Last changed on
Wed August 1, 2018 at 5:01 PM PDT
Bellarmine '17
University of Southern California '21 (not debating)
bryant.bcp@gmail.com
Background:
I debated 4 years of policy at Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose, CA. I started out as a 2A during my freshman year, but spent my remaining 3 years as a 2N. I read and researched arguments from all over the map – from one-off security to flex policy counterplan/disad strats to identity args like settlerism. I haven’t had any experience on this topic, so will probably need some explanation of acronyms, T interps, etc.
Quick Notes:
tech >>>>> truth - run 6 off, go one-off K, read a performance aff, anything goes - just win the line by line.
I have no ideological preference when it comes to nontraditional affs versus framework; I'll vote for whoever wins the tech.
I love smart analytics – a series of good ones can take out a poorly constructed advantage.
CX is important and I will bump up speaks if you incorporate it well into a speech!
Author quals, evidence date, and evidence quality matter – please use them to do comparative analysis
Tech > Truth:
I will listen and try to fairly evaluate whatever argument you read in front of me. You do you – I don’t care whether you read a nontraditional aff, read 7 off, or go one-off spark – as long as you win the flow, you win my ballot. While I have my dislikes, everything about even my philosophy and my argumentative preferences is up for debate – just win the tech.
Topicality:
Limits is the most persuasive standard to me. I am persuaded by the arg that an unlimited topic decreases effective rigorous testing and nuanced engagement of the aff.
T is about a model of the topic, not just your aff.
I default to competing interpretations – to quote Ani, if affs want to go for reasonability, “The articulation of reasonability that will persuade me is that the substance crowdout generated by T debates outweighs the difference between the two interps”.
Disads:
Fine with generic/topic disads, but I love super case-specific and well researched disads.
The more specific the link, the better.
I love well-articulated and smart turns case args – talk about why your disad’s impact turns not just the aff’s impacts, but their internal links. If you have cards for turns case, read them.
There is such a thing as 0% risk. Most cards tagged "extinction" don't actually say that, which is an argument that both teams should leverage.
Counterplans:
I'm fine with most counterplans - as long as you have a solvency advocate reasonably grounded in the lit, I'll be happy. If you don't, just win the tech.
My favorite counterplans to judge are well-researched and specific PICs, my least favorite are bad and technical process counterplans.
I think that counterplans that just have a counterplan text can be super strategic, if deployed properly.
Kritiks:
The difference between a well articulated K and a terrible one is the link work – don’t just read your preconstructed link block, use points from CX and quotations from their ev.
Link turns case is a fantastic argument.
I love overviews with good framing issues/turns case args/tricks in them – but ideally your speech isn’t just 8 minutes of overview.
I’m most familiar with, in descending order: security, neolib, cap/Marx vs. K affs, settlerism, identity args, Bifo, other high theory.
Kicking the alt can be great when done right – but know when it’s a horrible idea to do so.
Framework:
Contextualize your framework claims to the round – don’t just read scripted overviews and blocks.
Procedural fairness and any internal links into it are the most convincing standards to me.
Quoting Ani again: “Impact comparison is very important - if the aff’s model makes it substantially harder for the neg to engage but the neg’s speech act was problematic, which way do I vote? Make sure to warrant internal links - I’ve seen lots of neg teams just assume that all K affs make engagement impossible to their detriment.”
I will reward negative teams that have a better strategy than 2-off Framework and Cap K against K affs – other kritiks like Anthro, Chow, and identity args can be super strategic when deployed properly.
Theory:
Most comfortable with 2 condo – feel free to read higher than that, but I’ll start leaning more and more aff on theory