Virtual delivery - I will not count off for things that are out of your control like where you are or how clearly I can see you. However, if there are audio issues where I cannot understand you, it will be very hard for me to judge appropriately.

Interp events - Tell me a story and make me feel something. I need to believe that you are this/these character(s). If I do not believe that, you lost me. Some things to help with that are making sure you match your character physically and incorporate clear blocking so that I know what is going on. However, blocking should always be motivated and adding to the story, not distracting or taking away. Creative blocking using the camera and things like that is always fun to see. Voice inflection is so important. Are you just giving me lines you memorized or are you becoming the character and understanding how your character would say them? Pieces that are too vulgar with language or content may be docked. It needs to add to the story, not take-away. Having a strong intro to tell me why this story is relevant and how it could make a difference will help as well.

Oratory/Info - Organization of the speech needs to be appropriate and try to captivate my attention while including tone and inflection. Be creative! Topics that are not often talked about or having a fresh perspective are ways I will remember you and set you apart. Be careful when using hand gestures. They can become distracting at times, so make sure they feel natural and help communicate effectively. Most importantly, make sure there is sufficient evidence to support your claims. Info- boards have to add to the speech not just use them for the sake of using them. I also have to be able to see/read what is on the board.

Extemp - I prefer there to be structure to your speech as well as evidence to support your claims. Careful not to let your opinion take over. At this level, the cleaner your speech is, the better.

Debate: I do not have a ton of experience with Debate, but I look for those who are strong speakers and also have the best argument. I also do not advocate for rapid-fire delivery and I judge more on quality rather than quantity.

Meghan Clark (she/her)

Experience:

–competed in LD on the Texas UIL circuit

–coached LD for 7 years, policy for 5, also on the Texas UIL circuit

–currently coach extemp/platform events at Plano West

PF:

--I am a fairly typical flay judge.

--Truth over tech. I do not particularly like kritiks or other non-resolution based arguments (not a huge fan of progressive debate). Don’t run theory about dates, speaks, disclosure, etc. - I have zero interest in judging this. I strongly dislike frivolous theory arguments and tricks. Don’t run them.

--Make sure that you extend your arguments and signpost clearly. No sticky defense.

--I care a good deal about weighing impacts in the back half of the round. Make sure you do this. Don’t introduce new arguments in the second half of the round, and I don’t want arguments that consist of three blippy arguments with buzzwords. I would vastly prefer substantive weighing of impacts. I generally default to probability over magnitude.

--I care about quality rather than quantity of evidence. You must have clear taglines for your evidence. Don’t paraphrase.

--Make sure you are courteous to opponents and don’t speak over them during crossfire. I expect professionalism, respect and civility towards me and towards your opponents. If you are verbally or non-verbally showing disrespect towards your opponents or me, expect to lose speaker points. It goes without saying that you should not be racist/sexist/ableist/homophobic/etc. in any way during the round.

--I do not like spreading. PF should be accessible to a wide audience, and spreading makes that difficult. Speak at a normal rate of speed if you expect me to flow your argument. Extreme speed will most likely result in lower speaks. If I call “clear,” slow down.

--In final focus, make the case for why you deserve my vote - don’t demand my vote.

--Strike me if you’re reading a meme or social experiment case.

--Stick to the time structure - no skipping grand cross for PF.

--If a card is heavily disputed during round, I will call for it.

Teams are at liberty to debate in the styles they have been coached to perform as long as they are capable of defending their positions. Speed is fine, as long as it’s clear. I will listen to and evaluate both traditional and progressive arguments in the framework the debaters define. I prefer arguments to be specific and warranted, and for each team to provide effective comparative analysis giving me reasons to vote in the final rebuttals. I typically am familiar with most arguments on the topic, but refrain from technical high speed responses  and focus more on clearer more substantive explanations of your positions. Policy debates are easier for me to follow, but feel free to read kritkal strategies, just flesh it out a little more for me. 

I’ve been involved with the debate community since 1997. Most of my time has been debating and coaching in the South Texas border region. My interests are politics disads, gender, identity, cap, bio power, critical race Ks. I’m cool with T and counter plans. Theory needs to be slow and explained I won’t pull the trigger just cause to have a block. 

I have been coaching and judging speech and debate for over ten years. I mainly judge speech events now that I have former debate students who travel with our school to judge at tournaments around South Texas. I have judged at the UIL State Competition in poetry and prose. I also served on the UIL Regional Advisory Committee for speech in 2019, 2021, & 2022.

When I am judging events like poetry, prose, duo, duet, etc., I want the competitor to tell a story. I will listen for variations in tempo and volume. The introduction is the time for your personality to shine through. I want to see the reason you selected this piece and for you to give energy and life to your piece.

