Brett Boelkens

Background

LD/Parliamentary Debate Coach - Cogito Debate — (2021-Present)

LD Brief Publisher - Kankee Briefs — (2019-Present)

Varsity Policy Debater — UNLV (2019-2021)

Varsity Policy/LD Debater — NWCTA (2017-2019)

TLDR

-Put me (brettboelkens@gmail.com) on the email chain (yes, even if its LD)

-Not a good K hack judge - I don’t know as much lit and think framework args are true. I won't not vote for a K, BUT don't be mad if I miss something or think aff centric rejoinder is cool

-Line by line muy importante. Keep speeches organized if at all possible and try to clean it up if you can.

-Tech > truth - I try to not intervene unless someone is intentionally excluding someone from the debate space

-Signpost please

-I will yell “CLEAR” on Zoom if you’re unclear. If I can’t understand you, I won’t be blamed for less the suburb flows.

-Theory on any issue is okay, BUT slow down and give extra pen time theory. This includes more policy oriented arguments like ptx theory, but not LD trix like permissibility or NIBS.

-None of my preferences are hard rules and are just what I am biased towards. I will vote on any issue if need be

-Inserting rehighlighted ev is cool

-Write prep down on Zoom chat

-Tell me if I need extra paper for say an long K overview

-Creativity in quality arguments is rewarded

-Quote I stole from Gomez:

I will not give up my ballot to someone else. I will not evaluate arguments about actions taken when I was not in the room or from previous rounds. I will not vote for arguments about debaters as people. I will always evaluate the debate based on the arguments made during the round and which team did the better debating. Teams asking me not to flow or wanting to play video games, or any other thing that is not debate are advised to strike me. If it is unclear what "is not debate" means, strike me.

-I'm chill and don't care if you need a second for tech issues or to take care of something

-Quote I stole from Danban that is somehow now relevant, “ [I] won't vote for any argument that promotes sedition.”

-If you have any questions about my paradigm / RFD, please email me or just ask in person.

Disadvantages

-I’m pro ptx DA gang though to be honest 99% of them are made up and don’t make sense

-Recency for ev helps. For example, please update your July econ UQ answers you cut at camp

-Utilize DA turns case and link turns case arguments more

Counterplans

-I usually err neg on CP theory since borderline abusive fiat debates can be fun

-Its probably best to functional and textual competition

-I think CP's with internal net benefits are neato

-Intrinsic and severance perms are more acceptable if the CP isn't as theoretically legitimate

-I’m cool if you tell me to judge kick the CP, but the 2AR can object if they want to

Kritiks

-Wouldn't suggest running them in front of me

-Ks should have specific links to the aff

-Links of omission aren’t a thing

-I like more consequence centric K debate (i.e. cap good/bad) as opposed to high theory Baudy quackery

Theory / T

-Hot take - most T args are rubbish except T-FMWK.

- Current thoughts on common theory issues

-Competing interpretations good and most affs T should be read against aren’t reasonable

-Functional limits args aren’t convincing if the plan is able to spike out of common DA's

-Condo good

-PICS good

-International fiat good

-Consult Process CP bad

-Perfcon not necessarily bad, but does likely justify severing representations

-PIKS bad

-Word PIKS bad

-RVIs bad

-Disclosure good, but probably not good enough to be something worthwhile voting on

-Caselists and specific explanations of what can / cannot be read under a certain interp are helpful

CX Specific Notes

-I think T-Substantial gets a bad rap - its likely necessary against most fringe affs unless you’re going for the topic K or disad, or very contrived CPs (not that there’s anything wrong with that

-I default to util = trutil and think teams running structural violence affs still need to answer disads regardless of the framework debate

LD Specific Notes

-I don't care if it's a lay debate or not, set up an email chain.

-Separate theory under/overview jazz from solvency and/or framework arguments

-Nailbomb affs are bad - theoretical spikes aren’t super justified

-Same with chunks analytical paragraphs that suck to flow - separate args please

-Since LD is weird, I’m cool with new theory args at any point in the debate if it is justified (e.g. judge kick the CP or the 2NR reexplaining the K as a PIK). Otherwise, try to introduce almost all theory arguments to the 1AC, 1NC, and 1AR

-I know a lot about whatever the current topic may be even though I do CX - you don't need to over explain stuff and can be somewhat fast and loose when explaining certain topic specific knowledge

-If you're second flight, I'm down if you come in and watch first flight. Otherwise, please be there when first flight ends, and know who your opponent is in case I don't know where they are.

