I debated policy in high school and in college in from 1988-1994. I have coached policy, LD, public forum and now Congressional debate. Because of my policy roots substantiating your argument with evidence and refutation are important to debate. I fundamentally see Congressional debate as debate not as another form of extemp.

Please talk slowly, I don't like debate speed speaking. If you're speaking too quick and I miss something, it won't be on my flow. 

Background: I was in speech and debate at East Ridge High School in Minnesota and graduated in 2018. I did info and OO in speech. I mainly did congress while I was in debate, but I also competed in PF decently often, and in World Schools at nationals. I also did IPPF and extemp debate.

I graduated from the University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management in December 2021 with a degree in finance. I work at Travelers in fixed income investments, i.e. the bond market. I am currently pursuing my CFA designation. With that educational and professional background, I tend to favor economic arguments. These are usually easier for me to keep up with and are very enjoyable for me to listen to! I do love a creative argument though. 

Debate philosophy: I think debate is a great academic activity that teaches critical thinking, research, speaking, and other life skills. I'm a "Truth > tech" judge. In all debates, I would rather a competitor have 2 thorough, nuanced contentions than 4 thin, poorly defended contentions. I enjoy being persuaded, not being told at.

In congress, I like either new arguments, or a rebuttal speech. Please do not recycle arguments, and please do not recycle rebuttals - both don't move the debate forward. I tended to PO a lot in high school, so I have a healthy appreciation for a well run chamber. Feel free to use puns and other methods to improve your speaking stylization!

Last Updated:3/9/2024

Pronouns: They/Them

Background:

• Competed for 6 years: 4.5 in LD and 1.5 in Congress. Have been judging LD and Congress for 3 years now.

Overview:

• Debate should be inclusive and available to all people. If your goal is to speak as fast as possible and run the most obscure arguments to exclude people, then this isn't a winning strategy for you. My suggestion would be to run topical arguments at a pace that is inclusive to all students. The more obscure the argument the more time you should spend on explaining it. Don't just throw out random words and assume I'll fill in the blanks for you.
• If you have questions about your ballot, feel free to ask me about it! My email address isBonBrynteson@gmail.com :)

Congress:

• This is a debate event. I reward debaters on their skill to rebuttal and crystal first and then constructives/authors. This is not to say I will not rank someone high if they give constructives but I do tend to vote for people who can mix it up and give different types of speeches/can analyze the round correctly.
• There should be no reason for you to have to put a trigger warning in your speech. We as the Parli and Judges are not able to leave the room like everyone else if you are saying stuff that could be triggering so please do not put us in that uncomfortable position. I promise you that you can make that same exact meaningful point without saying triggering things and if you cannot, that speaks more for what you need to personally work on in this activity.
• I can promise you that you will not be dropped because your speaking isn't "pretty enough" in my round :)
• I track precedence/recency in all sessions and flow.
• Remember all of your opponents, judges, and Parli are all human. The topics we are discussing may personally impact the people in the room with you. Be aware of what you are saying and the impact it can leave on others when leaving the round.

Notes for PO's:

• You will always start at being ranked 5 and will move up or down based on how well you perform. The reasoning for this is there are some POs with computer programs that will auto-order and PO for you which takes the entire skill out of the position.
• I personally do not like it when you share your PO sheet with the chamber. It is their job to also track, don't make their life easier. This is a competition.
• Please do not tell us to rank you. We are told to in judging meetings and TAB reminds us every round.
• The point of a PO is to disappear from the round. I should forget that you are next to me with how well you are running the room. Comments like "and the chair thanks you", "and we will never know the answer to that question" or any other sentence that is unneeded will poorly look on you in my eyes. You should be moving so efficiently that you can move speech to questioning to speech within seconds. In addition, the chair does not have emotions.
• I know this Paradigm is long and seems like a lot but please do not be scared to ask me questions! I have POed more times than I can count and it's nerve-racking. Let me help you succeed and grow so we can have a fun fast round.

