I'm definitely a policy maker at heart, but if you don't give me great impact calc. I will resort to stock issues.

I am not the biggest fan of counter plans but I recognize that some resolutions lend themselves to them and they are justified and in those cases. I actually enjoy judging them in these situations. Don't run one if you don't know how to do it well though...that will just frustrate me.

I like specific DA's but again, I'll vote on a generic one if they aren't argued well.

I think T is a priori and will vote on it first--even if it's crappy. Answer it.

K's aren't my favorite either--mostly because they aren't run well. However, if you know how to run it and the opposing team can keep up, making it a genuinely good debate, go for it. I'm all about listening to good arguments. Just don't run them if it's a tactic to trip up the other team. That won't fly and it will only be a waste of your time and mine.

Speed doesn't bother me. I can keep up. But spreading as a tactic to avoid clash, and genuine persuasive debate, won't get you far with me.

So, basically, give me clash. Give me a solidly good debate where you are all trying to communicate well. That's what I want to see. I was a 3 year high school debater, and a 1 year college debater. I've been a coach for 12 years. (I took a break to raise my daughter). I know what I'm doing. If I give you a verbal critique at the end of the round, listen. I don't give them often and when I do it's because something is in earnest need of being addressed.

I don't put up with rudeness. Period. I will give you the loss on a 7 if you are awful to an opponent or your partner.

That's it. Good luck!

As a judge I focus on communicative skills more than the resolution issues.

Skill emphasis is what I judge the most on.

As far as your speed, as long as you can be understood and are fluent speed isn't an issue.

Counterplans are rarely acceptable.

Topicality is rarely important; violation of topicality must be fairly blatant to win my ballot.

Generic disadvantages are acceptable if specific links are clearly analyzed.

I prefer specific real world arguments.

I competed for four years in high school policy debate and I now compete on my college's debate team. I'm a stock issues and policymaker.

I can handle a pretty fast pace but no spreading, please

Typically: I don't mind it at all, but don't expect to win off of a very nitpicky one

Generic DA's: I'm fine with generic disads but make sure links are analyzed as to how it applies to their case.

K's: Not a fan of K's

CP's: Fine with those

Analyze your arguments. Don't just read a card and move on - explain to me how this applies to the round.

I debated four years in Kansas in the early '80s. State medalist. No college debate experience. I did compete in college forensics.

I default to Policymaker with a strong emphasis on the resolution of key arguments. A speaker's ability to organize thoughts, address all arguments, provide clear analysis, and advocate for the ballot are important. T is fine if developed well. Disadvantages need to link. Counterplans are acceptable- but stick to issues rather than theory. No Speed. No K.

I have coached at the 4A level in Kansas for over three decades. I have coached 15 state championship teams and many other state medalists in 2 and 4 speaker formats. I have qualified policy teams for national tournament policy debate and had teams reach elims several times.

Debate is a competitive, educational activity that supports speech, argumentation and research skills. I expect you to address stock issues and have clear, well-connected and relevant off case arguments. I will vote primarily on the quality of evidence and argumentation and secondarily on the speech skills displayed. Whatever arguments you run, be organized on the flow, be clear on your arguments, and be persuasive in your speaking.

I have judged HS debate here in Kansas for the last 3 years. I also debated for one year in college.

I don't mind a fast debate, as I am a fast talker, but don't go at breakneck speed. Remember, I haven't heard your argument before.

I don't plan to time the debate or prep time, therefore you should. If need me to time, please tell me. Flex prep is fine if all debaters in the round agree.

I am very well-read, open-minded, heavily involved in politics, and graduated at the top of all my classes. I have both an undergraduate and a master's degree and have done doctoral level work.

Judging Style: I am a public speaker for a living, so I tend to make many remarks on your ability to annunciate and speak clearly with confidence. I put a high value on being respectful to your opponents and I watch your body language. But I don't take well to just charisma with no substance. Be a good speaker AND make a compelling and smart/logical argument.

Arguments:

I'm generally most interested in hearing solvency and impact (particularly in this year's topic). Disadvantages are also particularly important to me and I want to see good clash!

Careful with topicality arguments- I don't like when they dissolve into nit picky arguments. Make it a silver bullet (i.e. if it's made it impossible to rebut) - otherwise, don't argue topicality.

