I am a retired coach. I have judged LOTS of rounds in all formats. I consider myself traditional in my approach to all events. I have provided my paradigm for speech and debate events here.

Public Speaking Events

All speeches should have well structured introductions, fully developed body, and satisfaction for your audience thru your conclusion. Sources are key to your speech, you should use a variety of appropriate sources. I expect that your speech will include the "why do I care" - What draws your audience to want to learn more from what you have to say. In extemp, I expect you to answer the specific question you were given. I evaluate all non-verbal communication in your presentation. I accept all perspectives on all topics; however, I expect that your are aware of your audience and avoid language or statements that may be offensive.

Interp Events

First and foremost, pieces should be appropriate for the venue. While I understand that some pieces may contain some sexual innuendo, I will reject innuendo that is not a part of the original script or that is added for the "shock value" rather than the development of the performance. Your introduction should be more than telling me the storyline that you are presenting. There is a reason you chose this piece, a topic you want to discuss. Share that in your intro. Give me believable characters that I can empathize with. Be sure there is an identifiable difference in your characters.

In all debate rounds

Don’t depend on email chains or flashing briefs to include an argument in the round. If it is not spoken during your speeches, it is not in the round. I prefer a more communicative speed of delivery, especially when using online competition. I can keep up but, I think the idea of trying to spread your opponent out of the round is not in the realm of what debate should be. I would rather hear a good clash on the arguments presented.

In PF

I believe PF should be a debate with class. Interactions between opponents should be cordial. Crossfire should be used to obtain information NOT to belittle your opponent. You can not ignore your opponent's arguments and expect to win. Evidence and common sense are key.

In LD

I feel that LD should be philosophy based. Even if the topic is policy-oriented, the selection of a policy is always based on values. Therefore, you should be prepared to debate your value and criterion to support your view on the topic. If you can't support your view, how can I accept your position?

A Kritik on the topic is not an acceptable position. You have been given a topic to debate and that is what I expect to hear. If all you offer is the Kritik, you have not upheld your burden and will lose the round. Running a Kritik on the topic in addition to case arguments is a huge contradiction in your case.

If you want me to view the round from your viewpoint, you must provide voters in your final speech.

In Congress

This is a congressional debate. I expect that you do more than read a prepared speech. There should be responses to previous speeches. You need to be active in the chamber. Questions are an essential part of the process. With that being said, don't ask questions that do not seek to expand information. That is a waste of the chamber's time and takes time away from those with solid questions. Provide sources to the house to substantiate your points.

In CX

I encourage traditional debate in terms of format. That means I do not like open cx. With that being said, I accept progressive style arguments. I will listen to your arguments, but I expect you to provide warrants and logical analysis. If you are the opponent, don’t assume I will reject an argument on face, you must respond if you want to win the argument.

I DO vote on STOCK ISSUES. So Affirmative teams should be prepared to meet those standards.

Negative teams, please don’t throw out a dozen arguments only to drop the ones that don’t stick. If you bring the argument into the round plan to carry it thru to the end.

Label your arguments before you start reading your briefs!

I believe it is essential that you weigh the impacts of your argument in the round.

he/him

TLDR: Have fun. Try hard. Take risks. Ask for accommodations. Safety > Ethics > Everything Else.

Hi, I'm Ethan. I debated for four years at Seven Lakes High School in Katy, TX, mainly in Extemp and Congress.

General Notes:

1) Pronouns, honorifics, and names matter. Default to singular they/them when no pronouns are provided.

2) Recycling prep is bad.

3) I like to give visual cues. Read them

4) The segregation of the debate space along racial, gender, and class lines is real and important. Make every effort to stop it.

5) Cheating is bad.

Extemp:

1) I evaluate Extemp on these three metrics, in order:

a) How accurately and completely did you answer the question?

b) How much did I learn from your speech?

c) How entertained was I by your speech?

2) Structure: I eat up substructure like Choji eats bbq. I also dig a good two-point speech. Framing and definitions in the intro are nice. Signpost.

3) Sourcing: There is no such thing as too many sources. Good sources are specific, reliable, and academic, but not necessarily recent.

a) Books > Government sources > Scientific research > Think tanks > News organizations.

b) Be creative with how you use sources; for instance, use an older source to show the change from past to present, your Economics textbook to explain monetary policy, or Fox News to show the conservative viewpoint on an issue.

c) If evidence doesn't have a date, say "no date."

d) I will flow and check your sources. Don't lie.

4) Timing: Be between 6:50 and 7:10. The grace period shouldn't exist. Also, I suck at remembering to give time signals, sorry in advance. Yes, you can time yourself.

5) Delivery: Smile. Be facially expressive. Vocally, live on the extremes of pace, volume, and tone. Anything in the middle is boring. On-tops are cool, and thematically linked on-tops are even cooler.

5) Purge "considering" and "as explained by" from your vocabulary.

6) CX: Be aggressive. Don't feel pressure to split your time equally between points.

Congress:

1) I evaluate Congress on these three metrics, in order:

a) How clearly did you prove a net benefit or net harm of the legislation?

b) How engaged were you in the chamber and debate?

c) If you were running for Congress, would I vote for you?

2) Early round speeches are the easiest to give and the easiest to evaluate. I love a good sponsor.

3) Please have a real AGD. Stealing rhetoric/AGDs is an auto 9.

4) Make me care. Authentic and powerful rhetoric is a product of a strong warrant and a humanized impact.

5) Take risks! Mix up your speech structure, make references, and be funny.

6) Getting screwed by precedence sucks. Show me you can adapt.

7) If you give me rehash, I will visibly shake my head for the duration of the point.

8) Weigh, especially in crystals.

9) Be between 2:50 and 3:00. The grace period shouldn't exist.

10) Have fun in questioning. Pose scenarios, point out contradictions, and propose counterexamples.

11) Amendments, evidence challenges, turns, and thematic speeches are underutilized.

12) Purge "at their highest ground," "allow me to expand," "affirm," and "negate" from your vocabulary.

13) If possible, please take 10 minute recesses. I am a human who has biological needs.

14) POs: 12 speeches per hour-->top 3. No mistakes. Fairness matters. Be funny but not forced. "I guess we'll never know" is an abomination.

PF:

1) I'm a flay judge who did one year of NPF and watches an unhealthy amount of PF Videos on Youtube.

2) I vote on offense. Present the path of least resistance.

3) Weigh early. If you can tell me what "clarity of impact" or "strength of link" means, I will buy you a car.

4) Extend each part of an argument into FF. Defense is not sticky.

5) Signpost. Roadmaps are helpful.

6) Compare evidence.

7) Number responses.

8) Collapse.

9) Narrative building is important. Tell a story.

10) Don't steal prep.

11) I have a loose understanding of theory and Ks. I am willing to vote off of both. Please do not abuse progressive argumentation to bulldoze unprepared or novice teams.

a) Priors: Open-source disclosure is good, trigger warnings are good, hypocritical theory is bad, paraphrasing is bad, competing interps, no RVIs, drop the debater.

12) I'll disclose if allowed to. Please postround me, but do so respectfully.

LD: Traditional judge. Don't steal prep.

Platform: Structure matters. Be yourself. Open to anything.

Interp: Tell your story honestly. Develop characters. Open to anything.