I debated Public Forum and Congress on the Wisconsin Circuit for 4 years (2015-2019).

I evaluate rounds strictly by the flow whenever possible. Speed is fine but it should not compromise the clarity of your arguments: I prefer teams that slow down to make coherent claims as opposed to teams that dump masses of cards at lightning speed. Similarly, I am much more likely to vote for teams that signpost and weigh effectively in their speeches. If you "extend" your arguments without telling me why they are a) relevant and b) more impactful than your opponent's, I find it much harder to vote in your favor. In addition, I prefer a team that has a consistent narrative/advocacy through the round. Also, evidence matters a lot to me, please do not misconstrue it.

My debate background is in Parliamentary Debate in a program strongly influenced by policy debate. What I look for is clear structure and sound arguments, avoiding fallacies, and using credible evidence to support claims.

In round, being able to compare and evaluate evidence and to impact arguments to the round. Tell me why your argument matters.

Another key element of a good debate is CLASH. Attack and defend your arguments, impact them to the criteria and value, tell me which one should be weighted the most in my evaluation of the round and why.

Be nice and have fun!

PF Debate Judge Paradigm

What school(s) are you affiliated with? Enter names of schools you coach for, judge for, etc.

Were you a competitor when in school? If so, what style of debate did you do and for how many years? Enter type of debate (LD, PF, Policy) and number of years. Otherwise, put N/A.

How often do you judge public forum debate? Can say every weekend, few times a year, etc.

Speaking

How fast can students speak during speeches? Just a little faster than conversational

If a student is speaking too fast or unclear, will you give any cues to them? no

Evaluating the Round

1. Do you prefer arguments over style, style over arguments, or weigh them equally? Arguments, but it is meant to be a lay style of delivery

2. What do you see as the role of the final focus in the round? Give me voters

3. If a team plans to win the debate on an argument, in your opinion does that argument have to be extended in the rebuttal or summary speeches? If you think it is your winning argument, extend it and also make it a voter.

4. Do you weigh evidence over analytics, analytics over evidence, or weigh them equally? Evidence is to support arguments,

Other Notes

In a few sentences, describe the type of debate you would like most to hear or any other things debaters/coaches should know about your judging style.

If you make a claim, link it to the res/argument made, and warrant why it applies. Support your claims with reasoning and evidence. The stronger it is, the more I can weigh it.

St. Ambrose Academy judge. No high school debate experience. I typically judge several tournaments during the year and the state tournament.

Students should speak at a speed which allows them to distinctly enunciate in order to be completely understood. If I can not understand, I will ask the student to slow down.

I prefer arguments over style.

Final focus is to reiterate your case by succinctly demonstrating your "wins" during the debate.

Arguments do not need to be extended if well presented.

Analytics over evidence.

I prefer to hear debates that are true to the public forum format, convincing the public based on the merit of the arguments.

I am a previous PF debater so the structure and language is all familiar to me. If you are going to speak fast, you must enunciate so I can keep up with you, but otherwise it's not a problem!

1. The most important thing in a round is being respectful, please make the debate enjoyable for everyone!

2. I don't flow cross, but I am listening. I want to hear impactful questions but I also need you to carry that in your speeches.

3. Good weighing is something I really look for. If you tell me why I should vote for you instead of your opponent with a decent line of reasoning, there's a very good chance that I will listen to you. Especially in PF, use summary for this. In LD, all rebuttals should have weighing analysis.

4. Always have clear sources and links for all of your evidence. It will reflect poorly on you if your opponent calls for a card and you can't pull it up. I will also call for cards if I didn't fully understand the point, so be ready for it.

7. I love a clean flow so signposting is very important and that's generally what I consider most when giving out speaker points.

8. If your framework is important to your case, don't just tell me what it is, tell me why I should prefer it compared to your opponent's. Especially in LD, frame the debate well and I will follow your lead. It should also connect seamlessly with the remainder of your case.

9. Comparative analysis is important when clash occurs. Don't continue to extend evidence without telling me why it should remain on my flow.

Feel free to ask me questions before or after debating! I truly enjoy judging so I hope we can all have a good round :)

I was a PF debater in high school, have been judging for years and have recently started coaching.

