SpartanTitanScrimmage
2020 — Online, US
Novice Policy Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideVignesh Alla
-Member of the Glenbrook South Debate Society from 2012-2016 (Policy)
-Qualified for the TOC my Senior Year (Surveillance Topic)
-Was 2N, 2A, and Double 2s at various points during high school
Topic: To be upfront, I do not have an extensive amount of knowledge about this Topic. What this should mean to you (assuming you want to win) is that the team that does a better job of appealing to my lack of topic knowledge will be served well. This means using acronyms and abbreviations that I would only know if I was doing topic research will probably just confuse me. I am willing to answer questions about this before the round if you are concerned and I place this section in my philosophy to be fair to the debaters that I am judging. Nothing would have annoyed me more than to have lost a round if a judge didn't know what "NSA" stood for, but the onus is on you to convey important pieces of information like that to me. I am letting you know in advance so that the round is judged based on who debated better and not based on what I did and did not know.
Topicality: Explain your interpretation and what would and would not be allowed under that model of the topic. T debates are good when both teams have a nuanced and thought out reason for why each aff should and should not be allowed in the topic and are horrible when both teams assert "limits" and "ground" without explaining what that means in the context of the topic. Tell me what arguments you lose links to or competition for or why your "limit" on the topic is good. I don't know what affs are considered to be "core of the topic" so don't just assume I'll believe you when you say "X aff is core of the topic". It is probably best to explain what the topic should be and why rather than relying on what the topic has become. Reasonability only makes sense if you have a counter-interpretation, Aff's are not "reasonably topical", but interpretations of the topic can be "good enough".
Disadvantages: Never liked the politics DA, and probably hold the record for least 2NRs on the Politics DA as a GBS debater. Other than that, most are fine. It is possible to win zero risk of a link and I won't buy "any risk" arguments unless there is a CP that solves the aff. Impact calculus is important but I am much more persuaded by the validity of internal links. I will not make this argument for you, but if you argue that the probability of a set of internal link chains is low, then the impact is a function of the risk of those internal link chains. All of this applies for 1AC advantages as well.
Counterplans: My favorite arguments. Well written and thought out Counterplans are the bane of any 2As existence and for good reason. I am looking for good solves case, avoids net-benefit, and sufficiency framing. I ran advantage CPs, Agent CPs, Process CPs, Consult CPs, and more. I am probably neg leaning on theory unless you can prove the CP is a probable way the aff can be implemented. The stronger your reasons for a CP being theoretically illegitimate are probably reasons why Perm: Do the CP is a good argument. Even if in my mind they are pretty similar, I'd rather vote on Perm: Do the CP than on "this Counterplan is cheating". 2NC CPs are fair game if they amend a 1NC text, but a wholly new 2NC CP will probably need some 1NR theory justification or I'd buy that making the 1AR answer a new advocacy is not fair/a good model for debate.
Kritik: I liked reading and going for Ks against K affs or affs I didn't have a great case neg to. If you have another solid viable option, it is probably best to go for that than a K in the 2NR. I probably know what K you are reading, but you should still act as if I don't. Bad Kritik debates happen when using big words takes precedence over making arguments. The Best K debaters explain how the assumptions that the K highlights turn the aff and should be a reason to question or throw out an affirmative method/ontology/epistemology etc. I never went for Framework on a K as a reason to ignore the aff but it can easily be won that I should look at other things besides just the results of 1AC implementation. Likewise, I will most likely not buy the "FW means Ks unfair/shouldn't be allowed" argument. Alts are usually explained pretty poorly and a solid line of C-X can highlight some pretty big flaws in them. Perms of a K are a function of how much and how strong of a link you are winning. Strong Link=Weak Perm and I think the Perm is a pretty large threat against the K so winning a solid link is your #1 priority when extending a K. A link of omission will lose 100 out of 100 times to perm do both. The less and less a K argument seemingly interacts with an affirmative the more and more likely it will lose on no link or perm.
Framework: I really didn't think Framework was much different than topicality. I went for it most of the times I was deabating a Kritikal or planless Affs. FW isn't genocide etc. Regardless of if you are aff or neg explain to me why your model of the topic is better. For planless K affs, explain how the aff is predictable or how your interp is reasonable. Winning that planless affs are ok for debate is an uphill battle if I am judging. I've voted for K affs before, but I find the reasons for why they should not be allowed to be more persuasive. "Do it on the Neg" and "Wrong Forum/Round not Key" are underrated.
Theory: Competition and FW were covered above, so this is section is about conditionality. 2 Condo is fine. 3 is pushing it. You probably won't win 1 condo bad unless they drop it. Ask what dispo is cause after 4 years of debate I still don't know and I won't even default to it being anything. Each plank of a CP you can kick is another conditional world.
Speaker Points: I reward CLARITY. I repeat, I reward CLARITY. I don't care if you are the best debater in a generation, if I cannot understand what words come out of your mouth I will think you are bad. Speed is not an issue if you are clear when reading and I never believed that "going 80% as fast as your max" does anything because you can be CLEAR at any speed as long as you are focusing on it. I reward good arguments with a Win but I reward how you sound with points. Debate is both a research and communication activity and debate does not exist without both. I will not follow along with a speech doc so you have to be clear enough so that I get down arguments you want me to. My points range is pretty large and I usually give points from anywhere from 26 to a 29.5. If you get lower than 26, then something besides your argumentation and clarity is the issue. Above a 29.5 and you did exceptionally well.
