Interlake Invitational
2020 — Online, WA/US
Lincoln Douglas Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideAdd me to the email chain: ashleychen@live.com & interlakepolicydebate@gmail.com
Hi! I debated for 2.5 years (9th-11th) for Interlake HS and am currently a first year student at NYU Shanghai. Treat me similarly to a parent judge. I have no topic knowledge and spreading needs to be a bit slower and clear. Lastly, please be kind to your opponents.
Experience:
I was a 2A for most of my time at Interlake. Topics that I've debated on include immigration, arms sales, and a bit on CJR. Affs I read include EB-3s and Taiwan. 2NRs were usually set col during the arms sales topic. I've dabbled in everything but at the same time not too familiar with anything.
Preferences:
- Warrant out your arguments. Clash, otherwise my vote will just be a matter of my personal opinion. 2NRs/2ARs should present to me a story of the neg/aff and why I should vote for them. Overviews here are great! Weighing is very important - why one impact is greater than the other.
- Policy leaning, but will listen to everything.
- Theory. Frivolous theory isn't okay, just remember to answer it.
- Explain your acronyms. Some acronyms are okay, i.e. NATO, but others might be niche to the topic.
- Kritiks. Might not understand the literature, but pretty familiar with IR, cap, and set col. Aside from these Ks, I need a clear explanation of the K and its theory of power. There should be a clear link somewhere to the aff, and it must be explained so I can understand.
- Okay with non-traditional/K affs, but again, I might not understand the literature.
Feel free to email me if you have any questions about the RFD, debate, or NYU Shanghai!
I'm have been judging Mid and High school debate and speech since 2015 season and I think I know what I'm doing. I keep a reasonable flow. I can handle speed, but don't particularly like it.
I think a good debate round should engage in a substantive, rigorous, and critical discussion of the resolution, at the same time, be watchable to a general audience.
Don't just tell me that you win an argument, show me WHY you win it and what significance that has in the round. Please narrow the debate and WEIGH arguments in Summary and Final Focus. If you want the argument in Final Focus, be sure it was in the summary.
For Speech Events:
Relax and show your talent. Don’t rush and keep consistent pace of your speech. When entries that are really close in rank, the person who hit the purpose of the event most closely and whose performance flowed best will get better rank.
Remember to have fun, relax and enjoy the round!
***Ticky Tacky Stuff***
-No I do not care where you sit whether you are aff or neg. Aff can sit on the right or left... I don't care.
-If you have similar questions, like whether or not I care if you time yourself, take prep time, etc., the answer is I don't. I have been in debate rounds where the 1AC was a freestyle rap and poetry. There are no rules in debate besides time limits.
-Maybe instead of asking everyone in the room individually if they are ready, ask, "is there anybody not ready?"
-Don't start with your speech with "starting....my time.....now..." Or any variation of this. I don't know how this became a thing.
-Read impacts to things: tell me why economic collapse is bad instead of assuming I know.
-If you only have a lay case, which includes a variation of evidence and analytical arguments, do not speed unless you are super clear. I listen for tags/claims, the author, and date. I then wait until I hear another tag, author, date. I don't flow analytical arguments in fast rounds when they are mixed in with cards. I don't think that's even fair UNLESS you file-share/give your aff to the neg because they can't tell when the card author ends and your analytics begin. Ask about this if you don't get it!
***Rant Over***
LD has basically become policy, which is where most of my experience has come from.
Here is my experience, and I'll let you decide what you would like to read, I'm fine with anything you want to do.
High School:
4 years policy
4 years LD (NFL 08, 09)
4 years speech events
Wichita State Univ:
2 years policy
Kansas City Kansas Community College:
1 year policy (NDT 2011, CEDA Octos)
1 year LD (PRP National Chmpnshp)
Univ of Kansas:
1 year policy
Just a few simple things:
- Keep your arguments crisp and concise
- Speak clearly and slowly
- Present data to support your position; you won't win me with emotion
Please time yourself and don't talk over your opponent.
Good luck!
Kamiak 22'
---------UPDATE 2021--------------------------------------------------
My knowledge about this topic is not as deep as the past years so please unpack your arguments :)
----------INFO------------------------------------------------------------
Add me on the email chain :) ---> elina1025.ec@gmail.com
Pronouns: she/her or they/them
Currently a 2N but was a 2A freshman year.
tldr; whatever arg you like I'm prob fine with it.