-quote from Alderete I liked “LAWs Specific* References to The Terminator will be considered empirical evidence. References to The Matrix will not, because that is fiction.”

Hey, I'm Amber(she/her). I did LD for like, less than half a year, PF for a about week, and did Speech from late 2018-2020. At this point, I'm just trying to do my best, even though my best might not be the best you've ever seen. This is the same standard at which I will hold you to as well.

FOR SPEECH EVENTS:

I was the 2020-2021 Speech Captain of the MHS Speech and Debate team. Impress me or don't, but know that my expectation for you guys will be higher than that of a lay judge. However, I'm really easy to impress, so don't stress out too much. Just do your best, and expect the best from me!

IF you do Impromptu, I did too! This just means I'll just be wayyy more understanding but also wayyyy harsher :)

FOR DEBATE EVENTS:

I'm a lay judge. Sorry, but that's the best you'll get from me. IF you are doing Congress and I happen to judge, I respectfully will tell you that I sucked at Congress and will likely suck at judging it too. Keep in mind that my default is always 30/full points; I will take away points throughout the round but never add them/give you points back.

Additionally, I will give you lower/a zero in speaks if you do not respect your opponent or me at any point.

ACROSS ALL EVENTS:

GOOD:

1) Projection - don't make me be a granny and tell you to "speak louder sonny"

2) Enunciation - don't make me deduct points because you can't string together a coherent sentence

3) Speed/Pacing - don't go so fast where I can't understand you, but don't go so slowly that I rank you last/give you crappy points

4) Humor - y'all I don't want to sit there for hours either. I would appreciate it if you made it at least funny.

4a) IF you say, at any point, "milk goes before cereal" or make a reference to the atrocities that are John Steinbeck's works/ Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, I'll give you an auto first rank/full 30 points. no cap, on god.

BAD:

1) Being rude - I shouldn't have to explain this but just in case, don't be rude to your opponent(s) or me. EVER.

2) Bigotry - homophobia, transphobia, bigotry, racism, narcissism, sexism, etc. WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AT ANY POINT

3) Just being an arse - you will be getting a phat -0 from me with a smiley face. if you decide to fight me on this: si vis pacem, para bellum.

TDLR; just have fun and don't be a donkey. and don't expect too much from me either.

hi im hari! interlake hs (policy), fremont hs (moved) (ld), umich '27 (policy, briefly).

add me to the chain, harigan0907@gmail.com

for dsds 3: not many game changing opinions. dont coach & didnt teach at camp so assume little to no topic knowledge (light on the acronyms). have fun and be cool!

non-negotiables-- don't be racist, homophobic, sexist, etc. & no racism/sexism/etc. good. not comfy w/death good. also obviously no cheating (clipping, etc.).

preferences-- i love it when people do judge instruction that's really cool and awesome and amazing i think. i like laughing so be funny it's great + will help speaks. be clear, especially if the debate is online. tech>truth.

arguments-- i don't have important thoughts on any argument or opinions that should/would change what you choose to go for. let your flow guide your strategy. some things that might stick out i guess (but can be convinced otherwise for all of these): condo/2nc cps are the only rsns to reject the team, only functional competition is important/necessary. i don't have really important thoughts on any other argument, or any opinions that would/should impact what you should choose to go for. let your flow guide your strategy.

i like really flavorful or spicy strategies or things like floating piks, impact turns, but don't go for something that you don't know or understand.

in general the more you explain things the better-- im familiar with basic debate things but err on the side of explaining because im not super familiar with the topic (didnt assist at camp)--my decision will be easier and i'll have a better time judging if i know what is going on (dont throw around random acronyms/act like i will know economic theories because i will likely not).

have fun! if you play ssbu, have a really cool boba order, or a monkeytype/typeracer/etc speed above 164 wpm, lmk!

Current Public Forum debater at Beverly Hills High School.