When I judge events like extemp or original oratory, I'm looking for a well-organized speech. Support your topic with good points or reasons. Tie everything up in the conclusion.

Excited to continue to judge in speech and debate. I am impressed with the hard work and dedication that goes into the process.

Personal information:

My name is Ivin Lam (he/him) and I competed for Tuloso-Midway HS from 2016-2019. I competed mainly on a local and state level but made it to nationals for mainly speech events. That being said, I did decently well in LD and consistently qualified for TFA and UIL state. I have judged for a couple of tournaments in Texas as well as NSDA so I am also familiar with other levels of debate in that regard as well.

If you want to do an email chain my email is (ivinlam888@gmail.com). I do not care if I am in an email chain unless you plan on spreading.

TL: DR

I am a hardcore traditional debater in LD and have a high preference for value-criterion-level debate. With that being said, run any argument that you want and have fun with it. Just don't expect me to follow it well if it is NOT the traditional value-criterion style. Consider me a lay judge for things such as kritiks, CP's, etc. Also of course nothing offensive, sexist, racist, etc. Debate is a place to learn and have fun. If you need to ask if it's acceptable then please do so.

Have fun and never be afraid to ask me questions.

Preferences (LD):

Traditional: My favorite style of argumentation and the one I know best. I really have no problems with any arguments run in this fashion but please refrain from anything offensive, racist, sexist, etc. Please have a specific Value (don't just say it's morality or life) and ensure that your framework is not cyclical. I mainly pay attention to the Value and contentions but please put effort into the entirety of your case as a whole. Traditional as a whole is fairly simple and I don't believe write more than "Have a good FW" but if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Kritiks: Kritiks are fine as long as you make sure to explain it to me like I'm a 5-year-old lay judge. I find it easier to understand structural kritiks (like cap) but as long as you can explain it well then I should be fine. As long as you can make a strong link/connection to the topic and your opponent's case, I'll still see it as valid.

Counter Plans & DAs: Same as my opinion on Kritiks except for this time it's easier for me to understand so you can explain it like I'm a 10-year-old instead.

Theory: I see theory as extremely trivial and unless there is something that is actually hindering the ability to debate in the round then I see no need for it other than to create clarifications or ground rules for the round. This does not mean that you can't run it. I'll still hear it out. But you'll have to have a strong justification to convince me.

Other: In all other argument types please assume that my paradigms will be similar to that of my opinion on kritiks. If you're still unsure just ask or run it anyway.

Speed: I'm fine with fast speed but if you plan on spreading, speaking close to that of spreading, or in a similar fashion, please put me on an email chain as that will harm my ability to judge, and therefore, your ability to convince me that you should win the debate. I will also focus more on the quality of the argument rather than how many you can list off so keep that in mind.

Flowing: Please have proper signposting and do line by line! The less messy my flow is the better it is for everyone. I flow everything including Cross X. I eventually condense things down to major points so if you want to be flowed make sure you say so in your speeches.

Prep time, Open prep, closed prep, etc: I'm fine with any type of prep y'all choose as long as all parties agree on it. I will not flow prep but if you plan on bringing anything up from these periods please say so. You may time yourselves during these periods but I will be also timing and will be going off of my time.

Speaks: I don't have much of a standard when it comes to speaks but generally anything lower than a 27 will mean that you did something extremely wrong or offensive. Otherwise, you'll start at a 28.5 and get a lower or higher score depending on how I view the round.

Just for fun: Any joke cases that you run will give you full speaks if it can make me laugh. I will also award full speaks to those who email/hand me a hand-drawn picture of their favorite animal or meme.

Personal information:

My name is Ivin Lam (he/him) and I competed for Tuloso-Midway HS from 2016-2019. I competed mainly on a local and state level but made it to nationals for mainly speech events. That being said, I did decently well in LD and consistently qualified for TFA and UIL state. I have judged for a couple of tournaments in Texas as well as NSDA so I am also familiar with other levels of debate in that regard as well.

If you want to do an email chain my email is (ivinlam888@gmail.com). I do not care if I am in an email chain unless you plan on spreading.

TL: DR

I am a hardcore traditional debater in LD and have a high preference for value-criterion-level debate. With that being said, run any argument that you want and have fun with it. Just don't expect me to follow it well if it is NOT the traditional value-criterion style. Consider me a lay judge for things such as kritiks, CP's, etc. Also of course nothing offensive, sexist, racist, etc. Debate is a place to learn and have fun. If you need to ask if it's acceptable then please do so.

Have fun and never be afraid to ask me questions.