Write the ballot for me in the 2ar/nr -->super important and will increase your speaks a lot. It is also because I feel bad to intervene and make my decision that way :(
-------------below are some of my general thoughts-----------------
Tech over truth 99.9999 percent
Drop args count and I will vote on the stupidest arg but you need to tell me why it matters. I would say I have a lower threshold on buying dropped theory arg. you really just have to make it a voter.
Tag team cx ok, cx is binding, flashing/sending doesn't count as prep
Mostly do what you want, I will try to adapt.
Fairness is a internal link to education unless you tell me otherwise.
policy-
cp, da, t-- no one will not be fine with it so... idk what to say. offense is important.
case debates are sooo important! recuttings and indicts makes me happy
kritiks-
k- Most familiar with security, imperialism, gender, abolition etc. Bad k debates are the worst debate. If you don't know the lit then prob don't run it, it will probably tank ur speaks. Contextualize links plzz--> super important. I am not voting for you unless you can explain to me why the aff SPECIFICALLY links to the k. Saying "because they reform they link" is not a link for me. FW+link -->ok , I don't think that the negative (for most Ks) needs to win an alternative if they can prove that the aff sucks or that their structural analysis of the world is both preferable and incompatible with the 1ac.
k aff- unless you can run it well or else bad k aff debates makes me sad. I don't think I am qual to judge a k v k round so plss don't.
Public Forum / LD
I guess if for some reason I am forced to judge one of these rounds I will view the round solely on my flow and mostly on impact calc made in the last speeches
Speaks
I know speaks inflation gets kind of annoying sometimes but I still give relatively high speaks
cheating means auto loss and lowest speaks possible :(
-1 pt when you say "can I start prep?" or "Can I take a minute of prep" or "I'm speaking in 3, 2, 1.." or any variations. You are the one debating and you should be in charge of your own time and I don't need to know that.
Things that will increase your speaks:
1. look at me during cx
2. good case line by line/ good analysis
3. good impact calc in your last speeches
4. actively engage in the debate!
I usually give 28 or higher speaks
I am a parent who volunteered to judge debate while one of my children was involved. Now that they have graduated I still help most weekends when I am able.
I am also a teacher; I have higher expectations of students who debate, simply because they are trying to improve. I am not a trained debate coach but I have been learning about debate for the last 7 years.
What I usually tell students who ask for my paradigm:
If I can't understand your words I can't judge your arguments. You have practiced your speeches, you know them, so help me understand what you have to say.
I like to hear a clear argument, so tell me what your points are, then offer your evidence. Be honest.
I like the occasional clever pun-but don't overdo it unless you can absolutely nail it!
The most important thing to keep in mind is: You are working hard and I respect that work. You are doing something that matters, thank you for learning about our world and refining your ability to discuss and make decisions about important issues.
Hello! I'm Peri (she/her) and I debated for Mount Vernon HS in Washington doing LD for 3 years in high school. I am also a part-time, de-facto assistant coach for the Mount Vernon team, and I'm starting my own at the school I currently teach at-- I've never really left the debate community, so I know a bit of the norms and I know what's going on. I have my Bachelor's in International Studies focused on Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Middle East and North Africa, and my Master's in International Relations (meaning I know more about the Middle East than the average person) Here is my email if you need it... periannakb@gmail.com
Congress:
A huge pet peeve of mine is 3...2..1 and my time starts on my first word. I wont start your timer until you start speaking. I promise.
Substance > Style
Don't rehash, bring up new points prevalent to the debate. I love to see refutation particularly after the first two speeches. Please, lets move on if we are just going to say the same thing over and over.
Every time you speak in a session, it gives me more reasons to rank you at the end of the round. Fight to give those speeches and use questions! Don't let any of that direct questioning time go to waste!!!
LD:
A huge pet peeve of mine is 3...2..1 and my time starts on my first word. I wont start your timer until you start speaking. I promise.
I did traditional LD in high school. I am a traditional LD judge. You can run some arguments but disguise them as more traditional and focus on that style to keep me a happy judge. Take that into account. Don't spread I won't understand. Explain your arguments clearly and you'll be fine. No Meta-Ethics or trix.
