Name

Andrew Burden. Most folks just refer to me by my last name.

Pronouns

He/Him/His

Background

I competed in Speech & Debate for Puyallup High School. Performing Program Oral Interp, Oratory, and debating in the Lincoln-Douglas format.

Email for inquiries:

af_burden@icloud.com

General Judging Paradigms

1. Framework

Framework is of utmost importance to me in a Lincoln-Douglas round. The Value and Criterion are fundamental to the LD style of debate and I will expect that your arguments (however progressive they may be) will have clear links to your framework and topically adhere to the Value and Criterion by which the round will ultimately be judged. If framework is conceded or neglected, give me a good reason why.

2. Impacts

I want to hear clear and comprehensible impacts on which I can measure the ultimate decision to vote for you. What will happen as the result of me voting for you? These impacts can be pre-fiat or post-fiat.

3. Kritiks/Theory/Other Progressive Strategies

Progressive debate does not mean you can neglect the framework (Value & Criterion). I have seen this happen all too often in Lincoln-Douglas by students who are not as adept at progressive debate as they think. If you intend to get into kritiks, theory, etc., I want you to clearly explain the ideas you are presenting in a way that is equitable and accessible to all in the round. This is the ultimate test of your understanding of the ideas and concepts you are attempting to communicate in the round.

Personal Preferences

The following are matters of personal preference and while may not necessarily affect the manner in which I evaluate the round, it may affect my ability to comprehend and understand you and your arguments.

1. Spreading/Speed

I am fine with spreading as long as you are clear and enunciate. I also consider it a courtesy to share your case with your opponent should you choose to spread.

2. Standing vs. Sitting

Whatever you're comfortable with, but standing does offer a good position to speak clearly, effectively, and with the dexterity necessary to be an outstanding speaker.

3. Signposting/Road-mapping

Please signpost and road-map. Let me know what points you're speaking on and the order in which you intend to do so. I will not flow if I do not know where to put your arguments on the paper. E.g. - "I will first go over the AC (Affirmative Constructive) and then the NC (Negative Constructive)." and "Starting on Contention 1.... now onto Subpoint A.... next on Contention 2."

4. Timing

Please feel free to keep time yourselves.

5. Bonus Speaker Points

Bonus points for Star Trek references

Ethics/Civility/Accessibility & Other Considerations

1. Gendered Language

I want the debate space to be equitable, and the discourse and language we use to engage in it ought to be inclusive. Please avoid the use of gendered language in your speeches and don't be afraid to correct for any gendered language in the text of your cards. Such examples of gendered language would include "the Common Man", "mankind", or simply the use of "man" to refer to the general individual.

2. Pronouns

I will encourage debaters to share their pronouns if they are comfortable doing so. I will as well. If a debater does not share their pronouns, default to they/them or simply refer to them by their position (Aff or Neg), or simply 'my opponent'. No debater should be required to share their pronouns if they do not wish to do so.

3. Accommodations

If there are any accommodations that I can make for you to help ensure the debate space is equitable and accessible, please let me know.

First the easy stuff: I was a four-year, state- and national-qualifying competitor in multiple events in high school; an assistant coach for several years after that; and have judged off and on for another decade on top of that. So, don't be afraid to use whatever tactics/speed/style you wish; I promise you won't fly over my head.

That experience has given me enough time debate-adjacent to see it evolve in multiple ways; it is and should be an evolving activity/game/event/art-form/whatever. In service to that view, I will be doing my absolute best to let the round speak for itself. I will do my best not to come into the round with preconceived notions of what debate ought to be -- and 'what debate ought to be' will always be an issue up for debate within the round itself. What I really want is clash in the debate -- what the sides seem to mutually agree is important, I'll take as important.

The above is barely helpful though, isn't it? It kind of sounds like I'm protesting that I have no biases, which is not really true for anyone, let alone me. So here's a list of things I like a lot and things I like less:

Things I like a lot:

Well-expanded topicality arguments with a lot of ink on the standards flow

Nitty politics impacts

LD rounds with a lot of philosophy wonk talk

Incisive but respectful cross-examination

Small, realistic impact stories

Analysis of impacts at the ethical level

Things I don't like as much:

When topicality standards boil down to just "but how are we supposed to winnnnnnnnn?" I should have reasons to prefer your interpretation other than to throw you a bone.

A bunch of useless definitions at the top of an LD case. This is just an annoying vestige of a much older form of debate.