For debate (mainly PF bc its just better :)

I’m fine with some speed, but if you plan on spreading, or talking at fast paces, give an off-time roadmap and I will allow that. Make contentions clear, make points clear, and any/all sources should be cited [Last name of author/year]. A source that is not cited in NSDA format may not count towards my decision and may not help your case....unless their is a specific tournament exemption (but don't stress about it).

How I decide a winner:
1) Quantifications: Unless you boldly choose to go with a deontological --or something similar-- framework, I want to hear quantifications. For example, if you tell me "more people will be arrested because of (insert resolution)" but do not tell me how many people have been, or will be --I.e a number--, chances are, I wont give that argument much weight. Quantifiable impacts are big for me.

2) Definitions and framework: You don't need either of these, but they usually will help your case (assuming they are the right choices). A good definition and framework goes a long way in building a bulletproof case that flows cleanly through. Keep in mind that definition must be in line with the wording of the resolution. Don't bend the wording of the resolution. That said, it's really only a beneficial thing, it won't hurt you if neither team blows me away with their framework and definitions.

3) Weight: Hey second speaker --or just speaker in the rare case I ever judge LD--! Listen up close! A good final focus --or 2NR/2AR-- usually means the difference for me.....and most people who have ever judged a round. Weigh the debate. Tell me what you offer, tell me what the opponent(s) offer(s), and tell me why your case/line of argumentation holds more weight. I can not make this clear enough. If you do not weigh the debate throughout, but moreso in the final speech, you can say goodbye to the win (unless you are exceptionally compelling in the other portions of the debate).

Finally, use cross to your advantage, I WILL use this to decide a winner.

Other than that, just be respectful and honest.

For speech/congress:

Prefer less speed, as I’m really going to be finding the core of your points and not what they literally state.

Really get into why I should listen to you, tell me what you offer, and why you are undoubtedly correct.

Ask questions!!

email: colter.heirigs@gmail.com

POLICY PARADIGM:

I have been coaching Policy Debate full time since 2014. Arms sales is my 7th year of coaching.

I view my primary objective in evaluating the round to be coming to a decision that requires the least “judge intervention.”

If debaters do not give me instructions on how to evaluate the debate, and/or leave portions of the debate unresolved, they should not expect to get my ballot. My decision will end up being arbitrary, and (while I will likely still try to make my arbitrary decision less arbitrary than not) I will not feel bad.

In the final rebuttals, debaters should be giving me a “big picture” assessment of what’s going on in the debate to give them the best chance to get my ballot. Extending 25 arguments in the rebuttals doesn’t do much for me if you’re not explaining how they interact with the other team’s arguments and/or why they mean you win the round. In my ideal debate round, both 2NR and 2AR have given me at least a 45 second overview explaining why they’ve won the debate where they dictate the first paragraph of my ballot for me.

Important things to note:

-I don’t ever think Topicality is an RVI (*this is distinct from kritiks of the neg’s interp/use of topicality*)

-If you don’t signpost AND slow down for tags, assume that I am missing at least 50% of your tags. This means saying a number or a letter or “AND” or “NEXT” prior to the tag of your card, and preferably telling me which of your opponents arguments I should flow it next to. Speech docs are not substitutes for clarity and signposting.

-I'm probably a 7 on speed, but please see above ^^^^

-High-theory will be an uphill battle.

-I would prefer not to call for cards, I believe it’s the debaters job to clearly communicate their arguments; if you tell me they’re misrepresenting their cards – I will probably call for them. But if I call for it and they’re not misrepresenting their evidence you’ll lose a lot of credibility with me and my cognitive biases will likely run amuck. Don’t let this deter you from calling out bad evidence.

-You can win the line-by-line debate in the 2AR but still lose the debate if you fail to explain what any of it means and especially how it interacts with the 2NR's args.

-Don’t assume I have any familiarity with your Acronyms, Aff, or K literature

-Swearing is probably word inefficient

-You’re in a bad spot if you’re reading new cards in the final rebuttals, very low propensity for me to evaluate them

-CPs that result in the aff are typically going to be a very hard sell, so are most other artificially competitive CPs. Perms are cool, so are time tradeoffs for the aff when this happens. If you really think you've got a sick techy CP make sure to go out of your way to win questions of competition/superior solvency / a specific link to the aff plan alone for your NB

-I think debate is a competition.