General Thoughts: C-X=Speech, Tech over Truth, there is not an argument that I will throw out because of "stupidity" if an argument is that stupid it should be easy enough to defeat.
People who have influenced how I view debate: Tara Tate, Jon Voss, Neil Patel, Chris Callahan, Chris Coleman, Ben Wolch, Bill Batterman, Dylan Quigley, Tyler Thur
If you have any questions feel free to ask them before the round.
sohan.bellam@emory.edu
I won't adjudicate issues that happened outside of the debate. I do not like planless affirmatives. Do what you like.
Glenbrook North '21
He/him/his
Please add derrikcdebate@gmail.com to the email chain, and please give the email chain a relevant name (e.g. "Round 1 Viking Rumble: GBN XX [AFF] v. GBN YY [NEG])
Top Level:
Qualifications: Debated at Glenbrook North for four years as a 2A and mostly read extinction impacts. Champion and 4th speaker at the Cross River Classic Invitational, qualified to the TOC, etc.
Novices -- don't adapt to me. I'll adapt to you. Please be respectful, especially during cross-ex. There is no need to be overly rude, defensive, demeaning, etc. Everyone's learning.
My ideal debate to judge is one where teams go substantially slower, engage with and collapse to truthful arguments, and make bold strategic decisions. I would much rather judge a debate where the NEG reads four developed offcase positions than one where the NEG reads eight or more scattered offcase with no clear strategic vision. However, I do understand the strategic necessity of reading large amounts of offcase, so feel free to do whatever you please.
I largely agree with this section of Anthony Miklovis's paradigm: You do you. I'll do my best to not be ideological. Below are my predispositions that I'll usually err towards when debated equally. None of these are absolute truths and can be easily reversed through technical debating. BUT, my familiarity with certain arguments might affect my ability to adjudicate claims in round, so do be mindful of that when I say "you do you."
I'd like it if debaters gave me easy outs rather than forcing me to dive deeply into contested issues
Sending analytics is good for clash
Please speak slower and clearer, and watch my facial reactions to your arguments, as I tend to be rather expressive
Please respect your opponents
Rounds judged on the water topic: 46
'21-'22 lowest speaks: 27.5
'21-'22 highest speaks: 29.6
'21-'22 average speaks: 28.7
Ks:
I encourage you to read kritiks that function as disadvantages (e.g. Neolib/Cap K)
I find that the aff should get to weigh in the plan in almost all circumstances
It will be very difficult to convince me to vote for high theory or post-modernism
I do not find most ontology claims persuasive
Perf con makes sense versus epistemology claims
Planless Affs:
Generally not the judge for you
The aff should be related to and in the direction of the topic
Fairness is an impact, but I find clash and education-based arguments to be more persuasive
Counterinterps are usually self serving, so I would rather you impact turn T
NEG teams should impact turn (cap good, heg good, etc.)
Please do not go for a K vs a planless aff unless you can explain it extremely well
Topicality:
I would rather you not go for topicality in front of me, but I understand if it's the only option you have versus an abusive affirmative
Precision > everything. I think most interpretation evidence is atrocious and aff teams should exploit that more
I have never seen an affirmative team reasonably explain reasonability, but that does not mean that it is a bad argument
Counterplans:
I'll judge kick if the 2NR makes the argument. Sufficiency framing seems to be a waste of breath because I will always evaluate if the counterplan solves enough of the case.
Process counterplans are probably illegit (oftentimes dependent on literature), but I would rather affirmatives go for a solvency deficit and net benefit takeout than a tricky permutation or theoretical objection
Intuitive analytical advantage counterplans are strategic. Advantage counterplans + impact turns seem to be underutilized strategies that are killer.
Counterplans that are probably bad: international fiat, object fiat, delay fiat, 'going through legal deficits' fiat
If you want to go for theory, make more specific theory arguments to filter NEG offense
Disads:
The preferred 2NR. When I debated, I read politics, rider, case-specific, etc. Neg ground is atrocious, so I understand and would absolutely enjoy if you decide to go for politics. I think that turns case is usually the deciding factor in disad debates. Please do multiple levels of turns case (e.g. link turns internal link, link turns impact, AND impact turns internal link, etc.)
I think no risk is possible but difficult if the NEG executes correctly
Most disad internal links make little sense, so smart analytics can always lower disad risk
The 1AR seems to get away with a lot of murder here
Theory:
I don't think neg teams explain why conditionality is good well.
I have yet to see a team go for ASPEC, but I think it's a competent strategy given all the agent abuse affs seem to do these days. Same with vagueness, I guess.
Misc.
"Troll" arguments are interesting thought experiments, but I'm unlikely to vote on them
Debaters should time themselves during the round. I'll try to keep track of time, but I'm not perfect.
