I am the Director of Oratory and the Assistant Director of Forensics at Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas. I did speech in high school in Texas, and I am also a theatre person -- my degree is in acting and I was a theatre director prior to specializing in Speech and Debate.

Conflicts: Seven Lakes (TX), Wimberley (TX)

First and foremost, I am a speech coach by training and by trade.

Interp (As of 3/09/2022):

I am looking for honest connection to character and to text. Blocking should be motivated by the text and make sense for the character. I look for using vocal variety to add to the text and really paint a picture. I want you to really connect and tell the story. I also look for an overall arc of the story, clear beat changes, and clear emotion. I also look for clean diction and an appropriate rate of speech. Additionally, environment should be clear and blocking should be clean. In single events, I want to see the connection to your “other” (who are you sharing this with in the context of the story). In partner events, I want to see you really connect to each other. If you play more than one character, I am looking for clear and clean differences between the characters. Overall, tell you story. Connect to character, and share that with the audience.

Public Speaking (As of 3/09/2022):

Delivery is very important to me. Be careful of overusing gestures, make sure they have a purpose and enhance what you say. I want to see you connected to sharing your speech, not simply reciting something you memorized. While I do tend to notice style before content, it is important that your content is accurate and adequately supported. I also look at diction and rate of delivery. In info, I do like fun interactive visuals—but they need to enhance your speech, not be there just to fill space. Overall, I want your to be excited about your speech and to have fun delivering it.

PF (As of 1/21/22):

• I am fairly new to the PF world, but I have judged and spectated a considerable amount of rounds in the past few months.

• I flow pretty carefully, but please make sure you reiterate important points as they become useful to your argument.

• Speed is okay, as long as I can understand you.

• Articulation matters to me. I would rather you speak a little slower and not get caught up in what you are saying.

• I really look for you to answer each other’s attacks on cases, not just repeat what you have already told me if it doesn't address the opposing case.

• Giving me a clear road map and sticking to it always helps.

• If a team is misrepresenting evidence, make it clear to me and tell me how they are doing so.

• Overall, I want you to tell me why you are right AND why they are wrong. Make sure you are backing up your claims with evidence and statistics.

PF Paradigms

I’m first and foremost an interp coach. Treat me like a lay judge who happens to know the rules (and yes- I know the rules). No spreading, clash is fine. If you really want to pick up my ballot, be professional- yes I like it when people stand for cross examination and are polite and supportive to their opponents before and after the round. I like it when I feel the teams are focused and paying attention not only to their opponents speeches but also to their team member's speeches. And the other way to pick up my ballot is to focus on cross examination. I find that a strong, quality CX can illustrate your ability to communicate, prove your points, illustrate your knowledge and understanding of the debate and show your best engaged debate skills. Anyone can read a prepared card. Show me you know what to do with it.

Please do not ask me what my qualifications are to judge.

Interp Paradigms

I was a high school competitor all four years - competing in all Interp events (DI, HI, OO, prose, poetry, Duo, Duet) and Congressional Debate. I competed on the Texas and National Circuits. Here's the big thing to know - you should never change your style, material, or story to try to get my 1. I will always respect the stories you choose to tell, the performance you're developing, and your courage to be you and share messages important to you. I don't need trigger warnings, I don't need you to cater to me because that's not what speech is about. Just be you. My ballots may sound tough, but it comes out of a desire to help you improve. I've provided insight into what I'm looking for but none of it should force you to change your content.

For Interp Events, I'm looking for honest storytelling (talk to me like a person) and tech that helps enhance your story and not detract from it. I'm looking for clear, well-developed characters. I'm looking for an excellent intro that provides meaning and importance for your piece. I'm looking for excellent execution of pacing and incorporation of levels. Draw me into your story and leave me with something to take away. In addition, for all binder events, I'm a stickler for binder etiquette.

For Public Speaking Events (OO and INFO), I'm looking for topics that you are personally invested in. I'm looking for an engaging AGD, a clear vehicle, well-defined points supported with a balance of ethos, pathos, and logos. Share your heart story and be honest with it. Most importantly, these are two events where you can really be yourself. Be your best self, sure. But don't feel like you have to put on a whole song and dance to get my one. I'm looking for an inspirational, conversational tone. INFO - I'm looking for creative visuals that are well-executed and add value to your speech without being a distraction.

