lose you the round, but I will tank your speaks- and if someone runs an IVI or a DTD warrant because of something said I will evaluate it.
TLDR: What I Like/Can Evaluate Better (Prefs)
*Tech>Truth*
K (T or Non-T) -1
Stock/Policy- 1
Theory- 2
Phil (High Phil is more of a 3)-2-3
Tricks- 4-5
LD & CX Specific
DA's, Larp, Stock, Lay, Stock, General Debate =)
This is what I started with. I'm cool with it! Just make sure to do the important things like:
[A] Weigh impacts and clearly delineate what arguments you are gaining offense from- if you are Aff my vote is dependent on offense, while for the Neg if the DA's/Disadvantages are great or the offense o/w the Aff- then you get my vote-pretty straightforward
[B] Defense is not sticky- please extend down the flow. I'm a lot more lenient for novices, but if your opponent does it proficiently, I will address
[C] I love evidence comparison- if you indict the author or what the card is saying, I am less likely to evaluate that card in the round- which will severely harm their link chain.
[D] Run whatever args you want and have fun- I'll vote on anything. I will evaluate extinction first and against K Affs I think its a good strat to go for.
Theory:
I default to competing interps, no rvi's and drop the debater on shells read against advocacies/entire positions and drop the argument, reasonability against all other types or friv shells.
I'm ok with using theory as a strategic tool but the sillier the shell the lower the threshold I have for responses. Please weigh and slow down for interps and short analytic arguments.
I personally did not disclose on the wiki because I believe it to be AB, thus, my threshold for disclosure is a lot lower. That being said, I have read different forms of disclosure and lost rounds to it where I have agreed with the RFD. I won't rule out disclosure and have no issue voting on it; just know I won't vote off of like a "small school prep" arg as a gg issue right away unless conceded.
Theory v Theory: Metaweighing is extremely important here and I have a good understanding of these debates- but they were never my prime strat. Please do the work for me-but I will my best to evaluate.
Kritiks & TFW/Topicality
K vs. Framework (TFW) - I don't default any way. I will buy debate bad args and impact turns. P-Fox & Chao helped me out a lot with this- so review their paradigm to understand how I lean
K vs Anything Else- Again, love the K! But just know that I will not hack for them. I did a lot of work with the K's, but also a lot of workIN ROUNDfor my wins with the K. Also, I personally enjoyed spectating other rounds that were not the K, as they were more interesting for me- thus I love the K, but will not hesitate to give people who think I'm a K hack the L
Non T Aff's/K Affs- LOVE THEM! Be careful though, as running Non-T Aff's against really young, inexperienced debaters will get me frustrated. Also, as a person who ran a lot of Non-T Aff's and watches a lot of Non-T performance rounds, I would be careful being lazy around me in regards to this.
*Also if you are running a K or a K Aff please LBL TFW and extinction first warrants. Its okay to impact turn and give top-level/an overview on these arguments- but I've noticed that debaters drop key warranting on TFW and extinction first that controls the IL to Aff offense or just indicts the reading of the K in the first place
**Please do not spread/blitz through your long pre-written overviews. While they do extend offense I often find them very incoherent and if they are not extrapolated to anything on the flow then it makes it hard to include and integrate them into the RFD. If you are reading an overview explain why its key (which I assume you already do) and contextualize it to the important things in the round.
Phil
I do not have the most experience going for Phil, but I have read a decent amount of it and have found myself in the back of many rounds for it.
Be sure to explain the syllogisms as I have a limited understanding of different Phil Authors (especially ones that have similar but slightly different theories to other more universal Phil authors).
Explain the TJFs- I also think that Permissibility negates but be sure to warrant it in the 1N.
Tricks (LD Specific)
I am personally not the biggest fan- I think they're a bad model of debate and are AB, but I will consider them if they are warranted and explained EXTREMELY WELL THROUGHOUT THE ROUND.
[A] Again- I will evaluate tricks but my threshold for responding to them is extremely low
[B] When I say explain it well- I don't mean just spend like 10 secs on it. You probably need to spend a solid 20-30 secs on it and why its a voting issue
[C] Tricks are ever-evolving and you honestly can make them out of any concept. Thus, don't expect me to know what the trick is
[D] I have thought about this and I WILL NOT BUY "EVAL AFTER X Speech"- I find this really dumb and I just refuse to vote on it.
[E] Identity Tricks- My threshold for evaluating them are similar to my threshold to regular tricks- make sure you warrant out the trick and give it offense independent of the AC/NC. If it is not, then I will by any takeouts of substance and cross apply it to the trick. (i.e., IF "X" Identity Trick is similar to "Y" Argument like Case ontology/thesis- then if you end up losing Case ontology/thesis, then you lose the trick).
Round Logistics
[1] Rehighlites- If you are re-highlighting, please read the highlighted text of the card
[2] Speaks IVI's- I have thought about this for a bit and came to a conclusion- If you ask for 30 speaks and you did not do anything to deserve the 30 speaks in round... you will not get it. I am sympathetic to certain situations, and if you give me a good reason for 30 speaks and have a clean round- then you got yourself a deal.
[3] Hitting a Novice- If you are hitting a Novice, here's my advice- run what you want to run (you shouldn't be limited on running certain arguments, just BCS of skill level), but don't be excessive and abusive. I think 1-2 offs (maybe 3 depending on event and skill level) is more than sufficient and you should take to time to explain arguments that they might not understand. Being abusive in round will not give you an L- but will make me super happy to TANK YOUR SPEAKS.
General Strategy:
I will slightly pay attention to Cross, but will not flow it (probably just take some notes for clarification). If it is important just make sure to flag me and BRING IT UP IN THE SPEECH.
Speaker Points: will start at 29 and will move up or down depending on your strategy- if you ask, I probably will disclose speaks and if you have any questions on how it could've improved just ask.
If you are below a 29- (28.7-28.9) Then I think the round was pretty good- but you might go 3-3 at a tournament
If they are 29.1-29.3 Then I think you did a good job and have a decent shot at breaking
If you are a 29.4-29.7 Then I enjoyed the round, thought it was good, but some strategic things had to be fixed
If you are 28.8-30 Then I thought it was a really good debate- and your strat was either extremely good or peerfect
Personal Belief:
I agree with people such as Zion Dixon, Leah Yeshitila, Patrick Fox, Issac Chao, Becca Traber, & Chris Castillo.