PF: I am a flow judge and like to see a clean line-by-line in rebuttal. Be sure you are not only responding to the argument your opponents' present but also the impact. Tell me why they can't access their impact in rebuttal. In summary, you should begin tying up any loose ends and begin to weigh. Tell me why your opponents can't access their impacts or why your impacts are bigger and better. Lives are a good default impact that is easy to compare. Final focus should be almost entirely voters. Give me 2 or 3 good reasons why I should vote for you. Don't make final focus a mini rebuttal. A good final focus does go over the entire round or every argument. Only focus on what you think you're winning. In terms of framework, unless one is proposed by either team I will default to util. In summary and final focus, tell me how your arguments/impacts align with the framework and why your opponents aren't meeting the framework.

LD: I have less experience in LD but will be able to follow more complex arguments. Be sure to talk about impacts explicitly and how they align to your value and criterion. Focus on the topic at hand, not the nature of debate or how your opponent is debating, except if they are being discriminatory. I am a flow judge through and through. Spend time developing clear answers to values and impacts that your opponent brings up and counter any arguments brough up against your case. A lot of LD arguments can become convoluted so take time to be clear so I have a clear understanding of what you are trying to say.

Speed: I can understand speed, but the faster you talk the less I will write down. As a flow judge, talking incomprehensibly or too fast could be detrimental to your success in the round.

Roadmaps: I won't time your roadmaps as long as you identify them as roadmaps before you start talking. Keep them brief. Don't waste time by saying that the order will be con then pro during first rebuttal. If you are going to talk about specific arguments identify those in your roadmap.

Also if it sounds like you can't breath, you're talking too fast.

Overall: Be civil. Don't yell at your opponents, partner or me.

General: I am a past policy debater, high school and college coach. I have been out of debate since about 2006 when we had our first child and am now re-joining debate as he starts in the activity. Public Forum is new to me so at this point I'll be adapting to this different format and structure. As a policy judge, I was tabula rosa meaning I acted as though I did not have pre-conceived notions and would let the debaters present what should matter and convince me as to why. I also was very focused on the flow and weighing of arguments - I am sure I will approach public forum the same way. I generally consider dropped arguments conceded arguments to the other team. The team that presents the best framework for evaluating the flow at the end of the debate will win.

Speed: Any speed is fine as long as you are clear.

Argumentation: My judging is based on the flow and ability to win argumentation. Try to stay in clash and identify voting issues. Use signposting to tell me where you are going.

Referencing Evidence: Do not use just name and date, please provide some of the tag so we can be on the same page of the flow.

Cross: I do not flow cross; you will need to reference important events during cross in future speeches.

Final Focus: Final focus needs to be spent weighing the round for me. I would like for you to emphasize specifically on my flow what points I should be voting for and why I should care about them.

Calling for Cards: My preference is to not have to examine cards after the round but will in instances where the debate hinges on individual cards or intersections of cards - be prepared to provide them. Cards that cannot be substantiated or are fabricated is not acceptable.

Conduct: People can be assertive and confident -no issues. Being rude, disrespectful, condescending or intolerant to anyone in the room, including your partner, is not acceptable. Debate is a game and a competition and should be enjoyable for all. If you are better than the other team my expectation, is you "kill them with kindness". The judge is the final arbiter of the round - treating them with disrespect can and will impact the decision.

I am a parent judge and have judged a few times in the past.

I DO NOT HANDLE SPEED. If you are reading to fast or do not speak clearly I can’t understand.

Time your own prep and speeches.

I don't have a particular preference on how you debate. Just follow the guideline and assume I know nothing about the topic that you are debating on.

Explain why your case is better than your opponents, and why you should win the round over them.

**If you run any sort of K or theory with me as your judge it is incredibly unlikely I will vote for you, I have never met a team that has run a K well with a lay judge

Be professional and Happy debating.

January 2021 edition

Paula’s Paradigm

Salutations Debaters!

Please remember that one of the primary goals for competitive debate is engaging in civil discourse. As a judge, the first criteria I evaluate is civility. Debaters who demonstrate courtesy, good will, and generosity of spirit perform more effectively.

I expect a fair and honest debate from all competitors. Please consider what fair and honest means: If you are an experienced debater and you are running a K or CP, especially against a novice debater, you are not engaging in fair and honest debate. Ks and CPs are complex devices intended for Policy Debate. If you apply them to an LD round you are changing the category rules in such a way that disfavors an opponent who has prepped for an LD round. If you plan on running a K or CP, my suggestion is you keep a back-up case in the ready AND prior to the round, you confirm that both your judge and your opponent are comfortable with you running a Policy device. If one of those answers is no, run your back-up case. I reiterate, if you run a Policy device without disclosing it to both your opponent and your judge you are not engaging in fair and honest debate. Please do not conflate pre-round courtesy with disclosure theory.

