I am a lay judge.

DON'T SPREAD. I need to be able to understand what you are saying, so that you get the best possible score. I know that doing these debates online has thrown extra technical difficulties into the mix, so it is more important than ever not to spread. It glitches up and I'm unable to understand what you are saying.

Signpost well so I can flow properly.

My full paradigm is below, but here's a short update for tomorrow's IHSA debate tournament. Biggest thing is that I have not judged Varsity policy in almost five years. More than anything else, I need you to be clear, which means I must be able to follow your arguments. (If I can't do that, then I will stop flowing.) The other big thing is that I have no experience on this topic. I don't know what the meta is, nor am I familiar with the typical limits and grounds for advocacies. Interestingly, though, I am a master's student in International Relations at the University of Chicago, and my research concerns bilateral cooperation between the US and EU over regulation of digital platforms. I (might) therefore have some relevant knowledge for this year's topic. Also, for email chains, please use arnaoz@gmail.com, my personal email.

***

My judging philosophy reflects my experience debating policy and LD between 2015 and 2018. Since that time, however, I have sadly had little engagement with the debate community, so I am very rusty. That means when I am in the back of the room, you need to be clear and organized in your speaking. I really like speed and kritiks, but when you attempt them, be aware that this holds doubly so.

Firstly, I like substantive debates with lots of clash. Engage with the topic and your opponents' arguments; I reward a speaker who values the debate for its own sake. I also respect technical skill, which mostly means line by line. Leave everything on the flow. Give me structure, so that I can follow each claim and rebuttal. I appreciate rhetoric, but your claims should still be explicit and logical.

If an argument is dropped, then I count it as conceded. However, a dropped argument it not by itself a voting issue; it needs to be developed and impacted out. Also, please please slow down on your authors; there is a pervasive problem in debate where everyone rushes through their citations, which can sometimes make things really messy.

For speaker points, I really like strong point-by-point rebuttal. That means I want clear chains of causality and well-reasoned arguments. I prefer the debater that, by the round's end, can crystallize the debate into a few points of clash, and tell me why they win each of those points.

All that being said, I will judge the round how you tell me to. There is a certain model of debate that I prefer (outlined above), but that model needs not be the one I adopt. If you are a kritikal debater that likes to go one-off Heidegger or something, then go for it. Just know that I am likely unfamiliar with your particular strand of critical theory, and that I am also very excited to learn about it during the round. (I was a public policy major in college, so DAs and CPs are hella fun too.)

Should you have any questions about this paradigm, feel free to email me at arnaoz@gmail.com.

Introduction

Tayo (She/Her)

Hi, my name is Ibitayo but everyone calls me Tayo (pronounced Thai-yo), only my parents say Ibitayo. I did Forensics and Debate for four years at Bentonville West High School (2016-2020) and I’m currently a freshman in Academy of Art University. I was extemp co captain my junior year and Speaking captain my senior year in high school.I did a wide array of events from HI to Extemp to BQ to Congressional Debate. My favorite event however is definitely Congressional Debate (I’m that kid that brings their own gavel *smh) I strive for everyone to be comfortable and have fun.

Congressional Debate I love-

-When you have evidence for every single point and citing them correctly

-Addressing the other representatives appropriately (don’t be calling people by they first name in round)

-Extensive knowledge of Parliamentary Procedure

-Actually using the knowledge of Parliamentary Procedure to help the round move along

-Speaking clearly

-Make points that are realistic to the current political situation. If you are going to talk about immagration you better not act like covid-19 doesn’t exist rn.

I really dislike-

-Disrespect. I expect everyone to act more like adults than the actual senate okay.

-Spreading this is congress

-Wasting time. Pointless motions, going way over time, making points on a bill/resolution and not adding any more points or evidence to the subject matter. Wasting time is not a good look for me

-Softball questions, asking questions that are not constructive and are not going to challenge anything. Not answering the question is also very annoying

Debate(PF/BQ/LD) I love-

• Clash. Really utilizing the CX time to make the points stronger

• Arguments that are constructive and flow really well

• Being able to speak in rebuttals really confidently and really explaining why the opponents points are inferior

I really dislike-

• When competitors don’t use up all of the time they have. If you have four minutes to speak, use it.

• Disrespect

THE WORST THING YOU COULD DO IN ANY DEBATE STYLE:

If you are speaking on the behalf of another group of people (another race, religion, gender, ect.)and you don't have evidence supporting that, my respect drops immediately. I would rather the evidence be from someone that is actually of that group as well. There have been so many instances where people just make stuff up about another religion or something with nothing to back up their statement. If you do this in congress, you'll get the lowest speech score from me. In any other debate style, its going to be very hard to gain my respect as a judge back.

If you ever have any questions let me know here: Ibitayo.L.Babatunde@gmail.com

Frequent Congressional Judge. Be unique with your content instead of repeating over and over again. Use crystallization in your speeches near the end of the bill.

Parent Volunteer

I am a parent volunteer whose student is in her second year of debate/forensics. I have also been a volunteer judge for the past two years. I am an education professional, having spent 12 years in Higher Education Administration and six in Corporate Learning. I currently lead all Supply Chain Training for a Fortune 10 Company.

While I do not have formal debate experience, my professional experience includes conducting speeches and presentations and succinctly sharing my position, always grounding it in a solid argument. These professional skills and experiences have been imperative to my career success. For example, during my time in higher education, I presented to thousands of students, specifically employing techniques of persuasive speech. Now, in corporate education, my communication skills continue to be integral to my work, such as in advancing projects and bringing my suggestions to all levels of associates – from entry-level to chief executive officers. Possessing the abilities to speak articulately; research; and advance a thoughtful argument and rebuttal is the cornerstone of success in any field.

Most of my communication experience is in speech. Speaker points are important to me. Sloppy or disorganized speeches can cost you the round. I expect students to know their content – not just read to me. I want to observe your speaking and delivery skills as much as I want to hear and understand your arguments.

More specifically, I expect solid speaking skills. I prefer that you not speak too fast or too slow. Please enunciate clearly. If you do speak quickly, make sure your words and ideas are clear. If I miss your argument because you are unclear or are speaking too quickly, it could cost you the round.

Your content is also integral to your success. Back your claims and counterclaims with solid arguments. Your claims should be supported with more than your own opinion. I want to feel confident that you have done your research and are prepared to present to someone who does not know the content as well as you do. Make your points clear and understandable.

Be sure to read arguments that have a clear link to the resolution and framework. If I don't understand the argument itself or don't understand how it links, there is no way for me to evaluate it.

Keep it professional. A true debater is able to give their points without sounding demeaning or disrespectful. Any such behavior will cost you the round with me. Learn to disagree respectfully.

Since I am a newer judge, do not use debate jargon in these rounds. Speak to me as if I have never heard the word debate before.

Avoid arguments that are homophobic, sexist, racist, or otherwise offensive. Be respectful of your opponent and judge. Use professional language at all times.

And finally, this is your debate, so have fun with it! Best of luck to you!

Hello. I’m Cassandra Brewster. I have been a debate judge for 2 years, however, I still consider myself somewhat of a novice judge. Introduced to the debate world by my oldest son, I find judging Congress to be my favorite, but have experience with other styles. I am also a first class introvert and get anxious in “ice breaker” situations.

Speaking – I prefer clear and concise speaking over “spreading”. If I cannot hear, understand, or follow along, I will have a hard time judging.

Arguments – Present well and sound like you know the topic. I can usually tell when you are reading someone else’s speech, which is okay, but do your best to make it your own.

Evidence – Very rarely are old sources relevant, so use the most current data available. I do enjoy hearing the sources.

I’m old school and will take hand written notes before I update Tabroom. I am paying attention, though. Do your best and good luck!

Maysen Brokaw

TLDR: do what you want. I’m fine with speed as long as it’s clear-put me on the email chain. Framework is important and I can vibe with progressive args. Respect your opponents or I will drop you.

LD: I am a traditional LD debater. Heavy framework, integrated into your contentions and impacts. I think framework is extremely important so if you win framework, then there’s a high possibility that you win the round. However, case debate is really important too. Turns and defense looks really good along with framework. Impacts are a big deal. If you drop impacts, then you’ll most likely lose the round. Signpost please. I’m okay with any arguments made as long as they can be supported throughout the debate. Be cordial in cross-one of my biggest pet peeves is people trying to talk over each other or be overly aggressive during cross. I’m okay with speed most of the time as long as you are clear. I will yell clear three times before I stop flowing. After the 1AC, I’d like a road map so it is not a messy flow. For the negative, I’m not a big fan on topicality unless it is argued correctly. Plans, Disads, Counterplans are cool. This happens frequently-bringing up new args or impacts in the last affirmative speech. Don’t do it because I won’t weigh it; it is unfair to the negative.