I want to judge impact turn debates (dedev, please)
Scale:
Policy---x----------------------------------------K
Read a plan-x-----------------------------------Do whatever
Tech----------------x------------------------------Truth
Read no cards----------------x-------------------Read all the cards
Conditionality good-------------------x----------Conditionality bad
PIC's good---x-----------------------------------PIC's bad
States CP good-----x-----------------------------States CP bad
Go for T-----------------------------------x------Don't go for T
Politics DA is a thing-x-------------------------------Politics DA not a thing
Always VTL-x--------------------------------------Sometimes NVTL
UQ matters most--------------------x-------------Link matters most
Not our Baudrillard------------------------------x- Yes your Baudrillard
Clarity-x--------------------------------------------Srsly who doesn't like clarity
Presumption------x--------------------------------Never votes on presumption
Resting grumpy face--x---------------------------Grumpy face is your fault
Longer ev--------------------x--------------------More ev
"Insert this rehighlighting"----------------------x-I only read what you read
Fiat solves circumvention-----x---------------------LOL trump messes w/ ur aff
2017 speaker points-------x------------------------2007 speaker points
CX about impacts---------------------x-----------CX about links and solvency
Fiat double bind------------------------------------------x-literally any other arg
Pronouns - him/he\they
Email(s) - abraham.corrigan@gmail.com, acorrigan1@glenbrook225.org, catspathat@gmail.com
Hello!
Thank you for considering me for your debate adjudication needs! Judging is one of my favorite things & I aspire to be the judge I wanted when I debated, namely one who was flexible and would judge the debate based on arguments made by debaters. To do that, I seek to be familiar with all debate arguments and literature bases such that my own ignorance will not be a barrier to judging the arguments you want to go for. This is an ongoing process and aspiration for me rather than an end point, but in general I would say you should probably pref me.
I'm fun!
Sometimes I even have snacks.
<*Judging Quirks*>
- I have absolutely zero poker face and will make a lot of non verbals. Please do not interpret these as concrete/100% definitive opinions of mine but rather as an expression of my initial attempts to place your argument within the particular context of the other arguments advanced in a debate.
- All arguments are evaluated within their particular context - Especially on the negative, as a debater in high school and college I went for and won a lot of debates on arguments which would be described, in a vacuum, as 'bad.' Sometimes, all you have to say is a turd and your rebuttal speeches will largely be what some of my judges described as 'turd-shinning.' This means (unless something extreme is happening which is unethical or triggering my mandatory reporter status as a public school employee) I generally prefer to let the arguments advanced in the debate dictate my view of what is and what isn't a 'good' argument.
- I am not a 'k' or 'policy' judge. I just like debate.
<*My Debate History*>
I am a 2a. This means, if left to my own devices and not instructed not to look for this, the thing that I will implicitly try to do is identify a way to leave stuff better than we found it.
High School
- I debated at H-F HS, in Illinois, for my first two years of debate where I was coached by creeps.
- My junior & senior year in HS I transfered to Glenbrook South where I was coached most by Tara Tate (now retired from debate), Calum Matheson (now at Pitt), & Ravi Shankar (former NU debater).
My partner and I largely went for agenda politics da & process cps or impact turns. We were a bit k curious, but mostly read what would be described as 'policy' arguments.
College
- I debated in college for 4 years at Gonzaga where I was coached by Glen Frappier (still DoF at GU), Steve Pointer (now [mostly] retired from debate), Jeff Buntin (current DoD at NU), Iz-ak Dunn (currently at ASU), & Charles Olney (now [mostly] retired from debate).
My partner and I largely went for what is now be described as 'soft left' arguments on the affirmative and impact turns and unusual counterplans when we were negative.
Coaching
- After graduating, I coached at Northwestern University for a year. My assignments were largely 2ac answers & stuff related to translating high theory arguments made by other teams into things our less k debaters could understand.
- I then moved to Lexington, Kentucky and coached at the University of Kentucky for two years. My assignments were largely aff & all things 2a & answering k stuff on the negative.
- I then coached/did comm graduate work at Wake Forest for two years.
- I then took a break from debate and worked as a paralegal at a law firm which was focused on civil lawsuits against police, prisons, whistleblower protections as well as doing FOIA requests for Buzzfeed.
- I then came back to debate, did some logistics for UK, then Mrs. Corrigan got the GBS job & the rest is history!
Hey, I'm Taylor (she/her)
Please include me on the email chain: taylordakerdebate@gmail.com
GBN '22
Being nice to your partner and your opponent will get you higher speaks. There is no reason to include statements, comments, or remarks that may be deemed hurtful to others.
Not a fan of Ks or theory, but you shouldn't change your neg strat because of that. Run whatever you feel comfortable with because more than likely you'll explain it better. In short, explain arguments thoroughly.
guno/sean/judge. do with that as you will
flow.