Make clear, organized and compelling arguments as to why you should win. It's that simple - but in my experience, not all competitors get that.

First and foremost I consider this a speech event, so clarity and good pacing is important.

I like debates about stock issues and on case arguments. I do not like K. at all. Counterplans are okay as long as you make sure to address the aff completely and know that I will expect a very logical reason I why I should vote for the CP. I like a clearly laid-out A1 with a road map that is easy for me to flow. CX is extremely important and I don’t like questions that are time fillers or simply ask to repeat plans unless the aff is unclear.

A good DA is great but be sure it goes beyond the generic. And PLEASE don't go apocalyptic!

Stay topical or prove the Aff isn’t beyond just saying that it isn’t. Make me believe.But aff needs to address T if it is brought up.

Be sure not to drop arguments in your rebuttals and don’t bring in new evidence.

If you can be logical, clear and concise, and respond to all arguments you stand a good chance of winning.

I appreciate respectful behavior and disapprove of rudeness or directly dressing down your opponent.

As a judge, I value two things highly

One: First and foremost, I see this an exercise in good communication. If you speak so rapidly that I can't follow you, I can't in good conscience give you the win because I don't know understand your argument. Second to that, I don't want you to read me tons of cards. I believe your evidence should support your speech, not be your speech.

Second: Stock issues. These exist for a reason in this event.

In essence, I value traditional, logical, and well-articulated arguments.

I do not prefer K's. There are very few K's that I believe are successful arguments and would need to be very well articulated and sound argumentation.

Do not yell! Passion does not equal louder. Please maintain a reasonable volume.

Pronouns: he/his

stegman76@gmail.com

I used to coach at a 2A high school in Kansas. I'm a stock issue as well as policymaker in that I look for impacts and weigh them against the defense in the round.

Do not tell me about the rules of debate unless there is an impact to your argument. The impact could be fairness or something.

Generic DAs are fine if the links are clearly analyzed.

Topicality is super important; however, I hate T arguments that are just there to fill time.

CPs are fine, although I'm not crazy about topical CPs.

Kritiks are something I'm not super comfortable judging well. I've only seen them run once or twice...by novices at the beginning of their debate career. I'm not opposed to them, but don't feel I could accurately gauge if a K is run well or not.

Don't just read evidence and leave it at that - analyze, analyze, analyze!

I prefer moderate contest speed. Not a super big fan of spreading.

I flow. Please keep your speech organized.

I have been judging debate for several years. I am primarily a stock issues judge and will be basing my decision mostly on successful arguments of stock issues. I expect to hear clearly cited evidence that pertains to the debate round. Since debate is also about speaking, I will also be looking for speeches that are constructed well and competitors with good speaking abilities. I do not care for Kritiques. Stick to the stock issues. Counter plans should be thorough, well constructed and presented if used, but I am not really a huge fan of most counter plans either.

I am basically a policy maker judge. However, I also consider stock issues.

Things I dislike:

Generic arguments unless they can be directly linked to case.

Speed. I'm an English teacher, and I can take notes. If I can't keep up, you're going too fast. And no, I don't want a copy of your speech. I am judging the round based on the speeches, not the written notes and cards. Your responsibility is to get the information into the round--verbally. That's what I judge.

*Counterplans: Debate the affirmative case! Unless the aff case is totally non-topical, then engage with them. Offering your own plan (which you had ready before the aff ever spoke) defeats the purpose of a debate round, in my opinion, and is actually dodging the responsibility of the negative.

* I know this year's topic is one that spawns counterplans, so I'm not going to give you the loss JUST because you offered a counterplan. I also understand how a counterplan with a Kritique could be effective. However, my basic philosophy is that you should debate the affirmative plan, not offer your own and ursurp the round.

Position on the following:

Topicality: Rarely do I award the win based on topicality. Unless it's blatantly non-topical, it's topical. I do understand though that running topicality arguments gives your partner more time to prepare their speech; just know that your splitting hairs over definitions isn't going to affect my decision.

Kriitiques: I haven't judged a round where a kritique is offered. However, I understand the concept and would expect it to be presented and explained as a Kritique, and an alternative solution/plan should be presented with it.