LD:

• If you start running a K, I will just want to run back to my congress land. Please do not run them in my round.
• Please do not spread. I can not keep up and will be lost.
• I do not mind jargon or technical language but if you are being inaccessible to your opponent that is unfair to them and will reflect on you.
• Voters/Framework/Weighing are big points to me. If you weigh but lost framework, what are we actually weighing on? If you save more money but your opponents saves 100k lives, why do I care about someone missing rent for a month? Etc etc
• I love love love! a good CX

Overall I just want you kids to have fun. Let's work together to create a safe space in this round where everyone feels comfortable and enjoy the round! :D

A note to all debaters: although I try to be completely objective when scoring, remember judging is essentially just my opinion of how you did. Your own evaluation of how you debated is at least as valid as mine and probably more so. I try my best to leave constructive comments for each speaker, but time constraints while a debate is in progress can make that difficult. If you do not get feedback, it's not because I do not care, it's because I ran out of time.

Expect comments of the form:

Cycle w/ notations, for example 3A (break) (cut-off) means it was the 3rd Affirmative speech, it broke cycle and the PO cut you off at 3m10s
Strength: Something you did well
Suggestion: Something to consider when working to improve

Congressional debate
I personally consider Delivery to be the most important skill you can acquire from debate because it's a life skill. Even if you never debate again after high school, being comfortable with speaking to a group is useful forever. My comments are often heavily weighted towards Delivery strengths and suggestions for this reason.

I prefer a traditional speech with a defined introduction, main body and conclusion:
1) Tell me what you're about to tell me (30 seconds) - Introduction
2) Tell me (2 minutes) - 2 or 3 main points
3) Tell me what you just told me (30 seconds) - Conclusion/summary

I use speaker points mostly for my use in post-session ranking but in general:
6 - Outstanding (rarely given)
5 - Excellent
4 - Average
3 - Below average (rarely given)
2, 1 - I don't use these scores

I try to be as objective as possible without introducing bias, opinion or knowledge external to the debate. If you claim "The sky is purple", back it up with evidence, persuade me, show why it matters, and rebut any opposition counter-claims, then the sky is actually purple for scoring/ranking purposes.

I also take into account the overall experience level of the chamber and judge each speaker in comparison to the others present. For example, if a novice House speaker simply reads a prepared speech, I'm much more forgiving in my rankings than I would be for a Varsity Senate speaker doing the same thing.

