Last changed on
Wed March 9, 2022 at 12:28 PM EDT
email chain: rohitjivangikar16@gmail.com
Experience:
Public Forum - Ivy Bridge Academy: 2016-2020
JV/Varsity PF Coach - Ivy Bridge Academy: 2020-2021
General Preferences:
1. Argumentation - While there are typically a few popular arguments for every topic, that doesn't influence my preference towards the arguments that you run. I'm open to any and every argument, as long as you have the evidence and warrants to debate it.
2. Warrants - As open as I am to arguments, you need to have some sort of logical flow to them, and warrants should be the easiest way to justify your arguments when needed. If your cards and links do not have any warrants, I will have a tough time buying it and factoring it into my decision.
3. Weighing - It's important that both sides explicitly tell me why their side wins the debate. I look for this specifically in the last 4 speeches, yet I do believe that some debaters overlook the link debate. I'd rather look for a realistic link to a realistic impact than a complex, unlikely link to an unrealistically severe impact. It all depends on how you choose to compare both sides, and the clearer the weighing, the easier it is for me to vote for you.
4. Frontlining - Although this is not necessarily a requirement in PF, I do highly encourage frontlining in 2nd rebuttal and will therefore reward teams that do it, effectively and efficiently, with speaker points. However, I do require that if you frontline, that you respond to all turns toward your case, or else I will consider them as conceded arguments.
5. Extending Arguments - A general norm that I followed when I debated that I will continue to look forward to is that any arguments that are brought up should have been extended in summary. This includes any turns, defense, contentions, weighing, and cards. As mentioned before, I'd prefer if you collapse the debate during summary rather than drop arguments in FF.
6. Summary - I view this as arguably the most important speech in the debate, and it's clear to see why. Arguments must be extended here. If you haven't mentioned weighing prior to this speech, it must start here. I will reward higher speaks for those who are able to strategically manage their time during this speech.
7. Paraphrasing - Although I am not in total support for this, I will not make it harder for you to win the debate if you paraphrase. That being said, you should be able to pull up a source when asked, and if any sources are misrepresented, then this will hurt your speaks, and will definitely influence my decision.
8. Crossfire - I don't flow crossfire but if you want me to consider anything that was said in crossfire, you'll have the mention it in the speech that directly follows.
9. Speaking - It's simple: debate, at its core, revolves around communication skills. Hence, I am fine with some speed, but I look down upon spreading in PF. I prefer clarity over speed in Summary and FF. Make sure you signpost during all speeches and off-time roadmaps are preferred but not needed.
10. Prep/Timing - I'll do my best to keep track of prep but make sure that you are keeping your own time throughout the round. If you go over time then it will affect your speaks.
11. Speech Docs - I highly prefer sharing/emailing any speech docs prior to the start of the round to my email above, as it will help me flow and understand your arguments and evidence. For teams that share docs to me, I'll add .5 speaker points for each debater. For elims, I require that all speech docs be sent.
Lastly, just enjoy the debate. Let me know if you have any other questions before the round.