Discourse impacts asserting that my ballot itself changes the world somehow - I know this is popular now but I've always had trouble with this particular suspension of disbelief.

Expansive Neg fiat - I come in assuming that all neg positions are, fundamentally, disadvantages: i.e. the Link is that if we do Plan, we can't do Counterplan. If counterplan has zero chance of happening in the real world, the DA at it's heart is non-unique. Negs should take a grounded advocacy or they are, to me, vulnerable to attacks on their fiat power.

gEt OfF tHe RoCk

When teams collectively decide to just refer to "The McGilligan Card" or whatever the case may be over and over again without periodically reminding me where to find the McGilligan card on my flow and what it says. I'm a bit hard of hearing and names are the one thing I have a hard time catching right off the bat, so refer to a card solely by author name at your peril.

Hopefully these examples are enough to give you a feel of the kinds of biases I might be subject to. I highly encourage you to ask any specific questions you may have before the round.

Hey! I'm Kristen East, I debated Policy in high school, judged on-and-off while in college, and have been working as an assistant coach for Gig Harbor High School for the past 5 years. My email is eastkristen@gmail.com

I often use quiet fidgets during speeches and may color during crossfire; these are strategies that I've found help me to pay attention and keep my mind from wandering during rounds. If I'm distracting you at any point, then please politely ask and I'll switch to a different strategy.

Public Forum: I technically did public forum in middle school, so I guess that's relevant? I've also watched a lot of public forum rounds and judged it on and off over the years. I tend to be less formal than some public forum judges. I care more about competitors being considerate of others and having fun than I do about pleasantries and formalities. Please don't be "fake nice" to each other. That being said, I mean don't be offensive (i.e. making arguments based on racial or cultural stereotypes, or making personal ad hominem attacks).

-The biggest thing to know is that I am a "flow judge." I will be flowing/taking notes for each speech, will be writing down rebuttals next to the argument they are addressing, and will draw arrows for argument extensions. What this means for you is that you should be clear about which contention you are talking about, and also that I will be looking for consistency between partners' speeches. There should be continuity of arguments throughout the round. That does NOT mean your last speech needs to have the same arguments as your first speech, but all arguments in your last speech should have been introduced in one of your team's 4-minute speeches. I also will not consider brand-new arguments in any of the 2-minute speeches.

-I like rounds with clash, where each team explains how their arguments interact with the other team's arguments. If you're citing evidence, make sure to mention the warrant (the author's reasoning or statistics that support your claim). Please make it clear during your speeches when you are about to directly quote a source (i.e. saying "in 2019 Santa Claus wrote for the North Pole Times that...") and when you stop quoting them. You don't need evidence to make an argument, and well-reasoned analytics (arguments without an external source) can be just as powerful.

- I will decide the round based on impacts. Please compare your impacts to your opponent's (timeframe, probability, magnitude, etc.). If no one tells me otherwise, I'll probably default util when evaluating impacts. Be specific about how your impact is connected to the resolution, and who/what the impact will affect. Tell me the story of the impact (i.e. If we stop sanctions on Venezuela, then their economy will recover and then xyz people's lives will be saved because they won't die of starvation).

Parli: I've never judged or watched a parli round before. I've heard it has some similarities to policy, which I do have a background in, so feel free to read my policy paradigm to see if that's relevant. I'm excited to judge parli! From what I've heard, it should be fun!

Policy and LD paradigms are below.

Debate Style: I'm good with speed, just start out slow so I can get used to your voice. If you aren't clear, I'll yell at you to be clear. Start out a little slower on tags, especially for Ks and theory. Please don't mumble the text. If the text is completely unintelligible, I'll yell clear, and if you don't clear it up, then I'll count it as an analytic rather than a card. It's a pet peeve of mine when people cut cards repeatedly (i.e. cut the card here, cut the card here). PLEASE, please put theory arguments as a new off (i.e. Framework on a K, Condo bad, etc.). A tag should be a complete idea with a warrant. One word ("extinction" "Solves") does not count as a tag or an argument. I don't care about tag-teaming in CX, but it might influence speaker points (i.e. if one partner is being rude, or one never answers a question). Be nice to each other. I will vote you down if you're a complete jerk (threaten physical violence, harass someone, etc.). I am somewhat sensitive to how mental health, suicide, rape and disabilities are discussed and expect such sensitive topics to be approached with appropriate respect and care to wording and research.