How I judge a debate speech in detail:
Introduction
Simple, direct and concise is best. An attention-getter (like you would do at a speech tournament) is probably unnecessary and uses valuable time. For NEG speeches it's ok to agree with something in the bill as long as you immediately follow-up with what's wrong with it: "While I agree that passing this bill to get "X" is a noble goal, the enormous problem of "Y" makes passage impractical and counter-productive".
* Main point overview - "Tell me what you're about to tell me". For example, something like "The main [benefits/problems] with this bill in general are financial which I'll cover in my 1st main point and quality of life covered in my 2nd and 3rd points about health care and tax reform" This can also set up your conclusion/summary where you can echo your intro and "Tell me what you just told me".
* Bill overview - This is critical in 1st cycle speeches. State the primary [benefit/liability] for [passing/failing] this bill as written. A short and meaningful (quantified if possible) impact statement is best. For example, "Passing this bill will feed 10 million malnourished children per year who would otherwise go hungry and cost just $50 per child - that's 14 cents per day per child!" i.e. AFF should avoid stating the $500 million cost directly, and NEG should do the opposite.
Content
* Organization - Speech should have a clear intro, main body (2 or 3 main points) and conclusion with obvious and meaningful transitions.
* Credibility - mispronounced words, world leader names in particular, can indicate to me that the speaker is simply reciting a speech written by the team.
* Decorum - Never raise your voice in questioning. Always refer to actual politicians and chamber members with their honorific: "President Washington said..." rather than "Washington said...". Respect the position even if you don't respect the person currently/formerly holding that position.
* Links & Connections - Whenever possible connect your related points to a previous speaker/argument, ex. "My 1st main point about financing [supports/refutes] Senator Lincoln's argument about budgeting and Senator Jefferson's claim about debt".
* Logic, facts & evidence - Ideally, about half your main point explanation(s) should "prove" why the bill should pass/fail.
* Persuasion & passion - Ideally, the other half should convince me why you are correct and/or the opposition is incorrect.
* Answers - Simple, clear and concise answers are best. Never raise your voice no matter how aggressive the questioner gets. It's ok to subtly critique the questioner when appropriate, ex. "That was a long winded question but I'll do my best to answer in the few seconds remaining..." or "That was a statement. Do you have an actual question for me?"
Arguments
* Claim - simple, clear and concise is best. "This bill will cost $500 million dollars and the country simply cannot afford it right now!"
* Proof, experts & citations - Support your claim with evidence from subject matter experts as much as possible. Avoid long back and forth "dueling expert battles" in questioning. It's ok to point out "your" expert is stating the exact opposite of "their" expert but let it go after that.
* Impact / Explanation - Tell me why it matters! Use intro phrases like "This is important because..." or "The primary overall impact of [passing/failing] this legislation is..."
Clash (N/A for 1st cycle speeches) - Be specific and detailed when you tell me what's wrong with the opposition's case.
Closely related to "Links and Connections" above. This is most important at the Senate level. If your speech is presented like a 1st cycle speech with no clash, it will impact your ranking.
* Speakers - Name all previous speakers who made similar (but distinct) points before making your new point.
* Arguments - Group similar but distinct previous arguments together as well.
Delivery
Do not simply read your speech. I give some allowance for 1st cycle speeches, but holding a laptop with both hands, standing still, looking straight down at the screen and reading will impact your ranking.
* Extemporaneous - your prepared material should be used as notes and not as a script. Using voice technique (volume, tone and pacing) to add impact/drama to your most important points will positively impact your score/ranking
* Gestures - Use hand gestures to add non-verbal emphasis and impact to your important spoken points.
* Movement - Use meaningful movement as a non verbal signal to indicate transitions. For example, as you end your intro and start your main point 1 topic sentence, move 3-6 feet to your left or right and again at other main point or summary transition points. Avoid meaningless pacing and shifting from foot to foot as it can indicate nervousness.
* Eye contact - "Talk" to all members of the chamber - center, left and right - switching at transition points is fine. Avoid just talking to one "location" (judges and/or the floor/ceiling/back wall)
Conclusion
The word "Affirm/Negate" does not count as a conclusion if you run out of time speaking on your main points.
* Main point summary - Make the transition obvious with something like "So in conclusion..." and then add a sentence or two about the broad categories of your main points, something like "The main [benefits/liabilities] of this bill are financial as I clearly explained in my first main point and quality of life as my 2nd and 3rd main points on health care reform and fair taxation prove." The categories you choose (financial & quality of life in my example) give following same-side speakers an easy way to link back to your speech as well.
* Big Picture statement - One or two sentences on the primary impact of [passing/failing] the bill is good enough, but tell me why it matters.
Time - anything between 2:30 and 3:09 is fine.
Do not force the PO to cut you off at 3:10, this will impact your ranking. A common comment I make if you ran out of time or rushed your summary is something like "Consider using the PO's 2m30s double gavel tap as a signal to begin your conclusion to avoid running out of time."

For crystalization speeches, I strongly prefer advocacy on one side or the other. If you properly flow the debate you can simply add a statement in your intro and conclusion to support either AFF or NEG to avoid breaking cycle. For example, in your intro say something like "I'd like to focus this debate by first summarizing the AFF speakers and their arguments. Follow up by summarizing the NEG side, and conclude by telling you why [AFF/NEG] should get your vote". In your conclusion something like "Now that I've summarized both sides, let me tell you why argument "X" is the most compelling, briefly explain the Big Picture impact of this legislation and ultimately why it's important you vote for [AFF/NEG]". It is critical you reserve the last 30 seconds of your time for the conclusion and advocacy statement. Use the PO's 2m30s gavel double tap as a signal to end your main point discussion.