-the best “framework” arguments are probably “Topicality” arguments and almost probably don’t rely on cards from debate coaches and definitely don’t rely on me reading them after the round

-Impact everything out... Offense and Defense... I want to hear you telling me why your argument is more pressing and important than the other team's. I hate having to intervene... "Magnitude," "Probability," and "Timeframe" are not obscenities, please use them.

Arguments you shouldn’t waste your time on with me:

-Topicality = RVI (*this is distinct from kritiks of the neg’s interp/use of topicality*)

-Consult CPs

I am going to have the easiest time evaluating rounds where:

-warrant and evidence comparison is made

-weighing mechanisms and impact calculus guiding how I evaluate micro & macro level args are utilized

-the aff advocates a topical plan

-the DA turns and Outweighs the Case, or the CP solves most of the case and there's a clear net benefit that the perm doesn't solve for

-the negative has a well-researched neg strategy

-I am not expected to sort through high-theory

-the 2NR/2AR doesn't go for everything and makes strategic argument selection

Presumptions I bring into the round that probably cannot be changed:

-I’m voting Neg on presumption until the aff reads the 1AC

-Topicality is never an RVI (*this is distinct from kritiks of the neg’s interp/use of topicality*)

-There is no 3NR

-Oppression of humans = bad (note: I do not know how this compares to the end of the planet/human race, debaters are going to have to provide weighing mechanisms for me.)

-Earth existing = good (note: I do not know how this compares to other impacts like oppression of humans, debaters are going to have to provide some weighing mechanisms for me.)

-I will have a very difficult time bringing myself to vote for any sort of Consult CP if the aff even mumbles some type of “PERM”

-Once the 2AC perms, presumption goes to the neg to prove the perm unworkable or undesirable if the CP/Alt is not textually/functionally competitive

Unimportant things to note:

-Plz read your plan before you read solvency – I will be annoyed and lost if you don’t

-I really enjoy author indicts if/when they’re specific – it shows a team has worked hard and done their research

-I really enjoy case specific strategies – I enjoy it when a team can demonstrate that they've worked hard to prepare a case specific strategy

-I enjoy GOOD topicality debates

-I’ve been involved in policy debate in some capacity for 11 years now – Education is my 5th topic coaching.

-I put my heart and soul into policy debate for four years on high school. I worked tirelessly to put out specific strategies for specific affirmatives and I like to see debaters who I can tell have done the same and are having fun. So, show me you know your case better than anyone else if you're affirmative, or on the neg, show me specific links and answers to the affirmative... I tend to reward this in speaker points. ...That being said, generics are fun, fine, and essential for the negative team. Feel free to run them, you will not be penalized in any way.

Specific Arguments

I'm good for just about anything that is well debated: T, Theory, DAs, CPs, Ks... I can even be persuaded to vote solely on inherency if it is well debated - if the plan has literally already happened, for the love of god please punish the aff.

That being said, I enjoy seeing a strategy in argument selection, and appreciate when arguments don't blatantly contradict each other (i.e. the DA linking to the CP, or Cap Bad and an Econ Impact on politics). Especially in the 2NR.

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LD Paradigm

I am pretty tab when it comes to LD. My goal is to reach a decision that requires the least amount of judge intervention.

Signpost and slow down on tags. Slow down even more for theory args. Spreading through tags and theory interps is absolutely not the move if you want me to be flowing your speech. I will not be flowing from the doc.

Slow down. No, you don’t have to be slow and you should certainly feel free to read the body of your cards at whatever max speed you are comprehensible at. If you’ve used signposting, slowed down on tags and pre-written analytics, you’re golden. It's inexcusable and unforgivable to not have signposting in the 1ac.

I come into the round presuming:

-the aff should be defending the resolution

-the aff is defending the entirety of the resolution

-my ballot answers the resolutional question

-debate is a game

These presumptions can likely be changed.