Taken from Leah: https://www.tabroom.com/index/paradigm.mhtml?judge_person_id=155571
Debate is not a game. Debate has material impacts on those who engage in it, especially POC. Please be mindful that debate is sometimes some debater’s only option when it comes to funding college or having a platform to speak freely. Also, it’s just not unreasonable to consider how it can be a game for some and not for others. You have a high threshold to prove to me why it is (hint: maybe find better, more strategic T shells, friend)
World Schools Specific
A] Make sure to defend your burdens and clearly explain to me why you have won the round based on those burdens
B] I will be keeping track of POI(s) so make sure to reasonably answer about 2 each speech if you are hit with POIs
C] My speaks are somewhat generous. First Speakers- just offer persuasion with the speech; Second Speakers- Make sure to clearly restate your burdens and how you are gaining offense from them as well as offer strong responses; Third Speaker- clearly crystalize the round and what lens I should be looking at it from; Reply Speaker- Please don't offer new points as that will most likely not persuade my vote in any way- just bring it home and if the speakers before did their job it should be all good.
Public Forum Specific
Weigh and clearly delineate what offense you are garnering coming out of each speech. I am a big fan of evidence comparison, weighing, and uplayering. If you do a huge Ethos push in your last speeches and you are not contextualizing the claims to any args in the round then I probably will still down you.
If you wondering if you can run any other args like K's, Theory, etc (More Policy and LD-specific things), reference the above things on my paradigm.
If you decide to run any progressive args (K, Theory, Etc. and your opponent has no idea what it is (In PF)- my threshold for them answering it is a lot lower and if you are extremely abusive with it- i.e running 2 or 3 off when you don't have to- then I will probably tank your speaks.
Speaking Events (Specific)
Just speak good- I had a lot of teammates participate in speaking events and while I have never done them I sat with them at practice and had a coach who heavily focused on speech. I know what good speeches look like and will know what rushed/no-practice speeches look like.
Congress Specific
Just do your thing. As of now I have only judged one congress round at UT but it was a fun experience. I am fine with creative intros as long as they are clever and relate to the topic. Otherwise do your thing and please attempt to create clash (especially if you are later speeches into the cycle)
Hi, I'm Varun Asuri your judge for this round, I'm a junior in Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Northern Virginia. I am not exactly your most experienced public forum debater as a junior in high school but I am very experienced in other forms of debate as well for the past 3 years. I'm not the best at deciphering spreading yet and may very well lose some points in the middle so try to speak a little bit slower. Bear with me as I might make a few mistakes and please call me out if I'm doing anything wrong at all logistically during the round. Overall, I guess I would like a well-rounded debate with good sources that directly support your main arguments and would especially like you guys to directly address your opponent's arguments in everything after constructive as establishing why the other side won't work can be stronger than establishing why your's will. Nothing else to say and good luck guys.
I am a tab judge. I'm a national circuit LD debater so I don't rlly care about presentation, just make sure to weigh impacts and extend thoroughly. I'm most comfortable with progressive arguments including theory, kritiks and phil positions. If you say something like: “We affirm habeas viscus, a relational assemblage which transforms the hieroglyphics of the flesh, our deviances from the European Man, into a line of flight, a new type of freedom which can interrupt racializing assemblages” I will understand and know what you mean but will expect significant unpacking and explanation if the round requires it. I also prefer spreading so if you do decide to spread make sure to have a good mic and be clear. Also send speech docs to tejarbuddha@gmail.com.
Hi, I'm Tiffany, undergrad at UChicago. Experience in high school LD and PF. She/her pronouns.
If you're reading this 5 seconds before round:
Don't be rude. I prefer substance. Weigh and Collapse.
TL/DR; quick summary before round:
I'm fine with whatever speed, slow down at tags. Signpost.
Warrants/Extensions: Offense should be frontlined in 2nd rebuttal, defense sticks in 1st summary if not frontlined.
Please collapse.
Weighing: Weigh early, I like good weighing.
Decent at evaluating progressive args. I don't want you running anything progressive if there's no need to. I'd rather engage in substance. No tricks.
If you are running anything progressive: open source wiki unless you want to hit disclosure theory. Please make sure you explain why it matters if you are running anything progressive or I will vote you down.
For online tournaments, please send speech docs/add me to the chain: tiffanycheng9979@gmail.com. I will be muted the entire round. Just assume that I am ready before every speech.
Read trigger warnings.
Basics/General Things:
Timers/Roadmap - You are allowed to use your own timer for reference. I will allow you to finish your sentence after time is up without impacting your speaks. Aside from this, if you go over time, I will take off from speaker points. I take off-time roadmaps or just give me the order.
Speaking speed - I did LD and PF so whatever speed is fine with me, as long as you slow down for tags and citations. Please, please, please sign post.
Respect is important to me. There is a difference between being rude and being aggressive.
Please read trigger warnings.
Neg defends the status quo unless otherwise stated in the resolution. If you tell me otherwise I will vote you down. I default Neg ballot of status quo if the debate is a wash.
Framework/Definitions:
It is not necessary for either side to provide a framework or definitions. I will go by with whatever is on the flow and if you are having a framework debate, I will gauge which framework to use when deciding the ballot. Winning framework does not automatically give you the win to the round.
CX:
I do not flow cross, so any point brought up in cross must be reiterated in your speeches for it to have any effect on my final decision. However, cross will play a role in your speaker points. I know cross gets heated so I give leniency in terms of rudeness. Please don't be a jerk.
Constructive:
Your arguments should be well warranted and have strong links. If it's squirrely I'm less likely to vote for you.
Overviews:
If your overview is a way to give your team new offense (i.e. sneaky 3rd contention) or abusive, I'll flow but drop speaks. I like overviews that are weighing/overall responses.
Rebuttals:
The responses to rebuttals must be said in the following speeches otherwise it's dropped. If you access it later I will take off from speaks. If your opponent tries to do this, I will probably notice but it will be better if you just tell me.