+0.5 speaks given if you add me without asking. do with that as you will
be nice. don't do with that as you will. be nice.
don't be racist/sexist/homophobic/etc. don't do with that as you will. don't be racist/sexist/homophobic/etc.
don't read death good. don't do with that as you will. don't read death good
i've been equally a 2A and 2N, but i prefer being a 2A. do with that as you will
Topicality: I've had two T debates in my life. do with that as you will
Kritiks: order of understandability
--security---queer theory -------setcol---------------------other identity-----------------------------------------------high theory
don't drop fw
do with that as you will
K Affs: k affs have value but i don't think u shud read it as a novice. do with that as you will
fw/t-usfg are my bread and butter. went for it in every 1nr. do with that as you will
Disads: bread and butter. went for it in every 1nr. do with that as you will
Counterplans: literally never took it in the 1nr. don't drop perms. do with that as you will
Theory: don't drop it. go for it if they do. do with that as you will
30 speaks if you have a methane impact. do with that as you will
jokes abt ppl at gbn, gbs, nt, oprf, minn south, or uc lab +0.5 speaks. do with that as you will
u can read anyone from gbn's paradigm and i'll agree for the most part. sohan bellam's paradigm details thoughts about k affs that i agree wtih
gbn '22 - msu '26 - 1n/2a for all 5 years - she/her
last updated: 4.21.2024
please put me on the chain:
most importantly (in order):
1. be nice to each other, flow, have fun
2. don't be rude, sexist, racist, homophobic, etc.. i have no problem contacting tabroom or your coaches when if i feel my role as a judge needs to become subordinate to my role as an educator
3. i will not evaluate things that occurred outside of the debate. if something was truly problematic, the debate should be stopped and tab should be contacted. in a similar vein, i strongly believe you should reach out to an opponent if you find an ethics issue with their evidence. substituting a caseneg with an ethics violation that you found pre-round probably makes debate worse than the ethics issue itself.
4. tech > truth (but truth makes it easier to win tech)
5. these are my predispositions -- they can all be changed with good debating (see the line right above this)
6. arguments need a claim, warrant, and impact -- if you do not have all 3, i don't care if it's dropped. if it takes you less time to read your aspec 1nc shell than it takes me to type out "aspec = vi," it isn't an argument and i don't really care if the 2ac doesn't have an answer.
7. impact calc and framing really matter -- top of your 2nr/2ar should tell me what i'm voting on and why. my life is easier and happier if you write my ballot for me
8. tag team cx is fine but don't speak over your partner
9. you don't need a card to make an argument (see #6), but card probably beats no card
10. prep time ends whenyou say it does. if you prep after the timer ends, prep time ends when I say it has.
---things that can happen after prep ends: sending a speech, standing up, giving an order, setting a timer.
---things that cannot happen after prep ends: editing a doc (includes copy-pasting things), saving a doc, talking to your partner
11. marked doc is not removing the cards you skipped (this is flowing), its only adding "mark" for cards that you did not finish. if a team asks for a new card doc with the cards the other team skipped, you should take prep for them to put that together.
*topicality*
-i read questionably topical affs all 4 years of high school and 1 in college - do your worst but do it well
-precision > predictability > limits > ground
---specifically: grammatical precision > legal precision > contextual precision > overlimiting > neg ground > under-limiting > aff ground > topic education
-loooooove plan text in a vacuum, but affs tend to not debate it thoroughly enough
*framework / t-usfg*
-i love a good fairness debate but am not a die-hard fairness hack. probably think clash / testing and fairness are more convincing than something like movement lawyering, but it's debatable
-i think tvas and switch-side debate are pretty good ways to cut down the aff's offense
-i mostly tend to think affs should have a counter-interp because i need models of debate to compare. if your strategy is to impact-turn framework, i will assume that means your c/i is 'affs get to do what they want, how they want'
*disads*
-specific links are important, but not as important as a good story
-a thumper isn't a thumper until you tie it back to the link. for example, saying 'there are other bills on the agenda' is not a thumper until you win that those other bills will cost pc
-0 risk is a thing (maybe not aaaactually a thing, but probability can get so low that i should treat it as zero risk)
*counterplans & theory*
-anything is fair game as long as you can defend it BUT if the counterplan is cheating, the aff should be able to beat it on theory or a perm more easily
-i wont judge kick unless you tell me to (saying "the status quo is always an option" does count as telling me to)
-just saying "sufficiency framing" <<<<<<<<< explain why the counterplan solves / how i should evaluate it
-condo is probably bad (i know, hot take) but that won't matter if both sides just spread blocks at each other. you should NOT read this as 'she wants to only hear condo speeches'
-condo is probably the only theory violation worthy of rejecting the team unless there is an argument otherwise starting in the 2ac (but its a pretty high threshold)
-theory is (almost) always a question of models and (almost) never a question of in-round abuse
*kritiks*
-i've been around the block with the literature but that doesn't mean i want to hear baudrillard blocks spread directly into your computer at 400 wpm (nobody does)
-i tend to think ks need an alternative that solves the links and impacts, but high-quality framework debating can arguably substitute for this (i really do prefer k's that are more than 'you link, you lose')
-it's pretty hard to convince me that we should never do anything to meliorate a problem a team has isolated
-in a perfect world, links are causal, specific, and unique. this world is far from perfect
-i'm better for the k than you think (filter this through the fact that it came from me...obviously there's some bias there)
---
if you have any specific questions about my preferences, feel free to ask before and after the round :) im happy to help
good luck, have fun !!
Jake Kalinovskiy
Current debater at GBN
GBN 2022
-- add me don't ask
-- tag team cx is good
-- if I don't say anything/am quiet assume I'm good. I'll lyk if I'm not ready
Be interesting/funny = speaks + more likely to do work for you, I prefer to give higher speaks, don't give me a reason to doc yours.
I reward argumentative creativity, I've debated revisionism 50 times -- what makes you special?
- analytics are real arguments -- a smart analytic > unexplained card
- if you try to out-card them and just don't analyze it I really don't care how many cards you read.