Also, any type of racist, sexist, ableist, homophobic, or generally problematic comments will result in a L. It's not tolerated in the speech and debate community.

Add me to the email chain jenniferleebuckner@gmail.com.

I debated policy in high school and college. But to give you a clue how long it's been, I went to the library, used a pair of scissors to cut physical cards & hauled large Rubbermaid totes full of evidence around :-)

I have three kids in debate (two competing and one coaching in college).

Some speed is okay but be clear.

Types of arguments are up to the debaters in the round.

Have fun!

Preferences:

Clash - actually arguing against an opponent's evidence/analysis instead of just reading your own positions while substantively ignoring your opponent's positions.

Evidence analysis - not every card is as good as its tag; not every card is equal, etc. Be sure to analyze the evidence offered in the round.

Dislikes:

Rude/unkind/disrespectful behavior

Debaters reading arguments they don't understand.

Harrison Cook

Judging Paradigm

Experience- I was a debater in High School on the Texas UIL circuit and am now on the Arkansas State University Debate Team. I have competed in LD, Congress, NPDA, and IPDA debate.

Philosophy- I look for a few things in rounds:

1. Clarity - Make it clear to me what you are arguing and how it applies to the resolution/case/etc.

2. Fulfillment of Burdens - In IPDA and LD rounds, I look to make sure that the two parties have fulfilled their burdens as a part of my decision. The burdens I observe are as follows:

a. Affirmative - You have the Burden of Proof. You must make your case and then provide either evidential or prudential evidence as to why your case is superior. Prefer no apriori warrants.

b. Negative - You have the Burden of Clash. You need to make it clear that you are attacking your opponent’s case either directly/CP/etc.

3. Remember to HAVE FUN – Debate is a game, have fun and do your best!

Speed- 9/10 Speed doesn’t bother me much. Make sure to clearly organize and slow down a tad for signposting. I want to make sure I have everything organized in my flow, so I can be as fair as possible.

Speaker Points- I award speaker points using the following rubric:

0-10: You have maybe introduced the topic and then proceeded to talk about something else entirely. I will never give this low of speaker points in a debate round.

10-15: Gave a speech. The organization wasn’t all there, and you didn’t respond to arguments clearly at all.

15-20: Gave a speech and had some organization. Clarity is lacking.

20-25: Gave a good speech with organization. Clear in your responses to your opponent’s argument.

25-30: Excellent speech. Showed a clear understanding of the topic and was very well organized. Good clarity throughout.

Please include me on the chain: ryandickerson1991@gmail.com

LD--

I take a tabula rasa approach to judging —

I don’t lean towards any style of debate, progressive or traditional. I am willing to judge both styles, kritiks, CPs, DAs, and traditional cases and contentions. Explain it well and if you’re winning the debate you win my ballot. I will come in with a clean slate each round.

Threshold note--If you read a kritik, aff or neg, I will have a higher threshold for explanation for the theory debate, meaning you should clearly walk me through why your model solves. I don't necessarily have a higher threshold for voting for these arguments, I would just prefer more explanation here.

***I am a former policy debater and congressional debater. Speed is fine. Flex prep is fine. Email me with any questions.

Hi everyone! My name's Andrea Dorantes, and I'm an alumnus of Bentonville High School in Bentonville, Arkansas. Currently, I am a senior at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Before college, I competed in both Speech and Debate for 5 years. I am the 2017 State Champion in USX, a National Qualifier in Informative Speaking, and a Semi-Finalist in Informative Speaking at the National Tournament of Champions. I have also competed in Congressional Debate at a high level. Although most of my performance experience lies in the public speaking realm, I am confident in my ability to assess other performances with skill and consistency. Thank you for your patience and perseverance in this unconventional time, and I am glad your skills and hard work will be able to be showcased.

I'm really looking forward to watching your performances :)

About Me:

She/Her

Names I'll answer to: "Angela" is preferred. "Ms. Duggins" is fine.

I am a former college assistant coach and am currently a communication instructor and third-year PhD student in communication and performance.

Feel free to email me with any accessibility accommodation requests ( angela.duggins@siu.edu ).

How I Judge:

I always try to adapt to the weighing mechanism or judging criteria offered in the round.

I keep flow using shorthand. I'm not a fan of spreading, but I can keep up.

I will comment on (culturally mindful) diction and posture for your learning, but it won't factor in to final decision.

I do not tolerate massive facial expressions or pronounced head shaking with the intent of distraction while someone else is speaking. It will bring your speaker points way down.

I will not tolerate personal attacks on your opponent, outright racism, ableism, sexism, or other bigotry. "You people" style blanket statements are never effective. If I notice a potential bias in your argument that you may not be aware of, I will comment on the ballot.

I don't stick around to talk after rounds because I need to write my feedback while I still remember it. It's not that you don't matter. It's an adaptation I have to make.

What I look for:

Clarity. Clear, well-signposted arguments that follow a logical progression. Clear linkage between each point and the resolution and/or thesis.

Courtesy. Respect your opponent's time. Stay audience focused. Define terms that need defining. (Aside: Professionalism does not have a set look or sound) (Second aside: I don't need theatrical greetings at the top of each round, but I'm okay with it if you want to practice)

Creativity. Within reason and with respect for your fellow humans, I encourage you to explore creative arguments and integrate your knowledge of your passions outside of debate.

Advice:

Maintain audience focus. Legitimately care about whether or not those listening understand your position. If you focus on making what you say clear to them, you will focus less on yourself. This will make you a stronger speaker (and it's a great way to fight stage fright).

Triggers/Content:

I have no triggers to disclose. Be mindful of your opponent and others in the room.

A note on plagiarism:

If every single one of your points and sources is a direct copy of a Last Week Tonight or Patriot Act segment, I will notice.

personal info:

she/her

im a former debate student from bentonville high school and am currently attending stony brook university. i was involved in the speech and debate program for about five years.

speaking:

- use of debate jargon is fine, so is speed to an extent

- if you are being racist, homophobic, sexist, or in any way bigoted…don’t expect good speaker points or to win

debating:

- the substance of your debate matters so much more to me than how good of a speaker you are

- make sure your warrants are strong

- if you drop something on the flow and your opponent points this out AND points out why this is critical they will win on that point. however, i don’t mind if you kick out of an argument if it is no longer important or has been dropped by both sides

- framework / definition debate: boring, time suck, waste of time >:(

do what you want with this information

good luck bad boys B)

if you have any questions or just wanna talk you can email me (rebeccaell2s@gmail.com) im a nice human, i promise

< :) 3

Experience:

High School:

I competed in multiple types of debate during my four years in high school. Public Forum was my specialty, with multiple appearances in state finals and state championship in Public Forum speaking. Along the way, I picked up three qualifications to NSDA nationals and another to the TOC in Kentucky.

College:

Currently, I am getting my masters.

In undergraduate, I did college competition in IPDA debate. I have made multiple finals appearances as well as been nationally ranked in the top ten debaters in my division for the last three years of my collegiate competitive years.

I have also served as a parliamentarian for many high school tournaments while in college.

If you have any questions email me: tommyraegan015@gmail.com

General Debate Comments:

- Although an increased rate of speaking is the norm in the status quo, I don't want your breathing to become distracting and annoying with large intakes of air that are audible from space.

- T/Definition/Standard debate when done well and when needed will be rewarded.

- If a card becomes an issue I will call for it, please have cards ready if you foresee an issue in them.

- It is important that you are polite. Do not speak loudly to your partner while the opposing team is speaking. It it ok to pass notes, but you should not be audible to the judge or audience.

- Debate is about clash. This means that you HAVE to flow and you MUST not drop points. Organization that occurs through flowing will make sure that you clash with your opponent and do not drop key points.

- THE ONE THING THAT WILL KILL SPEAKER POINTS AND EARN AN L is if you are racist, homophobic, xenophobic or disparaging to excluded groups. Please make sure your arguments do not fall into this category.

- I love theory and K debate, well done it will be rewarded. poorly done then :(

- Please do not call me judge :)

LD:

- You have to link your arguments to your V/VC (don't assume I know the link)

- Speed is fine as long as it doesn't exclude the other debater

- Ks need to be good and have the evidence to back it up to get my vote

- All General Debate Comments apply here as well. :)

PF:

- Anything that resembles a K/Plan will be voted down

- Flow is everything

- Any new arguments in the Final Focus will be thrown out and lower your speaks

- Do not assume I know the frame work link

- All General Debate Comments apply here :)

Congress:

- The expectations for congress are for it to not look like any of the other debate formats. This is supposed to model real rhetoric used in actual congressional sessions.

