Hi, I am a graduate who competed for Dripping Springs High School participating in mainly PF and Worlds.

Email:

brett.banks@utexas.edu- Add me to the chain, please!

Worlds:

I am a blank slate and treat this event as truth > tech. I have plenty of experience with this event so I know the ins and outs. This event is all about clash so please avoid being repetitive.

PF:

Tech > Truth within reason here. Add me to the chain.

LD/CX:

Very much traditional here, however, I am open to voting on anything. Just try to simplify any complicated arguments for me. I will almost always vote on the shortest path to the ballot.

Speech:

I honestly have no idea how to judge a speech event properly so just try to be fluent.

Hey! My name is Sneha Bhale (she/her) and I did 4 years of Speech and Debate at Westwood High School. I competed in extemp as my main event both locally and nationally and I did some congress. I currently attend UT Austin.

debate events- please add me to the email chain- snehabhale21@gmail.com

Extemp- I prioritize content over fluency. I give the 1 to whoever answers the question adequately and addresses every actor mentioned. The substructure needs to be easy to follow and your impacts need to be realistic and topical. For fluency, fluency errors should not impede my ability to understand you and humor can go a long way. As for sources, please do not make them up and try to diversify your sources (use think tanks and academic journals). As for time, I don't care a whole lot but make sure it's evenly spaced out for every point. Overall, your content should make sense and should have sources, and having humor incorporated and a conversational tone will go a long way with ranks.

PF- Treat me as a flay (maybe a little more flow) judge. I will flow the round and have some exposure to PF. I'm not too fond of spreading but if you speak fast, I would like a speech doc. My flow shouldn't be all over the place and easy to follow. I think weighing is extremely important as well as the continuation of arguments in the summary and final focus. I also would prefer to be added to the email chain and will call for evidence so make sure there is no paraphrasing or twisting of information. During cross-ex, please be patient and polite. Speaks will be assigned based on clarity and overall demeanor within a round. I'm not too familiar with progressive arguments but I will evaluate them. Overall, I like a clean flow, slow speaking, weighing, roadmaps, warrants, and proper evidence protocols.

Cong- The PO should know proper procedures and keep track of precedence and recency well. The PO should also ensure voting happens fairly and keep track of everything efficiently. I will keep my precedence and recency sharts and will double-check. As for the competitors, congress is a matter of participation so make sure you pay attention. Try to pay attention the whole round and ask questions. I'm not too fond of pre-prepared speeches. Speeches that follow the debate and clash go a long way. Rehash is also a no go and I will dock points for it- please bring in new evidence and new points. If you are speaking later in the round, please bring in new evidence and use Clash rather than rephrasing previous speeches. The questioning period should be respectful to all competitors. As a personal preference, I prefer precedence and recency to be tracked online. It gets very messy when it is on paper. Overall, I like clashes in speeches, effective questioning, proper use of sources, and clear speaking.

And most importantly, have fun with it! Please let me know if I can do anything to make the round a safe place or a better experience for you. Also, feel free to ask questions/clarification on my paradigm or for any feedback after the round.

Hi! I did debate in high school, and I loved it. I also love judging! I’m always willing to give critiques to the best of my ability, and I like to see a lot of clash in rounds. Make sure you address your opponents arguments. Don’t speak too fast, especially not online, and make sure that you are being polite while also maintaining a good presence in the room. Really speak to me and tell me why I should vote for you. I’m good with any type of argument, as long as it is done well. Collapsing arguments should also be done intentionally and only in the case of a wash. I don't flow cross, so bring up cross in speech if you want to use what your opponents says as ground.

I am also traditional in the sense that during round I would like the speakers to be standing up, rather than sitting down, and also facing the judge. Debate is also about presentation, as much as important arguments.

hey i'm (sri) nithya (she/her)

mcneil '23, ut '27

if i'm judging anything but ld, everything down below applies but just ask me for specifics before round

add me on the email chain: nithyachalla05@gmail.com

t/l

i don't really care what you read as long as you explain it well. make sure to signpost otherwise you're going to lose me very easily.

assume i know absolutely nothing about the topic or current politics when debating because i probably won't.

i'll default to substance first unless told otherwise.

i'm fine with speed but if you're unclear i'm not gonna understand what you're saying. don't spew down on a novice or you're getting horrible speaks. if you're debating someone that doesn't spread, just match their speed in the later speeches. if you debate efficiently, you should still be able to win without spewing down.

also refer to me however you feel like i don't care enough to get mad about what you call me in round.

ill give relatively high speaks- to increase your speaks, make me laugh.

for speaks boost throw in a reference to the latest jjk chapters.

pref sheet

1- cp/disad, kritiks

2- phil, theory

3- non t affs, tricks, trad

if you're a trad debater, just debate how you're most comfortable debating.

