I am a Novice PFJudge, I have judged only

Local circuits.

Please go slow and explain your arguments well, so I can flow the round. Please avoid compound complex sentences, speak louder and clear. Don’t overwhelm me with evidence , rather choose best evidence to support your claims, give a good overview for the voters at the end of the round . I judge on quality of arguments.

I will do my best to be neutral and fair.

Hi all,

Just a bit about my background: I have been debating in PF since my junior year of high school. If you have any questions about my paradigm, I am happy to answer them before the round.

Weigh: Weighing makes it much easier for me as a judge to evaluate the round. If you do not weigh, it makes it much harder for me to figure out which argument is more important or probable in the round, so weighing can provide you with a better path to the ballot. However, do not just say that you outweigh your opponent (ex. "we outweigh on magnitude"). Please clearly warrant and explain what you are weighing and why it outweighs your opponent's argument. Make sure you are weighing at least in your summary and final focus speeches, but if you want to start in earlier speeches, that is always good.

Spreading/Signposting: Please make sure when you speak that you are doing so at a rate where I can understand you. If you just speak really quickly and I cannot make out what you are saying, I will not flow it. Similarly, please signpost throughout your speeches so where I know where to put arguments in later speeches on the flow (ex. "on our second contention, subpoint A...). Also, please use the names of your evidence when mentioning them in the round so I can identify what you are specifically what you are referring to.

Theory/K Arguments: If you do not know what these kinds of arguments are, please ignore this section. I am generally not a fan of these kinds of arguments as they tend to stray away from the resolution and do not make for a good debate.

For Virtual Tournaments: This is mostly for crossfire. Please do not talk over/interrupt each other. When that happens, I cannot understand what either speaker is saying, and it just wastes time.

This should go without saying, but please be respectful to your opponents. You are representing yourselves, your partner, and your school.

Finally, have fun!

I strongly believe in narrowing the debate in the summary speeches. I really want you to determine where you are winning the debate and explain that firmly to me. In short: I want you to go for something. I really like big impacts, but its's important to me that you flush out your impacts with strong internal links. Don't just tell me A leads to C without giving me the process of how you got there. Also don't assume i know every minute detail in your case. Explain and extend and make sure that you EMPHASIZE what you really want me to hear. Slow down and be clear. Give me voters (in summary and final focus). 

Speed is fine as long as you are clear. I work very hard to flow the debate in as much detail as possible. However, if I can't understand you I can't flow you. 

I am a parent of a PF debater and have judged a number of PF rounds at both local and national tournaments.

Please speak clearly at a normal speed, identify your main arguments at the beginning (roadmap) and make clear transitions between your arguments. I will flow the arguments, so it will benefit you if what I flow makes sense when I look back over it before filling out the ballot.

Clear rebuttal of points is appreciated. Also, be clear in your FF and explicitly identify the main reasons I should accept your argument and, (if appropriate for the particular debate) why I should not accept your opponent's argument.

Clash is good and much appreciated in CF rounds but keep it civil, respectful and, substantive. Be clear in CF rounds about what you are asking and what you are disputing. Let your opponent have their chance to ask/respond.

Fewer, well-developed contentions and rebuttals will always win over numerous, hurried, or difficult to comprehend contentions and rebuttals.

Debate jargon is fine in limited quantities, but please don't get carried away with it. The arguments you pick, the effectiveness of your rebuttals, and the development of both will win or lose the debate, not so much your characterizations of your weighing or impact. Similarly, avoid disputing your opponents' arguments based primarily on procedural technicalities rather than their substance.

Call for evidence selectively and strategically when you think or know it will benefit your argument or rebut your opponents'. Use evidence carefully and be prepared to produce it quickly if asked. Make sure the time in the debate is (mostly) spent debating, not exchanging cards.

Be professional and prepared, but please have fun.

Hi Debaters: Looking forward to hearing your arguments. I'm new to national debates and virtual debates, but have judged a few local debates. Please be very clear about your contentions and when you are providing your argument, be clear about which contention you are discussing and how it supports your contention. Same with discussing the other team's contentions-- be clear which one are you discussing and how is what you are saying reduces support for their contention. Thank you.

I am a parent judge who, a long time ago in high school, was a policy debater. I also competed in Speech events. I am a big fan of speech and debate. I have one year of judging experience of both Public Forum and Speech events.

Public Forum Debate: I enjoy hearing vigorous debates about a topic and encourage clear arguments and civil engagement. If you speak too fast or are uncivil you will loose me. In this virtual environment, some times technical issues may arise and I encourage everyone to have patience and keep your cool. I expect clear arguments and thoughtful questions cross-examination questions.

For email chains/evidence exchange: chancey.asher@gmail.com

I am a lay parent judge. I am looking at Contentions, Rebuttals, Extend, Impact, Weighing. Also, I am looking at your links - if you are trying to link to an impact of 8 billion lives lost because whatever this debate is about will lead to global thermonuclear war and the end of humanity, I PROBABLY won't buy it.

What is your impact, and why is it greater than your opponent's impact?

I also love clean rounds. I start to lose focus when a round gets bogged down in technical disputes.

Background: I debated PF in high school for four years and have a decent amount of judging experience.

Contact: Let me know if you have any questions before round :) Contact through bc5vfj@virginia.edu or find me on Facebook. UVA'24

PF:

I am not evaluating ANY progressive argumentation (theory, k's, etc). PLEASE DO NOT READ PROGRESSIVE ARGUMENTS AND THEN CLAIM THEY ARE NOT PROGRESSIVE LATER IN ROUND. I don't know how to, and I don't want to. If you read it, I will drop you.

No spreading.

Don't steal prep, speaks drop fast.

Roadmaps; I don't care if you give one or not. You don't need to ask me for permission.

Signpost; if you are all over the flow, it is likely I will miss your arguments. If I can't flow it, it probably won't factor into my decision.