Presiding Officers are judged on:

Speaker Recognition (Precedence and Recency)
Fair and even distribution of speaker recognition throughout the chamber when preset precedence is not used is important, i.e. you do not constantly favor Reps. sitting on the right side of the room. Making mistakes, but catching and correcting them will impact your ranking a little, not catching and correcting them will impact your ranking a lot.
Parliamentary Procedure
You handle motions, timing and voting efficiently. It is critical you use the standard/recommended NSDA timing signals. If you confuse speakers with non-standard signals, it can and probably will negatively impact your ranking.
Delivery / Presence
You speak loud and clear. Call on speakers quickly. Shutdown post-time arguments in questioning, etc.
Running a smooth and efficient chamber is key. "You did your job so well I barely noticed you" is the highest compliment I can give.

FULL PARADIGM CAN BE FOUND HERE! This page is meant to be something you can read right before round and get a general idea of what's up

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Bullies get dropped

If your argument needs a trigger warning, either ask before the round S T A R T S or don’t read it. Don't say mid speech "trigger warning!" because judges cannot just up and leave a round the same way you can, and you're not actually giving any students time to react. I think like 90% of tw are super performative and framed as “imma read this, deal w it”

www.ImpactInstituteDebate.com

@Impact.Institute_ on Instagram for 100% free, high quality, virtual Congressional Debate resources.

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Any pronouns work, but do not call me mister

Congress 2016-2019 for Eagan High School in MN, traveled a little bit but certainly wasn't a circuit kid

Congress coach 2019-present at Armstrong and Cooper High Schools in MN

Parli (NPDA) for the University of Minnesota 19-20, 20-21 (I read topical affs and cap/ableism on neg)

PNW CARD Debate for 1 semester (closed research packet, but I loved sliding in Marxist lenses)

Congress judge first, but pls don’t assume I'm not a "debate" judge :)

Overall, I prefer chess over checkers. But both are valuable games!

Email chain or questions/critiques/whatever AFTER the round: Davi3736@umn.edu

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LD:

-Ask before you spread. I probs can't understand your spreading, I'll clear/slow you until I can, but 70% is a decent starting point

-Not flowing off a speech doc but pls share it w me

-Tech>everything: I used to say “except for xyz” but instead, just be a good debater. I’ll vote for stupidity idc. However, “get good” is probably an able normative response to “speed bad” so b careful w ur language. Wipeout, war good, dedev, truth>tech, idc just say it w your chest and let it rip.

-Judge instruction is my fav part abt this activity, followed by conceding fwk, followed by turns of any kind

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Congress:

#AbolishPOs (don’t worry I still rank y’all)

Congress is a debate event you silly goose

Congress is a debate event you silly goose

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LD: The best argument wins, not the best sounding speaker -- this is a debate, not an interpretive event. I've judged novice for nat quals but I'm not an extremely experienced LD judge, so gamesmanship won't be my main focus. Yes, I expect you to make sure you don't drop any issues. But I'm not going to reward coming up with the most ridiculous argument available such that's it's impossible to counter. Let's be honest, let's have a good debate.

When I judge Congress, I'm looking for a debater who will argue about the bill itself, as well as the big picture issue raised by the bill. If you give any speech other than the authorship or sponsorship speech, I expect you to refer to someone else's argument. Congressional debate is supposed to build on itself - rather than a parade of individual speeches.

Congress: I like to see that you know the game of Congress so if I can tell that you're strategizing (internally, with others in the room, with teammates) I'm gonna be happy. I like debaters that debate. Sounding pretty is good but giving rebuttals and avoiding giving constructive speeches in the middle of the legislation are even better. You should have enough evidence or common sense to speak on either side of the legislation at any point, wasting recesses to write speeches or chide others for not being ready (while you're not offering to speak either) will be criticized.

Public Forum: Give me voters in summary and final focus or give me death! I am a logic-chain judge; if your arguments require me to suspend disbelief or ignore reality then expect them to be dropped from the flow. Behavior within the round matters just as much as performance so please do not be rude to your partner or competitors and try to maintain professionalism for the sake of an efficient round. Speeches that matter the most to me are rebuttals so an organized rebuttal that responds to as much of the competitors case as possible will positively impact my vote overall.