- While your speech should have three points: intro, body, and conclusion. It should NOT sound like a debate case.

- Do not rehash arguments in the round just to get a speech in

- You should be be not only advancing your positions arguments but engaging with the opposition to persuade the chambers to vote a certain way.

- A good PO is one who does the bare minimum in controlling chambers. A GREAT PO is one who is commanding, possesses great knowledge of parli pro, and is a charismatic speaker. POs can either make or break a chamber.

Hi! My name is Alex Gardner and I graduated from Bentonville High School. At BHS I was a Public Forum Debater for 3 years. I was a state semi finalist as well as a multiple speaker award winner (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) yes I'm flexing that I was a good speaker. What about it.

Now lets get into the fun debate stuff that you all have been waiting for!!!

My Paradigms!!

I have no issue with what type of speed you use. When I debated I spoke pretty fast. But please remember that this is not policy so if you choose to speak fast I still should be able to understand what you are trying to tell me

I want clash and good argumentation. Please no framework or impact debate, that makes for a boring back and fourth round. Tell me how and why you won based on your contentions and arguments. (That is also how you are going to get good speaker points)

I promise I wont deduct speaker points if you stutter or use filler words. I get that debating can be nerve-wracking. But the more confident you sound and the more prepared you are will definitely help in the long run.

Cross-ex. Everyone's favorite time in the round. or least favorite for some. Please be kind and courteous during the cross-ex period. Remember this is high school debate and not the first presidential debate. Maintain decorum.

Extra stuff. Please do not debate definitions. That is boring and I will stop flowing. Also lets be as respectful as possible, that being said its okay to have some spicy clash and get a little heated. I understand and won't dock you points or vote you down on it. I've been there, it also can make the round for interesting. Just know the line.

I think I have pretty much covered all of my main paradigms but if you have any questions or want further explanation on anything please feel free to contact me at thereal.alexgardner@gmail.com. I cant wait to see what you guys bring and judge your rounds!!

just a little introduction to me, My names Karsten, I debated 3 years at Bentonville High School (2017-2020) in Arkansas and a few national tournaments. I debated mostly Public Forum for 3 years, but i did try policy, congress, world schools, and ipda, i also attended Emory debate camp for PF, do what you want with that information

A few important notes for all styles of debate-

To be honest i hate most debate jargon, but i understand its necessary, so do what you want with that information as well

I really enjoy creative and unique arguments, it makes the debate much more interesting and enjoyable

any sort of racist, homophobic, sexist or ableist arguments will automatically result in a loss for you, theres no room for any of that in debate.

Since i really only debated PF for a majority of my career i only have paradigms for that, sorry!

PF

Few things to prepare yourself for if I'm judging

I cannot stand definition debate, unless there is no clear definition of a word in the resolution, there is no need for you to define every-word in the resolution, you'll lose my attention very very quick. this goes for FW to the most part as well, prefer if you just stick with

I believe PF is a style of debate that literally anyone should be able to come and watch and fully understand, which means no theory, K's or spreading (i can understand but you will see big drop in speaker points, especially over the laptop)

the more unique the argument the more i'll listen but make sure to have solid and reliable links

I really enjoy debates that clash, go after your opponents case, don't spend time defending an argument that hasn't been attacked when you can use that time to prove to me why your opponents are wrong.

Creativity is Key, creativity is what makes debate fun, if you're creative with titles, wording, arguments, etc. You'll hold my attention which is key to winning the debate

for me the debate comes down to impact, who has the biggest impact, most immediate impact, how likely is the impact, etc.

Impact, impact, impact.

Speaker points

Everyone starts at a 28.5

like i mentioned spreading will make that go down

it will be practically impossible to get a 30

I don't think PF specifically needs to be the most formal debate in the world, show me your personality while talking

i don't mind being strong-headed and pushing your opponents buttons, or getting under their skin, but there is a limit, don't antagonize or be overly rude, i will dock speaker points

If you have any questions feel free to email me: Kgjeruldsen01@gmail.com!

Hi!! I primarily competed in LD in high school at Cabot High School and then in Parliamentary Debate at Arkansas State. I no longer debate but now judge periodically. I have many specific viewpoints on debate but do not desire you to be confined to me. Too many times in competition did I intentionally run (or in most cases not run) cases that were catered to who my judge was. Speech and Debate is supposed to be a safe educational activity to express yourself. So have fun. I want you to enjoy the round and not resent having a specific judge. Of course, I do have viewpoints based on my own experience but at the end of the day, it's not right for you to have to fit my box. Run what you want, as long as it's not harmful to others, and enjoy.

Arkansas Debaters- I am not "traditional." Do not fear, I will give you a sizable RFD as a method to improve your craft. You do not have to dumb it down, change the wording, or anything else odd like that. You can run positions others might not allow (CP, T, K, Disads.) Just know what you're talking about. Don't run something just to do it, understand the material you are about to tell me. Be creative and engaging with both sides of the flow. But, do not desensitize yourself to very real things in this world just to win the ballot.

Clarity over speed always. Quality outweighs quantity always. Analysis and explanation are more important than many small cards. Please tell me where you are on the flow. I live for a good line-by-line.

Please be cautious of discussing extremely sensitive material and think of how it could affect those in the room. This is not one of the cases where forgiveness is easier to give than permission.

Respect peoples identities

I want to be on the email chain: briana13griffin@gmail.com

pronouns: they/them/she/her

Note: Due to my busy lifestyle, I do not have a ton of background knowledge on these topics. So please do not assume I know all of your literature immediately.

Leslie Harden Greer Judging Disclosure:

I take the responsibility of judging seriously and believe in rendering fair decisions based on a neutral perspective. I share this commitment with most experienced judges. I approach each round with an open mind, eliminating bias and holding no preconceived ideas about the outcome. I can lean affirmative or negative with equal propensity, and teams should strive to persuade me with their arguments.

I bring 23 years of experience as an English, drama, debate, and communication teacher, and have also coached speech and forensics, directed theatre, and coached mock trial and student congress. My approach to judging is influenced by these years of involvement in the education and forensics community.

Here are some key aspects of my judging paradigm:

1. Communication is Key: I prioritize clear communication over rapid delivery. (It’s as if I can hear the quiet sobbing of the policy debaters reading this.) Effective communication is vital for conveying arguments successfully. I prefer a clear and eloquent presentation of issues in the round. Effective communication is crucial in persuading me of the merits of your arguments.

2. Play Professional: I place a high value on sportsmanship and decorum in debate. Respectful conduct is essential for a productive debate.

3. Affirmative Burden: The affirmative plan should fulfill all of their burdens. If the negative demonstrates that the affirmative is lacking in any one of the issues, it is grounds for the plan to be rejected.

4. Quality Evidence: I appreciate well-articulated arguments supported by high-quality evidence. Well-researched and substantiated arguments are more persuasive in my evaluation.

5. Focus on Disadvantages and Counter-Plans: I often give weight to disadvantages and counter-plans. While I may not vote on kritiks or topicality arguments, I assess the affirmative's advantages against the negative's disadvantages.

6. Respect for Judges: I expect debaters to recognize that judges are reasonably intelligent, well-informed members of society. Debaters should present their case comprehensively and avoid assuming that judges lack the ability to evaluate evidence and arguments.

In summary, my judging philosophy centers on fairness, clear communication, and rigorous argument evaluation. I encourage debaters to present their cases effectively and persuasively, regardless of their positions, and I assess each round impartially. Good luck, and I look forward to a productive and engaging debate.

dont be stupid

I'm a parent judge but with experience previously judging public forum. I like rounds that don't get too technical but I'm open minded and willing to vote on most arguments. Make sure your arguments aren't offensive and you explain them well. I like to have clear 'voting issues' in the final focus that make it easy for me to write my ballot.

I like clean, organized cases. I’m comfortable flowing, but I like line by line analysis. Just because you make a point in cross does not make it a solid argument. Make sure to bring it up in your rebuttal so I can flow it appropriately. I am willing to hear any argument no matter how outside the box, but make sure you tell me how it ties to the resolution. I like strong evidential support. I really dislike when a debate boils down to the definition of a single word. I understand topicality is a necessity of debate, but I expect more evidence to support a case than how the founders may or may not have intended us to define one word. I’m good with speed, but if I can’t understand you then I won’t be able to judge what you’re saying. Make sure you’re clear.

I am a firm believer that if you’re enjoying yourself while you debate it shows, so have fun!

I judge based off the soundness of logical arguments and the ability of the speaker to present them effectively and persuasively. I like lots of solidly founded logical arguments, but I also listen to tone of voice and pacing a lot. Burdens may also decide a round if you can show me exactly how your opponent failed to uphold their burden while you successfully upheld yours, if applicable.