Weigh. That's it. This is the key to winning most close rounds; do it.

Extend. If you don't extend, its dropped. Don't bring dropped arguments back up, I will ignore it. Also, warrant those extensions in summary and final focus. If you just say "extend this", that's not extending.

Preferences: 2nd rebuttal should frontline or it's dropped. 1st summary still needs to extend dropped arguments. Link/impact turns need the full argument extended if your opponent goes for another.

Cross: Nothing in cross will be evaluated unless you explicitly bring it up in a subsequent speech.

Speaks: Average 28 (within division), generally 29.5 max but 30 if there's nothing to improve.

LD:

Preferences: I did circuit pf, I cannot handle speed super well (I can kinda handle it), I cannot evaluate progressive arguments very well, I can flow, prefs: larp - 1, literally everything else - strike.

I am a parent judge for Dublin High School. I expect the debaters to self-govern and adherence to time limits.

Speaking Requirements

- Speak very clearly (enunciation) and slowly. Do not speak too fast and emphasize important words, use pauses effectively.

- Speak confidently. If something is important, make sure you make that very clear. Refer to me as judge if you want my attention especially during your speech.

- Give eye contact during every speech.

- I take your body language into consideration.

- Be polite and respectful to me, your opponents and your partner

Content Requirements

- Stay on the topic. I will not vote for you if you go off topic.

- Make your arguments very clear to follow and understand, especially if you are advancing them. If your opponents do not respond, make sure to mention that in your next speech.

- Don't be disorganized. In rebuttal or summary, tell me if you're addressing their case or their refutations in crossfire. Also, give me an off time brief roadmap before the rebuttal, summary, and final focus speeches.

- In final focus, tell me the voter issues (main arguments in today's debate), why you won, why they lost, and why your impact outweighs theirs. The easier you make it for me to know why you won, the more likely you will win.

i would appreciate a somewhat slower pace of speech so i could fully absorb all the material you have worked hard preparing, thank you and good luck!

Hi! I'm Nehal, I did LD for four years at University School in Ohio. My long paradigm is below, if you have any clarifying questions feel free to ask me before round! Heads up, I can judge circuit rounds, but I trust myself way more to evaluate traditional rounds (I did way more of it in HS)

If you want to see another, shorter paradigm that I almost entirely agree with, see Eva Lamberson's

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I6rVBr4cWSPNw4pjd-5ZIS51wlqzb6RsoBJN1EgjDto/edit?usp=sharing

Im a junior at umass amherst studying political science and journalism. I did 1 year of LD and 3 years of PF at lexington hs. I'm a fairly straightforward, classic pf judge so just do what you know you're supposed to.

Prefs:

- ***The easier you make it for me to vote for you, the more likely I am to do so! Don't just respond to arguments - actually tell me why you're winning (so weigh, do voters, compare framework, etc). I don't like having to do extra work on the flow, it makes my job as a judge a lot harder.

- I love arguments that are legitimately warranted and clearly explained. Obviously, evidence is important too, but I'd rather have an argument that logically makes sense over a random card that doesn't link well or has no warrants as to why I should believe it.

- It needs to be in summary to be in final focus so EXTEND. The exception to this rule is if you're speaking first and your opponent brings up some new arguments in their summary. In this case, it's fine for you to make a new response in final focus. But outside of that, you really shouldn't argue something new in FF if it wasn't in summary.

- Collapse your arguments in summary and ff. Don't leave me with a ton different arguments to weigh after the round. It's annoying and basically an evidence dump. I recommend using voters in your summary and/or final focus. It's not mandatory but heavily recommended.

-and going off of that: CLASH. actually respond to/weight arguments please.

- I won't flow your cross-fires. So if you think you won something during cross you better tell me during your speech.

- If you want me to call for evidence, tell me and I will. I may call for evidence at the end of the round anyway if things have become muddied.

- Don't spread; you can talk fast, but don't spread. It makes me more confused and you don't really want me to confused. Also, I'm a strong believer that if you're debating well you shouldn't need to spread anyway.

-This should go without saying but don't be rude or offensive. I do dock speaker points if you are overly rude or aggressive or say anything that is harmful. Debate should be an overall positive experience!

ask in round if you have any questions! good luck!

Paradigm

“A thought well conceived will be enunciated clearly, and the words to say it will thence flow easily” (Nicolas Boileau, 1636-1711)

In other words, things said in the round need to be clear! Whatever you want me to comprehend and vote on needs to be clearly articulated.

I will flow the round and will vote per the flow. It is in my view your responsibility to make yourself understood. It is your responsibility to explain your argument in an intelligible way.

You are at liberty to set the criteria by which you will be judged. Please do so and then explain why and how you think you won according to these criteria and why your opponent lost and why their criteria did not produce a winning outcome for them.

The goal of any debater should be to persuade the judge, that they conveyed their argument in a way that was more logical than their opponent, and that they effectively poked holes in the opponents logic.

I’m truly equally open to everything. I judge on the capacity to present and defend ones argument. The debate room is in my view totally disconnected from the world since anything argued here will have absolutely no implication and since debaters were imposed the side of the case to defend.

Please feel free to ask any questions before the round!

Hi everyone!

I am a former PF Debater who graduated high school in 2018.