Stylistically agnostic, but probably not your best judge for:

-dense phil that you’re spreading through

-undisclosed affs that don’t defend the entirety of the resolution

-process CPs that result in the aff

-more than 2 condo

-friv theory - I ❤️ substance

-Probably not interested in hearing condo if it’s just 2 condo positions

-theory interps that require me to ignore other speeches

I think that I have a low propensity to vote for most arguments regarding things that happen outside of the round or prior to the 1ac. I am not interested in adjudicating arguments that rely on screenshots of chats, wikis, or discord servers.

Questions, or interested in my thoughts on particular subjects not covered in my LD paradigm? Check out my POLICY PARADIGM above!

Public Forum Paradigm:

First speakers get to ask the first question in crossfire. If you ask about the status of this in round, expect to get one less speakerpoint than you would have otherwise.

File Share > e-mail chain.

Depth > Breadth. You only have four minutes to construct your position, would far prefer to hear 2 well-developed contentions rather than 3-4 blippy ones unless they are incredibly straight-forward. Much less interested in adjudicating “argument checkers” than most.

2016-2018 Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League

2018- present CSU Fullerton

email chain- javierh319@gmail.com

Frame the ballot by the 2AR/2NR and don't leave me shooting darts please.

Overviews really help me/you out unless they're longer than the debate proper-be concise.

Prep- Prep ends when doc is sent out or the equivalent of that. Let me know if there are any technical difficulties.

Spreading- speed is fine-go at it if thats ur thing. this shouldn't be exchanged for clarity/emphasis, and ultimately, persuasion. My face tends to be pretty expressive so use that to ur advantage.

Cross Ex- Humor is much appreciated so long as it doesn't offend ur opponent. Attack the argument not the debater.

I generally err on the side of tech over truth. However, too many buzzwords are kinda annoying and don't mean anything if you dont impact/flesh them out. I won't evaluate concessions for you unless you do it first.

Policy Affs- Spent most of hs reading these- read them at will. Internal link work and framing is crucial.

Performance/K Affs- Have a clear explanation of what the advocacy does and why it should precede a traditional endorsement of the resolution (vs framework). Presumption arguments are some of my favorite arguments. Being untopical for the sake of being untopical is sooooo not the move. Even if i think that ur aff is the most interesting/entertaining thing in the world, I can resolve that with speaker points. Offense. Offense. Offense.

Framework- Go for it. Slow down just a tad. Procedural fairness and education are impacts, I'm usually more persuaded by education but fairness is fine too.While I'm usually more persuaded by fairness as an internal link to something else, enough impact comparison can resolve that if ur not down with the former.

Theory/Procedurals- Go for it. I'm not one to love hearing theory debates but will vote on it if you do the work. These can get really petty. Usually not in a good way. Condo is probably good PICs probably aren't. Don't let that dissuade you from saying otherwise because I also love hearing pics and multiple advocacies. I'm a 2N if that is relevant for you.

DAs- Make sure to flesh out the internal links. Winning uniqueness wins direction of link debate. I prefer hearing isolated impact scenario(s) rather than a generic nuclear war/extinction claim although u can totally claim that as ur terminal one. The more specific the link the less spinning the aff can do, the less intervention I have to do, the higher ur chances of winning are. I find it hard to believe that there can ever be 100% risk probability but if the CP solves 100% of the aff you're in a much better spot.

CPs-Resolve questions like how does this solve the case and is this theoretically legitimate if it becomes about that. If you wanna be noncompetitive, you do you but be ready to justify that.

Ks- Tbh I would much rather judge a robust debate about the intricacies/consequences of a traditionally political action vs a less-than fleshed out k debate. Links to the status quo and not the aff are awkward. Generally speaking, im probably down for ur thing. Regardless of me being familiar with ur authors or not-do the work. Framing is super important. Does the alt solve the aff? let me know. You don't need to go for the alt to win

Random/Misc

-a claim with no warrant is a pen with no ink

-know where u are losing but make it fashion

-dont be a jerk

I have been coaching debate since 1980. I was a policy debater in high school. I have coached policy debate, Lincoln Douglas, Public Forum, Big Question and World Schools debate. I am also a congressional debate coach and speech coach.