Conflicts: Bentonville West High School

Experience:

I did debate for 3 years in high schools, primarily Congressional Debate, but I also did a little bit of Public Forum. Debate is supposed to be fun, so be courteous and kind to your fellow competitors. Show them the same respect you would want them to show you.

Speed:

I am not a huge fan of speed. It makes it harder for me to follow what you are saying. I would prefer a speaker who speaks slower, but has more substance and depth to their arguments over a speaker who just tries to get as much information out as they can.

Argumentation:

Please have a clear claim, warrant, and impact for your arguments. I want to know exactly what your argument is and why it matters. If that means telling me exactly what the claim and impact of the argument is, please do that. If I don't know what your argument is about or there is any confusion on my end about an argument, I won’t be able to accurately consider it in my decision.

Questioning:

Be respectful to your opponent(s). Please don't be rude to anyone in the debate space. It makes this activity less fun for others. There is a fine line between being overly aggressive and assertive. Stand your ground during questioning, but don't take over. Additionally, don't admit defeat during questioning. If you can find a response to a question, do that.

Congressional Debate:

In Congressional Debate, I like to hear some form of a rebuttal immediately following the authorship for a piece of legislation. Do not re-hash arguments or just repeat the same thing 5 times. It will make the debate stale. Additionally, I will take into account how well you respond to questioning; if you are unable to stand up to questions and you allow your arguments to fall, you will be marked down. Furthermore, I really appreciate sign posting; TELL ME WHAT YOUR MAIN POINTS ARE. Evidence must be recent or at least relevant to your argument, meaning that if you choose to use a foundational document (constitution, bill of rights, federalist papers, etc.) you must be able to accurately explain how it relates to the legislation and your arguments.

Presiding Officers

In regards to the presiding officer, I will be especially vigilant about how well you are able to maintain control of the chamber as well as the way you interact with individual competitors and other judges. If you are presiding, it is imperative that you know Robert's Rules of Order as well as Parliamentary Procedure. Failure to show that you have a good understanding of these two things will be frowned upon. If you are unsure about something during a round, PLEASE ask for help. I would much rather you ask for help than do things that would jeopardize your standing in the round.

Important!!

I will not tolerate any form of discriminatory comments or offensive remarks. If you do either of those things, you will lose the round and I will be speaking to someone in a position of authority in the tournament.

If you have any other or more specific questions about my preferences, feel free to email me at moyesn34@gmail.com however be mindful that I am a college student, so my responses may not be the fastest. Have fun debating and Roll Tide.

The primary thing I look for in good debate is argument: good logical structure, avoidance of fallacies, strong analogies, etc. The points you utilize in your round should be geared toward breaking down your opponents argument as a whole, not necessarily specific examples. Nitpicking your opponent over inconsequential points or putting words in their mouth is certainly not preferable. I much prefer to see good logic skills, counterexamples, and undermining of arguments.

If you are reading this you have already taken a step in the right direction. I am a current law student at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. I have experience in every form of debate except CX, however, I am familiar with a fair amount of policy/CX jargon. I competed in college IPDA for four years at the University of Central Arkansas and ended as a varsity national semi-finalist. In high school, I finished as a national quarterfinalist in Domestic Extemp and competed all around the country in LD, PF, and Congressional debate as well. Going on Year 9 of speech and debate involvement, I hope to provide constructive feedback that represents a variety of philosophies so you can adapt to whatever circuit you find yourself in.

For all events, I will not flow spreading. I don't mind a fast-paced round but know your limits.

IPDA
- Using blatantly abusive definitions will result in a loss. However, I do not want to see either side hinge the round on the definitions, as that gets repetitive and boring. If you have a problem with definitions, challenge them, provide your own, and then focus your time on the substance of the issue.

- Don't cite evidence you have no context for. IPDA is built on a foundation of quality argumentation that is occasionally supported by well-flushed-out evidentiary support. If you just start dropping statistics with no understanding or explanation for the relevance, it gets you nowhere.

PF
-Focus on the impacts of your arguments, and make sure to signpost your cards using the standard form of Last Name and Date. I will ask to see evidence if it is obvious that there is an evidence violation.

LD
-The entire debate needs to be based on your values, as that is how I judge LD. Your arguments need to convince me why we should use your value over the opponents, as dropping the value makes your case null.

Policy
-If you are going to run progressive arguments such as a K or a T-charge, then you need to fully develop it and give me some justification of why I should even consider it when filling out my ballot.

Big Question
-Follow the rule book, and make your arguments understandable for the common man. I am not a scientist, therefore you should avoid scientific jargon that is undefined or confuses me.

World Schools
-This debate style is like no other, so it should not resemble any other form of debate. It should be at a slower pace than other forms of debate and should focus more on rhetoric and big-picture argumentation rather than line-by-line evidence-based refutation. Use points of information strategically. You should not just use them to interrupt the opposing speaker.

I know my paradigm is unnecessarily long, but if you have any questions at all after the round, feel free to reach out to me at cjparrish46@gmail.com.

General Debate Paradigm:

Experienced Coach and Flow Judge and 4 Year High School Debater, World History/Psychology/Sociology Teacher with previous career as a Community Corrections Officer (Probation and Parole).

In my experience, all forms of Debate are a synthesis of examples, evidence, and analysis. Competitors need to dive deep into the resolutions presented and wrestle with the ideas, evidence, philosophy, experiences, and impacts that stem from the resolution while tying back the original intention of the resolution. (Framer's Intent)

In my estimation all possible areas of inquiry are on the table, but be mindful that some styles of debate depend more on some mechanics then others. If you run inherency in a LD case, it feels off. If you try to solve for BQ, that's just wrong. Debate styles need to stay in their own lanes and crossover is risky if I'm judging your round. A note on Spreading: I am not a fan. Debate is about connections and persuasion and connection with your judge. Spreading harms or eliminates all of these. Don't. I will never vote down a debater for Spreading alone but you already have one huge strike against you out of the gate if you do.

I believe in the Burdens of Debate. Aff must prove the resolution's premise as true and correct via the Burden of Proof, regardless of the style. If not they lose. Neg must attack and uphold the Burden of Clash (Rejoinder) and if they do not they can not win.

A quick word on preferences for case presentation. Constructives need to be clear cut and purposeful, lay out all your arguments and evidence, simply open doors or you to walk through in the next speech. Extension evidence is always welcome to expand your points in support in 2nd speeches. Cross should allows be respectful and civil, I do take notes on cross but the points made there highlight your style and ability to think on the fly. Use of canned questions in any form are looked down on.

Rebuttals are fair game but you should always attack, rebuild and expand your arguments in this speech. Repeating points in Rebuttals doesn't increase the weight of the argument.

Consolidation Speeches are for crystalizing the main ideas and presenting voting issues in and overall persuasive and final presentation of your case through points. Please respect the format, arguments that extend well past the rebuttals do not carry more weight with me and are presented too late, make sure to do your job in each segment of the round.

A word about style within the round:

Using excessive speed (defined as 145 or more words per minute, above regular conversational speed of speech) or use excessive points or stylistic tricks to try to disadvantage your opponent in a round will win you no style points with me. If you are speaking beyond my ability to flow or use excessive points within a case I will put my pen down and this signifies that I am no longer constructively in the round. This is to be avoided at all costs, keep your judge “in the round” and go slow, standard conversational pace.

A word on technology and style choice: I have noted in my time as a judge and a coach that reliance on your computer makes you sound robotic and read faster than running off paper. Although I won't ever vote someone down who reads off the computer, you need to make sure to get the message home to the judge with emphasis and good speaks to do well in the round. Having a flat monotone computer voice, spreading evidence, card slamming, and hyper-aggression will not win you any points with me and arguably makes your job harder.

Other Points:

• Case Points for case clarity are gladly accepted.

• Tie things back to framework to impress me and get me on your side. If you "set and forget" a framework or weighing device, its on my flow but not helping you win. This is true for Value Criteria, Weighing Mechs, and Frameworks generally.

• Full Disclosure: I am not a National Circuit judge. If its a new concept that they do it there, not a fan. Proud Traditionalist Debater and Coach here. Don't try to run Progressive theory before the resolution or run Disclosure Theory, won't hold water with me.

• Running Logical Fallacies are strongly encouraged. If you spot one, feel free to call an opponent out for it provided it is valid and you can explain the logical flaw clearly and directly (thus avoiding committing a fallacy of your own.)

• Unique arguments hold more weight then generic arguments, so look for a new angle to gain the upper hand. You have got to prove links to the resolution and prove topicality, if you can't then the claim is bound to fail.