When I judge Congress, not only am I looking for arguments (claim/warrant/data/impact), I am looking at the quality of your presentation. Speech still applies to Debate. I look for a confident, passionate persuasive speech that asks us to affirm or negate. As a session progresses, I look to see follow up speeches that draw in other supporting Senators/Representatives, as well as refuting the opposition - including being presented more extemporaneously. If the topic makes you angry or frustrated, I want to see and hear that. If it makes you happy or satisfied, I want to see that, too. For Q&A blocks, I expect to see the level of prep that anticipates what others will ask after your speech. I look for confident, crisp answers. Thank you.

Background

I am a third year vasity debater (novice congress/ 2 years of varsity congress). I do DECA as well.

I am generally very chill. I want this to be a learning experience for all of you. I hope to give more constructive feedback in lieu of leaving your comments blank.

Most important things for rankings

I do NOT tolerate any kind of offensive comments. Be respectful to other debates, or you will be ranked down. I will not permit any comments that are deemed racist/homophobic/sexist/ect.

Speeches and speaking:

I'm looking for clash and refuting. By the third or fourth cycle of debate, you should be addressing other speakers.

I am looking for quality over quantity for speeches

When stating statics or quotes; citing sources is important. Be sure to include what source you are using and when it was published.

Presentation, do not just talk to your screen but talk to the judges and your fellow debaters.

I want your 3 main points laid out in the beginning of your speech, and at the end for conclusion purposes.

Do NOT abuse the grace period given for questiong and speaking. If needed, I will take that into consideration when ranking.

I personally feel that questioning is very important in rankings, for speakers and questioners.

Po-ing

Following proper procedures when making motions is very important to me and running a smooth chamber as a PO. I prefer POs who spend as little time talking as possible while being efficient.

I rank POs high when they are properly running the chamber any mistake that is made will be taken into consideration when ranking.

There is leway given for certain situations (such as amendments, or people trying to suspend rules)

I highly frown upon suspending rules I find it unnecessary.

Things I'm looking for in Congress:

Organization: Make your points clear and provide a roadmap.

Clash: Remember this is a debate. I want to see bold questioning, direct refutation, and adaptability.

Respect: Be tenacious, but check tone.  Come back to what's best for the constituents, and assume you are all working together for the betterment of society.  

Finally, have fun, and be yourself!  I appreciate creativity and personal flair in speeches.

Samuel Hoska’s Judge Philosophy

A little about myself: I have been involved with forensics for 15 years as a student, judge and coach. I am currently a coach at Edina High School, teaching Lincoln Douglas Debate. My background was originally in debate and speech where I competed and coached. I have been judging debate for the last 4 years, in all categories. I am currently a student at Minneapolis Community College for a Business Bachelors. I have a half a year remaining and then I will be working on a Bachelors in Communication and a Teaching certificate. I typically judge LD but I am capable of judging any category.

General: I enjoy a coherent arguments made with properly argued evidence. I am a “big picture” judge. I do appreciate the attention to detail, however, I don't like when it devolves into a debate that’s myopically focused on one thing. Make sure you take the time, especially in rebuttals to do a “birds eye view” of the debate. Remember, the rebuttal is the last time I hear from you before I make a decision, make it count. I appreciate good crossfire, and cross ex, specifically using information obtained in these for an argument. I try to bring the spirit of Tabula Rasa to every round I Judge.

Topicality: I like topicality, especially in varsity level debate. I think it makes a for a boring debate to have a non-topical aff. So it’s a pretty garden variety argument for the neg to make.

Critical Arguments: I was a LD and PF debater in high-school. I appreciate all critical arguments when they are understandable and explained properly. I catch on to arguments quickly, however I loathe having to have to fill in the gaps of an argument because its poorly argued. Make it logical, make it understandable.