For Extemp, I'm looking for a clear understanding of the question and a definitive answer with supporting analysis (cite those sources guys). Two points or three points are fine, depending on the question and your approach to answering the question. I just want your speech to have a clear sense of structure and organization. I'm also looking for strong presentation skills. Have vocal variety, adopt a conversational tone, know how to present in a way that is approachable for all audience types and not just those well-versed in current events and extemp. Don't be afraid to crack a joke, but don't rely purely on humor. Fluency breaks, circular speech (rehashing points and repeating yourself), and poor time management could affect your rank in round.

I believe tournaments are opportunities for students to practice and exhibit their best debate skills. Therein, I consider my personal preferences to be irrelevant. I encourage contestants to utilize whatever methods they have learned and perfected. In turn, the debater or team that is more convincing earns my vote. That said, please be aware that substance beats style. Meaning: a creditable case poorly delivered will beat an implausible case expertly delivered. Also, clarity is essential. Speed is acceptable, but only if accompanied by good diction. Words not understood will be words ignored.

Bottom line: What you delivar will be considered your best. Good luck!

Hey!!

My name is Kaylee Frazier. I graduated from Grapevine High School and I now attend school at the University of Texas where I am on the speech team.

In high school, I competed in every event except for extemp. Specifically, I semi finalled at Nationals in Prose, semi finalled at state in POI three times, finalled at UIL state, and finalled in multiple events at the Longhorn Classic.

For speaking events, most of my notes will be about delivery, but the rank will be split more evenly between delivery and content.

For acting events, I am looking for specificity! What choices are you making as an actor and why?

I'm very excited to see your performances and hope I can help as best as possible

Head coach at Plano East Senior High.

I enjoy judging IEs most.

In LD, I’ve gotten much more progressive, but I tend to still favor traditional.

-I do not like Kritiks; they are generic and lazy debating - I will not vote for them. If you can run the same K all year on all the topics, that's a problem.

-On case attacks are important!

-Theory & CPs good. 

-Do not read at me while giving voters.

-2AR does not necessarily have to be line-by-line.

-I understand spreading, but if you become unclear I will say "clear" once, and after that, if you do not clear your speaking, I will stop flowing, more than likely hurting your chances. 7/10 speed please. Slow down on tags please.

In PF, I’m traditional. I don’t like spreading in PF and there should definitely not be CPs, Theory, Kritiks, or anything like that.

In Policy, pretty much the same as LD above, except I have more tolerance for Ks in Policy because it is a year long topic and you have more time to read lit. I have a lot less experience in Policy than the other debate events, but I have some competitive UIL CX history and can cross apply progressive LD knowledge.

In all debates: I do not tolerate rudeness - especially in cx/crossfire. I love seeing passion in rounds, but being passionate about your topic does not mean you get to be rude. Excessive rudeness/terrible attitude results in lowest speaks possible.

Include me in on email chains: madison.gackenbach@pisd.edu

I look forward to hearing you speak!

I prefer a resolution of debate issues in the round and speaking skills when I judge debate. Be organized. Use structure and roadmaps.

In CX I fall under policy or stock issues when I am making decisions. At the end of the round when I sign my ballot, your plan is in action. That means that aff must have a developed plan in the round. Don't just read evidence in a round. Explain your arguments.

In LD, I am a traditional judge. You must have a value and criterion. You need a philosophy and philosopher in the round. Weigh the round in your speeches.

Hello everyone! My name is KJ (he/him), I competed all 4 years of high school and now go to Texas State University.

I am primarily an IE person. I competed in every IE event including OO, Info, and Extemp. I as well competed in World Schools a bit too. I was a 4x state qualifier, state finalist, 3x state semi finalist, 2x NIETOC semifinalist, and a 3x NSDA qualifier. I was as well an All-State and All-American competitor with over 2200 NSDA points. What I am looking for is understanding of the piece. How well thought out it is and how much effort you have noticeably put into it goes a LONG way.