• If you are Aff/Pro and doesn't rebuild and/or extend in later speeches, they lose. If you are Neg/Con attack doesn't attack, clash, and disprove, they lose.

• Observation is good, Observation + Analysis is better, Observation + Analysis+Evidence is best.

• In this world of "technological wonders", I am not on team AI, the expectation is that you write your own case, have your own thoughts, and defend your own ideas. If it is clear you didn't write it and don't know how to run it, I'm not likely to vote for it. Play with AI toys on your own time, not mine.

I debated congress and PF all four years of high school, occasionally some LD thrown in.

I do not mind if you speak fast, but there is a fine line between clear and concise and gibberish.

Carry through arguments, and I can tell if you're asking a question just to throw your opponents off the rails, and of you are answering a question in a completely bogus way so you can confuse them. Answer in ways that reflect your case.

top-level

qualifications (AKA bragging rights & career highlights): i am a computer engineer and sociology double major in college. i was also the scout of the year at the 75th NDT online. i have cleared at 10 college policy debate tournaments starting with triples at the northwestern season closer for that year on alliances, and on antitrust i was double 2's in getting to doubles at the 2022 Texas Open. next 2 years i made it doubles as the 17th seed at end-of-year championships, for both the 2024 ADA tournament at indiana and the 77th NDT in 2023 in virginia on the legal rights for AI topic, and at both of those previous two championships i beat Michigan State GM during round 4 in an upset. also coached a team to clear at NAUDL on the NATO AI topic while i double 2'd during the 77th NDT during the same weekend. nothing exceptional but im happy with the mild success attained during my career.

speaker points: the only reason my inflation for speaker points is probably high if you look back at my speaks is because i think speaker point inflation has been wild. i cant fight it and i dont want to be the reason someone doesnt make it to elims on speaks, so i mean i give out decent speaks compared to most people. however though, that being said the trade-off here is that i will be probably more critical in the RFD and im direct and straightforward and outspoken so you can argue with me in the decision i dont care it doesnt bother me ill just respond back nicely and still be correct, but i dont mind some back and forth, im a debater too i get it. ultimately the impact i want my RFD and decision to have on you is simple.

i dont get paid enough to change your personal opinions, but i do get paid to give you an RFD which ur gonna hear approximately two and a half hours to three hours after you read this when you see my name on the pairing. My RFD is based on who i think won the Debate based on community consensus across the board. it reflects what i think most judges in the pool would think, not my own hot takes. i believe the judge should adapt to the debaters and i am aware of community consensus on most things and takes in the topic and community about logics and arguments. dont judge me based on what others say. time yourself please, and do not go over time because i will be timing so do not try it.

read whatever u want. seriously. i promise you i can judge any debate. i am very familiar with patent law and copyrights as i am a computer engineering major who debated on antitrust and legal rights. if you do run critiques, i hate when people call it "the K". we're not german. that's really my only personal pet peeve.otherwise, not super nitpicky, i have a real life outside debate. i honestly couldnt care less about 99% of peoples hot takes sorry.

novice things for the neg:

1 - split the block, novices always forget the negative has two back to back speeches (2nc and 1nr) and they should have completely separate arguments from one another (but should still be somewhat compatible or at least not contradictory otherwise it's a performative contradiction) but they should be totally separate positions, i.e. 2nc takes the counterplan and case, 1nr takes a disadvantage and kicks out of any other argument.

2 - the 2nr must choose and narrow down - you want a DA, or a case turn, or you could do a DA with a counterplan, but do not just go for a ton of different random unrelated arguments. please narrow down in the 2nr. if you sound all over the place, you're probably going to lose.

3- 1nc and 1nr should not need prep time - you should have your 1nc ready before the round, and after you finish asking questions to the 2ac you should immediately start working on the 1nr. i recommend the 2nc takes half of the prep time you have, and the 2nr takes the other half. the 1nr should have at least fifteen minutes to prep this way, and it should be a really good speech because you can take one position and just solidly answer every single argument they put on that one position, which in novice debate usually translates to a very winnable 2nr.

novice things for the affirmative:

1 - answer every position and try to not drop any flow (as in, any position - you can surely drop parts of a position in novice debate and be fine usually), think about how much time you need to spend on each one in advance and break it down.

2 - don't drop your case in any speech, and put case as the first thing in every affirmative speech. please do not drop their case turns in your 2ac. have blocks that respond to each off case position and if you can do at least that, you're good

3 - the 1ar only needs a couple good arguments on each flow so just pick and choose and go fast. the 1ar only needs to extend your case impact for 5-10 seconds, and solvency for 5-10 seconds - if you don't do at least that, then i have to vote neg on presumption.

varsity - ABC's

conditionality: unbiased, more in the camp that it depends on the number not the practice, unless aff goes for condo bad outright. 2nr for condo good obviously doesn't need as much as the 2ar's full speech of condo bad, you just need to beat 1ar because 2ar can't make new arguments that weren't in the 1ar. that being said, 2ar still has hindsight and i'll still evaluate ur cross-apps. i dont understand how people still think dispo solves because being able to straight turn multiple neg positions and forcing them to go for them seems untenable and perms only take a couple of seconds to say on each flow so you still have to make most of the arguments otherwise so just set counter-interp to less than theirs or say its bad outright.

cap good/bad: i think the aff link turn to cap bad on this topic is pretty good, and if your planless aff says cap is bad, then i honestly dont think that is offense (in and of itself) against framework if the neg team is competent and can win TVA or SSD, so just go for other DA's to framework in that scenario. you can obviously implicate capitalism in how they construct their impacts or ideals under their model with more nuanced explanations, im just saying that they will win you can say cap bad under their model too, so you should account for that. if you want to go for cap good and you think it is strategic in round, and it links to their alt/aff then i will vote on it if you win the link and impact calc.

cp theory: unbiased usually i dont care either way but generally if you can articulate specific abuse story for the type of counterplan they have it's winnable for the aff for me still but at the end of the day just be real with me about what the impact to their thing is, or if their model and interp is just bad go for that, neg teams should feel good if they justify what they do

critique: the more u talk about the aff the more likely i will vote for u. dont drop their answers to your super important things, i get that you can drop stuff but it makes me sad when they have an on-point answer that you pretended to not hear. collapse down on the offense and close doors for me.

answering the critique: your strategic vision, which are often times very basic arguments, are key. use your aff and answer alts, your strategy usually either needs link defense and perm or just really good offense on framework and your aff's impacts not turned by them or captured through alt solvency by them.

framework against critical affs: i will vote for whoever is doing the better debating about debate i promise less on cheap shots more on impact level, fairness clash education skills are all equally good impacts i am unbiased in terms of each. predictability is your friend and limits should frame how you describe the iteration of your model over the course of a year and otherwise it is an internal link to the above four impacts. testing turns case because refinement, ballot cannot solve because Debate doesnt shape things, their model links back to their own offense because its not intrinsic to reading plans, and mitigating their turns to the process of Debating because they fall back on relying on them in some way are the four key components of negative strategy in my opinion. i think Defense is good, for four examples, the TVA or SSD lets you absorb their impacts with your model, and people can say they dont solve their case with generic presumption pushes or particular conceded cards specific to something they have said that their aff relies on. i know aff will shift but something you have said will probably stick if you are smart and can actually engage with what they are saying.

disadvantages - fav arg on topic highkey, yeah i like inflation and politics. 1ar must answer turns case, uniqueness frames the link for me but i can be convinced otherwise thats fine. in a lot of situations, uniqueness usually either is so powerful it overwhelms the link or it loses to thumpers, so exploit that. i think you should frame conceded internal links against the relative probability of aff solvency or your impact defense on their advantage if you have any, or if you are pairing it with a counterplan thenframe it as any risk of a link to net benefit combined with sufficiency framing.

states counterplan - own section because sometimes it can be OP if states can do deficit spending because sometimes that solves every aff solvency deficit against the counterplan so i would say that it is a great generic but a clever aff team can certainly push back against the parameters for solvency.

topicality - biased towards thinking aff can tax because of wording but go for whatever you want, im cool with it. i won in a debate, beating michigan state's top team to topicality for my 2nr at the ndt for an aff about artificial intelligence on the legal rights topic. my only real bragging right i really care about.

theory - apart from CP theory and conditionality, i often think reject the arg not the team is a decent response to lots of them and i also am willing to hear defenses of some out there things, i think textual competition alone is not too good but in tandem with functional maybe not too bad, lit base usually checks abuse probably

final notes on strategy

good strategy: there are many different ways to view Debate which are all "good". i believe there are a lot of different ways to understand what "good" strategy is. i'm honestly tired of having opinions on lots of strategic disagreements between different sectors of the Debate community and i molded my brain so much over the years that i really don't have any strong opinions about which strategies are good, in a sense of what wins Debates, comparing community consensus to my own takes. i don't know what the "it" factor always is to win, but it's pretty obvious within the Debate.