Some things I think you should know about me:

• While I did well on the National Circuit (won 5th and then 3rd at nationals, won Florida Bluekey in 2017, deep outbound runs at other tournaments, etc.) I haven't interacted with debate much since graduating. This means I'll be slower at flowing and more of a Flay judge than anything else.
• I'm probably not the guy to run some crazy theory with, but if that's your bread and butter or you're very confident in it, I'll give you a shot.
• I don't necessarily care about disclosure theory so run it at your own risk.
• At the end of the day I care about your warrants and I'd place myself in the dwindling truth > tech camp. The way I see it, what you're arguing needs to make sense and be self-consistent. With that said don't be afraid of a judge intervention situation unless what you're saying is egregiously wrong or misleading.
• Related to this first point (added this post-Glenbrooks because of an in round situation), I am very much annoyed at the tendency of PF moving towards people using blippy cards that don't say what they say it says. If you notice that a team is misconstruing their evidence or outright lying about what their cards says, call it out. I will read the evidence after the round and if the evidence was critical to their case, I will no longer weigh that argument. If the misconstruing is so aggregious that it completely altered the flow of the round, I will likely drop the offending party. Don't take this to mean you need to call for a million cards during the round and try to make the debate about the ethics of the evidence. I prefer rounds that are clean with clash and give the benefit of the doubt to debaters that their cards say what they say. However I am also aware that there are many situations where cards are construed in the wrong way and I believe that these situations are antithetical to the point of debate. So if you see this happening in your round, call it out and I'll read the card.

Engineer by training and profession. So I value clear substantiated logic over style or ethos.

Any evidence clipping will get you dropped. I am serious about this. I may ask for your cards after the debate for my edification.

Speed: Slow Down. I understand the desire to cover as much ground as possible but do not do it at the cost of clarity. Remember, this debate is for someone who is moderately familiar with the topic. If you go too fast, you will lose the audience. This is especially true in the era of online debates. (Plus speed is sometimes used to hide evidence clipping which I strongly dislike - see above)

I am a lay judge with little knowledge on this topic.

Please speak slowly and clearly and explain why your arguments are weighted.

Spend a lot time to explain your argument and your talking point is the most important for me.

I will not disclose in prelims.

Please do the timing yourselves.

Updated for virtual debate in 2021-22.

Add me to the email chain: azgphoto@hotmail.com.

If providing / exchanging speech docs: Please email the text of your speech to me. I prefer this to a link to your doc in the cloud. If you also want to send a link, that is fine.

Time: Speeches and cross: Please state something like "my time starts now" or "time starts on my first word." Prep time: Say "starting prep now," "time starts when I get my partner's call," or hold your timer so that everyone can see it when you start prep. Also say "stopping prep, we used X" or "x remaining." This helps me and everyone in the round keep track.

Virtual evidence exchange: Teams must be able to pull up evidence and provide it promptly. Teams asking for evidence must keep both microphones on until the evidence is received in order to keep your prep time from starting. Any team asked for evidence that cannot provide it within 1 minute may lose prep time.

----

Experience: I am a former Bronx High School of Science policy debater where I debated all four years and competed regularly at national tournaments. This was a while back. Abraham Lincoln was the President. (Obviously joking.) This is my fifth year judging PF debate for what is now my son's former high school. See my judging record below.

Please read my full paradigm below.

Signposting. Please signpost all of your positions/arguments. This includes your warrants, impacts, links, as well as when you weigh the issues in each speech. Numbering with signposting is often helpful for me to make clear what you consider to be independent arguments. Without good signposting, I (like any judge) may miss part of an argument or not vote on what you believe is key to the round.

Speed is okay but you must be clear. I flow debates. If I can't understand you or feel like I am missing what you are saying, you will be able to tell by the look on my face in the round. Online debate adds another level of difficulty to this so if I can't understand enough of what you are saying, I will say "clear."

Warrant your arguments and weigh them (where it makes sense to do so). I do not want to do any analysis for you that you do not present in the round. Intelligent and thoughtful analysis can beat warrantless evidence.

Evidence. Know your sources and tell me precisely what your evidence says. The NSDA allows paraphrasing but I don't think it is worth the potential trouble that can result. Context is often very important. If a team is paraphrasing and the evidence is critical to the round, I encourage you to call for it and look for weaknesses in your opponents's characterizations. Also, consider the persuasiveness of the author. I won't necessarily know who the author of your evidence is. Consider telling me enough so that I can evaluate how persuasive the evidence is as well as explaining why your opponent's sources may be biased or untrustworthy. I may ask for evidence that becomes important in the round. All evidence must say what you claim that it does. If paraphrased text doesn’t say what you claim that it said, I will weigh that against you. I don't like to call for cards but if you think that someone's evidence doesn't say what is claimed in the round, ask me to call for it. (Don't tell me to call for evidence that is not at issue in the round and don't bother to ask me if I want to see evidence after the round. I will tell you if I want to see something.)

Cross: I may make notes during cross but if you want to make an argument or respond to one, it must be made during a speech in the round. You can refer back to an argument made in cross but make sure I understand how you are using it in the round.

Frameworks: If your opponent seeks to establish a voting framework for the entire round, address that framework directly. Tell me why I should reject it or why I should adopt an alternate framework. If you do not respond to your opponents framework directly, I will treat that as though you have accepted it.

By the end of your summary speeches, I should have a clear idea of exactly what you want me to vote on and why. (“We win the round on x is nowhere near as helpful as “We win the round on x because ...” Please address your opponents’ voting arguments head on.

Extend your key arguments into Final Focus. Extending an argument is not the same as repeating an argument. Know the difference. If you want me to vote on it, it must be there.

On a related note, don't drop your opponents’ voting arguments. If an argument is truly dropped and this is pointed out in the final focus, I will give the dropped argument to the team that made the argument. They may not win as a result but it could be easier to do so. DO NOT, however, claim that your opponents dropped one of your arguments when, in fact, they merely responded generally to it.

Timing. When time runs out, please stop speaking. If time runs and you are in mid sentence, you may complete the sentence but only if you can do so in no more than a few seconds. Arguments made or responses given after time is up are NOT "in the round."

I will disclose my decision after a round along with my RFD if the rules of a tournament allow me to do so.

Progressive arguments: I am not very familiar with progressive arguments / Ks, so run them at your own risk. That being said, I will evaluate any argument presented on the merits of the argument.

I'm a Varsity Debater from Miami, Fl.