Side note: Please make sure you are educated on the 2024 Jan/Feb LD topic... I don't want to hear arguments that are factually untrue, and I'm excited for well-informed debates that get into the depths of this subject! I've written articles on this topic that you could use as a card-- I know it well.
PF:
A huge pet peeve of mine is 3...2..1 and my time starts on my first word. I wont start your timer until you start speaking. I promise.
I'm judging more and more pufo these days. I like clear, well organized constructives. Don't just read everything one note. I appreciate that public forum is supposed to be different than LD and Policy. Keep it that way.
Random framework arguments about the intent of the topic aren't going to work for me. If things change in the status quo, you need to be prepared to discuss them.
I debated local circuit LD for three years in high school. I will vote based on the flow/how you tell me to evaluate the round. I often end up voting on big picture and weighing arguments.
You can run progressive arguments but keep in mind that I'm not a circuit judge and I didn't do circuit debate so I may not have the same norms/make the same assumptions.
Email is alia_memon@outlook.com
Case/evidence email: k3n.nichols@gmail.com
Lincoln Douglas
Background: I've been judging high school Lincoln Douglas for over 6 years and work in the tech industry.
Speed: I'm a native English speaker, so faster than conversational delivery is fine, but debaters should attempt to be persuasive and not speak just to fill time. (I do appreciate good argumentation and have noticed that faster speakers tend to rush past important points without fully exploring their significance, so keep that in mind.)
Criteria: I consider myself to be a "traditional" LD judge. I value logical debate, with analysis and supporting evidence... co-opting opponents' value & criterion and showing how your case wins is completely fair and certainly a winning strategy. I do weigh delivery and decorum to some degree, but generally it isn't a factor... in the event of a tie, Neg wins. Neg owns the status quo, so the burden is on Aff to show why changes must be made.
Note: I don't care for "progressive" arguments... most of the time they're just a cheap ploy to ambush unsuspecting opponents instead of expanding our understanding of the problem and the philosophical underpinnings guiding our decision. (If you'd rather be doing policy, there's a whole other event for you to enter.)
Public Forum
Public Forum is based on T.V. and is intended for lay viewers. As a result, there's no paradigm, but some of the things that help are to be convincing, explain what the clash is between your opponents position and yours, and then show why your position is the logical conclusion to choose.
Interlake 23, Emory 27.
Email: michi.debate@gmail.com. Appreciate this subject line: Tournament - Round X - Team Code Aff v. Team Code Neg.
TL: I've said both policy and K and I am good to judge either. I will flow the debate straight down and evaluate the debate technically, following 2NR/2AR judge instruction. I will try to minimize intervention as much as possible. Minimal HS topic knowledge so overexplain acronyms/technical terms, but I have taken AP Micro/Macro for what it's worth. I have opinions about debate (below), but I am also very gullible and tech > truth. I think I am fairly expressive but don't read into it too much. I get to end the debate for -isms.
Clash: I've said the K Aff, but my AT: T win rate was/is abysmal, so good for either side! Aff notes: I find impact turns strategic, dislike when the 2AR is too new, impact comparison please. Neg notes: I find ballot scope arguments persuasive, limits DA needs a case-list, should adopt Aff language when answering offense.
K: Framework first, I will decide an interpretation and work from there. K teams should leverage tricks (framework, PIK, link turns case, ballot proximity, etc.) to moot/turn/outweigh the Aff. Aff teams should impact turn for wins or link turn for speaker points (lol).
Policy: No hot takes, slow down on T/theory/analytics.
TLDR: Substance first. Depth over Breadth. Speed mostly fine (Yes Clarity still matters -_-). K's n stuff fine. Not the biggest fan of T. Be organized.
I don't usually count flashing as prep unless it becomes a problem. Only ever had a problem in Policy and (funnily enough) Pufo rounds.
Email: graythesun@gmail.com
Pronouns: He/Him
Prep:
All Prep is running prep. I'm not setting a timer, I'm using a stopwatch for all prep. Watch your own time.
Flex-Prep is valid. As in, asking questions during Prep time. I prefer if Flex-prep is more used for clarifying arguments rather then finding tricky questions... you had your chance in CX.