Tech first makes sense obviously, but truth first isn't just what someone arbitrarily dictates is the truth on a personal level - it's the framing and narrative of the Debate that isn't just about technical coverage. Most of the time though when it's a simple Debate, Truth = Tech, because they end up being usually the exact same when the winning team goes for dropped arguments that are executed well and become true even when we might not agree on what the capital T Truth is. i care about you having your own arguments you focus on and also answering their arguments they focus on. i flow well enough to know when something is dropped, but good cross-applications can save you. giving a speech with more persuasive and narrative value even if you drop a minor blip is better because well-executed strategy always maximizes your chances of victory.

Don't worry about adjusting your strategy in front of me, unless you double turn yourself, not just multiple contradicting worlds. Debaters are already under enough stress as is at a debate tournament. Just debate well. i can recognize good debaters regardless of what argument you read and how you present yourself, so actually just be yourself and i can give you tips on how to just unlock your true potential based on what you already do, not based on what i want you to do. just go for the argument that is both the most technically sound decision because of lack of technical coverage, AND the argument that is the most coherent in general against the affirmative you're going for and would be your A-strat against the best team that could be reading that aff.

Defense-Offense or Offense-Defense as better known is intuitive to me because of how i have been coached in college, i divide arguments into Defense and Offense intuitively but i don't discriminate if your strategy is more of one than the other. i've seen teams prioritizing the latter in Debates and give incredibly difficult speeches to fight back against effectively even though sometimes i think they don't collapse down and instead extended way too many different pieces of offense. i've seen teams give largely Defensive speeches that i thought were pretty good too, and they were persuasive because they were directly responsive to the other team's primary arguments and largely controlled the direction of the Debate enough to actually determine the condition for the win. Most people do a mix, which is generally good, but interestingly i think different styles are conducive to different ratios of Defense to offense, if that makes sense. But don't overthink it - you should just do what you're already prepared to do.

Trey Roark

She/Her/They/Them

If you have any questions about the round or anything in general, don't hesitate to email me at trey.roark3@gmail.com (Also add me to the email chain)

Just have fun with the debate I promise I'm not mean it's just my face

TL;DR:

If I'm judging you in another event that isn't policy, pop off on whatever you want, I'm pretty fluid when it comes to argumentation.

Go off on whatever

Love speed especially when clear

Also, cross-ex is something I pay attention to a lot.

Truth Over Tech (Tech is obviously amazing, but don’t go reading racism/homophobia good args or something like that because that ain't the truth, and arguments that are just not true are not persuasive)

Top Level:

I think that debate is based on the contextualization of the round. Whatever comes out of your mouth is what I evaluate (which on paper sounds really weird but you get the point).

Don't be rude, but that doesn't mean you can't be bold, if fact I encourage it, if you know a claim is ridiculous call it out, clown on them, and CX is a perfect place to do this.

IMO CX is CX because of CX so I evaluate Cross-Ex ALWAYS. It's my favorite part, so y'all better know whatchu talking about because CX can be pretty damning for a lot of teams

Arguments:

KvK: I'm all for them, especially if it's done well. I love talking about specific theories and reading various literature on them. I do a lot of QT and Sex Worker research so if you're planning on running with that I'd have a pretty good background on it before reading it in front of me. Anything else is totally fine, but I evaluate this in terms of a method v. method, not in terms of which method I think is better but which is better framed, linked, and described materially throughout the round. So tech helps you a lot here.

Plans: Sure! I read soft left affs in high school, so I have a soft spot for em........ If you're not reading one, topic analysis is obviously almost necessary, but even then if it says "screw the res" that's cool too, C/I can help you with this as well. I read k affs, but I love clash debates.

Framework: I read both K affs and Policy affs, so I've voted on FW before. I will say there better be a lot of impact framing on this, especially in the context of the round, cause I believe that the aff in itself is scholarship so that's already a plus for in-round analysis.

TvPlans: You can go for T in the 2NR, but there needs to be quite a bit of articulation, mostly just because I don't really understand it and I didn't do much of it in high school. I've never gone for T before, so if that gives you any information. Affs that are obviously untopical sway my vote in this case. Grammar T's are pretty strong tho to ;)

DAs: I like these, but at some point, I think they not only get repetitive but also boring. In this case, quality over quantity, because if not, it's a waste, so if you're running it into the block, there needs to be a lot of contexts and in-round descriptions.

CPs: I like these, condo is definitely good in this case. I think theory on CPs can be strategic, I also like the creativity of CPs, but I think Fiat in all cases needs to be explained to me in the context of what we fiating and why we should be able to. I don't just buy a "we get fiat" argument, I need to know why you do.

Theory: Perm debate is good, but it isn't just about specific theories and why you deserve perms or not, it's also what can the perm do for each side, or why it's unfair for the affirmative to have one, I love out of the box answers to perms and play on words. Other theories are fine but there needs to be more than a 1 line description and a fairness impact though.

KvPlan (K's in general): I like these kinds of debates, especially if there's a good link not just to the topic/overarching usfg, but specifically the plan itself and why voting aff causes specific disadvantages. Tell me why the perm can't work, and why the K and K alone is specific to solving the plan. I also live for how plan debaters respond to this, if done well can make for really good debates.

Also, I love putting DA names on links and examples, creative naming goes a long way for me.

Things I hate

- Blippy Disclosure (Unless breaking new or specific reason)

- Stealing Prep

- Clipping

- Homophobia/Racism/Sexism/Transphobia, etc.

Debate is supposed to be fun and an awesome activity where we all get to hear each other's opinions, voices, and scholarship; don't ruin that. It makes debate inherently harmful and unfun, and I don't think engaging in such an intellectual activity should be either of those things.

Just a couple of things to keep in mind:

1. Make sure you take advantage of crossfire. Although I am not going to vote from your crossfire, this is a time where I want to see clash of arguments and engage with warrants. You should not be repeating what you just read in case but rather tell me how your argument works and finding/pointing out flaws from your opponent's arguments.

2. If your opponents are asking for a piece of evidence make sure you are able to provide it within a reasonable amount of time or I will run your prep time. You should be prepared.

3. If you are using framework in case, make sure it is warranted/carded. Also do not read framework and then drop it after the constructive and never bring it up again in round. There should be a clear purpose when using framework.

4. Please weigh! This is important for nearly every speech but especially the final focus as close rounds tend to be decided in the very last speech of the debate! Tell me why I should prefer your argument over your opponent's! Impact analysis please! I know in the final focus you might want to go for nearly every argument in the end but you only have 2 minutes. Make sure you pick and choose the most important arguments in the round and tell me why I should vote for you!

5. For my second speakers: I know you might want to read tons of different arguments and "flood" the flow but it is not necessary. It is better to read 3 or 4 solid well warranted responses per argument rather than 6 or more blippy responses that are not developed at all. Also remember to use up your entire time! Take advantage of it! If you have time to defend in your rebuttal speech, address important turns on your case but only if you think you have completely attacked your opponent's case.

These are just a couple of things to keep in mind. I am pretty laid back so if you have any questions feel free to ask me before the round starts. Don't hesitate to ask! Good luck!

experience: cx, pf, ld, bq, congress, world schools

cx

include me on the email chain. it's pretty rare that i will vote on t, that would be a very special circumstance. tell my how many off case positions you're running please. i'm fine with any type of argument as long as you articulate it well. i feel like there isn't really anything unique to put here, if you have specific question you can feel free to ask me. if you want what happens in cross to matter you need to bring it up during your speech.

public forum

i'm fine with any kind of argument. my decision is more often than not based off the line by line debate. be sure to have real impacts that you carry across the flow and weigh against your opponents. if there is a weighing mech make sure it's actually one worth while and that you continue relating back to it and explaining how you win under it. take full advantage of cross- don't just start rambling off an argument during that time, ask questions and move on, alsoif you want what happens in cross to matter you need to bring it up during your speech. arguments need to have warrants and links. i'm fine with speed, but not if you're sacrificing clarity- also speed doesn't equate to spreading.

lincoln douglas

speed is okay, but not at the cost of clarity. no need to spread but if you absolutely must then you should warn me/ your opponent and probably send out the doc. please do not turn the whole round into a framework debate. if you want to debate frameworks the whole time, don't allow it to dominate your speech time. be sure to actually be relating your arguments/ impacts back to the framework you've chosen to run. i am big on line by line, that's what makes the decision. i am fine with any type of arguments, as long as you have a link/ warrant to the case you're making. if you want what happens in cross to matter you need to bring it up during your speech.

any homophobia, sexism, racism, ableism, etc will result in an L. respect your opponents.