- I Will not flow/factor in cross into my decision (If something important is said it must be brought up in speeches)

- You can call cards but do not call for every single card

- try to avoid "my card vs their card debate" (I will look at cards if it is that important)

- Weighing is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT + weigh against their case

- Humor is welcome because we all need it right now. (DO NOT TAKE IT TOO FAR)

- Need to extend even if the other team concedes

- Signposting is helpful if you want to ensure that i'm following your speech

- Collapse... I promise you will not win everything.

- BE RESPECTFUL

4 years of PF, UVA '23

Winning my ballot starts with weighing, in fact, weighing is so important I'd prefer if you did it at the begiNning of every speech after first rebuttal. Be cOmparative, I need a reason why I should look to your arguments firsT. Please collapse, don't go for more than one case arg in the second half, its unnecessaRy. I'm a lazy judge the easIest plaCe to vote is where I'll sign my ballot. I'm not going to do more worK than I need to. I will not vote off of one sentence offense, everything needS to be explained clearly, warranted, and weighed for me to evaluate it(turns especially). I try not to presume but if I do, I will presume whoever lost the coin flip.

I will evaluate progressive arguments.

If you are going to give a content warning please do it correctly - this means anonymized content warnings with ample time to respond.

I'm very generous with speaks, speaking style doesn't affect how I evaluate the round and I don't think I'm in a place to objectively evaluate the way you speak. With that being said I will not tolerate rudeness or ANY bm in round. I can handle a decent amount of speed but do not let speed trade off with quality.

Online debate I will be muted the entire round just assume I'm ready before every speech and time yourselves and your own prep. I will disclose if the tournament allows.

Questions: chashuang1@gmail.com

This is my first time judging, I judge for the Quarry Lane School. Please be respectful to your opponents during crossfire and please talk clearly and not too fast. I might take light notes but if anything is crucial please emphasize during speeches. Most importantly, have fun!

Hello, I want to hear your arguments clearly and slowly , If you speak too fast and use debate jargon I will not understand your arguments.

Please be civil and my courteous at all times.

Lets have a fun and spirited Debate.

I am a lay judge. I don't have a preference on stylistic elements of debate. I have a strong preference for PF debaters who can communicate clearly to a general audience.

Please be civil and professional. If you ask questions in rebuttal, please allow your opponents to answer your questions. I need to hear from both sides to be able to evaluate.

Also, I understand why some of you speak fast but want to remind you that it is your responsibility to deliver the speech at a moderate and clear pace (i.e. similar to conversation) to persuade me. I will not be able to flow if I cannot understand. Slow down, enunciate, and avoid using excessive debate jargon.

I have a strong preference in weighing. I prefer quality of arguments over the number of evidence you present.

Good luck!

Crawford Leavoy, Director of Speech & Debate at Durham Academy - Durham, NC

Email Chain: cleavoy@me.com

BACKGROUND
I am a former LD debater from Vestavia Hills HS. I coached LD all through college and have been coaching since graduation. I have coached programs at New Orleans Jesuit (LA) and Christ Episcopal School (LA). I am currently teaching and coaching at Durham Academy in Durham, NC. I have been judging since I graduated high school (2003).

CLIFF NOTES

- Speed is relatively fine. I'll say clear, and look at you like I'm very lost. Send me a doc, and I'll feel better about all of this.

- Run whatever you want, but the burden is on you to explain how the argument works in the round. You still have to weigh and have a ballot story. Arguments for the sake of arguments without implications don't exist.

- Theory - proceed with caution; I have a high threshold, and gut-check a lot

- Spikes that try to become 2N or 2A extensions for triggering the ballot is a poor strategy in front of me

- I don't care where you sit, or if you sit or stand; I do care that you are respectful to me and your opponent.

- If you cannot explain it in a 45 minute round, how am I supposed to understand it enough to vote on it.

- My tolerance for just reading prep in a round that you didn't write, and you don't know how it works is really low. I get cranky easily and if it isn't shown with my ballot, it will be shown with my speaker points.

SOME THOUGHTS ON PF

- The world of warranting in PF is pretty horrific. You must read warrants. There should be tags. I should be able to flow them. They must be part of extensions. If there are no warrants, they aren't tagged or they aren't extended - then that isn't an argument anymore. It's a floating claim.

- You can paraphrase. You can read cards. If there is a concern about paraphrasing, then there is an entire evidence procedure that you can use to resolve it. But arguments that "paraphrasing is bad" seems a bit of a perf con when most of what you are reading in cut cards is...paraphrasing.

- Notes on disclosure: Sure. Disclosure can be good. It can also be bad. However, telling someone else that they should disclose means that your disclosure practices should bevery good. There is definitely a world where I am open to counter arguments about the cases you've deleted from the wiki, your terrible round reports, and your disclosure of first and last only.

- Everyone should be participating in round. Nothing makes me more concerned than the partner that just sits there and converts oxygen to carbon dioxide during prep and grand cross. You can avert that moment of mental crisis for me by being participatory.

- Tech or Truth? This is a false dichotomy. You can still be a technical debater, but lose because you are running arguments that are in no way true. You can still be reading true arguments that aren't executed well on the flow and still win. It's a question of implication and narrative. Is an argument not true? Tell me that. Want to overwhelm the flow? Signpost and actually do the work to link responses to arguments.

- Speaks? I'm a fundamental believer that this activity is about education, translatable skills, and public speaking. I'm fine with you doing what you do best and being you. However, I don't do well at tolerating attitude, disrespect, grandiosity, "swag," intimidation, general ridiculousness, games, etc. A thing I would tell my own debaters before walking into the room if I were judging them is: "Go. Do your job. Be nice about it. Win convincingly. " That's all you have to do.

OTHER THINGS

- I'll give comments after every round, and if the tournament allows it, I'll disclose the decision. I don't disclose points.

- My expectation is that you keep your items out prior to the critique, and you take notes. Debaters who pack up, and refuse to use critiques as a learning experience of something they can grow from risk their speaker points. I'm happy to change points after a round based on a students willingness to listen, or unwillingness to take constructive feedback.