Summary and Final Focus:
The Final Focus can only bring up arguments that are stated in the summary. These speeches should mirror each other. I won't evaluate anything in final focus unless you only start weighing there.
Please weigh early. I won't count just a buzzword as weighing. Make sure you are interacting with your opponent's weighing.
Flex-prep:
Generally good with this unless it's abusive.
Progressive:
I did LD so I understand progressive arguments. However, I'd rather you engage in substance in PF. If you do choose to run anything progressive, explain to me why it matters.
If your opponent is not ok with you running progressive, please don't. If I find out that you are running anything progressive against a team that doesn't know how to respond/has no previous knowledge, I will tank speaks and may drop you.
Theory/Ts - I'm ok with theory if there is legitimate in round abuse (ad hominem, disclosure, etc). I'll take both shells and paragraph theory. If your opponent is abusive but you are inexperienced at running theory, just give me reasons why what they did is bad. Make sure to still talk about voters + implications. Not gonna gut check friv shell bad. You can run Ts.
Ks - I'd rather you remove the jargon for Ks so the round can be engaged in the substance. I'm fine if you don't. Tell me why the K matters. Alts need to provide solvency.
Non-topical/identity/performance affs - I'm ok with you running non-topical affs if you can tell me why it matters other than "we need to solve this issue before engaging in a debate space". Identity/performance affs I'm ok with.
CPs - I'd rather you not run CPs, especially in PF. If you do I'll still flow it through but the chances of me picking you up will not be that high.
Phil/LARP/Spikes - These things need to be explained to me with all jargon removed in order for me to flow or assess the round based off of it.
Tricks - Please don't run tricks. If you do I'll vote you down and tank speaks.
Speaker Points:
Everyone auto starts at a 28. Based on your performance it will start to vary. Things that tank your speaks include: being a jerk or doing anything you're not supposed to do in the paradigm. But mostly, just don't be a jerk.
Postrounding:
You can def ask questions, no strings attached. Please be nice when you post round. Don't be obnoxious.
If you think I messed up/decide to challenge me officially:
This is not a place for you to vent/complain about RFDs.
If you convince me, I'll give you 30/30 speaks, lose, I tank speaks.
For the sake of clarity, please extend your rebuttals and contentions you want considered through summary and into the final focus.
Good clashes and impact calculus makes me happy. Anything to keep me from having to intervene makes me happy
Any speed is good. Maybe no Godzilla rapping, but as long as it's clear, I'll understand.
Pronouns: She/Her
Overall: If you are rude before, during, or after round, I will dock speaking points and drop you. Weigh properly and collapse efficiently.
Off-time Roadmap: Make sure before every speech you give a clear outline of what you are going to say. Additionally, make sure you sign-post and give a line-by-line argument as well during rebuttal speeches.
Speed: It is your responsibility to make sure that your speech is clear and comprehendible. Please slow down and emphasize on contention taglines, card authors, and dates of publication etc.
Progressive vs. Traditional: I am more comfortable with traditional debate. However, if you are running progressive (plans/counterplans), just please make sure that the arguments are topical, have clear links and impacts.
Judging Style: I am a flow judge and I heavily emphasize framework/framing of the round. If I don't see the argument on my flow, I won't count it in the round. Also, I do not flow crossfire. You should explain why your analysis outweighs and why your value defeats the opposition. If you are going to run something out of the norm (nontopical), you need to make sure your links are airtight, otherwise, I will not consider your impacts. During rebuttal, speeches make sure to give me explicit reasons as to why I should give you the ballot and how you are winning on the various layers of the debate.
Speaker Points: Everyone auto starts at a 27. Depending on how the round goes, the speaking points will vary. Basically, if you are polite and not rude, then your speaks will be higher.
Postrounding: You can definitely ask me about advice or how to improve yourself when you debate (I really don't mind). But, this is not space for you to refute the round decision or contest the RFD.
Send speech docs to me at rheakgoswami@gmail.com
I was an LD Debater. Dabbled a bit in progressive LD so I understand most arguments, but please explain to me why it matters. So I'm cool with Ks, Theory, T, Policy, etc.
I have participated in PF on the local circuit so I am familiar with arguments.
I will generally vote off the flow but if I don't find an argument compelling then I won't vote off of it.
I dont really care about CrossFire, it only helps you if you bring it up in your speech.
Try not to talk to fast because I can't think as fast I used to lol but I will try to write down as much as I can (I type my flows so use that information however you want)
I will try to be tabula rasa but if your argument is complete bs I won't buy it.
Try and be persuasive I care about that a lot. I will not have fun writing a ballot if I am purely voting off flow but both teams had bad persuasion. I did extemporaneous speech as well so I care about how you speak.
Speech docs to aaron.tlin@gmail.com my wifi is generally good but if you're speaking moderately fast I might miss some things.
Flex prep is cool
I'm a freshman in college so take that how you will
Thanks <3
Framework - it is not necessary for pro or con to provide a framework or definitions. I will go by with whatever is on the flow and if you are having a framework debate, I will gauge which framework to use when deciding the ballot. I do not flow crossfire, so any point brought up in crossfire must be reiterated in your speeches for it to have any effect on my final decision. However, crossfire will play a role in your speaker points.
Summary and Final Focus - The Final Focus can only bring up arguments that are stated in the summary. The summary can give me a logical rundown of the current flow and start weighing but you must weigh in the Final Focus.
The con defends the status quo unless otherwise stated in the resolution. Also, for rebuttal, logical responses are much much better than card dumps! Signposting would be nice. Any speed is fine for me.
Personal timers are fine (I will keep time as well)
I did Lincoln Douglas for 4 years in high school. Pretty unfamiliar with PF but argumentation is the same in all debates. Make good arguments, extend and weigh impacts, and roadmap your way to the ballot.
For online tournaments, please send speech docs/add me to the chain: muhurtorahman@gmail.com. I will be muted the entire round. Just assume that I am ready before every speech.
tldr; Don't be rude. I like substance. Weigh and collapse.
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everything else:
I'm comfortable with spreading but have been out of circuit for around 2 years now so slow down on tags and send me your cases if you spread. Talk at whatever pace feels comfortable for you.