Preferences (LD):

Traditional: My favorite style of argumentation and the one I know best. I really have no problems with any arguments run in this fashion but please refrain from anything offensive, racist, sexist, etc. Please have a specific Value (don't just say it's morality or life) and ensure that your framework is not cyclical. I mainly pay attention to the Value and contentions but please put effort into the entirety of your case as a whole. Traditional as a whole is fairly simple and I don't believe write more than "Have a good FW" but if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Kritiks: Kritiks are fine as long as you make sure to explain it to me like I'm a 5-year-old lay judge. I find it easier to understand structural kritiks (like cap) but as long as you can explain it well then I should be fine. As long as you can make a strong link/connection to the topic and your opponent's case, I'll still see it as valid.

Counter Plans & DAs: Same as my opinion on Kritiks except for this time it's easier for me to understand so you can explain it like I'm a 10-year-old instead.

Theory: I see theory as extremely trivial and unless there is something that is actually hindering the ability to debate in the round then I see no need for it other than to create clarifications or ground rules for the round. This does not mean that you can't run it. I'll still hear it out. But you'll have to have a strong justification to convince me.

Other: In all other argument types please assume that my paradigms will be similar to that of my opinion on kritiks. If you're still unsure just ask or run it anyway.

Speed: I'm fine with fast speed but if you plan on spreading, speaking close to that of spreading, or in a similar fashion, please put me on an email chain as that will harm my ability to judge, and therefore, your ability to convince me that you should win the debate. I will also focus more on the quality of the argument rather than how many you can list off so keep that in mind.

Flowing: Please have proper signposting and do line by line! The less messy my flow is the better it is for everyone. I flow everything including Cross X. I eventually condense things down to major points so if you want to be flowed make sure you say so in your speeches.

Prep time, Open prep, closed prep, etc: I'm fine with any type of prep y'all choose as long as all parties agree on it. I will not flow prep but if you plan on bringing anything up from these periods please say so. You may time yourselves during these periods but I will be also timing and will be going off of my time.

Speaks: I don't have much of a standard when it comes to speaks but generally anything lower than a 27 will mean that you did something extremely wrong or offensive. Otherwise, you'll start at a 28.5 and get a lower or higher score depending on how I view the round.

Just for fun: Any joke cases that you run will give you full speaks if it can make me laugh. I will also award full speaks to those who email/hand me a hand-drawn picture of their favorite animal or meme.

Former Harlingen South Debater 18-21

Yes add me on the email chain: Kaidnelson57@gmail.com

Also, feel free to email me questions about the round

TLDR- Run what you like, the round is yours, outside of any blatant -isms.

General Things-

Did debate for four years, and familiar with most forms, of literature. Additionally, I'm studying political science and philosophy, use that info how you will.

LD

I primarily did LD, with that said I ran K’s Junior and Senior year, mainly Cap, Pessimism, and imperial/colonialism authors. For more technical policy stuff in Ld, I'm not really a fan of it, but as long as it's well thought out, I'll vote on it.

CX

Never actually did CX, but more or less the same thing for LD. I was taught by a CX team, and a CX coach, Fine with everything it's both teams' rounds, my bar for Policy, K’s, and Theory/spikes are MUCH higher for CX simply because you have a larger amount of time to flesh out both attacks and defense.

Other Debate events

I feel the rest of the debate events from Congress to BQ to WS are more similar than those above. Generally speaking, spend the first bits of time on establishing central issues, then cementing those issues, and lastly impacting them out/ why your opponents are wrong.

I competed for several years and was recognized at both the state and national level. I am currently a student in the BFA Acting program at The University of Texas at Austin, and am excited to see honest acting, a clear storyline, and a clear understanding of relationships and the characters point of view on the world. As for speech events, I am looking for clear points, confidence, and a new perspective on the topic at hand.

I am a communications judge. No Kritiks please. I’m cool with some theory, not all of them (not a fan of disclosure theory).

I focus on enunciation; speak clear taglines, regardless of flashing the judge your case, it is still a speaking event.

Note: there’s a difference between fast speaking and spreading. Just make sure to enunciate your tags, signpost, etc., and you’ll be fine. if I hear heavy breathing because you’re reading too fast, it’s a problem.

Having said that, I like analytics. You can use evidence/cards and cross apply them, just ensure you provide a clear explanation as to why you’re able to cross apply them. You can’t just say “cross apply my C1 to his DA” and move on; tell me why it applies. Make sure to emphasize how it cross applies.

I like to follow the flow. I expect a good, yet understandable rebuttal. Please include me (the judge) in the email chain, if any. (antonio.valdez@psjaisd.us)

please do not be rude. If you become aggressive within the round, expect to see low speaks. It’s one thing to attack an argument, it’s another thing to attack your opponent.

Last, I do not disclose. Tournaments typically run late and I don't wanna add to the problem.