- Sure. Let's post round. Couple of things to remember 1) the decision is made, and 2) it won't/can't/shan't change. This activity is dead the moment we allow the 3AR/3NR or the Final Final Focus to occur. Let's talk. Let's understand. Let's educate. But let's not try to have a throwdown after round where we think a result is going to change.

I have about 12 years of experience in competing, coaching & judging both speech and debate. I competed on the collegiate level and tend to go for strong topical arguments and clear, persuasive, and passionate speakers. I’ll keep detailed notes and normally vote on impacts, magnitude & topicality. Feel free to ask anything else before and/or after the round.

faith.lopiccolo@gmail.com

I volunteered to be a debate judge to support my son's debate team. I am a practicing litigation attorney. Through my practice, I regularly evaluate evidence and create persuasive arguments. I have a lot of experience judging moot court competitions. Rude opposing counsel are the worst. Be civil, keep your arguments and tone professional.

Hi! My name is Jillan (she/her). I competed in PF for 3 years with Cardinal Gibbons High School and now I'm a senior at the University of Florida, where I am studying political science and philosophy. This fall, I'll be starting law school.

PF and its associated norms have changed a fair bit since I last competed, so I encourage you to make me aware of any new norms (i.e. case sharing, docs, etc.) that might come into play during your round. Here are a few notes on my judging preferences arranged by topic area:

1. Warranting:

If you want me to vote on something, make sure you warrant it clearly and extend it through the round. Explain your arguments fully. Extending an argument through ink does not count as a full extension in my book, so please extend the warranting and links that you're going for as well as your taglines all the way to final focus. This necessitates strategic argument selection starting in summary- I would much rather hear you collapse effectively than go for all 157353747 turns you put on your opponent's case and your own impacts.

2. Weighing:

PLEASE weigh! If you don't weigh, then I will have to weigh for you, and you might not like the outcome. In fact, you probably won't. When weighing your arguments, please actually weigh them. By this, I mean that you should compare your arguments to those of your opponents and tell me why I should prefer yours, i.e. greater scope, magnitude, timeframe, etc. "Our impacts outweigh because they are true" is not weighing, nor is simply restating your impact and tacking on "so we outweigh on *insert weighing mechanism*" without analysis.

tl;dr: weighing=comparison and analysis. no comparison or no analysis=no weighing.

3. Theory:

Just a heads up, I'm not especially familiar with it, and I don't love it in the context of PF. If you are running theory, please explain it as clearly as is humanly possible or I will probably not understand it, and if I don't understand it then I will not be able to vote on it. I am aware that theory has become more pervasive in public forum in the past couple years, but I still believe that the heart of PF as a debate event lies in its ability to reach all people- not just those with years of experience on the national circuit. So, please make any theory you use clear and accessible.

I will absolutely not hold it against you if you are running theory or any unconventional arguments so long as you do it well.

4. Evidence:

If you want me to call for evidence at the end of the round, tell me during the round and I will happily do so. If you miscut or misrepresent your evidence, I will dock speaker points, will not evaluate the evidence, and will most likely drop you, so please practice proper evidence ethics!

Additionally, it's not easy for me to keep track of every single card name in a round, so if there's evidence you want me to prioritize, then extend the content of the card as well as the name.

5. Speed:

I can handle some degree of speed, but nothing too crazy. If I can't flow your argument by hand then I probably won't end up weighing it.

6. Some additional notes:

- 1st summary and 2nd rebuttal should frontline turns and other offense.

- PLEASE signpost, it makes the entire round much tidier

- if you want me to flow something from cross, bring it up the first time you speak following that cross.

- I will not flow or evaluate new arguments in final focus!!

- I will automatically tank your speaks if I see hostility or disrespect towards your opponents or teammates, or anyone else for that matter.

- If you have questions about something I did not mention here, feel free to ask me before the round.

Good luck!

I am a parent judge, although I did compete in forensics competitions in high school.

My Speaking Style Preferences are as follows:

I appreciate assertiveness when presenting arguments and debating, but only when that assertiveness does not get in the way of a civil and professional demeanor.

Make sure to speak clearly and at an understandable pace. I will not be able to judge you on arguments that I can’t understand when they’re presented.

Also make sure you stick to your time limits, and please don’t go too far over since that puts the opponents at a disadvantage.

As for argumentation:

The team that is able to support their contentions with strong logic and good evidence while effectively refuting their opponents' case will win the round.

If you want me to vote on an argument, make sure to carry it through your speeches so that I can follow it through the debate, I cannot judge you on arguments I cannot follow.

Your arguments should be topical, I will not vote on arguments which are not connected to the topic.

As a final note,

I know that all debaters have prepared themselves extensively, which I very much appreciate. Make sure to remember that the goal of debate is to learn and grow as well as have fun. Good luck!

I will be happy to judge for a third season. English is my second language therefore my preferred rate on delivery is typical conversational speed with the intent to communicate arguments effectively. The decision on the winner of the round is based on the strengths of the key arguments put forward, the ability to listen and respond to the other team arguments, on persuasiveness of the overall position. I highly value the use of well documented analytical and empirical evidences coming from various credible sources. During the round, I keep a detailed flow and underline the key arguments of each debater's case. Overall, I value a cordial debate atmosphere. Finally, I have great admiration for every single debater's enthusiasm in discussing challenging concepts.

This is my 3rd year as a parent debate judge.

I appreciate careful and reasonably-paced speaking, good evidence and knowledge of your sources. Make eye contact with me and convince me with good evidence and a carefully made argument.

I reward speakers - w/ higher points - who make a presentation effort - (eye contact, slowing down on impact work, grouping & weighing in final speeches vs. a line by line, some humor if you're actually funny) but will give high speaks to other kinds of debaters too.