On running counterplans and kritiks: Since these are strategies devised for Policy Debate and not as conducive for LD, they should be carefully crafted and run sparingly. That being said, I welcome a creative take on the resolution in the form of a counterplan or kritik. Bear in mind that I must be able to weigh the round with compatible parameters so if you do run a counterplan or kritik you must clearly define how the round is to be framed so your opponent may adequately respond to your case and I have enough criteria for evaluation. Counterplans must contain both an explicit values structure and CP framework. Kritiks must apply a primary line of argumentation originating in critical theory or cultural criticism. Please note: Ks and CPs place unnecessary burdens on the negative case that the neg must fully accommodate. I will not expect an opponent to refute complicated devices intended for Policy Debate without being provided the structural parameters to do so. Therefore, the burden for structurally framing the round falls on the Neg when running Ks and CPs.

Disclosure Theory: The ability to think quickly on your feet (adapting to your opponent during the round) is one of the most important skills a debater can cultivate and will be weighed more heavily than prepping out before a round. I won't judge against a debater who has chosen not disclose on the NDCA or any other wiki. Any time spent arguing on disclosure grounds (or out-of-round concerns) will be regarded as time that could have been better spent responding to what is happening in the round.

Another point to consider with fair and honest debating is intimidation. Please don’t confuse clash, meaningful offense or attacking an opponent’s case with aggressiveness or badgering during a round. Know that spreading in all its various forms is an intimidation tactic and that I consider spreading an equity and inclusion matter. If you are a fair and honest debater, then you cannot simply assume your opponent can accommodate lightning pace. Please be advised: Speed reading will heavily impact speaker points in a negative direction in addition to potentially losing the round.

If you are a speedy reader, but not intentionally spreading, modulate your pace. If I do not catch your framework due to unintelligibility or lack of clarity related to speed you may lose the round since I cannot adequately weigh your case against your opponent’s. I will not interrupt your speech to ask you to slow down. My expectation is a conversational pace.

Please be mindful of the debate format in which you are competing. If you are a Lincoln-Douglas competitor your primary goal is to engage in the realm of ideas, not policy. If the resolution leans heavily toward a policy topic, the best debaters will devise a case which is philosophical and reflective. When judging an LD round, I’m listening for original thinking, insightful analysis, logical reasoning, and summary skills.

I pay very close attention during cross-examination for strategic maneuvering that will allow a competitor to control the trajectory of the debate.

If you and your opponent craft similar frameworks (e.g, the same value or value criterion), please do not tell me “it is a wash.” Weighing frameworks is never a wash. Framework components do not cancel each other out. Argue your position with analysis and reasoning in order to identify why your case better meets the V/VC and by extension, the resolution.

If your value is morality, tell me what kind of morality and why it is the most suitable choice in the context of the resolution. Please don’t use circular reasoning - “because morality means my value criterion is good” or pretense such as “I choose morality because it encompasses all other values.” Simply reverting to the notion that the word “ought” in the resolution implies a moral imperative suggests that the debater has not spent much time researching the resolution in order to understand its assumptions and implications. When I evaluate a case framework, I am looking for depth suggestive of a debater who is wrestling with the ideas embedded within the resolution.

Do reiterate your impacts throughout every phase of the debate, but bear in mind that (for me) extremist impacts like extinction, nuclear war and planetary disaster are less important to the impact calculus as thoughtful and well-developed impacts germane to the resolution and your chosen framework. In other words, I will be swayed by impacts that are expressed through a philosophical line of inquiry or reasoned through in a way that reveals the most significant issues inherent within the resolution.

I will favor the debater who accurately summarizes evidence, evaluates it, contextualizes it, and most importantly, provides analyses that are both cogent and eloquent. Please take care that you do not mistake your evidence for your own original analysis. Be very careful of how you cut cards so the bulk of your case consists of your own reasoning and your own thoughts about the resolution rather than reading through your sources (reiterating someone else’s ideas). A helpful tip for developing your case and presenting it: think in outline terms so you are constantly summarizing your evidence, your case, your opponent’s case, and your refutations.