- if you read answers to arguements that were in the doc but they didn't get to I will be disappointed.
- I like debate/K tricks if you understand them.
- a dropped argument is true if warranted/impacted out in the rebuttals
Debates about debate are my favorite, go slow: - this is my bread and butter, just please please please tell me why to prefer your model
T, Theory(all of it, condo especially), Framework = much love - the framework page goes aff or neg, that frames every other flow.
Case debate:
I'm probably going to start evaluating the debate here, probably a good idea to win case.
neg, if you don't have cards use analytics PLEASE
Framing: - also frames the rest of the debate (unless you tell me why it doesn't)
if its not case specific I care very little
debate changes value framing
if the disad is bad you don't need ThEiR lInK cHaIN is lOnG (this means connetta and all of the cards like it, just take it out of your 1ac, I will comment after the round how much of a waste of breath this is and no one needs to hear that lecture)
i LOVE the framing contention, but if you read one it needs to be a massive part of the debate. This has to be the hill you die on or its a waste of 1ac space
T:
love it
fairness is probably an internal link but so is nuclear war
Da:
- is your politics link unique? is it really? okay then go for it
- real disads: I'm down, have fun. Connetta is wrong
- 0 risk is a thing
Cp:
Pcp is a good answer to garbage
- Pcp is a T debate -- what does your model of debate look like?
I love garbage if it can beat Pcp
don't bother with solvency advocate theory
-- if you can finagle their aff away I respect it. they have to defend every aspect of the aff. (if it passes the Perm test its a viable option)
condo/judge kick:
I'm down for the condo debate -- I won't make up excuses to vote neg - I love debates about debate, if you create a spicy condo speech you will be rewarded handily in speaks
judge kick is the most abusive thing this side of the Atlantic, but if you don't answer it I have no choice.
impact turns:
- thebomb.com
- big stick affs don't get 'but killing people is bad' as an answer
K:
neg:
don't read it if you can't explain it in English -- K goop in the final rebuttals that hasn't been clearly defined in by the rebuttals will be ignored
if you're reading a framework K -- don't be weasly, the 2nr should be very clear about what you want me to vote on.
-- the neg has to have reps if you're reading a reps K.
if you fiat the alt -- I can be convinced that the pic is okay
have an alt
if you wanna read security abt an impact that isn't terrorism, I'm not your guy.
aff:
most Ks are incoherent and I'll vote on it without a second thought
neg link uniqueness and alt solvency are usually jokes
Kaff:
you're a novice. please don't
if you decide not to read my paradigm, it probably has pedagogical value but the neg ballot on T is looking delicious right about now.
Speaks:
- FLOW -- if you send a picture of your flow in the doc and I like it I'll boost your speaks
- I want to give you higher speaks
Last updated pre-Michigan Camp Tourney 2023.
Policy debater at McQueen High School for 4 years (2015-2019), Policy debater at UMich (2019-2021).
Former coach at Glenbrook South (2022) and SLC West (2019-2021).
Got my Masters in Secondary Education from UMich (2023). I am a secondary social studies teacher in Michigan.
Rounds judged on the 2023-2024 topic: 1!
Please add me on the email chain: reesekatej@gmail.com
My pronouns are they/them. I am white. I am a friggin bum. I do live in a trailer with my mom. I have no need for trigger warnings. Don’t be mean and don’t be sexist/racist/homophobic etc.
I have no paradigms I explicitly look to for inspiration, but in life I am very inspired by Ricky LaFleur if that is any indication of my intelligence or judging style.
TL;DR: none of these are really hot takes, just debate well and explain stuff. Debate is about denial and error, don't be afraid to try something risky in front of me. I'm a middle-of-the-road judge, I judge a lot of clash debates.
*For Public Forum specific info, scroll to the bottom.
******Random Predispositions******
- Animal suffering is a relevant utilitarian consideration. You can beat animal Schopenhauer/human death good, it would be screwy if I auto-voted on that, but don’t assume I’m presumptively human-biased.
- If you run the “Speaks K”, I will auto-deduct .2 speaks.
- Accidentally using words like "stupid" or "crazy" is usually solved by an apology and would not warrant a loss.
- Write your plans/CPs correctly.
- I'd prefer you don't talk to me while your opponent is prepping.
******Thoughts on various arguments******
T
I feel like I’ve become somewhat neg leaning in T debates. This is because sometimes the aff is not good at extending offense to their interpretation when they don’t decisively meet the negative’s interp. I generally default to an offense/defense paradigm when evaluating T. So, affirmative, you need to have offense to your interp, or you need to persuasively explain why you meet their interp. Negative, not much to say for you here. One of the things you need to do is provide a positive and a negative caselist for your interp. Absent a positive caselist (i.e. the list of cases the aff could read), I find the aff’s overlimiting/predictability offense much more persuasive.
Also, it doesn't take rocket appliances to compare interpretation evidence, you should do it so I don't have to after the round and give you an RFD you won't like.
K
I like kritiks, I will listen to any kritik. I am a sucker for psychoanalysis and settler colonialism, but I like em all. Please be clear on what the alternative does and defend your worldview. I like links that are specific to the aff. I generally default to weighing the aff against a competitive alternative, unless someone tells me otherwise.