Do not talk over your opponent. Follow up questions can be useful, but be courteous to your opponents' need to question you. Discourtesy will result in deducted speaker points.sesss Dddt

I am a parent judge. Speak slow and clearly and I'll evaluate your arguments as best as I can

Updated 10/28/20

1. Personal background: I debated traditional LD in OH for four years (2015/16 - 2018/19). I also have experience counseling/coaching, and now mostly judge PF

2. I pick a winner based on who I thought did the better debating (i.e. not whoever has the most and biggest numbers, but rather whoever takes the time to slowly and deeply engage in analytics, unique and nuanced clash, well-thought out round strategy, and of course, persuasive speaking).

3. THAT BEING SAID, I am not a "lay judge." I will flow on my computer, and write down everything that seems relevant and that I can catch (don't speak too quickly, both for the sake of your clarity and your appeal)

4. I have a personal preference against "progressive" / non-traditional strategies. I always strongly prefer something topical over Ks, theory, etc. IF you intend to utilize one of these types of arguments, PLEASE ask your opponent their level of comfort with it before the round begins, and if they are not comfortable or experienced with progressive argumentation/style, don't go down that route, or I'll probably drop you right there.

5. I do not intend to read your evidence after the round. It's on both teams to explain and settle evidence debates in speeches

6. If you read evidence, READ THE WARRANTS. For me, evidence w/o logical explanation > nothing, logic w/o evidence > evidence w/o logic, and evidence w/ logic > all. It also makes my life infinitely easier if, when extending arguments toward the end of the round, you take the five to ten seconds to re-explain the warrant behind the argument

7. I don't typically time prep. You can keep track of it yourself, or have your opponents keep you accountable. Just don't be scummy about taking extra

PF specifics:

a) please do not read a framework

b) collapse asap (at second rebuttal ideally)

Lincoln Douglas:

TL;DR: Make it easy for me to see why you won; return to the value always, and you'll probably win.

In LD, I do not want to be a part of progressive tactics, as I strongly prefer more traditional LD debates. So absolutely no spreading, please no kritiks or counter plans (things will get weird as there is just enough time in the round to try and do it properly), and if you come into the round lacking a value and/or value criterion (because you plan to debate like an individual policy entry...) then you can pretty much count on me NOT voting you up. I do not prefer theory. I find it unnecessarily complicated and usually designed to make debate inaccessible (especially to those who are likely already crowded out of this forum in some other way). Please don't run it unless there you see literally NO OTHER WAY to respond to your opponent's arguments. Even then, I may not evaluate it the way you want or expect. If you're planning to run dense or tricky theory, you should find a different judge.

I like to see rounds that get into philosophy, not empirical data. If you do not personally agree with this, please feel free to strike me (trust that I will not be offended).

Please use signposts so I can keep track of where you are in both construction and rebuttal.

Above all, strive to make sense.

Public Forum:

How I weigh PF: Standards should be clearly established. I find a framework at the top of the case useful. Please make an effort to argue your framework/standard. I will weigh all arguments based on the winning standard. Clearly compare both sides of the argument and explain why your side outweighs based on clear links to the framework. Deliver clear voters in the Final Focus. Usually, I only consider arguments cleanly extended through summary and final focus. Clarity above all else.

Kritiks/Counterplans/Theory in PF: Public Forum should be accessible to a general audience. Please make certain that your arguments are comprehensible. If you feel like your opponent is running an argument which is unfair or against the rules, be prepared to define the violation and explain why to discount the argument in your rebuttal, summary, and final focus. If you are running these types of arguments, be prepared to establish why you are departing from the norms. Your rationale should be clear so that your opponent can adequately address your points.

Crossfire: Do not talk over your opponent. Follow-up questions can be useful, but be courteous to your opponents' need to question you. Discourtesy will result in deducted speaker points. I do not flow crossfires. If you make an argument in crossfire or your opponent concedes an argument in crossfire, you must say it in a speech in order for me to count it.

Evidence: quality over quantity. Understand your evidence. Ideally, you should be able to:

-extend warrants and not just authors names

- explain any expert opinion you cite (rather than just stating it),

- understand where a statistic comes from (how a study was done, what its limitations are etc),

- defend the relevance of any empirical evidence you present, and be sure you’re not misrepresenting evidence.

Do not lie about or manipulate evidence. All arguments and rebuttals must be across my flow throughout the round. Do not make a point in rebuttal and drop it in summary and final. You must weight and you must link to impacts. I appreciate good speakers but will award low point wins in any round where the better speakers fail to cover the flow, weigh, link to impacts or address framework (when applicable).

I’ve been a debate judge for 13 years, and I enjoy judging debate very much! I like to do research on the debate topics before I judge each debate. I will not only pay attention on your delivery, but also on how well you did your research and how deep you understand the debate topic. You should be an expert on your debate topic to convince me.

I want to you to speak clearly and not too fast so that I can remember and write done your key points. If I cannot catch your points, you lose those points. That may reduce your chance to win.

Do not just dump a lot of information. I would like to see your clear rationality, good analysis and strong reasoning based on solid evidence, instead of widely circulated false news or assumptions.

During the cross fire, I would like to listen one person speak at one time. Please do not interrupt others’ speech when others haven’t finished. Do not try to dominate the cross fire time, give your opponent fair chance to speak.

Please speak very clearly in your summary and final focus. This is your last chance to convince me. I will vote objectively based on your arguments, impacts, evidence, reasoning, questioning, defense, delivery and your expertise on the debate topic.

Hi! I'm a parent judge, and what you call a lay judge.

Please speak at a moderate, fairly slow pace and explain your arguments thoroughly.

Please remain polite to each other, or else I'll have to take speaker points off.

I will not evaluate new arguments brought up in the final speeches. I will also not evaluate arguments that I don't understand at the end of the debate.

I really like it if you tell me what to vote on in the final focus and why I should vote for that.

Thank you and I look forward to hearing your arguments!