Framework:
As a judge I really like framework, it tends to make for an easier decision. I.E. some arguments that are argued don't really fit within frameworks in round, and I can just drop them. If there are competing frameworks I expect you to debate them, and end up with one superseding the other. That being said... if you have the same or similar frameworks, unless you're gonna describe what the nuanced difference is and how that changes the valuation in round, it's almost better to just agree that the Fw's are the same.
Contention level:
I definitely prefer depth of argumentation over breadth, knowing your evidence is key to educating yourself on the topic. I will always buy a warrant from your evidence that's well explained and utilized over one that isn't. A lot of responses to arguments made against a card can be found within the card itself. This doesn't mean you should just re-read the card. This does not mean that you can reread your card or tagline and be good.
Hey! My name is Atul Rao, and I attend Baylor University. I did debate for 3 years in high school and qualified for State in Public Forum. Speed is not an issue for me, but if you choose to speak at 2 million words per minute, do not be mad at me for not getting everything on the flow.
Please don't tell me when your time starts. I can tell when you start speaking. If you are doing PF, feel free to give me a road map, but I will count it as on time. If you are doing LD, I won't count them as off-time, so don't worry about that.
For speaks, you start at a 27 and then go up or down depending on what happens in the round. I don't flow cross, but I will be paying attention and listening so I can better represent your speaks. There is a difference between a good crossfire and just talking over your opponent. If you talk over your opponent the whole time, not only will I not flow the points you make in cross, I will drop your speaks as well. If your opponent says something in cross that you want me to flow, bring it up in a speech. Speaks are also independent of who wins. You and your partner can both get a 30 from me and still lose, and you can both get 25s from me and still win.
I am not a boxing referee. I do not enjoy shouting matches. If you use ad hominem, I will immediately give you a 20 in speaks for the round and will probably vote against you.
I also vote off of only what happens in the round. If your opponent says something that I know is untrue, and you let it go unrefuted, I will flow it. Don't worry, I will only flow things that are brought up multiple times, so you should have multiple chances to refute their untrue statements.
As smart as you may be, you are not an expert. If your opponent has a card saying something, and you refute it by saying that "it isn't true" with nothing to back up your claim, I won't buy it. However, if you use a card that refutes what your opponent says, I will buy it.
If your opponent doesn't do a line-by-line rebuttal, don't tell me certain cards have gone "cOmPlEtElY uNrEfUtEd" in the round. You can tell me a certain point, or sub-point, or contention has gone unrefuted, but you can't expect your opponent to rebut every single card you bring up in round. Don't bring up arguments that are not relevant either. If you make an argument in your case, and then drop it during rebuttal and summary, I will not flow it if you bring it up in your Final Focus.
I'll let you in on a secret here. Judges from certain schools oftentimes find out records of teams and sometimes are influenced in their decision making process by giving certain teams wins over other teams. Despite this, I will disclose results, but try not to tell your coach so that we can keep the playing field level for all debaters at this tournament.
Lastly, this is high school debate. Your chances for getting into Stanford are not going to be affected by how I vote in a round. I will do my best to give you guys the best RFDs I can, both in feedback and on your ballots. I do understand the feeling, though, when I lose a round and I cannot understand why I lost. If you feel the same way, please email me and challenge my decision. There's nothing I love more than a debater who wants to know absolutely everything about a round that they lost, because to me it screams of a love for debate.
If you made it this far, if you sign the "Remove France" petition on change.org and show me I will give you an automatic 30.
TL;DR
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Be kind in all that you do.
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I flow but not particularly well (especially the back half) and generally will not evaluate arguments that I don't understand, so please collapse and make sure you clearly extend your warranting.
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I am generally okay with spreading as long as I get a speech doc.
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I have a slight preference for truth over tech. My brightline here isn’t totally clear so you’re probably best playing it safe.
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Under no circumstances will I vote for a "death good" argument and under very few circumstances will I vote for an "oppression good" argument. Pretty much every other type of argument is fine.
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Theory should only be run for legitimate norms and legitimate violations. Running stuff like “tall people theory” or “formal clothes theory” almost guarantees a loss.
