Last changed on
Fri November 18, 2022 at 12:01 PM PDT
Hey! I’m a Lay LD debater (NSDA Nats 22 qualifier) and a middle school coach. I use she/her pronouns. Here are a few things to keep in mind during your round!
1. Signpost clearly, especially if you’re collapsing arguments or moving to different parts of the flow. Clearly state when/where you are extending impacts/evidence as well!
2. Don't do sketchy extensions. If you mention an argument in your constructive, mostly drop it in refutations, and then completely blow it up in your voters, I’m not going to be comfortable voting on it. Extend important arguments consistently throughout the round.
3. Weigh well and weigh early. Grant your opponent their full impact and then show me why yours still matters more.
4. Don't forget about framework, especially when weighing impacts or giving voter issues. Also, I am all ears for a good framework debate, but if you and your opponent are arguing for pretty much synonymous things, please don’t waste too much time going back and forth over it.
5. Don’t spread out your opponent! I am not a huge fan of spreading online and will vote against you if you are using it in an abusive manner. Regardless of what speed you’re speaking at, make sure you’re always enunciating clearly.
Be respectful! Winning rounds feels great, but it should never be at the cost of your opponent’s well-being. During cross-examination remember that you can be assertive without being rude. If you're discussing sensitive topics, I would appreciate brief trigger warnings in your off-time roadmap or at the top of your case. Use your discretion and be mindful.
For circuit LD: If you and your opponent both agree to run a circuit round and it is allowed by the tournament, that’s fine with me. That being said, I am a lay debater and will need a clear explanation of any niche theory/philosophy arguments.
oh and pls chat with me after the round if you're a taylor swift fan :)