Tech over truth but don't make the debate space insufferable.
Decent at evaluating progressive args but you probably shouldn't be running it here if you don't need to. Not a fan of tricks.
Theory should only be used if there was genuine abuse, it's up to you to prove that it's genuine.
Read trigger warnings it's a good norm.
Timers/Roadmap - You are allowed to use your own timer for reference. I will allow you to finish your sentence after time is up without impacting your speaks. Aside from this, if you go over time, I will take off from speaker points. I take off-time roadmaps or just give me the order.
Respect is important to me. There is a difference between being rude and being aggressive. I'll let things slide more in cx.
Framework makes the gamework. weighing impacts under a framework gets you lots of speaks.
Constructive: Your arguments should be well warranted and have strong links. If it's squirrely I'm less likely to vote for you. Overviews: If your overview is a way to give your team new offense (i.e. sneaky 3rd contention) or abusive, I'll flow but drop speaks. I like overviews that are weighing/overall responses. Rebuttals: The responses to rebuttals must be said in the following speeches otherwise it's dropped. If you access it later I will take off from speaks. If your opponent tries to do this, I will probably notice but it will be better if you just tell me.
Summary and Final Focus: The Final Focus can only bring up arguments that are stated in the summary. These speeches should mirror each other. I won't evaluate anything in final focus unless you only start weighing there. Please weigh early. I won't count just a buzzword as weighing. Make sure you are interacting with your opponent's weighing.
Flex-prep: Generally good with this unless it's abusive.
Progressive: I did LD so I understand progressive arguments. However, I'd rather you engage in substance in PF. If you do choose to run anything progressive, explain to me why it matters. Running it against someone who has no clue how to respond tanks speaks, but I'll still evaluate.
Theory or T's I'm most comfortable with. If your opponent is abusive but you are inexperienced at running theory, just give me reasons why what they did is bad.
K's are fine, just make the alts and solvency clear, warrant it out well. Not really hip to a lot of literature now.
CPs - I'd rather you not run CPs, especially in PF. If you do I'll still flow it through but the chances of me picking you up will not be that high.
Phil/LARP/Spikes - Love Phil debates a lot. I'll vote off spikes if there's really nothing else, but honestly please don't collapse on them.
Tricks - Don't really think PF is the place for these.
Speaker Points:
Here's a rough framework of what to expect: <27 - you did something offensive or unethical, 27-28 - below average, 28-29 - slightly below, at, or slightly above average, 29-30 - great debater, should be in late elims
nastiness is not appreciated
College: Harvard Community College '27
By the transitive property, I have over 20 Gold PF Bids.
I debated for Vestavia Hills High School for 2 years and then I moved so now I mainly coach teams. I mainly competed on nat circ so I am able to adapt to any style you would like.
Im completely tech and tabula rasa , so I judge rounds off the flow. Ive seen rounds where I could have technically voted off a leaf falling off a plant has a better link in to extinction than nuke war so take that as you want ig. Debate is a game. Tbh, debate lay or hard tech in front of me idgaf!
Main Reason for debate: Have Fun. Learn how to become better from your losses.
If you give me some fun phrases during the round such as "they dropped this contention so hard I might have even heard a thud." or "This gives us the cleanest access to our impact. It's so clean it's squeaky!" I will give you an extra speak. Im a cool judge, don't make this a boring round.
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Pref Chain
(1 being pref me and 5 being strike me)
Command+ F Progressive and you'll get there if that is what you want to know about btw
Trad Deb8: 1
Speed (250 wpm w/o doc anything above, j send a doc idgaf): 1
DA: 1
FW: 1
Theory/Topicality: 2
Kritique (Idpol, Word PIK, Performance): 2
Kiritique (advanced/high theory; Baudy, Delueze, Marx etc - ill try my best): 3-4
Counter Plan: 3-4
Phil: 5
LARP: 2-3
Tricks: 5 - I dare you lmao
Spikes: 5
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TL;DR
- PF paradigm is at the beginning, LD is at the bottom
- 100% tab and tech --> AL circuit, just treat me as the most tech judge.
- Im cool with speed. Especially cuz its all online, id like that you send me a speech doc j for AC/NC & AR/NR. If your rebuttal isn't on a doc, that's fine.
- Go crazy with args. Ive run super crazy cases before so go for it if you want, just make sure you know your own case. Run death good if u want idgaf. Btw Thicc Nicc Bostrom 4Life :)
- For any progressive arguments you want to run, all I ask for when you run prog args is that you send me a speech doc for it so I can get it all down. Keep ur own time. For more details, j look at the prog arg section.
- I understand the need for calling cards, i do it, just don't take more than 2 minutes to pull up a card. Everything you say should have the cut card with it. Do not misconstrue ev. L20, no exceptions.
- Second rebuttal must frontline all offensive/defensive responses made on your case.
- Defense is not sticky, so you must extend anything you want in FF in summary.
-TKOs are a thing and im willing to allow it but i have never judged a round where there is no way to go and find a ballot. So be careful when calling out a TKO before like 2nd summary or final. If u mess up, its gg, u lost bud.
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***Most Online Tournaments***
Yes Add me to the chain zthomas8491@gmail.com
Because this tournament is online, please send me speech docs to my email (zthomas8491@gmail.com). My internet can be spotty at some times so I recommend to not talk to fast during summary or final focus because I might miss it, unless you use a speech doc for summary and final focus for some reason. Also, for speech docs, please have cut cards on it, NO PARAPHRASING PLEASE --> I will doc speaks if there is any miscut evidence! If you have another case that isn't paraphrased, please read it instead. Paraphrasing in PF has become a major ethics issue so try to have normal cut cards instead pls, ty.
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***Tempus Debate LD Camp Tournament***
Ik im PF chair but i have experience in LD. LAWs topic was fun so run whatever you want tbh. Im fine with it. Im p chill. If you do plan on spreading for some reason: 1. you need to annunciate and 2. don't be abusive to your opponent. Speaks will be chill dw. You prob won't know too much of what i have put in teh LD section so i wouldn't worry about it. Just use what you have learned and apply it. This is a learning experience for you!