IE's

- Needs to be clean, concise, and have a deeper meaning as to why you're telling the story, interp is acting with a purpose

- Be proud of what you're performing! and have fun with it!

- Characterization is key, I want to see real peoples stories that I am actually able to connect to

- I want to know what's going on! Don't just throw us into the middle of everything, give us some exposition, who are you? Where are you? What is going on?

OO, Info, Extemp, WS

- Are you just telling me the facts? Or are you engaging with the information and the topic you've chosen and presenting it in an effective way?

- Charisma is KEY, you wrote this speech, be proud of it!

- How well thought out is your argument or topic?

- Are you speaking fluidly and confidently or are you using filler words and swaying nervously?

- Make sure that you're applying the facts that you give to the grand scheme of things, what are the implications?

Like I said earlier, I was always more of an interp person. However, I do know all of the rules and the ins and outs of debate! I may not be as adept as I am with speech but I know my way around. Essentially just treat me as a lay judge who knows a lot about the subject.

Debate

- Well thought out arguments will go a long way, the more you put into a speech the more you will get out of it, and trust me when I say that we as judges notice how much effort you put into it

- How well do you structure your speech? How well does it flow?

- How do you respond to questions and how do you interact in the round?

- Don't just tell me what you are going to do but also HOW you are going to accomplish it and WHY

All of these are just my personal opinions regarding judging, please do not change your speech or performance based on trying to get my 1. So long as you have fun, enjoy what you're doing, and you are proud of the work you've presented, that is all I ask.

Your content should include a strong introduction which should include an overview of what will be discussed. Additionally, evidence is important and should be followed by insightful analysis. I'm not a particularly intelligent person and you should explain everything thoroughly. Your conclusion (if you have one) should revisit the points you made and end the speech with a strong statement or a provocative question. Words that may not be appropriate for school should not be used without a purpose.

Your presentation should look well practiced, your delivery should have a smooth flow, and you should speak with confidence. Speak clearly and use the appropriate volume and tone. Movement should have a reason, hand gestures can add to the presentation, but shifting your body weight from side to side comes off as nerves.

Above all else, speak clearly and with confidence.

--Speech--

What are your stylistic preferences for extemp? How much evidence do you prefer? Any preference for virtual delivery? Prefer conversational extemp. 3 pieces of evidence. Acknowledge camera during virtual delivery! Don’t look past it.

What are your stylistic preferences for Oratory/Info? How much evidence do you prefer? Any preference for virtual delivery? Prefer conversational vs. staged and rehearsed. Make every time like it is the first time. 5-7 pieces of evidence. Speak to camera, not past it.

Any unique thoughts on teasers/introductions for Interpretation events? Make them personal to YOU! Tell me why this piece matters to you while also telling me about the piece. What qualifies you to speak on this? Why should we listen and care?

Any preferences with respect to blocking, movement, etc. in a virtual world? Do your best. That’s literally all we can do right now.

What are your thoughts on character work? Each character should be distinguishable regardless of the virtual format. Give each one a specific voice and stature.

How do you feel about author's intent and appropriateness of a piece? For example: an HI of Miracle Worker (author's intent) or a student performing mature material or using curse words (appropriateness)? Author’s intent- doesn’t bother me too much. Appropriateness is BIG for me. You’re in HIGH SCHOOL- crude sexual humor and excessive cusswords just aren’t necessary. It’s also cheap comedy IMO. If you’re that “mature” aim higher for your content.

I tend to include performance, diction, voice, energy, etc. in my evaluation for events like oratory, info, and extemp, along with the obvious analysis of content, ideas, and supporting material.

I think creativity in blocking and staging should be rewarded in a digital atmosphere as much as they are in a live one.

I am pretty liberal on content - language, sexuality, etc. do not bother or offend me, as long as the performer has a real grasp on the subjects they are talking about and understands them fully. However, I view 'profanity' much differently than slurs, derogatory language, etc. In general I would prefer that they not be used. There are scripts that use them in order to bring home a point about the vileness of such ideas and beliefs, but in my opinion, that must be very earned, and in most cases, it is not.

Congress:

Preview in your introduction.

Credibility of sources is very important and I will not credit a point that has no sources at all. We are not looking for opinions only in Congressional debate.