- For email chain purposes: thadhsmith13@gmail.com
Background
I’ve been a member of the debating world for about eight years now. As a competitor, I saw some success at the state and national level in Public Forum, Lincoln Douglas, and World Schools, qualifying for the state championship four times and placing 10th at Nats in 2019. I also competed in BP debate at the university level in England. I am currently an assistant coach for American Heritage School - Broward.
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Gender, Sexuality, & Race Studies. I have a Master’s degree in Theory and Practice of Human Rights. You can expect me to have more than the average level of knowledge in those areas. I like to think that I know about as much as the average person on most other things, but for economic arguments (or anything involving math) I get lost easily. Do with that what you will!
Evidence ethics
I have voted on evidence ethics violations in the past, both with and without competitors calling them out in round. Straw arguments, aggressive ellipses, and brackets could all be round-enders.
Don't paraphrase! I will be very open to cut cards theory, direct quotes theory, or anything else like that. If you do paraphrase, you need to be able to provide a cut card or the exact quote you're referencing if evidence is called. It's not a reasonable expectation for your opponents or I to have to scrub through a webpage or a long document searching for your evidence.
Public Forum
I find myself leaning more and more truth > tech, especially with the state of evidence ethics these days. It's really important for you to explain the link chain and somewhat important for you to explain things like author credibility/study methodology, especially for big impact contentions.
Line-by-line rebuttal is really important in the front half of the round. That means you should be frontlining in second rebuttal, respond to arguments in an order that makes logical sense, and actively extend your own arguments. For an extension to be effective you need to tell me what the argument is, how it works, and why it's important. You can almost always do this in three sentences or less. These pieces are important - I don't flow evidence names, so saying something like "Hendrickson solves" without an explanation does nothing for you.
Fiat is pretty much always a thing - There's a reason Public Forum topics usually ask "is this policy a good idea" and not "will this thing happen." My view of fiat is that it lets the debate take place on a principles level and creates a "comparative" between a world with a policy and a world without a policy. That said, politics arguments can work, but only if they relate to a political consequence of a policy being enacted and not if they try and say a policy will never happen in the first place.
Kritiks and theory are fine in PF. Be mindful of your time constraints. For kritiks, focus on explaining how your cards work and what the alternative is. For theory, make sure there's a legitimate violation and that it's something you're willing to bet the round on. Theory exists to create norms. I won’t vote on frivolous theory and I won’t vote on your shell if you aren’t actively embodying the norm you’re proposing.
Flex prep does not exist. “Open” crossfires don’t exist. As a whole, crossfire doesn’t matter that much but you still shouldn’t contradict yourself between cross and speech.
Lincoln-Douglas
I really enjoy a good framework debate and it’s something that I find is missing from a lot of modern LD rounds. One of the best parts of LD is getting to see how different philosophies engage with each other, and we’re gonna see that thru framing. I do my best to evaluate the framework debate at the very top and use it as my primary decision-making mechanism. Framing doesn't have to be done with a value/criterion if you'd rather run a K or Theory or something else, but you need to five me a role of the ballot if you don't use a value/criterion.
Please don’t spread philosophy or theory if you want me to flow it - I read and write it all the time and I still barely understand it, so I’m not going to understand what you’re saying if you’re going 500 words per minute. If you must spread your framework or K, send me the case or be prepared to explain it again next speech.
I’m fine with condo, fiat, and counterplans. Please don’t paraphrase and don't rehighlight.
"Debate bad" arguments are pretty weird. I probably won't vote on them because, at the most fundamental level, you're still participating in a debate round and perpetuating whatever core "harm" of debate that you're talking about. If your alternative is a reasonable alternative or reform instead of just "don't do debate", I could be persuaded, but you've got an uphill battle.
Congress
If you have me as your parli, there are two things you need to know about me: I love Robert's Rules of Order and I hate one-sided debate. Ignore these things at your own risk. Other important things, in no particular order:
- Display courtesy to your fellow competitors and do your best to ensure that everyone in the chamber is heard. I pay attention to pre-round, in-round, and post-round politics.
- Engagement with the other speakers is important, both through questions and through in-speech references. Every speech past the author/sponsor needs to have rebuttal or extension of some kind.
- Authorships/sponsorships (there's no such thing as a "first affirmative") need to explain exactly what the bill does. Don't assume I'll read the packet.