Do outline your voting issues, but be wary of getting mired in the minutiae of technicalities that reduce the round to a “gotcha” game. Do not assume that the judge flows in the same way a competitor does. Be mindful of simplistic, but common errors like an unanswered point is equivalent to conceding that point. Technically speaking, in an LD debate round, it is not. If your opponent drops an argument, it is an opportunity for you to expound upon your own position with respect to that point. Signpost your refutations and avoid assertions like "My opponent dropped "X" argument, so you can "disregard it" or "flow that point to my side." Not every argument can be answered during the round. The best debaters will strategically choose which arguments are the most important ones to address. While clash is important, maximizing meaningful clash lucidly, concisely, and succinctly will likely win the debate. Represent your opponent's position accurately and do not claim that an opponent has dropped an argument if your opponent has not.

Economic arguments: All too often economic arguments take some form of: “X is too expensive because it costs Y.” This really isn’t a sound argument. An economic argument of quality should demonstrate some notion of economic theory to justify it rather than simply assuming economics itself is neutral. Be aware that modern economic theory originated in 18th century moral philosophy. All economic arguments should be purposeful and grounded in theoretical or philosophical principles. A case with primarily economic argumentation should be placed within an economic framework (structured into the value/value criterion). I am generally unpersuaded by economic impacts or assumptions that government spending or taxation is bad. The very purpose of the government is to tax and spend. Your goal in an LD round is to provide reasons for why the government (We the People) should tax or spend.

When judging PF I look for teamwork and collaboration -- how argumentation is extended between the two speakers and how well they complement each other. As in LD, I’m looking for excellent organization and critical analysis that addresses the resolutional “pith.” PF teams, please consider the LD issues noted above concerning technical minutiae, original thinking, sophisticated casing, and argumentation that is both sound and valid. I’m looking for original analysis and reasoning through the issues inherent in the resolution. One of my primary concerns in PF is crossfire. Please demonstrate the highest courtesy during crossfire. The team that can establish civil discourse during this phase of the debate will likely be favored in the event of a tie. Maintaining civility during crossfire will help the debater(s) control how the debate is framed for the judge.

As in LD, thinking in outline terms so you are constantly summarizing your evidence, your case, your opponent’s case, and your refutations is essential for PF competition. Develop a few significant arguments with scholarly evidence rather than a large number of arguments so you can effectively utilize the limited time in a PF round. Varsity PF debaters — I look for seamless interaction between team members, the ability to crystallize key points, and to concisely summarize the logical components of an argument.

If I am your judge, please feel free to ask for clarification of any matter addressed in my paradigm.

Happy Day!

Paula Jones

Head Coach, Speech & Debate

Golda Meir High School

I am a parent judge affiliated with Middleton High School. I have been judging for the past three years. It's okay to speak fast but please make sure you are speaking clearly. Though style has some weightage, I prefer argument over style. Do not use too much jargon and don't run theory. If you brought something up in crossfire and want it to be considered in the round, please bring it up in subsequent speeches. Lay the round out VERY clearly for me, and do not make me do the weighing. Please collapse near the end of the round, I don't want to see everything you said in your constructive unless it is cleanly flowing through in Final Focus. Be nice to each other and have fun!

I have been a high school debater in the past, back in the days when we pushed around dollies of totes packed with paper evidence. While I have experience with debate I have only been back into judging for the past 2 or 3 years. At this point I feel comfortable with all the changes.

My background as a debater is in Policy debate. My teammates and I thought that tabula rasa was the coolest paradigm, so that's probably still influencing my decisions to this day. It's pretty much, I have no predispositions so you tell me how to vote.

I try to flow every argument and evidence card as thoroughly as I can but I need your help. Please speak clearly and keep your arguments in a coherent order. I can handle speed if you have a lot to cover in your speech. However, weigh that with the fact that if it was too fast for me to follow you will need to clarify your arguments as soon as possible. If you wait too long to make your arguments clear to me then it will be too late for me to fairly weigh them against others in the round.

"Since time is so limited, keep it simple and straightforward. Direct refutation, line by line responses and precise attacks are easiest for me to weigh, so why not do that?" Sage advice I nabbed from another judge.

In crossfire I like to see that you are paying attention. Ask lots of questions and don't leave room for awkward pauses.

Speaking

1. How fast can students speak during speeches?

I don't have any preference for how fast a student can speak if it is clear and understandable.