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Paradigm
Novice PF:
If you are just starting out...these are 2 really good resources to learn the basics of PF
https://www.learnpublicforum.com/
Couple notes just for novices...do these 4 things and do them correctly and I will definitely give you good speaks and you might even win.
1--> Speak Clearly (MEGA IMPORTANT) if you don't speak clearly, then I have no idea what to flow on paper and you will prob take the L :(
2 --> Weigh weigh weigh (SUPER IMPORTANT) look a little bit lower in my paradigm nad you'll find the weighing section
3 --> Collapse (PRETTY IMPORTANT) as a novice that was in your shoes, i know you want to go for every argument but it really is that good of a strat, instead go for your strongest argument and really flesh it out on the flow.
4--> Frontline & Extend (VERY IMPORTANT) if you don't extend arguments on the flow, I will have no idea what you are going for and you will probably sadly take the L :(
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Other notes for Novices...
I will not allow novices to run any progressive arguments because most novices I have judged, they all said they new what they were doing but then completely failed in debating the argument.
If you have any questions after round, ask them but don't be too aggressive please, so no post-rounding my decision.
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Varsity PF:
Favorite Debate:
A good substance debate buuutttt, I'll evaluate theory. If you want to run frivolous theory, go for it. If you can prove to me that Ghandi said, "If freedom don't ring, the choppa gonna sing" instead of MLK, i'll buy it. I ask that you confirm with your opponents if they are OK for you to run theory. If I think you are running theory on a team that doesn't know how to respond to it or have never experienced a progressive round, PLEASE do not run it otherwise I WILL DOCK SPEAKS and possilbly DROP YOU for setting bad norms in the debate space. You have to keep it fair otherwise people are not going to be happy. I'd recommend you run a substance debate more though because that will lead to a way better ballot as I understand a regular debate more. I debate this topic in a lot of tournaments so I understand it pretty well so it would be better if you do run a regular substance debate. And for the love of god, please don't run disclosure...it is so dumb. Good Luck :))
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tech>truth:
Arguments need to be well warranted: tell me why the link/internal link/impact matters. I believe that there is a great value to flow-centric, line-by-line debating. Though I don't claim to have the best flow in the country, I believe many debates can be simplified and made clearer by emphasizing the basics of lining arguments up and answering them accordingly. Not only will teams have a better chance to win my ballot by attempting some semblance of organization, but I believe the overall clash of argumentation that would result from this focus could yield more in depth scholarship and understanding of the topic being discussed. Debaters should clearly flag pieces of evidence they want evaluated after the debate. Failure to do so will more than likely result in me evaluating the round sans calling for cards.
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Clarity>speed:
I would put myself at a 7/10 for speed, so...DO NOT SPREAD. Max = 275 wpm. I do sometimes speak like 350 wpm but its pretty stupid so don't do it. Just because I debate doesn't mean I want people spreading like crazy. If you want to spread, you should try out policy debate, it'll be a good experience for you. If you truly feel the urge to spread, share a speech doc with me (zthomas8491@gmail.com). I believe that spreading is useless because it just shows that you want to get a bunch of ink on the paper but you will probably be dropping half of the stuff so why don't you tell me 3 or 4 really good warranted analysis responses instead of reading 8 to 15 responses that have the crappiest warrant and a horrible analysis. I'm ok with speed as long as it is clear, if not, I will say clear to tell you that I am unable to understand. If I still can't understand your speech, I will not flow it and I might dock a speak or 2.
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Warranting:
Please do not just extend taglines and author names. I might not have them down and I'll be really confused and upset. This means you make extensions you cannot just say "the X evidence" you need to state what the evidence says. I like critical thinking. Smart, well-warranted analytics beat blippy, poorly warranted cards every time. If you are winning the warrant debate, you are probably winning the round for me.
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WEIGH:
The easiest way for me to decide a round is if you are creating a clear comparative between your opponents arguments and your own. Many rounds I have to intervene and do work for the teams as they don't tell why their arguments are more important than their opponents. If teams don't weigh, I tend to give more credence to the first speaking team as they are still somewhat disadvantaged, but with 3 min summaries I am less lenient. Also on weighing, I'm stealing a quote from Brian Zhu's paradigm: "I think of weighing in layers, beginning with probability. You need to have a certain amount of probability your impact happens before you access the other layers of weighing like magnitude, timeframe, etc." In other words: I tell you to weigh, u don't, u L :)
If you *meta-weigh properly* i will give you a 30 even if you didn't match up with the requirements for a 30.
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Off-time Roadmap/Signpost:
Right before you start the speech, give me an off-time roadmap BUT DON'T SAY THE PHRASE "OFF TIME ROADMAP", I'll take 1 speak away if you do. Even though you give me an offtime roadmap --> PLEASE tell me where you are on the flow (signpost). If I look confused, then it probably means that I don't know where you are and it makes it much harder for me to properly flow the round
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Time:
You guys are BIG KIDZ so KEEP YOUR OWN TIME
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Flex-Prep:
Im fine with it, i think it can be useful sometimes but don't abuse it pls.
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Cross:
Don't be a jerk but don't be a wimp. I like cross to get tense, but not to where someone is about to cry because you are being an overly dominant bully. Remember, cross-fire is for asking clarification questions and trying to get good information from the other teams. I don't flow cross, so if you think something important came up in cross and it has an impact on the round, bring it up. Don't bring up some random argument from cross if it is just a small argument compared to the ones where there can be some good clash.
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Frontline
IF YOU DON'T FRONTLINE, YOU BASICALLY SCREW YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING, IF BOTH TEAMS DON'T FRONTLINE, THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT ROUND TO JUDGE AND TO WATCH.
--> 2nd rebuttal must respond to the 1st rebuttal --> if you drop the points made in 1st rebuttal, thats a rip for you, you have just given up all defense on your case and they have shredded your case apart
--> 1st summary must respond to the 2nd rebuttal > if you drop the points made in 2nd rebuttal, rip to you, you have just screwed your chance of winning.
NO NEW ARGUMENTS/EVIDENCE IN 2ND SUMMARY OR FINAL FOCUS!! I give a very small amount of leniency for the 1st summary as they do have to frontline the 2nd Rebuttal but, you should definitely collapse in summary so it makes it easier for you to properly warrant your responcss and make arguments that are for big brains. (a frontline is not a "new argument/evidence btw in case you didn't know that).