Role of the judge: Not to sleep through pairings, but I’m open to alternatives
Extinction first framing is persuasive to me, please spend time on this argument. I see a lot of K teams in high school blow this off and I have no idea why. It is a very easy way to lose the debate.
This is especially important if you are aff: perms need to have a perm text. Saying "perm", "extend the perm", and then not saying what the perm is or does irks me and doesn't constitute a complete argument. It is especially hard to evaluate when you have read 6 perms and then you just say "extend the perm" and I don't know which one you are going for.
Thoughts specific to antiblackness - I am most persuaded by specific examples on both sides. Explaining the three pillars and the libidinal economy to me isn't enough - I need specific examples of laws or actions that prove your theory as opposed to pure description.
Thoughts specific to settler colonialism - I am not sure how you can get to "settler colonialism/indigeneity etc. is ontological" by regurgitating gratuitous violence, natal alienation and general dishonor and applying it to indigenous people. Because of my thoughts above, I don't find this persuasive, but its double confusing for me because these are different areas of scholarship.
DA
I love disads, which is unfortunate considering that there aren’t a lot of good ones on this topic. I read a lot of cards in DA/DA + CP debates, so my advice is to do a little ev comparison here and read good evidence to begin with. DAs start at 100 percent risk and the aff should take it down from there.
I am typically unpersuaded by short analytical turns case analysis in most disad overviews - I would recommend you read cards unless you can very persuasively explain a turns case argument without one.
CP
Yay, I like counterplans! The more creative the better, get wild with it.
I like plan flaw debates and counterplan flaws matter. Write your counterplan texts correctly.
If the CP debate is gonna be heavy on CP competition, understand that English grammar/the dictionary don't interest me in the slightest and you're going to have to explain to me what a "transitive verb" is if it becomes relevant. And especially on this topic when the definition of the word "the" is apparently so important, for the love of god do some ev comparison or impact out what these definitions mean for debate-ability or something.
Case
I love case debate. If you're negative, point out errors in aff construction and debate impact defense well. If you're affirmative, defend your baby.
Impact turn debates are my absolute favorite to judge, as they often are the best for evidence comparison and impact calculus iv you do them right.
I would prefer if you explicitly extended each impact you're going for in the 2AC. Listing a bunch off with no explanation or saying "we have impacts, they dropped them" makes impact comparison harder for me and it just isn't persuasive.
For soft left affs/framing: I'm sympathetic to probability claims coming from soft left affs but am much more persuaded by claims about why discussing structural violence impacts in debate is important or a deontology angle. For example, I would prefer you say "we should prioritize structural violence impacts in debate because that's what we are most likely to be able to engage with in real life/extinction framing indefinitely obscures structural violence" as opposed to "probability first = util" because the l think the latter is just untrue.
Non-plan affs/K affs
I used to say I wasn’t good for K aff debates, but people kept reading K affs in front of me and I realized I will vote for anything.
I think debate is a game, but you can still win a K aff. You can also persuade me that debate is something more than a game. I will listen K aff debates and evaluate them like I would any other round, but I have a few preconceptions that are relevant. If you're aff, leveraging your offense against clash/fairness/advocacy skills etc. is a good way to get me to vote aff. I am unpersuaded by affs that can't defend that there is some value in negating the aff unless your aff is some flavor of a) debate bad, b) a survival strategy, or c) anything where you argue that negation is bad or unnecessary.
If you're neg, the framework debate can be fairly generic but I think you should still address the components of the case debate that can be used as offense against framework. I am persuaded by procedural fairness as an impact, although I find that debates are easier to evaluate if you go for something external. I also enjoy when neg teams read a K or a DA against non-plan affs. It makes the debate much more interesting.
Theory/Other Issues
I don't unconditionally support conditionality. Feel free to go for condo bad if you're aff, just debate it well. Other theory issues are usually a reason to reject the argument, not the team (unless you just plain drop it).
I often notice that teams will read their generic theory block and not answer the specific standards of their opponent and then leave me to compare for them. If this happens in a theory debate, I usually just default to not rejecting the argument/team.
******CX Stuff******
Although I might seem like I’m not paying attention, don’t judge a cover of a book by its look - I listen to cross examination intently, I just want to avoid staring at my computer screen during online debates so I don't get eye strain.
I’m okay with tag team cross ex but please don’t talk over your partner if you can help it. Remember, a link is only as long as your strongest long chain - it is better to develop CX skills and improve for the benefit of the partnership in the long term, so don’t worry if your partner sounds a little silly or if you think you can answer a question better than them. You can interrupt if needed, but don't make it egregious.
******FUN******
Stuff/people I like that you can reference in your speeches: Trailer Park Boys, Eminem, Minecraft, Kurt Fifelski and Thomas Nelson Vance. Ask your parents permission before seeking out info on any of this media.
Health tip – eat more soluble fiber!
Thanks for reading, have a fun round, and feel free to ask questions if my paradigm is unclear.