**Updated for Blake Tournament, 2022

Hi! I am a third year out from The Blake School in Minneapolis and am now studying at the University of Virginia. This is my third year coaching. I have worked for 5 different programs and I am currently the assistant director of the DebateDrills Public Forum program, which I helped found in 2021. I debated exclusively in PF for four years, three on the national circuit. I won the TOC in 2020. I also won the Glenbrooks in 2019 and broke at the TOC in 2019 and 2018.

More than anything else, I like a clean debate that is easy to flow and evaluate. Please don't assume that because of my debate experience, you can make the round a mess and I will sort through it properly. If you remember one thing from my paradigm, let it be this.

Key Points:

- Second rebuttal must frontline any offense AND defense on any arguments you are planning to go for in the back half of the round. Clean dropped defense in 2nd rebuttal is conceded. You cannot make new frontlines in second summary. If first rebuttal is a blippy mess with bad warrants, I will give you more leeway. I know second rebuttal makes it hard to frontline and keep your options open, but I will not flow frontlines that are clearly brand new in 2nd summary and were clearly omitted from 2nd rebuttal to strategically remain ambiguous and put unfair pressure on the 1st summary.

- First summary has to extend defense if that defense was answered in second rebuttal and you are planning on going for it. (basically no new responses to frontlines in 1st final focus).

- If second rebuttal does decide to drop defense, I will allow that defense to be extended through 1st summary as sticky, however you have a MUCH better shot at winning my ballot if you extend that dropped defense in summary because if you don't, the other team still has a chance to respond to it.

- Produce cut cards when evidence is called for. If you don't, or if your cards are bracketed, you will receive a significant speaks deduction. Flagrant evidence misrepresentation will result in a loss.

- Please answer your opponents' weighing. It drives me crazy when 2 teams do their own weighing and don't respond to each other. If this happens I will make the weighing debate a wash rather than intervening on which weighing to prefer. Directly answering weighing is a very easy way to win my ballot.

- I like theory debates and have experience with theory. I default to reasonability and allowing RVIs.

- I will evaluate K arguments, but I haven't participated in a debate round in almost 2 years, meaning I may not be up to date on all the current community norms. Please make the debate clean and easy for me to follow.

- I will bump your speaks by +0.1 if you are disclosed on the wiki. Let me know before the round.

- SIGNPOST please, I mean it

- DO NOT STEAL PREP

The Rest:

Speed

I can flow pretty fast. Just make sure you are clear and signpost well. If not, I will let you know. See 3 lines above.

If you are going to spread or go fast enough that you are offering a speech doc, ABSOLUTELY DO NOT PARAPHRASE. If you are planning on doing this, strike me. Spreading paraphrased cards is impossible to flow. I can guarantee bad speaks.

I will not use your speech doc to fill in arguments I did not catch during your speech. If it wasn't clear enough in the speech, it will not go on my flow.

E-mail chain: morganswigert@gmail.com

Theory

Go for it. I ran a good amount of theory in high-school. If you read theory, you should be committed to it. Read a full shell and be prepared to go for it in the back half of the round. I will default to reasonability and allowing RVIs. If both teams are well-versed enough, then I should never have to default. How I default does not mean I am prejudicial to these paradigms when evaluating a debate about them.

I do not require an explicit extension of the shell until summary. This means that if you read a shell in constructive, you don't need to extend the parts again in rebuttal, just frontline.

I will not evaluate theory where the violation is out of your opponents' control (i.e. big schools/programs bad).

I will not evaluate tricks, 30 speaks theory, or any other dumb/abusive theory argument (e.g. shoes). If you have to ask yourself whether or not your theory argument is dumb/abusive, it most likely is.

Other Progressive Arguments

Kritiks - Go for it. I am familiar with all the main Ks, the structure of them, and how to evaluate them. That said they're a lot different in PF. I will not vote for alternatives that function as plans or counterplans (ESPECIALLY on topics where the resolution isn't even an action). Reading a "K" is not a justification for advocating any policy or action you want. If an argument like this is read on you, respond with topicality. At that point, either all of your solvency comes from the resolution (which is unlikely) or the role of the ballot becomes really important. Win the role of the ballot and you will most likely win your offense.

I haven't heard a K debate in a long time, and K norms in PF change very quickly. Be aware of this if you want to read one. Please make it simple. I can't guarantee a perfect evaluation otherwise.

Topicality - Go for it. It's a great way to respond to Kritiks, especially for crazy alts.

Evidence

Paraphrasing - Every citation you introduce in the round, paraphrased or not, should be accompanied by a cut card that you can readily produce when asked for it. If you paraphrase entire articles that are hyperlinked in a google doc, strike me. Read my bullet point in "Key Points". Bracketing is bad ethics and will result in a significant speaks deduction. I won't be afraid to drop you for bad evidence ethics.

Debater math - Call your opponents out for debater math. I'm very receptive to that as a response. x% increase in this leads to y% decrease in this is not an impact. Impacts matter to me in the context of how you weigh them. Pinning a number to your impact usually does not make it easier to weigh. Most of the time when impacts are structured like this, you are seriously falling behind on your internal links because you are not explaining how the x% increase leads to the y% increase.

Details about Speeches

Read my first two bullet points in the "Key Points" section, those are the most important

Summary and Final Focus should mirror each other. This means having the same voting issues, and going for most of the same offense. If something is not in Summary, it should not be in Final Focus.

Other things

I won't keep track of speech or prep times. If something is over time, you have to tell me.

Use of oppressive discourse will result in minimum speaks, a very low chance I vote for you and I will mention it to you in my RFD. I shouldn't have to say this.

If you have questions about my paradigm or after the round, e-mail me or message me on Facebook.

For Novices:

Hello!

I just want you do debate the best you know how.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. The difference between offense and defense:

Offensive arguments are reasons why I should vote for you. Defensive arguments are reasons why I shouldn't vote for your opponents. Examples of offense: your contentions, turns. Examples of defense: delink, no impact, etc...