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Collapse:
Collapsing is definitely based on how the round goes but I recommend that you do it so you can pave the way for a better ballot. Unless you are completely destroying the team, you should collapse. I don't care tbh, but collapsing makes the round much cleaner and more smooth and less things all over the place that I have to eval.
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Extensions:
An extension is NOT reading an authors last name. An extension is NOT telling me your opponents drop something. Telling my hand what to do on a piece of paper does not equal you winning an argument- much less analyzing, crystallizing, or in any way convincing me to vote for you.
An extension is:
Extend Author 97 who our opponents fail to respond to
->What author 97 tells you is warrant/analysis
->What this means is we access Impact 1, which wins us the round because of X.
If you don't really get this by now you're probably gonna lose the round.
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Offense>weighing>defense
Anything that you want in the FF must be in the summary
I will not flow any new analysis or evidence in FF
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Evidence
these are OK cut cardz //// This a godly cut card( Thank you Christian Vasquez for the OK cut cards and thank you to the GRIDIRON CHOPPA....COLE STACEY for the godly cut cardz).
If the card is miscut or cannot be found within a decent amount of time (2min) it will be dropped from my flow. In the off chance you paraphrase cards (pls don't but if it is ur only option), it should not be misconstrued and the actual card should still be cut. You MUST have the cut card.
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Overviews
There are three types of overviews in my mind.
1) New offense --> --> --> --> I do not react well to these and find them extremely abusive, but I will flow them. However, if this new contention comes out in second rebuttal the other team can just tell me it's abusive / to cross it off the flow and I will. If I cross it off, it was a waste of your time and mine.
2) An overall response to their case. --> --> --> --> GREAT IDEA.
3) Weighing overviews. --> --> --> --> AMAZING IDEA
Weighing>>>>>>>>>Overall Response>>>>>>>>>>>New Offense, ie super offensive DA in 2nd rebuttal
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+Progressive Arguments+ --> *Mainly for PF but can be applied to LD also*
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*I will tell you if i don't want you running Prog args in a round dependent on how i feel abt it...so tell me and your opponenets if you are running a prog arg and i will let you know if it is a green light for it (the only time you are exempt from it is if the opposing team paraphrased for example but couldn't give any cards for you, i would allow paraphrase theory to be run)*
*If you are a novice and you get theory run on you, yes, i will give the other team low speaks but j saying "im. a novice..you can't run theory on me" does not count for me. J make a novice theory shell saying why running theory on novices is bad and ill prob eval it (only if it is actually decent and makes sense) and ill j go to the substance debate.*
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BQ:
Ima be straight, math = dumb
I cut a card abt it, that's how strong i feel abt math lmao.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Peo4ZpfiklAuNsyTHpM7fVzqt9K4cbO8TT9HKPgqrkM/edit?usp=sharing
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Fiat:
- If the resolution is framed in terms of a moral obligation (should, ought ect.), then I judge the debate based off the costs/benefits of the resolution actually taking effect. Therefore, I do not evaluate feasibility claims that have to do with the inabilities of laws or policies to pass through Congress or any other governmental actor unless I am provided with compelling analytical justifications for doing so.
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Framework:
- I default to Cost Benefit Analysis, otherwise known as the Analysis of Benefits and Costs. But, I am fine with framework debates, they make the round more organized because it kind of forces you to properly flesh out certain arguments in order to best access the framework.
- When reading a framework that has to do with structurally oppressed people (especially with the Septober '20 topic) don't make a framework that can basically be turned against you, like PLEASE GIVE A WARRANT on why these marginalized people should be "solved" and why they come first before others. Basically, don't read a framework that can be contested with util.
- Fairness is not necessarily an impact; it certainly may implicate the education that the aff produces, but calling fairness "procedural" doesn't bestow upon it some mystical external impact without additional explanation (i.e. without an actual impact attached to that). Fairness is an abstract value. Like most values, it is difficult to explain beyond a certain point, and it can't be proven or disproven. It's hard to answer the question "why is fairness good?" for the same reason it's hard to answer the question "why is justice good?" It is pretty easy to demonstate why you should presume in favor of fairness in a debate context, given that everyone relies on essential fairness expectations in order to participate in the activity (for example, teams expect that I flow and give their arguments a fair hearing rather than voting against them because I don't like their choice in clothes). But as soon as neg teams start introducing additional standards to their framework argument that raise education concerns, they have said that the choice of framework has both fairness and education implications, and if it could change our educational experience, could the choice of framework change our social or intellectual experience in debate in other ways as well? Maybe not (I certainly think it's easy to win that an individual round's decision certainly couldn't be expected to) but if you said your FW is key to education it's easy to see how those kinds of questions come into play and now can potentially militate against fairness concerns.
- If you're looking for an external impact, there are two impacts to framework that I have consistently found more persuasive than most attempts to articulate one for fairness/skills/deliberation, but they're not unassailable: "switch-side debate good" (forcing people to defend things they don't believe is the only vehicle for truly shattering dogmatic ideological predispositions and fostering a skeptical worldview capable of ensuring that its participants, over time, develop more ethical and effective ideas than they otherwise would) and "agonism" (making debaters defend stuff that the other side is prepared to attack rewards debaters for pursuing clash; running from engagement by lecturing the neg and judge on a random topic of your choosing is a cowardly flight from battle; instead, the affirmative team with a strong will to power should actively strive to beat the best, most well-prepared negative teams from the biggest schools on their terms, which in turn provides the ultimate triumph; the life-affirming worldview facilitated by this disposition is ultimately necessary for personal fulfillment, and also provides a more effective strategy with which to confront the inevitable hardships of life).
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T/Theory:
- UPDATE (4/2021):
- Paraphrasing bad, disclosure is ok, misgendering bad, no tw bad. I won't hack for anything, but this is my general viewpoint of these issues.
- No RVIs. --> "RVIs are dumb, you don't get to win for proving you are ethical. I suppose I can see myself voting for an RVI if someone horrifically mishandles it, but if theres warranted clash on the issue of RVIs, I generally think no-RVIs." - Enebo
- I am down for some frivolous theory.