- Good Congress rounds have a narrative arc - The first few speeches should present core arguments and frame the round, the next few speeches should be heavy on refutation and extension, and the final few speeches should crystallize the debate.
- Many things that people do in-round have no basis in either the rules or parliamentary procedure. Many motions don't exist - There are no motions to "address the chamber," "open the floor for debate," "amend the agenda," or "impeach the presiding officer." You can't rescind a seconded motion (or a second), you can't object to a motion to move the previous question, most tournaments don't have a requirement to track question recency, elections should really be handled by the parli, etc.
- At this point, I've heard every canned intro under the sun. If I hear you use the same exact intro on multiple different bills/rounds, or the same intro as a dozen other people, or the same unfunny meta-references with random names subbed in, you are getting docked speech points. It takes barely any effort to come up with an intro that's relevant to your content.
World Schools
The most important thing for you to do is to remember the purpose of your speech. Your speech should not be defined by the "line-by-line," rather, you should have a clear idea or set of ideas that you are trying to get across and I should be able to understand what those ideas were at the end of your speech. I am a big believer in the "World Schools style," meaning that I like it when debaters lean into the concept of being representatives in a global governing body, when debaters deploy flowery rhetoric about grand ideals, and when debaters spend a lot of time establishing and engaging with the framework/definitions/plan for the debate.
Theory
I'm fine with theory as long as it's a legitimate norm and a legitimate violation. Don't run frivolous theory (I'm not going to vote on something like "debaters should sit during their speeches", for example) and don't run theory if it isn't a norm you're actively doing yourself (don't run disclosure theory if you didn't disclose either). I don't have a preference on DtD vs. DtA or Competing Interpretations vs. Responsibility. I lean rather heavily towards theory being a RVI, especially in PF debates where it often becomes the only argument in the round.
I'm ambivalent about trigger warnings. I'm not going to be the arbiter of somebody else's experience and there's not much evidence that they're actually harmful in any meaningful way. Be aware that simply saying "trigger warning" tells us nothing - If you have one, be specific (but not graphic) about the potentially triggering content.
Kritiks
Kritiks are an incredibly powerful education tool that let debaters bring light to important issues. That said, you do need a link, preferably a resolutional/case one. I'm not opposed to hearing kritiks that tackle the structure of debate as a whole, but I think that it's difficult for you to justify that while also participating in the structure (especially because I've seen the same debaters participate in debate rounds without talking about these structural issues). Just like theory, you should be talking about legitimate issues, not just trying to win a round.
Death Good/Oppression Good
"Death good" is a nonstarter in front of me. I get it - I was a high school debater too, and I have vivid memories of running the most asinine arguments possible because I thought it would be a path to a technical victory. As I've stepped away from competition, entered the role of an educator, and (especially) as I've become immersed in human rights issues indirectly through my research and personally through my work, I no longer hold the same view of these arguments. I've been in rounds where judges and the audience are visibly, painfully uncomfortable with one side's advocacy. I've voted on the flow and felt sick doing it. I don't anymore. Do not run "death good" in front of me unless you want a loss and 20 speaks. It's not good education, it actively creates an unsafe space, and its often incredibly callous to actual, real-world human suffering.
"Oppression good" is also generally bad but I can at least see a potential case here, kinda? Probably best to avoid anyway.
I'm a traditional LD judge - I prefer a traditional V/VC framework, and like a philosophical debate that substantively engages the resolution.
I have very limited tolerance for speed / lack of clarity.
If you cannot talk both clearly and fast at the same time, then I would prefer you to slow down and speak clearly. I will remind you at the beginning of the debate and I will ask you to slow down if you are going too fast to a point that it is hard to get your points. But I will only remind you once during the debate. If there is no improvement, I won't give you more than 27 speaker points simply because it would be very hard to understand you.
Be respectful to your opponents and the judge during the debate. Disrespectful words or attitude will cost you speaker points.
I am open to different types of arguments, but I like arguments that are well-structured and developed with clear logic.
I was an active competitor in HS and college. I currently coach Newport HS.
I do have my Ph.D. in Composition and Rhetoric, so I can follow your logic, and if you choose theory, I have a VERY high bar.
