BCFL Summer Debate Challenge I
2020 — Online, BC/CA
High School Public Forum Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show Hidetl;dr: I am a flay judge who votes on 1) weighing and 2) clean narrative and analysis.
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Below is my detailed paradigm:
• I prefer clearly articulated arguments with logical links, warrants, and impacts.
• I will not have the same level of understanding of the topic as you do, so don't expect me to catch everything if you're rapid-fire-spitting content. I prefer you speak more conversationally and keep the event a "public" forum. The faster you speak, the more likely I am to miss content.
• Repetition is key to understanding. Make sure you're extending points you want me to vote on until the final focus.
• Weigh impacts and links through direct comparison. Tell me why your impacts are more significant and why your links are clearer and stronger than your opponent's. The clearer, the better and the more likely I am to vote for you.
• Please do not read theory, Kritik, or other progressive arguments. I have a shallow understanding and won't make a good decision should I evaluate them.
• Please read content warnings or have an opt-out form for sensitive topics and ask if the opposing team is okay with you reading the argument. You must have an alternate case if they aren't. I have the right to drop you if I think you're making the round an unsafe space.
Experience:
I currently compete in open public forum and have a couple of years of experience. I also do a few other styles of debate like CNDF and BP. So don't worry about using PF terms like timeframe, drops, magnitude, flow etc.
Evidence
PF is very heavy on evidence so use cards that are cited with trustworthy sources, and if your evidence seems too far fetched or the numbers don't sound right I will either disregard or call for it. But at the end of the day evidence and cards aren't everything, you need to explain it well. So the warrant is extremely important. I won't just buy a card without any reasoning or explanation.
Preferences
I would like you to write my flow for me, basically making everything VERY CLEAR. Summary and Final Focus are the most important speeches, especially in FF please give me voters to vote on. Explain why you won in each voter so you essentially write my flow.
I am alright with speed but PF has short speeches which means you should explain your arguments concisely. Don't spread or go crazy fast because if I can't understand you I can't flow it. If you have to speak fast make sure to enunciate and emphasize.
Pleaseee extend your arguments, if an argument doesn't come through to FF, or was dropped in summary I won't vote for it. As a debater I don't like it when my opponents bring up new evidence, arguments, or refutations later than grand cross, so please don't do that.
Frameworks aren't required but if you have one that's great, and if you don't have one but your opponents do as long as it is reasonable I will go with the provided framework.
I don't flow crossfires so if you want something to be flowed bring it up in the next speech. Tell me the impacts, your argument essentially has no value if there is no impact, so weigh impacts! Speaking style only contributes to your speaker points and just basic understanding. So your content > speaking style. Rounds can be very stressful so a little humour is appreciated to lighten up everyone's moods:)
Time
I will time you but also time yourself. There is no need to time your opponents and please don't tell them they are overtime, I will do that. I will give you 5-10 seconds of grace time, so just wrap it up I won't simply cut you off. I value what you have to say over time.
Etiquette:
Debate is a peaceful way of arguing not firing roasts at each other, especially during crossfire please be respectful let them finish their points otherwise I might lower your speaks. I encourage you to attack the arguments all you want but leave the person out of it. Be savage but don't be mean:)
Relax and good luck!
Feel free to email me at meverestlin@gmail.com
I've done Public Forum all throughout my high school years and coached for two more. Be aware, however - I'm no longer in the debating scene, so if I'm judging I'll probably be heading into each round with little topic background.
Just a couple things:
1. If you're going to use a framework, and expect me to judge under your framework, please tell me why your framework is valid. If I'm not convinced that your limitation of the debate is fair or reasonable, then I won't use it. (For the most part, however, I really do not like voting on a framework)
2. I will flow your crossfires, but I won't consider them in my decision unless you reference something mentioned during the crossfires directly in your speeches.
3. Please make sure you weigh - I don't like it when I have to do that on my own.
4. If you're going to reference a card, please read that card out (or summarize it somewhat), instead of just referring to it by the citation. I won't be able to remember or flow down every evidence card that you bring up otherwise.
5. Anything brought up in the Final Focus must have also been brought up in the Summary, with the exception of the first summary speaker who does not have to extend rebuttals if they haven't been responded to yet.
6. I'm fine with speed for the most part as long as it does not compromise enunciation and articulation.
Other than that, if you have any questions, feel free to ask!
TLDR: I did PF in high school and did okay at TOC. I'm comfortable with any speed (unless you're an LD-level spreader, then send a speech doc) and argument you want to use (except K's, generally). If you really want, you can still run a K, but no guarantees I will evaluate it exactly how you want it to be evaluated.
More Shtuffs
- Tech > Truth. Run literally anything you want. Run human extinction caused by an alien invasion. It’s more fun.
- Grand cross is mostly pointless, but we still need to do it
- I do not flow crossfires. I don’t consider anything in crossfires. If it’s important, bring it up in a speech
- Anything not frontlined in second rebuttal is considered dropped
- Weigh. Please weigh. I’m begging you.
- I'm comfortable with theory, but not Ks. Just bear that in mind.
- Speed is fine. PF spreading is fine as long as you send a speech doc. I’m not comfortable with LD or Policy level spreading though.
- Everything in FF must be extended in summary. I refuse to extend anything for you. You need to extend the full link chain and impact
- When you and your opponent provide opposite warranting, give me a reason why I should prefer your's.
- I will only call for evidence after the round if you told me to do so explicitly
Send me evidence here: akirayoshiyama1@gmail.com