LD-

It comes as no surprise based on my experience and age, that I am a traditional judge. I do keep up on current theory and practice, but do not agree with all of it. I am a traditional judge who believes that LDers need to present a value to support based in the resolution. A criterion is helpful if you want me to weigh the round in a certain way. Telling me you won your criterion so your opponent loses doesn't work for me, since I believe you win the round based on your value being upheld by voting affirmative or negative on the resolution. Telling me to weigh the round though using your criterion makes me very happy.

Voting Issues- I need these. I think debaters ought to tell me what to write on my flow and on my ballot.

Not a fan of K's, performance cases, counter plans, or DA's in LD. I know the reasons people do it. I don't think it belongs in this type of debate. I know debate is ever-evolving, but I believe we have different styles of debate and these don't belong here.

Flow: I was a policy debater. I flow most everything in the round.

Speed- The older I get the less I like speed. You will know if you are going too fast --- unless your head is buried in your laptop and you are not paying any attention to me. If I can't hear/understand it, I can't flow it. If I don't flow it, it doesn't count in the round.

Oral Comments- I don't give them.

Public Forum-

I have coached Public Forum since it began. I have seen it change a bit, but I still believe it is rooted in discussion that includes evidence and clear points.

Flow: I flow.

Public forum is about finding the 2 or 3 major arguments that are supported in the round with evidence. The two final focus speeches should explain why your side is superior in the round.

I am not a fan of speed in the round. This is not policy-light. I do not listen to the poor arguments moving into the PF world.

Public Forum:

TLDR: I was a four-year high school debater (standard flow judge that appreciates extensions and warranting)

Tech > Truth

Speed: If your case is above 800 words (200 wpm), cut something.

Cross: I don't listen to crossfire unless things get extremely heated. Cx is a time for asking clarifying questions, not bashing your opponents.

Weighing: Standard (probability, magnitude, scope, timeframe, reversibility). Feel free to weigh economic impacts over lives. I like interesting weighing mechanisms.

Impacts: Call out your opponents if they have floaty/non-quantifiable impacts. I'll probably buy it.

FF: Please carry through all your desired responses and offense into the last speech. Offense is not sticky, but defense is (please at least briefly mention your defense though).

Concessions: Please don't say the opponents conceded when they didn't. That is my biggest pet peeve.

Links/Warranting > Giant nuke war impacts

2nd Rebuttal should Frontline and begin weighing.

Turns: If the turns are nonsensical and only serve to reduce the amount of response time from the opponents, I'll drop them. Also, don't turn an argument more than once.

Blippy arguments: Please try not to win a round by flowing through a blippy/unwarranted impact that is not responded to by the opponents. I will probably still give you the win, but will be unhappy (because debate is about clash, not overloading the opponents). My tolerance is low for blippy args, so almost any understandable response can be used to delink a blip. Tip: if you're feeling like you're only winning with a blippy argument, you're probably losing in my book.

Lincoln-Douglas:

TLDR: Never competed in LD, know the basics of prog, but prefer trad.

Speed: I don’t enjoy doc debate but keep the speeches at a comprehensible speed OR send me a document for everything.

I would PREFER that the NR follows a similar speed to AC. I find it abusive when the negation spreads when the AC is slow.

Theory Defaults-

tech > truth

comp worlds > truth testing

RVIs good

reasonability > competing interps

DTD < DTA

Condo bad

PICs bad

FW- util if nothing is read

key voters > line-by-line (prog)

line-by-line > key voters (trad)

Tricks: don't.

K's need to be topical at least in some way, and I'd prefer for them to have solvency.

Regarding other preferences, please skim over the PF paradigm as most of that will apply.

START ON TIME AND MINIMIZE DEAD TIME

Intro

Hello! I'm Jessica. You can call me by Jessica, Jess. I use she/her or they/them pronouns.

Interlake '22

U of Michigan '26

Feel free to ask questions after my decision, email me later for cards/questions, and have fun!

Please set up an email chain for round documents. My email is jessicaqiandebate@gmail.com. For HS Varsity debates, please also put interlakescouting@googlegroups.com on the chain.

Debate Stuff

T/L

All complete arguments have a claim, warrant, and impact. Things you say are true if your opponent drops them, but they only matter if they consist of a complete argument.

Specificity is good.

Aff

As a 2N, I dislike impact spamming and weak internal links.

Please don't dump a pile of generic framing cards.