As far as spreading, I do not like it. I have a hearing impairment - and spreading can make following you difficult. I can only judge what I am able to hear. I will ask you to slow down if it is too fast or unclear the first time. If you start "super spreading" I will not give you more than 25 speaker points, because the speed truly detracts from the art of speaking.
Make sure to stay respectful to your competitor, as well as me. Disrespectful words or attitudes will result in a lower score.
I like arguments that have a clear value asserted and pursued. The more sign-posting and off-clock road maps the better. Also, I love to hear the voters at the end.
I am open to many types of arguments - but make sure you let me what criteria to judge the round - and how you fulfilled it. That is your responsibility as a debater- not mine as a judge.
I am humanity-centered. I know you will be running theories, hypotheticals, and extrapolating a significant amount, but remember, these topics affect real people. If you run cases that dismiss the humanity of the topic or dismiss the humanity of any specific group of people, your score will reflect omission.
I am a lay judge. I would really like to see the second speaker to give me voters and explain to me why they should win the round. I would also links being supported by evidence. I would like debaters to be respectful towards eachother or I will be docking speaker points. Carry your relevant cards and arguements throughout the whole debate. I would also like to see impacts clearly being stated so that I can flow effiecently. Because I am a lay judge I would prefer arguments to be read slowly so that I can efficenetly flow arguments.
Thanks
Lokesh Vasisht
I am primarily a communications judge and vote based on the debater's overall argumentation and persuasiveness. Be aware that I have an auditory processing disorder that makes it difficult or impossible to understand speech that is significantly faster than conversational speed. If requested, I am happy to let the speaker know when they are going too fast through a hand gesture.
I'm a parent judge that has been judging debate for two years. I try to be tabula rasa to the best of my ability.
Guidelines:
Respect your opponents and be polite to each other.
Speak slowly and clearly. Signpost your speeches.
I will dock speaker points if you cut anyone who's giving a speech off. I will cut them off if they keep talking for way too long.
I stop listening when you go over time.
I prefer impacts with a clear link chain over world war three/extinction/nuclear war impacts. Don't sacrifice logic for magnitude. PLEASE.
Have fun!
quick prefs - I'm a parent judge
1- traditional, lay debate
2 - 4 - everything in between not really preferable only pref me high if you want to do traditional lay debate
5/strike - circuit debate, spreading, high theory, Phil, ks, t/tricks, literally anything that's not lay
General comments
- assume I know nothing about the topic (explain everything to me)
- give voters and clearly articulate why I should vote for you at the end of the round
- be respectful, don't make racist, sexist, homophobic, and ableist arguments, such arguments will result in a L20
- speaker points start at 26 and only goes up from there
- I don't "flow" but I will be paying attention to the round and evaluating based on whoever gives clear voters or have clearing won the round
- for online debate I don't care if you turn your cameras on
- put me on the email chain, Calvin.wang@trocha.com.tw
- my idea of autonomous weapons are weapons that attack by itself, without human intervention, this means that you will need to put in more work to convince me otherwise in the round if you define things such as drones or landmines as autonomous weapons
LD Paradigm
LD Coach 10 years.
If I am your judge, please put me on your email chain. My email is, lwpco480193@outlook.com, prefer Aff to be topical. I prefer a traditional Value/Criterion debate. I like clear signposting, that opponents refer to when refuting each other. I also require evidence to uphold your warrants and link to your personal analysis. All affirmatives should have some kind of standard that they try to win, value/criterion. The negative is not necessarily tied to the same obligation. The affirmative generally has the obligation to state a case construction that generally affirms the truth of the resolution, and the negative can take whatever route they want to show how the affirmative is not doing that sufficiently.
When I see a traditional debate that clashes on fundamental issues involving framework, impacts, and what either side thinks, really matters in my weighing of the round, it makes deciding on who was the better debater during the round an easier process. I like debate that gets to the substantive heart of whatever the issue is. There are very few arguments I would actually consider apriori. My favorite debates are the kind where one side clearly wins the framework, whichever one they decide to go for. Voters are crucial in rebuttals, and a clear topicality link with warrents and weighted impacts, which are the best route for my ballot.
I will listen to a Kritik but you must link it to the debate in the room, related to the resolution in some way, for me to more likely to vote for it. I am biased toward topicality.