Arguments: There are a few arguments I just dislike (for rational and irrational reasons) so just don't run them in front of me. If you don't know what these args are, you're probably fine. Basically, don't run anything offensive. No racism good, no death good (including Spark DA or Malthus/overpopulation arguments). I also hate Nietzsche, or nihilism in general. Also, arguments that seem stupid like time cube, or the gregorian time K, or reptiles are running the earth or some crap like that is prolly not gonna fly. I'm not gonna take nitpicky plan flaw arguments like "USfg not USFG" seriously. I will not vote for disclosure theory unless someone flat out lies about disclosure. Like they tell you they will run a case and then don't run it. Arguments I'll evaluate but don't love/am probably biased against but will evaluate include: PICs, Delay CPs, ASPEC Topicality, kritical-based RVIs on T, Performance Affs.

Defaults: I'm a default policymaker but am open to other frameworks. I do consider Framework to be theory, which means 1) put it on it's own flow and 2) arguments about like, fairness and ground and other standards are legit responses. I have a strong preference for frameworks that have a clear weighing mechanism for both sides. I default competing interpretations on T. I was a little bit of a T/theory hack as a debater, so I have a lower threshold on theory than a lot of judges. What that means is that I'll vote on potential abuse, or small/wanky theory (like severance perm theory) IF it's argued well. Theory needs real voters, standards and analysis and warrants just like any other argument. If you're going for theory, go all out in your last speech. It should be 4 minutes of your 2NR, or all of your 2AR.

Note on Performance Ks: I have a high threshold on performance arguments. If you're doing a performance, you have to actually be good at performing, keep up the performance throughout the round, and have a way for the other team to compete/participate in the performance. I prefer for performance Ks to be specific to the current resolution, or in some cases, based on language or something that happened in this round.

Constructive speeches: Clash is awesome. Signposting will help me flow better. Label args by topic not by author because I'm prolly not gonna catch every author.

Rebuttals: In my opinion, the point of rebuttals is to narrow the debate down to fewer arguments and add analysis to those arguments. This applies to aff and neg. Both sides should be choosing strategic arguments and focusing on "live" arguments (Don't waste your time on args the other team dropped in their last speech, unless it's like an RVI or something). Both sides should watch being "spread out" in the 2nr and 2ar.

Note about LD: Being a policy judge doesn’t mean I love policy arguments in debate. In LD, you don’t really have the time to develop a “plan” properly and I probably lean towards the “no plans” mindset. I expect a DA to have all the requisite parts (uniqueness, link, impact). I’m okay with Ks, and theory. To help me flow, please number and/or label arguments and contentions, and signal when you are done reading a piece of evidence (either with a change of voice tone or by saying “next” or a brief pause. That being said, speed is not a problem for me. If you follow the above suggestions, and maybe slow a little on theory and framework, you can go as fast as you’re comfortable with. If I’m having trouble flowing you I’ll say “clear.” No flex prep. Sitting during CX is fine. I love a good framework debate, but make sure you explain why framework wins you the round, or else, what's the point? If framework isn't going to win you the round or change how I evaluate impacts in the round, then don't put it in rebuttals.

I like judging. This is what I do for fun. You know, do a good job. Learn, live, laugh, love.

Pronouns: she/they

Background: policy debater 2012-2016 at Vashon Island High School, currently the coach for the VHS team.

Preferences: I don't have a ton of preferences in terms of types of arguments. As a judge, I try to come into rounds with sort of a blank slate. If you tell me that topicality is a voter and really explain your argument, then I will vote on it. If you tell me that the K is the most important thing in the round, then I'll vote on it. Tell me what matters. Tell me why it matters more than your opponents impacts/plans/alts. I don't like to 'step-in' and do interpretation outside of what has actually been said and what is actually on my flow. Please give me clear voters!

I like a good case debate. I would rather see 2-3 off and a decent case debate than 4-5 off with shallow case coverage. This applies to LD as well-- I would prefer that you give quality line-by-line on your opponents case than have a super long case of your own with little clash.

PLEASE name your off case in the 1nc. Don't just say "now onto the DA/K" please give him a name it makes everything so much clearer. This is just a pet peeve it won't effect your speaks but please give him a name.

I'm comfortable with and enjoy K affs, but you gotta have some sort of alternative (doesn't need to be a solvency claim persay but I want a call to action of sorts) and it has to be well explained. If you are going to be running more nuanced arguments, I am going to expect that you know what you are talking about. You can't just assert theory or read tags, you have to give me actual analysis. Performance affs are also fine.