1ACs with poor evidence quality make me very sad.

T

Could go either way, only thought is that limits for the sake of limits bad.

Impact out critiques of evidence quality, why does the author quals or context of the card matter?

DAs

I'm looking for a coherent, sensible story. That usually involves aff-specific links (can be cards or spin).

CPs

I love aff-specific counterplans and good perm does/doesn't shield the link arguments.

Intrinsicness good/bad debates usually go over my head. I'd rather the aff just go for a smart perm and argue that it isn't intrinsic.

Framework

If your aff strategy relies heavily on "debate shapes our subjectivities", I am not a good judge for you.

Non-arbitrary counter-interpretation > impact turning fairness

However, for the neg, don't assume fairness is automatically an impact.

2ARs and 2NRs, make sure you have a clear impact or impacts!

Ks

Aff specific links do way better in front of me than one you could read for every aff.

The alt is not always necessary, you can go for framework as uniqueness but be strategic about it.

I'm skeptical of sweeping, ontological theories of how the world operates.

Theory

Things that are probably legit: condo, agent CPs, PICs

Things that are probably not legit: consult, delay, multi-actor fiat

Speaks

My average speaks range from 28.2 to 29.4.

What to do for good speaks:

• Reading high quality evidence
• Organization and structure
• Great impact calc
• Turns case above the impact level (i.e. DA link turns case)
• Good impact turn debating by either side
• Winning based off a bold strategic moves
• Going for aff specific strategy vs a k-aff

What to do for bad speaks:

• Accidentally referencing the wrong topic because you haven't changed your blocks
• Unprovoked rudeness
• Reading giant and generic overviews

Email chain: rrn.debate [at] gmail [dot] com

Background: Mamaroneck High School, University of Southern California – Policy Debate

Tech over truth.

Be clear, don’t be surprised when an argument I can’t flow doesn’t make it into my decision. I am slow at typing and on average get down 60% of your speech down on my flow.

Don't clip, be rude, or lie.

I agree with Ken Karas on most everything.

Email: zoe.c.soderquist@gmail.com

Yes I want to be on the email chain. I will -2 speaks if you ask for my email, it's at the top of my paradigm. If you're unintelligible and don't send chain it's not going on my flow.

Background: I'm a private coach and previous coach at SWSDI and Brophy. I debated LD for four years and one year of college policy. While I specialized in LD, I've tried every debate event at least once.

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LD/Policy TLDR

Read anything at any speed and I can probably evaluate it (though preferably slow down, even just a tiny bit, for author name and tags). Ask specific questions if you have weird things you want to run that an average former debater judge wouldn't understand.

If you're reading obscure literature, I would appreciate a brief explanation.

For theory, I don't mind if you read a shell but I don't like when debaters read several shells purely out of strategy when no abuse occurred or to throw off a novice.

Don't be rude, I will dock speaks and it will affect my decision.

I love signposting, weighing, proper extensions

For policy--I have had consistent problems with rounds running super late because sending takes forever. You get 5 min TOTAL for the round for sending. People constantly pretend that they're having tech issues just to prep more and it's quite obvious. I'm sympathetic to true issues but if there is not a good reason to go over 5 min it gets taken out of prep.

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Defaults (I can change if you explain why):

Tech > truth

Comp worlds > truth testing

RVIs good

Competing interps > reasonability

DTD > DTA

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Random:

Flex prep is fine

Tag team is fine

I will not be timing unless you ask.

Don't care if you sit or stand.

No using rest of cross for prep.

Asking for cards after speeches is fine, but actually reading cards is on prep. If you ask for the card during cross, you can use cross time to read it.

If your opponent asks for a piece of evidence during their prep, they can keep prepping the whole time it takes you to find the card. You get two minutes max and then I'm deleting it from my flow.

Tag team cross is fine.

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Misc LD/policy things:

I don't think you have to read a framework with a plan, but if your opponent reads one then you're kind of screwed. I will eval a framework if there is one and framework is important for me.

Please label each section of your K (or any case, for that matter), it's really hard to figure out things when it's not labeled so it helps your case.

If you're running a pre-fiat ROB, you still need to answer your opponent's post-fiat framing (if applicable) to fully win framing.

