Last changed on
Tue March 15, 2022 at 9:52 AM EDT
Judging LD
As a disclaimer, I don't have any previous training in LD, but I have judged it a couple of times. During the round, make sure to warrant your arguments and explain the link chain. I cannot vote for an argument I do not understand! Focus on being clear in your argumentation and having an organized structure to your speeches. Remember to weigh and interact with your opponent's responses. Please keep track of speech times and prep time!
Judging PF
*Summary: Please weigh in all speeches after case. Tell me WHY you outweigh and compare the arguments. Also, please respond to the other team’s weighing! I'm a big fan of link-ins during rebuttal. Frontline responses. Extend any good points from cross or arguments you want to collapse on. Tell a story with your argument: make it understandable and cohesive. I vote off the flow. Respect everyone (make debate a safe and inclusive space). Have fun! :)
Hi there! My pronouns are she/her and I have debated as a second speaker in public forum for a few years now.
Add me to the email chain: 23vasishtha2@lexingtonma.org. Please subject the email chain using the following format: Tournament Name, Round #, School Name & Team Code vs. School Name & Team Code. An example of this would look like, “Grapevine Classic, R1, Lexington VL vs. Chilton GG."
Read content warnings if the argument warrants one. If you feel unsafe during the round, please let me know and I will stop the round and contact Tab.
Ask for pronouns before the round starts. If you don't know, use they/them pronouns when referring to your opponents.
Speeches
Speed
I can follow speed, but please provide a speech doc if you expect I will miss something on my flow. That being said, speed should not tradeoff with clarity.
Rebuttal
In both rebuttals, I expect teams to 1) signpost as you go down the flow so that I know where you are and what is being responded to 2) weigh the arguments and not just say, “we outweigh, ” tell me which weighing mechanism and WHY you outweigh.
For second rebuttal, frontline terminal defense and turns.
Note: having link-ins from your case is a very good strategy (but please extend all warrants and impacts from the contention if you extend the link-in and respond to terminal defense).
Summary
Extend all contentions, blocks, frontlines you are collapsing on. Please weigh to show me how these arguments compare against one another. Also, please meta-weigh: this is when you interact with the opponent's weighing and tell me which mechanism is better. If both teams are weighing on different mechanisms, like probability and magnitude for example, you need to tell me why your weighing is better than the opponents.
Final Focus
The final focus speech is a good time to slow down and explain the argument and the direction the round is going in. Please do not bring in any new responses or implications during this speech. Use it to show why you are winning (and do this by weighing!).
Crossfire
I generally enjoy listening to crossfire, especially first and second cross. I like it when first speakers set the groundwork for rebuttal in first cross. Remember, crossfire is all about poking holes in your opponent’s arguments and clarifying any questions you have. Still, I will LISTEN to crossfire, but I will not FLOW crossfire. I can only evaluate good points made in cross if they are brought up in speeches later.
Theory, Kritiks, Progressive Argumentation
I can evaluate these types of argumentation and am open to judging a theory or progressive debate. Make the debate accessible.
If you feel unsafe during the round, don't hesitate to let me know. I will stop the round and notify tab.
Speaker Points
Clarity and strategy are the key factors that will impact your final speaks. As long as you are respectful during the debate and do not make any insensitive comments, I will usually default to a 28-28.5 for speaks.