Don't run an identity K if you are not part of that group (like don't run an anti-Blackness K if you're not Black). It feels like you're using the struggles of someone else to win a ballot which isn't okay.

I'm comfortable with speed, but please signpost when you're switching flows.

I like traditional and nontraditional LD debate styles so go with what is comfy for you!

If you do or say anything homophobic, transphobic, sexist, racist, xenophobic, ableist, classist, etc. you're going to lose speaker points and it might cost you the round depending on the severity. Just be kind to each other.

Please put K framework on a separate flow, it makes the debate more organized.

Make sure you're really articulating the link no matter what kind of argument you're running.

Feel free to ask for accommodations/ask specific questions before the round!

My name is Tanvi Kacheria, my pronouns are she/her.

First and foremost, I am a parent and lay judge, and am therefore traditional. I don't enjoy K affs, nor theory/topicality. Please do not run progressive arguments, I may not understand them.

Speak clearly and communicate well, I prioritize clarity over speed.

Value and value criterion debates are interesting and clash is good.

Impact analysis and weighing is vital to a debate round, as are final speeches. The role of the ballot depends on the final results.

Signposting is also useful, although should not be a top priority.

Aliyah Lee
Pronouns (she/they)
I'll try to keep my paradigm short, since I know I always skimmed these.

- I did (highschool) PF for 2 years, and LD for one. I was around my friends who're policy during those years in PF though, so you can evaluate me as a flow-ish judge.

- As far as speed goes, I'm not really against speed in debate, but I've never been great at keeping up with super fast speed when I'm flowing, so I will say "clear" if I need you to speak more clearly or slow down. Also please send the doc over, it's just good for accessibility in debate.

- I am mostly a tech over truth judge. I don't care if the opponent is saying death good, I'm judging you on how well you're debating, and if you lose to death good, you lost to death good, end of story. Basically it's almost always on you to make the argument, I won't make it for you. The one exception that I'll make to this is frivolous arguments. If something is most definitely solely in the case as a timesink with no other relevance in the debate, I probably won't vote for it.

- Ks, theory, and things like that are just about always fine by me. If the K or theory isn't very common then I will expect you to explain it better than usual, but you should always try or be able to explain it well. If you're running a K, you should know it.

- I don't really care about cross-x. If there's something important in cross x, it should come up in a speech afterwards.

- I will not vote for tricks. They're super inaccessible and generally bad for debate. If you have questions about this, ask me before round.

- Be clear with your extensions. I will try to catch everything, but know that it's less likely that I'll write it if you extend a 3 minute arg in 2 seconds. Also, if you don't extend things through your speeches, I probably won't vote on it.

- No new args in the 2AR. Your opponent has no chance to respond to those. It's fine obviously if you're responding to things that were in the NR, but if it's a completely new advantage or something like that, I won't vote for it or weigh it. Plus, the 2AR should mostly be about weighing.

- Weigh clearly. It's best to never assume that I'm going to vote for something on scope if you haven't said that you outweigh on scope, or that scope comes before timeframe or whatever argument you'd make.

- As always, do your best to make all the arguments yourselves, and leave as little as possible for me to fill in.

- I hope this could be implied but I vote off the flow.

- I do not tolerate racism, transphobia, ableism, classism, misogyny, homophobia, or any of the other -isms or -phobias. I may vote for the other team because of this on my discretion, but if you do your best to be respectful, you'll probably be fine. Please do your best to respect each others pronouns, identities, and things like that, and that applies to my pronouns and identity as well, to a lesser extent of course.

Parent, communications degree, professional - Operations manager. My daughter calls me a Flay judge, in between a Lay judge and Flow judge. Will understand the arguments but you will need to speak more slowly, clearly, communicate and persuade me. Be polite, be smart, sign-post. In rounds I like more straight forward debates, alternative plans need to clearly relate to the resolution.

I am a former high school and college CEDA debater (UofO) and college NDT coach (graduate assistant coach at USC) and former Director of Forensics at SDSU. I am also a former professor of Communication at UW, with an emphasis on argument, persuasion, rhetorical theory and criticism. As such, I will be a critic of argument. I have not been in the field for years. I prefer sound reasoning and analysis to "blippy" superficial tags and points. A quick rate of speech is fine, if it has substance. The quality of your research and sources will be of value; the consistency of your use of a source with their overall position is important; The internal reasoning in the evidence has weight. Have a tag, qualify your source, read the quote. I am unlikely to be persuaded by a tag line, a last name and a date, and something that follows that it not clearly the quote. Make it very clear where the evidence/quote starts and where it ends, and where your analysis/impact statement about the evidence starts. Depth of insight is preferable to breadth of expression. Focus on sound, smart and thoughtful questions in cross periods. Although not necessarily on the flow, it will reflect command of issues, reasoning and demonstrate civility. Enjoy, employ your strategy, show respect for the subject and your opponents. I have noticed what I see to be a pattern. Consistent with the need to understand implicit bias, I will attend carefully to my impressions. However, I see aggressiveness and rudeness/dismissiveness directed at female competitors by males more than I see it directed at male competitors by male competitors. I ask that all opponents be treated with respect and to be aware of your own potential implicit bias in the communication toward and attitude about your opponents, regardless of who they are.

Note for novices: I would advise you to "stay in your lane" as it were, I know debating using progressive techniques can sound fun or like a great way to easily beat your opponent, but frankly I think that is a little unfair. Furthermore, while I cant stop you from running anything you want, recognize that conforming to your judges preferences is an art and a skill that will help you a great deal. I am of the opinion that all debate should be an educational space, but novice especially, it is important to get down the fundamentals of debate before you move on to trickier things, walk before you can run. The rule stands for all debaters I judge that if you can't run it properly don't run it, also I would advise you to advocate for yourself, if you know you won't be able to flow properly if your opponent spreads, say something, you are both have equal rights to learning and enjoyment in this space so your opponent should take your preferences as well as mine into account. Your opponent may have a right to spread, but if they should chose to do so, you are also well within your rights to ask for a copy of their case. I know debate can be scary, especially if you are new to it, but it is truly a place where you can build skills you will use for the rest of your life if you let it, I am not here to work against you, and we've all been scared before going into round, so take a deep breath and know that it will all be okay.

Debate should be a fun and educational space, a little feistiness in round is cool but know the limits. I debated Lincoln Douglas for three years, and have been judging for two more, so I am familiar with most arguments, but make sure to sign post during rebuttal speeches. I am okay with speed but make sure your opponent is also okay. There is a time and place for spreading and if you should feel the need make sure you enunciate clearly, I have yet to find a speed that is too fast for me to flow as long as your words aren't a jumbled mess...content matters here so preference quality over quantity. Furthermore if you should feel the need to spread please send me your case, my email is jaquelinejuniper@outlook.com and I will let you know in round if you are going too fast by either saying "speed" or more likely "clear". I truly believe that a debate should speak for itself and will not make arguments for you so make sure to give me a clear road to the ballot (explain what points you've won and why it should win you the round). That being said while I will evaluate anything you put in front of me frankly, if you can't run a progressive case well, it will work against rather than for you. I believe theory needs to be weighed first in a round, but if you give me half assed theory, I will buy a half assed argument from your opponent to take it out. I don't love DA's, counterplans, K's, but that comes from a place where I RARELY see them run properly. I will evaluate all points you make fairly as long as they are fair points, so make good points and impact them out. WEIGH ARGUMENTS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, it is not enough to just make good points in debate argue against your opponents points and tell me why yours are better. I will not tolerate outright violations of the safety of debate, name calling, intentional misuse of pronouns, derogatory comments of ANY kind toward your opponent; this is about your cases not each other and know that even if your opponent doesn't call you on it, I will via a loss of speaker points. As I said if you both want to be more spirited or plucky in your argumentation I think it can make the round more fun, but don't be rude and recognize how your opponent is feeling, if there is any doubt don't do it, you can usually tell who is up for a round with more banter, and who just needs a straightforward round so while I will always give the benefit of the doubt, don't push it :) (Bonus, ill give extra speaker points if you can work in a LOTR reference)

Doug Weinmaster is a parent judge with prior experience in PF, LD, and IE events.

I do not need off time road maps, and I do not appreciate spreading. I prefer that you weigh your impacts. Please speak at a slow enough pace that I can understand. If I cannot understand you, I will stop flowing.

Contentious but respectful debaters will earn the highest speaker points.

I award "bonus" speaker points for:

a) Reference to a specific type of aircraft or spacecraft;

b) Use of a line from any classic "80's" movie . . . i.e. "I feel the need . . . the need for speed!"; or

c) Reference to, or use of a line from a John Grisham novel or movie about lawyers.

Congratulations - because your participation in Speech & Debate means you have already "won" by developing your skills, knowledge, and confidence!