2. If a student is speaking too fast or unclear, will you give any cues to them?

Yes, I will let the student know by telling the student when they speak FIRST time in the debate.

Evaluating the Round

1. Do you prefer arguments over style, style over arguments, or weigh them equally?

I don't have any preference but I will be looking for a combination of good arguments and style.

2. What do you see as the role of the final focus in the round?

I believe final focus plays an important role in debate as this provides the last opportunity for students to support why their case is better focusing on analytics, evidence and highlighting important information based on previous rounds of debate.

3. If a team plans to win the debate on an argument, in your opinion does that argument have to be extended in the rebuttal or summary speeches?

I prefer summary speeches.

4. Do you weigh evidence over analytics, analytics over evidence, or weigh them equally?

I would weigh them equally.

Other Notes

In a few sentences, describe the type of debate you would like most to hear or any other things debaters/coaches should know about your judging style.

I will be judging based on how debater speak with evidence and analytics information whether they support the case or opposing the opponent's case within the debate topic. I will be giving importance to how well a team did each round.

I want students to make sure they don't do the following actions. Any of this action may result in reduction in speaker points and negatively impact team win.

1. No disrespectable actions against opponents.

2. No unnecessary arguments not related to debate topic

3. No interruptions while someone speaking

4. Keep your mic muted all the time unless you are speaking.

I'm a lay judge and new to the debate atmosphere. I would appreciate debaters to speak slowly and have patience as I become more accustomed to debate.

I've debated in high school and know the workings of debate.

Cases-

I want cases with cohesive arguments that make it clear to me what your arguments , warranting, and impacts are. Framework is accepted as long as it is not abusive. Theory that is used appropriately will be accepted but if it is used as a means to be abusive or to guarantee an "easy" win, I will disregard your entire case. (If an opponent paraphrases but is able to provide evidence in a timely manner I will not even consider paraphrase theory in the round). I prefer quality over quantity so bombarding arguments will not work unless they are strong and clear.

Speeches-

I can handle speed as I have debated before but if you use speed as a way to confuse your opponents (speaking super fast/slurred) I will lower your speaker points. Sign-post makes my flowing easier and your speech clearer so I highly recommend it. Weighing is something I want to see in almost all speeches. Give me a reason to vote for you and why I should believe it.

Speaker Points-

I award high speaker points to anyone who gives a clear speech. If you are rude, uncivil, spreading to cause confusion, or promoting harmful behavior I will drop your points significantly.

Evidence Sharing-

I would prefer if an email chain was created before the beginning of round with my email (ashlynnarman.email@gmail.com) added on to it. If you take too long to find a card in order to create more prep time I will call you out on it. Do not waste my time or your opponent's.

With all that being said, make sure this a fun round for everyone in your room :)

I believe debate is great activity. I debated policy debate in high school for four years at the national level.

Here's a few things about how I think about the debate.

1. I don't flow cross examination but I flow the rest of the debate. I will bring statements from cross x and grand cross if you ask me to in the speeches. (I do listen to it.)

2. I may ask for evidence after the round.

3. I am open to any approach (speed, kritiques, etc.) as long as you can define it.

4. A dropped argument is a won argument. I then evaluate it against the rest of the arguments.

5. The resolution needs to fairly divide ground between the aff/neg or Pro/Con). Other than that, I am open to any other theory.

6. You should enjoy the activity!

Excellent sportsmanship, respect for others, and adherence to the NSDA Code of Honor are expected of all competitors.

Code of Honor

“As a student or coach member of the National Speech & Debate Association, I pledge to uphold the highest standards of humility, equity, integrity, respect, leadership, and service in pursuit of excellence.”

Humility: A member does not regard oneself more highly than others. Regardless of a person’s level of success, an individual always looks beyond oneself to appreciate the inherent value of others.

Equity: A member respects individuals and their individual differences as well as fosters equity, diversity, and inclusion. A member promotes empowerment for people from all backgrounds, including race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and ability.

Integrity: A member is honest, ethical, and adheres to the competition and conduct rules of the organization. A member follows the NSDA discrimination and harassment policy and abides by the rules of their schools, tournaments, and localities.

Respect: A member demonstrates civil discourse in their interactions with others. A member maintains and contributes to a safe space and welcoming environment for all.

Leadership: A member is aware their words and actions influence others. A member commits to thoughtful and meaningful words and actions that reflect NSDA core values.