Clash- This is a debate event and the only time for no clash in a speech is if you are the author or the sponsor or the first negative speech.

Do not repeat the same info over and over again in later speeches. What do you have to add to the previous speeches. Pay attention to what each prior speech has given us.

To PO's: Make sure you know what you are doing and handle yourself and the round in a way that moves the round along by the rules.

I expect civil discourse. Rude or abusive behavior in any aspect of the speech is unacceptable.

Debate in general:

No personal attacks, attack the arguments and not the person (play nice)

Speaking quickly is fine as long as you realize punctuation still adds to understanding, (spreading for no purpose other than speed is discouraged)

If it is a debate, there should be a clash.

Enjoy the civil, social discourse.

I/E Events

It is a performance. Each and every movement and utterance should add to the delivery and performance.

INTERP EVENTS

- In speech/ acting events it should be incredible storytelling. I need to see a full story even though it is just 10 minutes of a script.

- Exude energy and build all of your characters.

- Connecting to the audience by trying to evoke our emotions.

- Have fun and give it your all.

SPEAKING EVENTS

- Clarify your topic from the beginning.

- Don't assume we know anything about the topic, enlighten us.

- Credibility of sources is imperative.

- Deliver with confidence and enthusiasm for your topic. Be very polished.

I believe in the power of story telling. I believe that our performances should have purpose behind them (even if simply to entertain.) I believe all speech events should be based on genuine audience connect, respect for the given material/ author's intent, as well as the strength of the people speaking. I'm looking for connection - with audience, with material and when necessary, between characters.

All speech events:

For virtual, please stay in the camera frame. It is best if your hands are always in the frame as well; otherwise, gestures seem extreme when your hands suddenly enter the frame. Make sure you adhere to the constitution. For recorded (asynchronous) events, you are not allowed to edit the video.

Extemp/OO/Info:

I need a clear structure. You should have at least one source for each point. The biggest thing I look for is your explanation - you need to explain things in a way that makes it easy to understand without sounding condescending. Your examples and explanation should help me understand your ideas. Movements (5-point walk and gestures) should be smooth, helpful, and make sense. The constitution states you cannot be ranked first if you go over grace.

Interp:

Rankings most often are based on who creates the most believable moments and characters. There should be different levels to your characters and pieces—not everything should be intense, not everything should be quiet, not everything should be rapid, not everything should be slow, etc. If you use an accent for a character, then you need to be consistent with it. It is not necessary for you to have multiple characters; however, if you do, you need to create distinct characters. You should add meaning behind the lines through your voice, tone, and inflection. Cussing doesn’t bother me; I do prefer for it to make sense within your piece. I do not mind if you take a serious piece and put a humorous spin on it or a humorous piece being given a dramatic spin as long as it is not creating a caricature or making fun of a group of people. Movement should also make sense. Introductions should help clarify and set the scene; many events also require the author and title to be clearly stated in the introduction as well. The constitution states you cannot be ranked first if you go over grace..

For POI specifically: there are some judges who want to be able to tell a difference between the different pieces you use and will make a comment that your program “seems more like prose or poetry than POI”; I disagree with this—If we cannot tell a difference between your pieces, I think it shows how skilled you are at weaving your pieces together to create one coherent voice.

Experience is in HI, DI, Duo/Duet on the state and national arena.

I’ve judged tournaments since 2008 in multiple states. I am familiar with the rules and standard practices of these events.

I like to provide a lot of feedback about the performances, I want to make sure that students are getting useful feedback so they can continue to grow and perfect their pieces for future tournaments. The communication skills learned from speech and debate are invaluable.

HI- I like to see the natural sense of humor come through the performance, timing is the most important part of this event. I appreciate pieces that are able to make the audience feel something beyond the jokes. The characters should be relatable and have purpose behind their mannerisms and embodiment.

DI- Find a way to connect on a personal level to your piece. It is easy to fall into being sad or mad, dramatic, etc. Be authentic to your characters’ stories. Create emotional layers and watch your volume levels. Have purpose behind your blocking and emotion (i.e. don’t scream just to scream, or cuss to cuss).