I need to be able to understand what you are saying, so if you are speaking at a rate faster than you can handle and I cannot understand you, it is just as bad as not saying anything and I cannot count those arguments. I also do not appreciate being told what I MUST do in any round. Use good arguments and logic, make sure you adequately address the points brought up by your opponent, and do your best to defend and uphold your own case. Use cross-ex to question, not to debate. Lastly, I like CIVIL debates. Know the difference between passion and unnecessary aggression.

I am a former LD Debater, State Champion and National Competitor many moons ago.

I have coached and judged Public Forum and LD for the past 8 years. The last seven as Head Coach.

I am a flow judge. Speed is fine but know if it doesn’t hit my flow it didn’t happen. I will be pretty clear in my face and writing if you are losing me.

Overview: I will not do the work for you.

I require extending arguments and vetting sources. IE remember the XX card (I won’t) with out a paraphrase and impact is meaningless and a throw away.

Signpost. If you must jump around the flow, lead me there. I require more than cross apply the arguments. Why?

Narrative: This is an absolute requirement for me. Why do I prefer your offering on the resolution? I do not vote on net zero arguments. IE my evidence is better, more recent, yada yada without context. Making an argument neutral is not winning an argument. Basically, impact the TURN. I am not a technicality judge as I do not feel that is in the true spirit of Debate.

Public Forum:

I do not believe there is a paradigm in this area of debate. I expect logical links and impacts. I am open to where a debater will take the argument. That said, public forum is not Policy light. Use solvency, plans, counter plans, K’s and DisAds at your own risk. There is a reason Policy rounds are 90 minutes and PF only 45. If you can solve for poverty in 4 minutes from a few sentences of some evidence, I will personally take you to the U.N.

I do embrace/expect scope and link chains as it is logical and necessary to weigh any debate.

LD:

I will look to Framework. If you can not access impacts in the V/C clash I cannot vote for you. End of story. You cannot win an LD round with out winning the V/C clash. It is the bedrock of why we are even talking about the subject in LD and not PF or Policy. You have a unique obligation of ought or should while upholding a link to the real world.

FLOWING:

I flow the entire round in the RFD so that teams and coaches can see how the round went. I also add my thoughts in italics, so that you can see how different arguments went. I'll put my biggest RFD (and the value clash) at the top of my notes.

DECISION:

1 - I sometimes find that debaters say something brilliant but quick in a round and never touch on it again. These little moments can and do swing close rounds. For this reason, it is important to balance both offense and defense and listen carefully all through the round.

2 - Debaters should carefully consider what evidence they use. Try to present ample, credible, and unbiased sources. Logic can only take you so far on its own. Evidence can only do so much on its own. The two need to balance.

3 - Impacts really matter. If one side is better able to explain their impacts and prove that they weigh more heavily than the opposition's, that side may take the lead.

PREFERENCES:

1 - Please do not spread. Spreading isn't good for anyone. I understand that students do it to fit as much information in as possible, but you risk opponents and judges not being able to track everything you say. Spreading could very easily backfire when judges and competitors are not able to take notes fast enough retain everything you say, anyway. You might as well reduce your argument so that everyone can track the whole thing and you can take more time to focus on the impacts. A good argument will be about argument quality, not necessarily quantity.

2 - I recognize that I do have a bias against disrespectful debaters. It is very important to me that debaters maintain their composure and professionalism through the entire round. Competitors are future leaders and need to be able to set a good example for those around them. It would have to be extreme for me to actively and intentionally weigh that in the round, but I recognize that my biases make it difficult to NOT let rude behavior get to me. Basically, remain poised and professional.

3 - Meld values into your contentions and come back to that! Please balance the value clash with the contentions. I'll use the wining value to weigh both teams' contentions, so it is possible to win the value clash but then have your opponents uphold that value better with their arguments. You need to be ready to explain not only why your value is superior, but how you uphold it better.