I hold theory to higher bar. I will most likely vote reasonability instead of competing interpretations. However, if I am given a clearly phrased justification for why I should accept a competing interpretation and it is insufficiently contested, there is a better chance that I will vote for a competing interpretation. You will need to emphasize this by slowing down, if you are spreading, slow down, speak a little louder, or tell me “this is paramount, flow this”.
Reasonability. I believe that theory is intervention and my threshold for voting on theory is high. I prefer engagement and clash with your opponent. If I feel like negative has spoken too quickly for an Affirmative to adequately respond during the round, or a Neg runs 2+ independent disadvantages that are likely impossible for a "think tank" to answer in a 4 minute 1AR, and the Affirmative runs abuse theory, and gives direct examples from Neg, I'll probably vote Affirmative. Common sense counts. You do not need a card to tell me that the Enola Gay was the plane that dropped the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima.
Progressive Debates: I default Affirmative framework for establishing ground, I default Kritiks if there are clear pre-fiat/post-fiat justifications for a K debate instead of on-case debate.
Cross Examination
I do not flow cross examination. If there are any concessions in CX, you need to point them out in your next speech, for me to weigh them.
I'm fine with flex prep. I think debaters should be respectful and polite, and not look at each other. Cross examination concessions are binding, if your opponent calls them out in their next speech.
Speaker Points
If I do not understand what you are saying, don’t expect to receive anything higher than a 28. You will lose speaker points if your actions are disrespectful to either myself or to your opponent. I believe in decorum and will vote you down if you are rude or condescending toward your opponent. I do not flow “super spreading”. I need to understand what you are saying, so that I can flow it. I will say “slow” and “clear” once. If there is no discernable change, I will not bother to repeat myself. If you respond, slow down, then speed up again, I will say “slow” and/or “clear” again. For my ballot, clarity over quantity. Word economy over quantity. I reward debaters who try to focus on persuasive styles of speaking over debaters who speak at the same tone, pitch, cadence, the entire debate.
If something is factually untrue, and your opponent points it out, do not expect to win it as an argument.
Please give me articulate voters at the end of the NR and 2AR.
I disclose if it is the tournament norm.
If you are unclear about my paradigm, please ask before the round begins.
Public Forum Paradigm
RESPECT and DECORUM
1. Show respect to your opponent. No shouting down. Just a "thank you" to stop their answer. When finished with answer, ask your opponent "Do you have a question?" Please ask direct questions. Also, advocate for yourself, do not let your opponent "walk all over you in Crossfire".
2. Do not be sexist/racist/transphobic/homophobic/etc.... in round. Respect all humans.
I expect PF to be a contention level debate. There may be a weighing mechanism like "cost-benefit analysis" that will help show why your side has won the debate on magnitude. (Some call this a framework)
I like signposting of all of your contentions. Please use short taglines for your contentions. If you have long contentions, I really like them broken down into segments, A, B, C, etc. I appreciate you signposting your direct refutations of your opponents contentions.
I like direct clash.
All evidence used in your constructed cases should be readily available to your opponent, upon request. If you slow down the debate looking for evidence that is in your constructed case, that will weigh against you when I am deciding my ballot.
I do not give automatic losses for dropped contentions or not extending every argument. I let the debaters decide the important contentions by what they decide to debate.
In your summary speech, please let me know specifically why your opponents are loosing the debate.
In your final focus speech, please let me know specifically why you are winning the debate.
I have been a coach for 50+ years and am favorable to traditional arguments. If you have a traditional case I would suggest reading it in front of me.
- I won't evaluate non-topical arguments/performances etc.
- I do not like tricks and wont evaluate them.
- I will evaluate kritiks as long as I understand how they function in the round.
- If you want to spread I am ok with speed, however if I put my pen down I am not flowing. You must be clear; I will be flowing from your speech not a doc.
- If there is abuse in round just explain it in layman's terms and warrant it. I will not be a good judge for evaluating friv theory arguments.
I value communication and speaking skills - push the narrative. I will vote for the debater who best presents their arguments. I do not have experience with these "new" progress arguments that debate is becoming - I am a traditionalist.
If you're wondering, yes, add me to the email chain:jyumohfour@gmail.com
Some other things: