Last changed on
Thu March 7, 2024 at 5:04 PM EDT
Name: Jennifer Mazzocco
School Affiliation: Taylor Allderdice High School, Pittsburgh, PA
Number of Years Judging Public Forum: 13 years
Number of Years Competing in Public Forum: 0 years
Number of Years Judging Other Forensic Activities: some speech judging experience throughout the last 10 years
Number of Years Competing in Other Forensic Activities: 0 years
If you are a coach, what events do you coach? Public Forum debate, Lincoln Douglas debate, Parliamentary debate, Congress
What is your current occupation? 9th grade English teacher
Please share your opinions or beliefs about how the following play into a debate round:
Speed of Delivery – I prefer a traditional, or slower delivery with a focus on robustness of fewer arguments rather than superficial treatment of a higher number of arguments.
Format of Summary Speeches (line by line? big picture?) I prefer a big picture review of arguments in the summary speeches.
Role of the Final Focus – I prefer the final focus to highlight voting issues and review where the debate “landed” on those issues.
Extension of Arguments into later speeches – I am in favor of extending arguments into later speeches. I prefer thorough clash on arguments and if there is more new arguments or evidence to be presented, I value that debate.
Topicality - no
Plans - no
Kritiks – no
Flowing/note-taking – I support teams pre-flowing or flowing during the round, and taking notes. I typically take notes while listening on major points.
Do you value argument over style? Style over argument? Argument and style equally? I think style is important, but ultimately I value argument over style. I think the substance of the arguments and the quality of rebuttals and clash is the most important thing in deciding a winner.
If a team plans to win the debate on an argument, in your opinion does that argument have to be extended in the rebuttal or summary speeches? Yes, I think if they intend to win on it, it should be extended.
If a team is second speaking, do you require that the team cover the opponents’ case as well as answers to its opponents’ rebuttal in the rebuttal speech? Yes, they should do both.
Do you vote for arguments that are first raised in the grand crossfire or final focus? Yes for grand crossfire, no for final focus.
I have completed the PHSSL Cultural Competency Course.