I'm on the debate team at Arkansas State University. I have 6 years of experience in a variety of formats, including LD, PF, StuCo, and Parli. I'm a traditional flow judge. You can run whatever you want, as long as it is well articulated.

I'm fine with spreading but your opponent needs to be fine with it as well. I value accessibility to the round.

Slow down when you read plan text, perm text, counterplans, etc. and please post them in the chat.

Bentonville West High School Speech & Debate Coach

I have been a coach and competitor in the forensics/speech/debate world for 20+ years. I specialize in speaking. Speaker points are important to me. Sloppy or disorganized speeches can cost you the round. Please don't just read to me. I want to see your speaking & delivery skills as much as I want to see your arguments. Make clear arguments and focus on line-by-line analysis. When it comes to splitting hairs for a win, I will go with the team with the best line-by-line argumentation.

Back your claims and counterclaims with solid cards. I'm an analytical thinker when it comes to debate rounds. I want to hear your claims back with more than your opinion.

I am a tab judge and willing to listen to any argument. However, don't kill a dead horse or bet your case on minuscule points. Support your claims with professional backing. Make your points clear and understandable. Make sure you link to the resolution.

I enjoy a clearly organized debate with strong signposting, road-maps, and line-by-line analysis. Organization is key to keeping the flow tidy as well as maintaining clash throughout the round.

PLEASE DON'T SPREAD. Adapt your case structure/speaking style, to adhere to this request. I'm a speaker. I expect solid speaking skills. I can deal with fast speaking as long as you are clear. However, I'm a traditional judge. Don't spread in styles outside of CX. If you do speak quickly, make sure you're clear. If I miss your argument because you're not clear, it could cost you the round.

Be sure to read arguments that have a clear link to the resolution/framework. If I don't understand the argument itself or don't understand how it links, there is no way I can evaluate it.

You're not going to win rounds with me in cross. Just because you bring a point up in cross does not mean I will flow it. If you want it considered, bring it up in your rebuttal. Keep it professional. A true debater can give their points without sounding demeaning or disrespectful. It will cost you the round with me. Learn to disagree respectfully.

I am by no means a lay judge, but I judge PF & WSD rounds as if I am. Don't use debate jargon in these rounds. Speak to me as if I had never heard the word debate before. That's the design of these styles.

If you have any questions, please ask me prior to the round.

Avoid arguments that are homophobic, sexist, racist, or offensive in any way. Be respectful to your opponent and judge. Use professional language at all times.

This is your debate so have fun with it! Best of luck to you!!

Spreading: Start a little slower and then ramp up your speed as wifi connections and things can get weird at the beginning. I want to hear the entire argument. Not guess at it.

For all debates: I will pick a winner based on who best communicates the most logical argument.

For LD: I find greater value in arguments that are logical with proper, factual evidence.

I enjoy a good cross-examination.

Do not flip back and forth from AFF to NEG and back to AFF. I will dock points for this.

I do allow off clock road maps, but keep it brief.

I will not announce my decisions. Results will be posted and then shared after the debate is complete.

I believe that high school debate and forensics should be a learning and growing activity for students. Winning is fun but competitor growth is more important.

I appreciate that there are different styles of debate and that many competitors try several different debate styles. We have different forms a debate for a reason. As competitors, it is your responsibility to know what makes those different forms similar and what makes them different. Make sure you are debating in a manner that respects and highlights the unique aspects of your debate form. Don't try to mash styles together by using techniques associated with one debate style into one where it isn't practiced.

With that being said here are some items that will give you more insight into how I judge:

*I am a flow judge.

*Signpost PLEASE - if you don't tell me where to apply your argument I will NOT be inferring.

*I would like a quick off the clock roadmap prior to your speech (not necessary for first speakers). This should be a brief overview of what you plan to cover. Example: I will be covering my opponents case and then my case. This is all the detail I need so I can be on the right flow.

**Theory debate - I don't like it. We are here to debate a topic not a theory - many of you are preparing for careers that will demand you provide argumentation and rebuttal and that can't happen if we aren't dealing with the topic.

*DO NOT SPREAD - it is not in your best interest for me not to be able to flow you - if I can't flow you can't win. You will know I can't flow your speech because I will put my writing utensil down.

*Be Courteous - the round needs to be about the clash of claims not the clash of attitudes.

*If you provide a weighing mechanism/framework/value and value criterion PLEASE use it during the debate. Don't bring it up in your first speech and not talk about it again until your last speech.

*If you are using a prepared speech PLEASE make sure you have practiced it before the round to ensure it is as fluid as possible. Also make sure you are pronouncing all names and words correctly.

*I am not a fan of Ks although I am learning more about them and why they can help a debate round. My preference is topic debate. If you can link your K to why your opponent can't access their impacts then I am all ears.

*I am a traditional judge/coach.

*In Public Forum:

**If your case is one or two lengthy contentions with no subpoints and lots of evidence PLEASE make sure that you are tying these to the resolution. I prefer clearly labeled contentions and subpoints. It is just easier to flow.

**Please make sure you are using the summary and final focus speeches for what they are intended. I place a lot more weight on what happens in these four speeches than the first four. You are the one debating. You tell me what the major arguments are. Don't make me figure this out. Listen to each other during this time. I LOVE when Final Focus has clash!!!

**Crossfire is an important part of the debate. I don't flow it but I do listen. If you want something that occured during crossfire to be weighed in the round you MUST bring it up during the next speech.

*In Congressional Debate

**Please remember this is a speaking and debate activity. I want to see rebuttal arguments as well as new arguments for the side you are supporting. Prepared speeches are nice but if you are any speaker after the first aff/neg, please provide some argumentation with sound evidence. Make sure you have a good balance between old and new arguments.

*In Big Question

**Make sure that you are debating the topic!!

*In Lincoln/Douglas

**Please see note above about value/value criterion. This is 100% how I am going to evaluate the round. If each sides presents different V/VC our round centers on these and not your contentions unless you are also tying your V/VC to your contentions which would be AWESOME!! I would prefer to hear a debate on the topic but if the round goes here let's make sure we are really showing the importance of the V/VC.

Experience as a competitor in Novice Policy, Congressional, StuCo, IPDA, and Extemporaneous Debate.

Experience as a judge/parliamentarian in the aforementioned events plus Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, and Big Questions.

I am a policy debate format traditionalist who often gives a slight controlling weight in rounds for high quality technical definitions that are reasonable and can be accurately applied to your theory. I do not mind spreading so long as it is clear and does not interfere with the 'spirit of the debate'. If you attempt to have nuclear proliferation/breakdown-of-society serve as the vehicle for your constructive(s) but must fiat most counterarguments that get presented in order to make your plan work, then it's best practice to retract your dubious contention(s) and stand your ground on the plan's sub-point(s). Please have the wherewithal to end your speech in a timely manner even if in the midst of a main contention--especially if you're competing in Congress.

I’m a previous Debate and Forensics Student turned Coach. I have 6 years of Experience. My biggest take away from being a student was to judge everyone fairly. I walk into a room and leave my personal opinions at the door.

I will judge based on the Case, Clash, and Speaking Capabilities (Don't worry accents, stutter or other out of control issues wont be counted against you). I take into account Weighing Mechanisms, Criteria, etc. I Don’t Disclose, but I do write critiques on the ballot, and I’ll never leave one blank.

One thing I will count off for is Spreading. If I can’t keep up with you then I understand why your opponent would be able to.

I like it when you speak to me, rather than just read the case. I also like when you explain your points and reasoning with me. Act as if I know nothing on the subject.

I do allow off the clock road maps, but voters should be kept in your final speech if you're providing any.

Affiliation and Big Picture:

I debated three years for Bentonville HS, then debated policy, parli, and collegiate LD for Oklahoma. Currently a master's student at NYU and a Mock Trial/Model UN assistant coach in Albany, NY.

I debated primarily K, but I will always vote on what you present to me. If you are straight policy, great. If you are very performance, also great. You know your arguments. I will vote on framework and T, but I won’t necessarily just give the round to you because the other team is running a kritikal aff. Prove your impacts and weigh it out. I like clash. I assume you do too.

Be careful about saying something is a priori if you are not sure of winning it, because I will evaluate it as such.

Be good in CX. Effective CX trapping is impressive and can be good for speaks. Being a jerk isn’t. Also in the same vein, avoid being problematic as a general rule- y’all are in high school and know how to not be harmful to your competitors.

I would like to be added to email chains and I will flow on paper, I stop at the timer with what I last heard.

Specific Arguments:

Topicality- Articulate it well and extend it properly and it has a chance with me. I actually like T a fair amount as long as it can be proven. If you’re using it as a time suck, don’t.

K- Don’t assume everyone knows your lit base or that the buzzwords are automatically understood. It’s important to explain the idea in a way that your competitors can understand the premise as well. Well-run K is important, and the link chain needs to be articulated.

DA/CP- If this is your negative argument of choice, the rules are pretty standard. Make them stick to the aff. Net benefits must be articulated properly.

Affs- I like to hear creative affs as well as standard affs, as long as you can articulate your particular position and defend it.

Theory- I will hear it, but remember. Condo on some ungodly number of CPs might be buyable, condo on one CP and one K won’t be. Be reasonable.

Good luck everybody and I can’t wait for some great debates! Email is gswall97@gmail.com if you have any further questions(before or after this tournament!) or ask before round.

I am a communications teacher (I was never a debater) therefore I focus more on the educational aspect of the debate. Please do not assume that I understand all debate terminology and techniques. I need you to educate and persuade me through organized speeches and clear explanations.

Former k policy and congressional debater from Little Rock Central High School. I attend the University of Arkansas- Fayetteville and do not actively debate.

email me for questions: abbywalton28@gmail.com

Note: please don't call me ma'am- I won't call you out if you do, but I prefer not being called that. I use they/she pronouns & prefer they.

Spreading is OK for me.

In high school, I was the kind of debater that constantly had Framework debates and hated the subject. Now, especially judging formats like Big Questions and LD, I appreciate Framework a lot more and give that argument priority. Please tell me how to vote and what to vote for!

I also never read a capitalism or hegemony good argument, although I will vote for it if it's the more substantiated and better debated claim.

To get good speaker points, have a well structured speech, speak clearly, and use lots of good well thought out evidence. I think a well organized speech is what I look for and appreciate the most.

I have been a competitor back in 2000-2003 and have judged off and on for the last 12 years.

Keep on Topic.

Make Clear Arguments.

Please don't base your entire argument on the definition of the word.

Answer questions in the cross as best you can. Don't completely avoid the question.

If you speak quickly, make sure you're clear. I don't want to miss you're argument because you weren't clear.

Avoid arguments that are homophobic, sexist, racist, or offensive in anyway. Be respectful to your opponent and judge. Use professional language at all time.

Try not to interrupt during CX I know this is common but with this new virtual world it's hard to hear as it just gets distorted and I could miss something that was said and could be important!

Have fun and Best of Luck!

Hello lil baby debaters !!!!

heres the gist of it... I did policy debate at Bentonville High School for 3yrs..

I will easily be able to follow your arguments and your speed... but if your spreading is UNCLEAR then it won't make it onto my flow.

-- ORGANIZATION IS KEY!!!! If you don't sign post I won't know where arguments go. I'm a flow judge and if I don't know where your argument goes then it will probably hinder how I evaluate the round at the end

-- if you want outstanding speaker points you have to work for it... just because you can spread isn't enough for me, you have to be able to show me that you can speak PERSUASIVELY!! Slow down, emphasize words, repetition, hand gestures, analogies, eye contact. I should be completely moved to tears/ action by your speech.

-- NEVER END A SPEECH BEFORE THE TIMER GOES OFF. you should always have something to say

-- don't ask if you can sit during your speech the answer is no-- **THIS WAS PRECOVID U CAN SIT**

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-- I will flow any argument but you better KNOW it and be able to explain it well. If you are going to read something that you just found a few hrs before... be careful

-- if it comes down to a specific card I will comb through it so this is a WARNING to make sure your card says EXACTLY what you are arguing .... I would rather you have incredibly strong analytics than mediocre evidence

-- if you have strong evidence/ can argue something crazy really well, then go for it. my outside biases/ opinions do not affect my view. You have good evidence that says Atlantis the lost city has been found then it's a valid argument that must be adequately addressed by your opponent. Argue that your team is actually pirates idc

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-- rebuttals need impact calc.

-- I like rebuttals to consist of analysis of the round, less cards & more explaining WHY your team is winning

-- TOPICALITY IS A PRIORI (I don't care what the new fad is, but to me that is one of the most important things in the round) --> that also means, don't run dumb ones and make sure your technique is correct

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-- NEG try not to bring up new arguments in the 2nc... it annoys me when rebuttals turn into the aff whining/ a debate over the rules of policy. If you DO bring up a new argument it better be the strongest thing you have, don't just waste time.

-- NEG I want to see a good use of the negblock... don't say the exact same thing for 13 mins

-- I WANT CLASH. Case debate is so often swept under the rug !!!! even if you don't have specific cards against their case I will flow analytics. Strong analytics !!!!!!! This holds true for all forms of debate.

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-- don't be rude to your opponents during cross ex

-- don't run sexist, racist, homophobic, etc.. arguments. If I think that the round has become offensive I will stop you and force you to take YOUR prep time to re evaluate. Don't be insensitive.

-- if you flash files I will not count it as prep

-- have a phone or timer for your speech... I will not be your judge AND timekeeper.

-- open cross ex is fine in my book BUT if your partner is answering all the questions for you I will take that to mean that you don't understand what you just read

-- do NOT start off cross ex with 'how are you' or lame filler questions. Just end cross ex or ask for more details... but don't waste my time. CROSS EX SHOULD BE INTENTIONAL.

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-- K affs are fun, go for it !!!

-- do not forget to extend your case in every speech.

--AFF if you are going to have framework in your plan I better hear it until the very end. Don't say read it in the 1ac and then not mention it again until rebuttals.. I will consider it dropped

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FOR PF and LD...

-- I've judged enough rounds that I understand and can follow the arguments you make

-- I'm okay with K's being run in an LD round but no CPs; progressive or traditional whatever your preference is go for it

-- I know that PF and LD are supposed to focus more heavily on slow, well spoken, persuasive speeches, that being said, I am okay with speed but DO NOT SPREAD.

-- look you don't get a lot of time in these speeches, I get that, but I also need to see that you are adequately responding to every argument on the flow !!! (This is part of being organized)

-- impact calc is still relevant, I wanna hear some hella persuasive speaking in those summary speeches

-- also you CAN debate the weighing criteron... I expect you to extend. Don't just define your criteron, you better put it into the context of the resolution.

-- no 'open cx' in pf, don't ask. You have grand crossfire/ you should know your case well enough to answer questions on your own.

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Big Questions

-- have fun... good luck... I better hear some enticing, impressive, creative, and logical arguments !!!! Claaaaaassssshhhhhh! Do your research.

- don't just repeat your case over and over...

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Congress

- i don’t remember reading or even thinking about paradigms the few times I participated in Congress back in the old day BUT in case you are reading this… most of what i said for PF/LD apply to you. I would say be more cautious with speed because other judges aren’t gonna like that even though i don’t mind as long as you can talk fast and still be persuasive and include tone fluctuation

- when disagreeing (or agreeing) with an argument if u mention someone refer to them as a fellow delegate.

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-- if you decide to flash or have some sort of email chain during round I want to be included. whitemadisonj@gmail.com

-- I try not to disclose in round because I want you guys motivated and encouraged for your next round so PLEASE don't ask me who won

-- I expect you to come to the round having already read my paradigm... you may ask me questions about what I have said or anything I didn't specify but I will not repeat all of what I have typed

-- be unique and creative !!! Have fun with this !!!!! Can't wait to see how hard you have all worked !!

Hello all,

First a few things about me, I prefer to be called Henry, I only graduated in 2020, and the judge thing is a bit too formal for my liking. As for my experience, I did PF for three years at BHS, and did some policy prior to that. I currently am studying economics and international business at Drake University.

If I'm your judge it's pretty simple:

1. I like to see good, consistent, clash in the round. If you don't say it I'm not going to flow it, you will not get by with any shadow extensions.

2. I am perfectly fine if you have some sass// pick at your opponents during cross examination//fire, whatever you want to call it. You know where the line is, and if you cross it I will not hesistate to stop the round and vote you down immediately with a signficant deduction in speaker points. You won't get a warning, tread carefully.

3. I hate definition debate, the only time that you should HAVE to use definitions is a word that is ambiguous or could have multiple meanings. Please don't define words like should, ought, etc. we know what they mean, spend those extra seconds somewhere else in your speech, like extending your arguments properly (see note 1).

4. Speak clearly, if you want to spread please do, I can keep up. But I cannot keep up with you if I can't understand what you're saying. If I can't understand you, your speaker points will be negatively affected and so will your chances of winning the round.

If you have any other questions I'll be happy to answer them before the round, however if you didn't take the time to read this I will not repeat my paradigms before rounds, it's your job to come prepared. Good luck have fun, throw me onto the email chain if you're sharing cases, whjzig@gmail.com