Please follow all general LD rules (no new in 2, no conflicting offs, no double turns, etc.)

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PF paradigm- I was an LD debater but I did PF a a few times. Knowing my LD background, you can feel free to read framework or non-traditional PF arguments. HOWEVER, I feel PF should be a debate for a lay judge so everyone can understand it, so if you have a lay panel and you run that stuff be warned that might not end up favorably.

TLDR- If you have a tech panel do what you like, but on a lay panel I will be less flexible so you should act like I'm a somewhat experienced lay judge in such a situation. Additionally, reading progressive in front of an LD judge who did a lot of that stuff might be bad if you don't structure it properly or understand what you're doing.

- Asking for cards and reading isn't on prep unless the panel disagrees.

- I watch cross it shouldn't be used as a rebuttal it should be a time to actually ask questions. Please don't excessively talk over each other, keep it civil.

- Defense and offense aren't sticky I need extensions in summary or I don't bring it into final focus.

- No new arguments in final focus.

- Ask me any other questions, or refer to my LD/policy paradigms.

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Congress-

- Do not use debate terminology like "extend," "outweigh," or "vote aff."

- I care more about rhetoric than argument in a congress speech. Construction > content.

- Giving a good speech is not a guaranteed first place. You have to be active within the round (asking questions + motions) to do well. I keep track of people who raise motions and ask questions.

- Please avoid using a computer and/or fully prewritten speeches. At least print out the speech and paste it on a legal pad (c'mon, it's very easy to fake a speech).

- There is a huge PO shortage on our circuit. If you step up to PO, do a decent job, and (if I'm parli) are also active in the other session, you will receive a good rank as a result. If it's your first time POing, ask the parli questions and try your best and you probably can still get a decent rank. It's all about trying your best. But, even if you don't perform the best as PO, you can still make ranks by following the above suggestions in the next session!

I’ve been Involved with Speech and Debate since 2015, although I’ve been judging almost nonstop since 2019. Available as a judge-for-hire via HiredJudge per request.

9.9/10 if you did not receive commentary on your ballot after the tournament, you (hopefully) would get my judge email on there instead.

I don’t currently operate from a laptop so my ballot speed is not ideal atm; I’m usually typing out paragraphs from a doc until the last allowable minute, but my timing is not the most perfect. You won’t always get a pageful but its my personal policy to give a minimum of 5 sentences. If you send over an email asking about your round; it might take up to 24 hours post tournament but I -will- reply back.

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Ballot Style:

Where possible I add timestamps to help students pinpoint exact moments in their speech that address the issue as noted by comment.it is a personal philosophy of mine to try never have less than 5 sentences on any ballot.

Debate Philosophy: I can comfortably judge parli, LD, PF, SPAR & Congress due to judging almost nonstop since the start of the pandemic. I don't have a lot of experience with policy debate as of this writing, I’m working on understanding spread speak as I do more tournaments. [current speed: 2 notches down from the fast verse in Rap God ]

I LOVE it when students are able to be fully themselves and have fun in a round
Debate Judging: I’m not the biggest fan of utilitarian as a value metric, but otherwise I try to approach the round as a blank slate. I like hearing both Ks & Traditional Argumentation however my rfd really depends on how you use them (or inverse thereof) in the debate.

Sportsmanship (like, dont lower your performance/ be rude on purpose, please) > Argumentative Cohesion & Organization > CX utilization & Clash > Framework Discourse > Delivery > Structural Presence, but I am a little stricter on citation~ doesn’t need to be the full date but it needs gotta be there

Congress: (also see above) but I like those who can flip arguments in their favor;You dont need to be extroverted to be PO, but POs should be attentive with overall energy in the chamber and facilitating ethical and intentional inclusion beforesilence becomes a huge issue in round, in addition to strict yet -visible- timekeeping.

RFD FLOW - I try to have at least a paragraph summary explaining my flow (sometimes it’ll be copy/pasted)

Speech Judging: I can judge any speech event across all levels!

I would sincerely appreciate if students could self time so I can focus on ballots.

(For those who have read all the way through, some free interp gems that will be erased in a month, besides the basics: storyboarding, stop animation, pixar’s “inside out,” samurai jack, sound track your pieces.)