Prior to the strength of the arguments, I take into consideration the following:

1. Organization: This is key. In order to make an informed and complete decision, I need you to speak in such a way that I can make a decision using an organized flow. SIGNPOSTING and TAGGING are essential for this. Speed is not.

2. Professionalism/Character: Rudeness will absolutely not be tolerated. Speech and Debate should help build better humans, therefore if excessive rudeness or words/actions showing poor character happen in the round, you'll be much less likely to win that round.

Only after these are met will I move on to:

3. Strength of Argument: Every round is unique - one round might be decided on framework, one on a single contention, one on lack of argument on one side or the other, etc. Be a good speaker and get your argument across in a complete and logical way? You are likely to win the round.

To All Debaters:

1) If you have ANY questions, let me know before the round begins!

2) Please be kind during the round. Extreme aggressive questioning, condescension, or even insulting behavior will be marked on my ballot for your coaches to see. It may not affect the end result, but it is important to note.

3) I am an ex-speech kid, but mostly did oratory and info for the time I was in High School. However, I am now a debater in college, so I get the gist.

Public Forum paradigm:

It is hard to convince me unless me unless it is well-justified or the opponent fails to point out the fallacies. In short, I enjoy line-by-line and then impacts at the bottom. I like voters and impacts in final speec

Speed is fine, but dont speak faster than I can understand you. If you're stumbling and aren't succinct, that will not help you.

I don't know what a K is, if you have a K you will have to explain it.

When I look for a win, if you cover all points on a flow, make a strong case for/against a resultion, that is a sure win. A stronger case means that taking all the evidence together that has been introduced and extended throughout the round.

LD:

I did not do LD in high school, but I understand the discussion of value and criterion and philosophy. With that being said, stick to more "traditional" LD arguments since I have never done this before

Value/Criterion do matter more than contention-level, but I expect both to be covered effectively.

Line by line argumentation works for me

same speed as PF

Good luck! You will do outstanding!

I am a rhetoric coach, so I look for strong structure and clear arguments. Speed will not win you any points with me. This is a public address activity. Your arguments need to be understandable and substantiated. I will consider framework, but I will not vote solely on it. Make sure that you understand what your evidence is saying.

Ann Tornberg has been a Debate coach for 35 years. She has coached Policy, Lincoln Douglas, and Public Forum in addition to coaching Speech and Oral Interp.

"I want to be persuaded in LD. I want to be able to evaluate the evidence based on a strong, reasonably paced delivery. Do not speed read in LD if you want high speaker points. As you summarize make sure that you are referring to evidence that has been read in the round. I do my best to take a careful flow. Give direction to your argument and always signpost. Let me know where I should put your argument on my flow. Finally, give me your estimate of the primary VOTERS in the round, but don't be surprised if I find other issues that are just as important to my decision." Ann Tornberg