I am a licensed attorney and parent of a debater. I ask debaters to present the most professional and polished version of themselves. Remember to initially identify who you are, what side you are on, and what relief you seek from the judge. If time runs out at any time during the debate, please ask for a moment to finish your thought/sentence (be very VERY BRIEF as you are already out of time) and also state what you are asking of the judge. Never let yourself be cut off and just let that go. Make sure every chance you have to present your case is used to the very fullest and that includes finishing your thoughts and asking for what you are there to ask for--that is getting the judge to rule in your favor.

I see a debate as my court room and you as current and future community leaders and I expect you to behave as such. To that end, please treat debate communication as though it were a persuasive, calm, thoughtful and rational conversation with a judge. Kindly keep your tone and pace conversational. If I cannot understand you because you are talking too quickly, too urgently or too loudly, I will not be able to follow along with your arguments and that could lead to a reduction in points for you. Also, please do not use any swear words whatsoever. Any foul language, no matter how insignificant you believe it to be, could count against you. For example, words like, "crap" will be considered foul. If you are not sure if a word falls into this category, I suggest you do not use it. Please do not use slang, either. Some examples of slang are: "My bad," or "You guys." Please use formal phrasing and proper English whenever possible. This is a formal setting which requires the utmost respect in your word choices, much like a court room. Kindly treat it as such.

In addition to the above, I expect clear, well organized and well supported arguments to be made with solid, verifiable, significant, and current sources as support. Good luck!

My name is Kenny Golson, I have judged PF Debate for quite a few years now in various contexts.

I explain my paradigm through DOs & DONTs:

DO:

1. Make note of contentions that are not addressed by your opponents in the rebuttal and crossfire segments of the match. Your summary speech is also acceptable.

2. For both constructive speeches, go slow. I want to write down your argument for my comprehension. Clearly state the topic sentence of each of your contentions.

2a. I follow your case as follows: Claim > Statistic & Evidence > Impact on Claim

Emphasize the numbers, if your stat outweighs your opponent you need to point that out throughout the course of the match. Make sure it’s relevant to your impact.

DO NOT:

1. No lengthy quotations or unclear values unattached to the "who" or "what" in the Debate.

Be polite, kind and stay strong, I am easy-going and want this to be fun for everyone!

I am a Science Teacher and an attorney. I have coached debate for 2 years and Mock Trial for 7 years. Please remember to be confident and courteous in your argument. You must respect debate as well as your competitors and colleagues. I have been judging debate for 3 years.

I look for structure and clarity in your arguments.

I am a parent judge.

I am a fair judge, looking for cogent arguments. Please no spreading, which does not do well virtually. Coach of Germantown Academy since 2021. Treat each other respectfully in my room, please.

I'm a parent judging for the first time. I value clear thinking over large amounts of data.