Theory: I don’t have the background in this, so this won’t be very successful with me as a judge. I overall prefer substantive arguments over theoretical or procedural arguments. My flow can’t be muddy, and the explanation must be very logical and understandable. I pay attention when a debater uses Voters, I always want to know what each side thinks was the most important points in a round.

Speed: I have no problem with speed. I do ask two things. 1. Slow down enough on the tags so that I can understand them 2. Make your tags count. I dislike deciphering poor tags that do not tell me anything about the evidence.

Post Round Discussion: Please be respectful, I don’t appreciate a “shake down” when I’m explaining my decision. I don’t do speaker points till after the round is over and all the debaters have left the room and I take decorum into account. I am a bit of a non-traditional judge and I do make a concerted effort to bring up constructive criticism and positive comments. Please take these comments as an opportunity to learn!

Last Updated: 11/30/2018

Congress:

-Remember this is congressional debate, not a speech event. That means I will mark down speeches that repeat what the last speaker on your side said. If your points are similar to ones mentioned before, however, show why yours goes into more depth!

-Be active in the chamber. Respond to any and all speakers whose arguments conflict with your own. The author/sponsorship in addition to first negative speeches are obviously exempt from this rule because you should be laying down the substance of your side (although I am impressed when you anticipate potential opposing arguments and show why they shouldn't be considered).

-When responding to other speakers, please be respectful and do your best to pronounce names correctly. Write ALL names down phonetically once they pronounce it so you don't have to rack your brain to remember what the name was or how to pronounce it. Also don't say "a previous representative..." that's lame.

-Don't try to be funny, it feels forced. If it's natural, it's natural, but never think you have to be funny to get me to listen to your speech!

-I do love sass and sarcasm so I will laugh in the middle of direct questioning even if nobody else does. HOWEVER, sass and sarcasm should not be used excessively to put someone down, I can tell when you're not being lighthearted with it. On that note, please don't make puns out of someone else's name, that's rude. Actually, don't make puns at all.

-If there is a one sided debate, please, for the love of parliamentary procedure, do not call for a "five minute in-house recess," you all should be adequately prepared. Here's a tip- if you need to flip sides, find a way to flow your impacts to the opposite side. Your opponents do this all the time to your impacts and this way it's not that different of a speech and you are more familiar with the content. And, trust me, I will notice when you stand up for the opposite side. It will be much appreciated.

-Ask a lot of questions, but please don't throw softballs like "do you think this bill is good?", there are questions like these all the time coated in different words but I can tell it's just as surface-level

-QUALITY OVER QUANTITY. Never feel forced to speak. If you think that you need to give an additional speech, make sure it's good. If it's bad, it will be the last thing I remember you by. One time, I once gave a student a "7" even though she only spoke once between two sessions. Quality matters!

-If I'm a parli, I will keep a running rank of your performance round by round and will determine my ranking based on your average. If there is a tie in averages, I will consider the most recent session, whether or not you have presided, and, if all else fails, affirmative action to break the tie (most applicable when there is more than one student that hasn't spoken and I am expected to rank all students).

P.O. Evaluations:

-I understand if they are going over-time that you will "gavel them down" but if your default gavel tap is 1,0000 decibels, it will not be appreciated (especially if I'm your parli)

-Never P.O. to get out of speaking, I can tell. In reality, a good P.O. should be doing more work than when they are speaking because they should always be paying attention

-Study parli pro until it becomes natural please. Look at the NSDA sheet, Quizlet, whatever works

-Know at the beginning of the session (based on the number of students in the room) how many votes will get you 2/3, how many for 1/3, and how many for majority.

-If you choose "whoever stands/ whoever I see first" to determine speaking order, you will be marked down. This may seem like a decent, arbitrary system, until you notice only the students that jump out of their seats get called. Plus, proximity tells me your line of sight will be whoever is closer to you and nearest the center.

-Know your "procedural speech" so we can start as soon as you get elected, and you can give the speech while setting up.

Public Forum:

-I expect copious evidence and argument deduction to make it clear to me who is winning.