- I like theory shells to be in standard form (A: Interpretation, B: Violation, C:Standards, D:Voters) no paragraph form.
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- I won't necessarily default to competing interps, reasonability, or other frameworks, etc. There are general parts of T (interp, violation, standards-voters, impacts, etc). If you go for T, then give me thorough reasons to vote for T. On aff, I think it is strategic that you can make theory or pre-fiat arguments that precede Topicality.
- For any T argument, if you want my ballot on it, you need to win the interpretation/violation, give a good explanation of the impacts (voters), and win some standards which prove your interpretation solves the impacts. This stuff can get developed in the block, but just extending a shell isn't going to do it.
- Theoretical reasons to prefer/reject an ethical theory are generally pretty terrible arguments. This includes: Must Concede FW, May Not Concede FW, Util is Unfair, Only Util is Fair, etc. You should prove that you're right, not that it's educational to pretend that you are. Many 'role of the ballot' arguments are just theoretically justified frameworks by another name, and I feel similarly about these. I also do not assume by default that your warrant comes logically prior to your opponent's because you referenced "education" or "ground"; the falsity of a standard seems at least as salient a reason not to require debaters to use it.
- Competing interpretations means that I evaluate theory through an offense-defense paradigm; it does not require a counter-interpretation. A corollary is that I literally do not understand how a difference between potential and articulated abuse would function. I am, of course, willing to listen to arguments which dispute either of those claims, but they’re an uphill battle.
- I will not vote for reasonability absent an explicit bright line. I prefer standards-level strength of link weighing (who has a better internal link to fairness or education) over generic fairness vs education debates, although the latter tends to be more strategic. Absent weighing, I don’t have a default preference between fairness and education. I default to dropping the argument, not the debater, on all theory questions except status theory (conditionality).
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Disads:
- Don't read in 2nd rebuttal
- If u do read it, u must do weighing with it, or provide some sort of analysis that gives me a comparison between ur arg and theirs.
- DO NOT, run it as a 10th contention at the bottom of ur case j for 2nd speaking team to have to cover that too. DA's that act as overviews are the best.
- I like the specific DA debate, if you decide to go for DA(s). This means that when you win the DA, you should also be winning a DA-case comparison (for example: DA outweighs case, DA turns case, etc.).
- "Zero risk" is certainly possible but often unlikely. What I mean by this is that if the neg says "The plan leads to an increase in hair loss, and warming causes extinction" and the aff says "No link--no warranted reason the aff leads to hair loss and no internal link between hair loss and warming," I'm not going to decide that since the aff only made defensive arguments that there's "only a risk" of the DA occurring. Smart defensive arguments (including and sometimes especially analytics) can take out entire disads and advantages, but if they're not terminal I am going to be more susceptible to "only a risk" logic.
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Kritiks:
- UPDATE (4/2021):
- I have started to judge, debate, and spec more rounds with Ks now. I think that PF definitely has room for K arguments to be read.
- I would say I'm comfortable to eval Ks, with that being said, I'm most sympathetic to K's that are using the round to make structural change within the debate community, ie. Word PIKs, Idpol, Performance type stuff. And those are the ones I'm most comfortable with. That doesn't mean u can't run Marxism or Delueze, Baudy etc, j dumb it down for me lol. I'm p chill when it comes to this stuff, especially since Ks are slowly moving into PF.
- No Identity Ks if you have no relation to that group...ill doc ur speaks like hell
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- The "aff didn't do enough" K isn't doing much for me. If this is your best option, I'd recommend T instead. Perms solve it and it's not offense.
- K debaters that can't debate the case enough to prove that the aff doesn't simply reduce military presence but somehow reinforces it or some other bad process in trying to do so are having a really hard time winning with me. You need links. "You touched the gov't" isn't getting the job done. If this is your best strat, I am not the judge for you.
- Negative state action undermines a lot of "we shouldn't have to debate as the gov't" args, absent more detailed elaboration by the aff team reading a non- topical or non-plan aff. I can personally entertain some reasons why this arg might still be true, but teams have yet to advance args that are not facile extensions of the standard "gov't bad" arg in explaining this for me. "Decrease military" and "gov't bad" are in the same direction on face. You'll need to do more to prove that they are not.
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K Affs
- K AFF WITH A PLAN TEXT: Make sure to explain why the rhetoric of the plan is necessary to solve the impacts of the aff. Either the plan is fiated, leading a consequence that is philosophically consistent with the advantage, or the plan is only rhetorical, leading to an effective use of inround discourse (such as satire). The key question is, why was saying “United States Federal Government,” necessary, because it is likely that most kritikal teams will hone their energy into getting state links.
- K BEING AFFS: Everything is bad. These affs incorporate structural analysis to diagnosis how oppression manifests metaphysically, materially, ideologically, and/or discursively. This includes Marxism, Settler Colonialism, & Afropessimism affs. Frame how the aff impact is a root cause to the negative impacts, generate offense against the alternative, and show how the perm necessitates the aff as a prior question.
- K BECOMING AFF: Truth is bad. These affs include Postmodernism, Intersectionality, & Black Optimism. Adapt to turning the negative links into offense for the aff. Short story being, if you're just here to say truth is bad, then you're relying on your opponent to make truth claims before you can start generating offense.
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CPs
- I have hit a CP once, and it was when i did an LD tourney, so take that as you want, im not a huge fan of them so run them at a ur own risk.
- Generic CP debates aren’t too interesting, but a well coupled counter plan and net benefit can be cool. Don’t assume I’ll kick the CP for you and assume that it’s conditional unless specified. Winning a high risk of a DA and a risk of the counterplan solving better than the aff makes for an easy neg ballot. For the aff team, point out solvency deficits, shady theory points, put offense on the CP, and make warranted permutations (more than 3 is probably not legit).
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Presumption:
In the terrible case that the whole round become a wash (i would most likely give low speaks if this happens btw) i presume 1st speaking team.
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LD:
I dabbled in LD throught my 2nd year of debating. Im p chill with it ngl.
Some things for LD...