******For PF/LD******
I have not judged much PF or LD and I have a limited understanding of some of the norms and practices of the event. I have seen a few rounds before so it’s not completely new to me. Odds are I will end up evaluating your round like I would evaluate a policy round, so see above. Counterplans (if that is what you call them) are presumed OK in my book unless someone convinces me otherwise. Spreading is also fine unless someone convinces me otherwise. I promise I have brain cells and I know what the topic is. Ask me questions if stuff in my paradigm doesn't make sense and I will explain it.
they/them pronouns only
Email: reesemax99@gmail.com
Experience: Policy debate - 4 years at UNLV, 4 years before at McQueen HS; started judging LD 2020; currently at KU Law.
I am very open to hearing any arguments at any speed. I am willing to vote for nearly anything. Anyone can beat anyone anytime. Do what you do best.
Specific updates (last update: 03/09/2023)
-- 10-ish years in the activity have taught me that long paradigms are often showing off or sometimes flat-out lies, so when I say "run whatever" I DO mean it and any specifics written are things I find particularly importantI
- If you put your hands on another debater without their permission, I do not care if it is part of the argument. I will stop the round, you will get an automatic loss and 0 speaks.
- I am very unlikely to vote on stuff like "death good" without a compelling reason; cross-apply to arguments about someone's prefs, interactions that happened before the round which I did not witness, giving someone perfect speaks, etc. If you want to do something in round besides debate (color, play supersmash, etc.) that's great, but I am in the back to judge a debate. If you do not make arguments, it will be very hard to win my ballot. "Argument" can be incredibly broad, and there isn't a clear/normative limit on it per se.
- Topicality needs an impact. If a team is not topical, but there is no impact, there is no reason to care and I'm more likely to vote on reasonability if being untopical does nothing. This includes T-USFG (Framework). This is also applicable to theory arguments like condo - I am not unsympathetic but the threshold is high.
- Kritikal affs need specific explanations of offense, and what the aff does, by at very least the 2AR -- if you do not know what the aff does, then I don't either, which makes it harder for me to weigh any of your offense -- on that note, err on simplifying/over-explaining terminology or lofty concepts.
The same is true of policy affs: policy affs with a lot of reliance on technology that is developing or doesn't exist yet need robust explanations compared to known technology that many people understand. I am not an AI or hypersonic missile expert, so throwing out relevant acronyms w 0 explanation will do exactly nothing to convince me you know what you're talking about. I am also inherently skeptical of claims about dangerous technology eventually existing when there are other arguments that will inevitably happen sooner than (e.g.) self-replicating AI can be achieved.
Generally don't assume I am an expert on what outside of debate might be considered a niche topic, even if you think it is widespread knowledge in the activity.
- I will not vote on something just because the other team dropped it. I need an explanation of why it matters that the other team dropped it, and (if you're gonna go for it as the A-strat in your last speech) why it outweighs any of their other arguments.
- Similarly, I will not do work for you to explain why you win. Explicit explanation and contextualization is necessary; you control the direction of the debate and I would prefer to intervene as little as possible.
--------Here is an example: reading a bunch of "extinction fake/DAs bad" cards matter very little to me unless they are explicitly used to frame out the extinction claims of the other team and are compared as a method of viewing the world as well as my role in the debate. Ask yourself before you do framing: Why should Max care about the cards I have read/extended and their corresponding extensions? I will also admit I have a bias towards extinction framing because if we die we're dead, but disproving the DA and extending framing will easily change this for me
Some other minor things to note:
- Online debate: a good thing to do in case your tech fails is to record your speeches so they can be sent out in case the Zoom Room goes dead mid-speech. You don't have to have your camera on; I will have mine on for speeches until the debate is over, and then turn it back on after I submitted a ballot. THAT said, also still check to see if I am there, sometimes I forget to mention I am stepping away during prep.
- My brain and ears aren't really friends with one another, so if you're unclear I might miss something. I will yell clear twice -- that's it.
- Be a decent human being! Debate is competitive, but that doesn't mean you should make someone feel bad about themselves as a person.
- I'm not going to time you. I think people are or should be capable of timing themselves and not cheating. Time your opponents too if you want.
- please don't call me "judge", it's weird -- "you can't x" is more efficient and less impersonal. You can even call me Max if you want idc.
LD Debaters:
- Do whatever you want, I do not have any opinions on how you debate unless you violate others or cheat in any way/shape/form. Circuit debaters take the time to read anything from my policy debate-based information that may be applicable to your style of debating (speed, argumentation style, etc)
Subject the email chain - Tournament Name Round # - Aff Team AFF vs Neg Team NEG
Debated at Maine East (2016-2020, TOC Circuit) and the University of Pittsburgh (2020-2023, NDT Qual)
I will boost speaker points if you follow @careerparth on tiktok, bring (vegetarian) food/snacks, and end the debate as fast as possible.
I took most of this paradigm from Reed Van Schenck:
Career wise, my arguments of preference were more critical (Afropessimism, Settler Colonialism, Capitalism, and the likes). I enjoy judging clash debates, policy vs critical. Traditional policy debaters should take note of my lack of experience in policy v policy debates and rank me very low on their judging preferences.
The one thing you should know if you want my ballot is this: If you say something, defend it. I mean this in the fullest sense: Do not disavow arguments that you or your partner make in binding speeches and cross-examination periods, but rather defend them passionately and holistically. If you endorse any strategy, you should not just acknowledge but maintain its implications in all relevant realms of the debate. The quickest way to lose in front of me is to be apprehensive about your own claims.