You need offensive arguments to win the round!

2. Summary and final focus:

You don't need to mention everything in the summary and final focus, just the select few arguments you think are the most important.

3. Impacts:

In summary and final focus, you should always restate what your link and your impact is. For example, if you tell me in you case that the war in Yemen has killed x people. Tell me that same number in both summary and final focus. Otherwise, most judges will lose track, and it's not a very good thing when a judge doesn't know what your impact is.

After the round, we will break it down and I will talk through ways to improve.

Most importantly, have fun!

Experience: I have been judging Public Forum Debate for 2 years, and am a former congress and forensics coach.

I am a public speaking teacher and a parent.

Public Forum in essence is the clarity of persuasion. Clarity is driven by the ability to tell a compelling story that is supported by effective evidence. What I am looking for is the following:

Speeches

· Present your arguments in a clear and organized manner.

· Slowly speak; do not speed through your speeches. Assume I have never learned anything about the resolutions given. I want you to explain and debate as if I this is my first-time hearing about the topic.

· Robustly support your contentions with thoughtfully presented evidence. I am a truth over tech judge.

· Create realistic impacts that fall within the scope of the resolution. Do not pretend the world will end if it won't.

· Thoroughly understand your source. Be able explain how the study was done, who did the research, the credentials of the expert, etc. And be able to explain why this a strong piece of supporting evidence.

· Create a compelling story.

Crossfire and Grand Crossfire

· Propose incisive questions that the other team understands clearly.

· Succinctly answer questions using relevant evidence.

· Expeditiously produce the card for evidence if asked.

· Translate your thoughts into coherent speech quickly. Do your best to avoid "like," "y'know," and "um;" you are still speaking and being heard during cross; a judge should not have to ignore what you say or how you sound.

· Be polite and have respectful exchanges, and please do not talk over one another. Both partners should participate in grand cross.

Summary

· Explain which of your arguments flow through and weigh your impacts, noting which of your opponent's arguments you have discredited.

Final Focus

· Clearly present the weaknesses of the other side.

· Be able to extend the weighing mechanisms your partner used in summary to tell the end of the story.

Other Notes

· Make sure your judges are actually ready before you begin speaking. Don't simply ask them out of habit.

· Clearly demonstrate an understanding of the narrowness or breadth of the resolution.

· Oh, and do your best not to use nuclear war as an impact unless the topic is clearly of a military nature.

Thanks Anthony Ovadje for this paradigm.

I'm a second year out who debated at Marist. I've done four years of public forum.

General Stuff

Weigh and warrant arguments.

Tech > Truth

Add me to the email chain: laurynwalker21@gmail.com

Evidence

Teams should read cut cards. I won't drop you if you paraphrase, but it'll hurt your speaker points, and will vote on theory. I won't call for cards unless a team tells me to do so, or if a round comes down to strict evidence. Please be efficient with card exchange, it should not take longer than 3 minutes.

2nd Half

2nd rebuttal should at least frontline turns

Summary and FF should mirror each other

Speed

I'm okay with speed not the best, but if you go fast make sure you are clear. If you are unclear I might miss something.

Theory/Ks

I have very little experience with K lit(mostly cap and race), so I'm open to hearing K/soft left arguments, but just know I may not be the best judge for Ks.

I'll vote on paraphrasing and disclosure theory and other theory if something egregious occurs in round. I won't vote off something dumb like 'shoe theory.'

Other

Please do not read arguments like death good or nuke war good in front of me. I think these arguments are stupid and show a blatant disregard for people dying.

Other than that have fun! Debate is really competitive and intense at times, but you will make rounds better for you, your opponents, and judges if you actually seem to be enjoying yourself.

If you have any questions you can ask me in round or just email me.

I prefer a clear, evidenced-based debate.

Don't let my experience fool you into thinking I like fast, jargony debates.

Use an email chain - include me (lizannwood@hotmail.com) on it, and be honest about the evidence. Paraphrasing is one of my biggest pet peeves. (Post-rounding and making me wait for endless exchanges of evidence are the others).

I will leave my camera on, so you can see me. You can trust you have my full attention, and if connectivity issues affect any of the speeches, I'll audibly interrupt you and stop the timer till connections improve (within reason, of course).

If the timer is stopped, no one is prepping.

Avoid talking over each other online -it makes it impossible for your judges to hear either of you.

Don't be rude or condescending. You can be authoritative while also being polite.

Experience:

Mountain Brook Schools Director of Speech and Debate 2013 - current

Mountain Brook High School debate coach 2012-2013

Thompson High School policy debater 1991-1995

Hello everyone, I am a citizen judge (with a younger sibling who competed in congressional debate). This is my second year judging public forum. I personally have never participated in any sort of debate tournaments as a competitor (or as a coach, etc.), only as a citizen judge. I have really enjoyed judging these tournaments and I always learn something new each and every time. I value content over delivery (but please speak clearly and don't speak so fast that it is difficult to hear or follow what you're saying). I will evaluate each round based on the logic and clarity of your argument, and especially how you are able or not able to refute the opposing argument through your speeches, rebuttals, questioning in crossfire, etc.

I am a parent judge. I prefer a moderate speed. I need clear weighing and extension of warrants, links, and impacts.

Lay Judge

Talk slowly or at a moderate pace for both cases and speeches.

Clarity is key - make sure to explain your arguments thoroughly. Don't use debate jargon as I probably won't be able to follow you.

Be respectful - don't be rude or passive-aggressive during cross.

Implicate and extend claims, warrants, and impacts. Don't assume the judge knows what you are talking about in every new speech, reiterate the most important concepts in the round that you want the judge to vote off of.

Reexplain all defense read in all speeches as it isn't extended if you don't explain the warranting from speech to speech.

WEIGH - Tell me why your arguments/links to those arguments matter more. If no weighing is done the round could go either way.