CX is binding – If you say something is Uncondo in CX and kick out of it in the 2NR, if the 2AR points it out, it’s an auto-loss with few exceptions.
I will reference the doc when flowing, but I pay attention to what you're saying (won't miss any extemped args in the 1AC/1NC, and won't flow stuff that's in the doc but that you didn't read. Just lmk if u are extemping args).
Clarity > speed. You can go faster/be less clear for args that you've sent in the doc that I have a visual reference for. If you're not flashing your analytics don't blaze through them. Lowering speaks for entirely pre-written/scripted rebuttal
Sequencing, preclusion, weighing, and clearly delineated interactions are the keys to resolvability; I want my RFD to be repeating back arguments you've made. Most frustrating debates are when both sides are extending things that take out the other side's route to the ballot without weighing/interacting the two args that indict each other. Absent clear weighing I default to strength of link (i.e. two conceded fairness standards indict each other but some education standard is conceded, so I vote on the education standard).
Helpful to extend arguments by content (“extend permissibility affirms” vs. “extend spike 3 sub-point B”), and I have a very low threshold for extensions if an arg is conceded ("extend the framework" is sufficient if the framework is straight dropped, and don't even bother extending paradigm issues if its a theory debate and you both agree), but its still up to you to implicate dropped args strategically and explain what it takes out/why the drop is relevant
Evidence Ethics Claims (Clipping, Miscutting, etc.) stop the round and the challenging debater must agree to stake the round on it. Whoever loses the challenge gets an L-0.
I have a higher threshold of warranting on independent voters. You can’t just say something is an “independent voter” for three seconds and collapse to it for 6 minutes in the 2NR. An independent voter needs clear warrants as well as clear reasons why it’s a reason to drop the debater. I am willing to not vote on a dropped independent voter if it had basically no warrant for why it’s a voter in the last speech.
Lower threshold for 1AR extensions, though I’m a tad skeptical of straight-up new 2AR weighing. Case outweighs and theory vs K weighing should generally be in the 1AR.
High speaks are received for technical efficiency, strategy, and clarity in spreading.
Be nice to novices and traditional debaters, or else your speaks will suffer.
I don’t like it when the debaters are just jerks to each other in CX.
I don’t consider arguments about speaker points or double wins or going beyond the time given. Any argument past the timer is disregarded, and if you keep going, it’s an L-0.
My default assumption is nothing is important until an argument is made for why it is. This means if you read theory without drop the debater or arguments without framing mechanisms, I’ll just ignore them. This in particular applies to independent voters and perf con arguments because they don’t justify why they supersede other substantive issues and are drop the debater. The only things that I will default are consequentialism, strength of link in the absence of weighing, procedurals first, and epistemic confidence.
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Speaks:
I value teams taking daring strategic decisions (EX: drop case and go fully for turns EX2: non-uniquing / severing contentions to avoid opponents turns) and will reward you smart and effective risk-taking with speaker points. That being said, if you do it poorly I will still drop you. Making jokes in grand cross to liven up the debate is always good for your speaker points (but don't be that person who tries too hard please).
Make me laugh and you’ll get higher speaks
30 - YOU ARE A COLE STACEY LEVEL DEBATER WITH ICONIC RISHI LINGALA VIBES AND HIS AMAZING SKILLS AT CARROLTON R1 (uncommon for me to give out) Belongs in late outrounds, flawless speaking ability and strategy [Give a rebuttal in 2nd constructive (1st rebuttal will have to frontline if this happens) (if you read fast enough, you can still do case!) instant 30 if u do this cuz lmfao.] IF you are a RESIDENT then you will get auto 30. IF you know the ways of a THAD, auto 30 if u are wrong, auto L25
29.5 - Chad level ("bruh" - Cole Stacey) Mid/late outrounds, excellent speaking ability and strategy
29 - lad level ("ok bud" - Christian Rhoades) Should break, really good speaker, makes smart decisions
28.5 - Could break, could improve in EITHER speaking ability OR decision making, but excellent in 1 category
28 - Above average, could break, still a good debater, but has room for improvement in speaking and decision making
27.5 - Average, Either a good speaker and flawed decision maker, or a poor speaker and good decision maker
27 - Slightly below average, definitely has plenty of room for improvement as a debater
26.5 - Either struggling to speak during the round OR doesn't seem to understand their argument OR ignored my paradigm
26 - Struggling to speak during the round AND doesn't seem to understand their argument AND ignored my paradigm
25 - Offensive to others during the round
0-24: im sorry mate but i kinda failed at everything and did some bad stuff, oop
I WILL DISCLOSE AFTER EVERY ROUND NO EXCEPTIONS— HOLD ME TO THIS...*unless i am told not to by the tournament directors or if a team does not want me to disclose. *
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Credit to Sam Goldstone for this...
"A haiku describing my judging philosophy:
Weigh Warrants Logic
Collapse Analysis Links
WEIGH WEIGH COLLAPSE WEIGH"
"ok bud" - Christian Rhoades
hi ! i debated pf for 4 (ish) years at dulles, reach me whenever @ katherineyue@rice.edu
general
preflow before!
the best way to get me to vote for you is to spend your last speeches pointing things out to me (dropped response/extended arg/your link chain)
you can spread if you want but you still need to be clear, i won't flow + eval off docs if your speech is incomprehensible to me
especially in ld/policy prioritize making your arguments clear to me over more evidence + arguments if you want me to understand + really vote on something
progressive
i basically debated all substance, treat me as a flay judge & run progressive if you want but i probably won't understand it (theory/ks) unless there's a clear violation in round
speeches
i was a second speaker so i prioritize responses that interact with your opponent's arguments directly ! everyone reads generic blocks, i'll be more responsive to evidence & warranting/responses i haven't heard before. i think the best rebuttals cross-apply responses back to your own case. (ie, prereq/xyz solves, etc.)
go line by line/in a intuitive order (ie your flow then opponents) + roadmap before, if i can't follow your responses/extensions logically i can't vote on it
don't just throw around the word outweigh + random mechanism at the end of each speech, it doesn't mean anything if unwarranted, i tend to be preferential towards statistical/impact weighing over logical
ps i <3 (nonbasic) taylor swift references