When in doubt, referring to the judging philosophies of the following folks will do you well: Micah Weese, Reed Van Schenck, Calum Matheson, Alex Holguin, & Alex Reznik
Everything below this line is a proclivity of mine that can be negotiated through debate:
I think that debate is a game with pedagogical and political implications. As such, I see my role as a judge as primarily to determine who won the debate but also to facilitate the debaters' learning. Everything can be an impact if you find a way to weigh it against other impacts, this includes procedural fairness. When my ballot is decided on the impact debate, I tend to vote for whoever better explains the material consequence of their impact. Use examples. Examples can help to elucidate (the lack of) solvency, establish link stories, make comparative arguments, and so many more useful things. They are also helpful for establishing your expertise on the topic. All thing said, at the end of the day, I will adapt to your argument style.
I dislike judges who exclude debaters because of what they decide to read in a debate round, I will NOT do that as long as you don't say anything racist, sexist, etc.
Speaker points are arbitrary. I tend to give higher speaker points to debaters who show a thorough understanding of the arguments they present. I am especially impressed by debaters who efficiently collapse in the final rebuttals. I will boost speaker points if rebuttals are given successfully with prep time remaining and/or off the flow!
Public Forum Debate
The faster you end the debate, the higher your speaks.
I am a flow-centric judge on the condition your arguments are backed with evidence and are logical. My background is in policy debate, but regardless of style, and especially important in PF, I think it's necessary to craft a broad story that connects what the issue is, what your solution is, and why you think you should win the debate.
I like evidence qualification comparisons and "if this, then that" statements when tied together with logical assumptions that can be made. Demonstrating ethos, confidence, and good command of your and your opponent's arguments is also very important in getting my ballot.
I will like listening to you more if you read smart, innovative arguments. Don't be rude, cocky, and/or overly aggressive especially if your debating and arguments can't back up that "talk." Not a good look.
Give an order before your speech
Eli Stern
GBN 2022
Add me to the chain
--General
-Debate is a game for some- for others it implications and skills hold real world consequences
-Dont be sexist, homophobic, racist, ableist, or insulting
- Tech----x----------------Truth
- Plz know your args
-Clipping is bad and will prompt me to hand you a loss
--Case
- Great case debates are like finding diamonds in minecraft
- This is the top of where I will evaluate the debate
--DA
- I dislike the politics DA- sadly this is like the only generic DA on the topic so I can be persuaded
- Other disads are great
- Explain link clearly
- Impact calc
- If they strait turn it becomes their offense so you have to answer it
--CP/Theory
- Winning theory = reject the arg
- Real net benefit is better than an artifical one
- I will vote for process cp's, and agent cp's- but am persuaded by good theory explanation
- 3 or more conditional advocacys is risky
- Will not vote for a 30 sec explenation of condo in the 2ar
--K
- Know the argument you are reading
- Dont spend 3 minutes on an overview
- Reading strictly blocks is painfull and I will stop flowing
- Line by line is crucial
- Links need to be concise and clear- "the state is bad" is not good enough
- Reps k's will need explanations of links to reps
- Having an external impact is good
- I am familiar with Security/Cap/Neolib/Abolition/Queer theory/Afropess/Abolition/Deleuze/Bataille so feel free to run what you want
- Read Baudrillard---x----------------Dont read Baudrillard
- Death good--------------x---Fear of death bad
- k's of fiat i.e Antonio, or Ossewarde need clear explanation
- Framework gets evaluated first
--K affs
- not when you're a novice
- Your aff should be topical
--Speaks
- Speaks generally begin at 27 and go up
Things to improve your speaks
- Sign post
- Be clear
- Flow
- Roadmaps
- Adding me to email chain without asking
Debated at GBS
PSA: I have not looked that deeply into CJR, so keep that in mind with your usage of lingo/abbreviations during round.
Top Level-I prefer DAs and CPs over any kind of K, but I am willing to vote on anything if it is explained properly. I will only vote for a dropped argument if it's pointed out by the opposite team, but it still has to be explained to me why they should lose on it. It is up to you to convince me why I should vote for you, and I should not have to do any work for any of your arguments after the last speech.
Affirmatives: I am a policy-oriented judge, and I prefer affs that are centered around USFG action and that is grounded in the topic. K Affs are not my thing, but I would still vote for them. I am more likely to vote for Policy Affs than K Affs.
Disads- I love a good Disad/Case debate, but you have to properly impact out your DA for me to vote on it.
Counterplans- Love Counterplans, but you have to provide adequate solvency advocates, as solvency deficits can hurt your chances to win on the CP.
Kritiks- I understand the generics of Ks, but I am not that well versed in the specifics of a lot of Kritiks, so it is really up to you to explain that to me during the round.
Theory- It is a hit or miss for me, Limit on condo is kinda wonky and I'm pretty open to interpretation on that. Otherwise, it is really up to you to prove to me why I should reject the team.
Topicality- Topicality I think is a great negative strategy if done right. It is up to you to prove to me why your interpretation is the best for debate, and properly extend your impacts throughout the entire debate for me to vote for you.
Remember to flow, time your own prep, and DO NOT STEAL PREP
Yes, I want to be on the email chain, and my email is k.subadedebate@gmail.com, I will add some speaker points if you add me to the chain without asking.