Service: A member exercises their talents to provide service to peers, community, and the activity. At all times a member is prepared to work constructively to improve the lives of others.

Your arguments and impacts should closely align with the resolution or the resolutional actor.

Systematically and concisely organize your rebuttals with clear signposting: Tell me what you are refuting. Refute it.

I look for sound reasoning in your argumentation. Your impacts should logically follow your arguments and link back to the resolution. Be wary of fallacious argumentation: straw man arguments, causation vs. correlation etc.

I am not fond of speed reading. My expectation is a conversational pace for the constructive and all subsequent arguments. Make use of your summary skills to keep your speeches well timed. If you would like for me to give warning, please let me know before the start of the round. Speed reading may negatively impact your speaker points and may result in loss of the round if your case is garbled due to speed.

I debated 4 intensive years in high school in policy debate. I've coached PF for a number of years.

I'm comfortable with various approaches, cases, and theories so long as you can defend it. I'm more interested in clash. critical thinking, and understanding your case, than just repeating your points from your original constructive.

I take detailed notes (flow) during the debate. I do not flow cross examinations. If seeing a specific piece of evidence is relevant to the decision, I will ask for it. Please try to use all of the time allocated to you.

Logical arguments, strength of link chains, and "thinking on your feet" are important. Evidence should help support these arguments and the quality of evidence matters. Please extend arguments through the debate.

Speed is only an issue when words become very garbled and unintelligible. If I can't understand you, it will not be on the flow. I would suggest going with a style that is comfortable for you. If you run a crit (K), you will need to understand the philosophy behind it and be able to defend it; presenting a K that catches a team off guard isn't enough if you can't cogently respond to basic arguments and counterpoints against it.

Politeness and courtesy are important.

Hi, my name is Elaine Sun. I debated PF for three years in high school so I will have a general idea of what you are talking about. However, I am not too familiar with this resolution.

I am a flow judge and like to see a line-by-line rebuttal. You should start weighing in summary and begin constructing votes for your partner to elaborate on in final focus. I am fine with speed, but I will only write down what I can understand. Please be nice to each other! :)

General: I am a past debater with 3 years spent debating public forum. Overall I strongly prefer quality over quantity when it comes to arguments and evidence. Please keep in mind that I know very little about this debate topic, you must explain to me what your evidence and arguments are saying. Evidence is great, but remember you need to convince me, so make sure to construct a narrative for your evidence and arguments as to why you provide the best "world."

Theory/Counter plans: Please debate either for the resolution or against it, do not pull in any separate plans that are not already part of the resolution or status quo.

Speed: Please speak calmly and clearly. If you speak at a speed I cannot understand, I will not flow your argument or evidence.

Citing Evidence: If you refer to evidence you have previously brought up, please summarize the evidence. If you just say a name and a date I will not remember what evidence you are referring to.

Final Focus: Final focus needs to be spent weighing the round for me. I would like for you to emphasize specifically on my flow what points I should be voting for and why I should care about them.

Framework: If a framework is provided, WITH GOOD ARGUMENTATION, I will use it in the round. If no framework is provided or the framework debate becomes gridlocked, I will use my own utilitarian calculus for judging.

Speaking:

Try not to go too fast! I have been a debater, but it's been a while since I've flowed anything too fast.

If you don't speak clearly, I won't say anything during your speech. Instead I'll ask clarification afterwards.

Evaluating the Round:

1. For framework, I look at who wins the framework debate in general, who has an easier to use framework, and who's framework is easiest to understand.

2. I don't really care about values. If you have one, great! If you don't, no worries.

3. I'm okay with plan texts, however with counterplans and kritiks I'm not too fond of them. I like to hear good conversation about the resolution; however if your CP and Kritiks makes sense I will listen to it and flow it. If it's too dense/esoteric/difficult to understand I won't be as interested. My general debate philosophy is to have quality discussion and be inclusive. If your reasoning for running what your running is for shock value or to disclude your opponent then you probably shouldn't run it.

4. When deciding who wins, I looked to see who has a better overall story and who has the most desirable world. If you do a great job of painting a picture of what will happen if I vote for you, I'm more likely to vote for you. Weighing, voter issues, and clear speaking are all great ways to do this.

Other information:

Be kind to your opponents. I will drop speaks and will probably give a loss to anyone who is condescending or disrespectful.