-"Off-time roadmaps" are lame. Do it on your time, it takes three seconds. In reality, your signposting should be good enough that you won't need it.

-I will raise my fist when time has elapsed. Finish your sentence and give a concluding statement, such as "thus, we negate"

-I will hold up a hand if you are going too fast

-Speaker points are not just based on presentation. It is based on fluency, structure, signposting, clarity, analysis, and RESPECT! If I couldn't understand what you were saying and you ignore my signals to slow down, you will get a 26 because clarity is a prerequisite to almost everything else. If you ever put down your opponents, yell at them, or anything of the sort, you will get a 25. This doesn't mean you will lose the debate, it just means you are not a respectful debater.

Constructive speech:

-Try not to go ridiculous with the number of contentions nor sub-points.

-Lots of evidence please, and explain why it matters even if it's "implied," either CEWI or CWEI format for each point- your impacts should always be last. Enunciate and give vocal variation to emphasize what is really important (*cough* impacts).

Rebuttals:

-Evidence!!!!

-Cover everything; contentions, sub-points, and framework. I don't expect an article for everything on the opposition because that would be a little suspicious, but at least outweigh or frame the argument.

-You don't need to "go back to your own speech," defensiveness is lame. The best defense is attack. I got it down on my flow already thanks.

Summary:

- This is a summary, not a rebuttal speech at half the time. Narrow it down to the voters please. Only then should you go back to your constructive and show why each voter is supported by your side, not theirs. You respond to rebuttal arguments here.

Final Focus:

-Tell me a story of the debate. Show where the voters started on your side, where your opponents tried to pull them to their side, and conclude why their reasoning is flawed. More framework here than in summary,

Cross-X's:

-Please be nice.

-If you're PRO, just ask the first question, you don't need permission.

-Be prepared with questions so you're not floundering around in awkward silence while there's a cross.

-Clarifications are ok! Use CX to your advantage if you want more material for the next speech.

LD:

-I have never judged an LD round, but that doesn't mean I can't declare a winner. I am qualified to judge any debate so if you expect your side only to win with those that "get LD," that's a problem and you should make it very easy to follow so that even a speech coach could tell you're wining.

Content & Analysis:
An interesting introduction – grabs the listeners attention
• Impact statement
• Statement of how senators should vote (affirmative or negative)
• Two (or three) areas of analysis (distinct reasons for an affirmative or
negative vote)
o Each of these areas of analysis need to be supported by specific
evidence and analysis
• Affirmation and refutation
o Extends the debate – does not simply restate what has already been
said
Refutation:
• Refers to other senator’s (by name) statements
o Summarizes statements and either expands upon the analysis or
refutes the statement
Logic & Organization:
• Preview of areas of analysis
• Clear topic sentences
• Clear connection between points
• Review of areas of analysis
• Reminder of how Senators should vote
Evidence:
• Citation of sources or experts – both from where it was retrieved as well as
the date of the source
Presentation:
• Makes eye contact with the members of the chamber (fellow students)
• Good pace
• Good articulation and enunciation
• Good energy/persuasive tone

Experience: 7 years of judging PF and Congress, Juris Doctor with Legal background.

Philosophy:

I approach debate as an educational activity that fosters critical thinking, effective communication, and the exploration of various perspectives. My role is to evaluate the round based on the arguments presented, the quality of evidence and analysis, and the overall coherence of the debate.

Roles of the Debaters:

1. Clarity and Organization: I value clear, concise, and organized speeches. Debaters should articulate their points effectively, signpost, and provide a clear roadmap for the round.

2. Argumentation: I prioritize well-developed and supported arguments. Provide strong evidence and analysis to back up your claims. Quality over quantity; I prefer a few strong points to numerous weak ones.

3. Rebuttal and Clash: Engage with your opponent's arguments. Effective rebuttal involves addressing the core of the argument, not just the surface-level claims.

4. Flexibility and Adaptability: Be prepared to adapt your strategy based on your opponent's arguments and the direction of the round.

Evidence and Sources:

From my legal education and background, I pay very close attention to sources. Cite reliable and credible sources. The quality of evidence is more important than the quantity. If a source is questionable, make sure to highlight this in your argumentation.

Cross-Examination:

I consider cross-examination to be an integral part of the debate. It's an opportunity to clarify, challenge, and extract concessions from your opponent. Effective cross-examination can significantly strengthen your case. I will pay close attention to challenges to opponents' arguments and how it is used to strengthen your case.

Speaker Points:

I will assign speaker points based on clarity, argumentation, strategic choices, and overall contribution to the round. Be respectful and professional throughout the debate.

Role of the Judge:

My role is to fairly and objectively evaluate the arguments presented. I will not inject my personal opinions into the decision-making process. I will assess the round based on what transpires in the debate.

Speed and Delivery:

While I can handle a moderate pace, I value clarity over speed. If your arguments become unclear due to rapid delivery, it may hinder your overall assessment.

Respect and Decorum:

Maintain respect for your opponents, partner, and the judge throughout the round. Be mindful of time limits and follow the established rules. I do not tolerate arguing over each other or unnecessary interjections as it muddles and slows the debate.

Final Thoughts:

Remember, debate is an educational activity, but don't forget to have fun! Embrace the opportunity to learn, grow, and engage with different perspectives. I look forward to a productive and insightful round!

When judging a debate, I want to see that you are following the rules established by the National Speech and Debate Association for whichever debate form you are competing in. Honestly, if I catch that you have broken a rule it will not flow kindly in your favor.

Other very important things to note:

• I want you to stay on topic: You have a given topic for a reason.

• Be respectful: This is an educational forum established for students to benefit educationally and no one benefits from disrespect. How you present yourself and how you treat your opponent(s) will be considered when choosing a winner.

• Presenting a solid case that is backed by credible resources is also imperative. Furthermore, there should be plenty of evidence to back up your claims especially in the rebuttals. You the debater are not a credible source. Logical arguments are great if you can back them up

• Plans/Counterplans: In Public Forum Debate, the Association defines a plan or counterplan as a formalized, comprehensive proposal for implementation. Neither the pro or con side is permitted to offer a plan or counterplan; rather, they should offer reasoning to support a position of advocacy. Debaters may offer generalized, practical solutions (Direct quote from the National Speech and Debate Association.)

• “Non-existent evidence” means one or more of the following:

1. The debater citing the evidence is unable to provide the original source or copy of the relevant pages when requested by their opponent, judge, or tournament official.
2. The original source provided does not contain the evidence cited.
3. The evidence is paraphrased but lacks an original source to verify the accuracy of the paraphrasing.
4. The debater is in possession of the original source, but declines to provide it to their opponent upon request in a timely fashion.
(Direct quote from the National Speech and Debate Association.)

Another note to consider, I do not support the blending of the debate styles. LD is not Policy debate, nor is PF. They are all unique styles of debate with their own educational value. Trying to make LD or PF like Policy Debate will not be voted on favorably.

Spreading offers no educational value to debate. Talking fast I am cool with if you have the diction for it!

I am a Debate coach and an AP Lang & Comp teacher. I'm looking for logical arguments supported by credible sources and fair play.

I did Classic Debate, PF, and Congress while attending Eastview High School. I qualified for Nationals for Congress and competed in Nationals in 2020. Now I am an assistant coach for Hopkins High School and occasionally judge for my former team, Eastview. Impacts are important to me no matter what format I am judging. Tell me why your arguments matter and how they outweigh. I flow everything so if you structure your speeches around the flow you have a better chance of impressing me. Make sure your speaking is accessible to everyone (don't spread). When it comes to Congress, if you don't have new points to add to the debate please don't give a speech especially if you're giving the second aff/neg speech in a row, know when the debate on a bill is over.

Participated in high school debate and domestic extemporaneous speaking. Currently working in public policy while attending graduate school.

Paradigm for Debate: looking for fluency (especially with first speech/sponsorship), clash, and relevance of contentions.

Paradigm for Speech: looking for fluency and engagement.