cp/disad: the type of debate i'm most familiar with. nothing much to say here, just pls impact weigh it will make me happy and don't force me to do that work for you. explain how the cp either solves the aff and the impacts of the da, or just how the cp is just better than the aff and you'll be ahead. link and impact turns are offense on a disad- pls don't concede them.

phil: explain the syllogism of your fw. that's literally it. i'm not exactly the most adept at phil but i can somewhat follow a phil debate. though my phil knowledge is limited, if you can explain it well and explain why it should frame the round and why you're winning under that framework, you win. just err on the side of of overexplaining because otherwise you're gonna lose me. phil i'm most familiar with: butler, levinas, rawls, hobbes, kant, locke.

kritiks: i'm familiar with some of the lit (some id pol, nietzche, baudrillard, psycho, deleuze, glissant, cap, etc.). pls pls pls utilize the rob if you're debating other fws. it'll make me very happy. also explain the world of the alt otherwise idk how i'm supposed to evaluate perms and at to perms. also, utilize the fw of the k--it can win or lose you rounds. k tricks are always appreciated. k 1ars are always one of the harder ones to give so i'll try to give some leeway. also please don't concede extinction ows--i've done this far too many times than i should have and it's definitely not hard to answer.

non t affs: go for it. i barely read these but i've debated enough to understand the strategic value and implications of reading them. try to be creative in your approach in answering these tho bc those rounds are hella interesting.

theory: not my favorite style but do what you want to do. default no rvis, competing interps , dtd, fairness and education are voters. theory imo gets extremely muddled so if you're planning on going for it, just try to explain the abuse story well.

tricks: i'll evaluate them. idk what else i'm supposed to say about this but if you want, go for it i'm not entirely opposed to them. however, pls don't read 50 million paradoxes- you will lose me.

if you have any questions before round, let me know and i can hopefully answer them. also let me know if you want me to do anything to make the round more inclusive for you. don't be a jerk or do anything offensive otherwise you're getting an automatic l25. please dont postround too much i beg.

About Me:

Jack C. Hays High School CO'2019

UT Austin CO'2023

Add me to the email chain: jackcoffey@utexas.edu

Events I have experience from actually doing in High school: Extemp (FX/DX/UIL Extemps), Congress, PF, LD, World Schools

I have experience judging other speech events too: Info/OO/DI/HI/Duo/etc.

My primary events overall were extemp & congress and I have experience on the local, state, and national level after having competed all throughout high school.

PF/LD Debate:

For PF, I generally always vote based on impact calculation. So pretty much tell me why your side does more for whoever or why the other side doesn't do enough for me to vote for them. Weighing on what side is more important and which has more to gain is really how I prefer to do my ballots. Always tell me what side is winning and why I should vote for them and how the debate has progressed to preferring their side. For framework, I won't vote based on it unless you make a point out of it on why I should. Really framework doesn't make or break a ballot from me unless a team explains why it's relevant and why it essentially causes one side to win over another. Overall, the easiest way to get a ballot from me is through impact calculation on which side brings more to the table or why the other side does not do enough. My biggest evaluation for a ballot is always impacts. Please avoid spreading and watch the speed. I am a more traditional judge so speaking so fast to the point I can barely understand you is not always going to be the best option for you. Please avoid speed, especially when explaining things. Being a bit faster on reading cards is okay I guess, but I prefer having less speed overall.

For some niche things, if you do not mention an argument from either side or touch debate it in any way, I am just going to assumed it has been dropped. While I can keep time if you want, it is not preferred, so please time yourselves.

In regards to presentation, since it is PF debate and meant to be easily accessible to the public, please don't spread especially in the later speeches. More speed will make me less likely to understand what is being said and gives me little reason to vote for your team. Pretty much consider me more of a lay judge than anything. For speaking, just be clear and concise really. Also I really don't like rude or spiteful speeches no matter how the debate has ran.

More LD Specific Stuff:

I am not a totally progressive judge when it comes to some arguments so if I do not mention them below, just assume I have no experience in those types of arguments and avoid running them at your own discretion unless you think you're just that amazing to introduce me to a new argument and compelling enough to get me to vote on it:

Plans/Counterplans (CP) - Completely cool with me, just be sure to explain what it does and how it causes your side to win the debate. Plans/CPs are acceptable in PF for me.

Topicality (T) - Topicality is cool as long as you explain why the other side violates topicality in regards to the debate.

Kritiks (K) - I am very new to this kind of debate, but I am generally okay with it as long as you don't have a ton of speed whilst explaining. Additionally, you need to explain what harms/impacts are brought on when you assert your opponent violates the K argument. For example, if you run capitalism K, explain to me why capitalism is bad. So many people have just said that I should vote for them because capitalism is bad without explaining much how or why it is bad. I know this is super basic but you have to explain why other teams violating the K argument is a bad thing (whether it be capitalism, settler colonialism, states, etc.). Tell me why capitalism is bad and why I should vote for you!!

For speaker points, I generally give higher speaks to people who are more clear, articulate, and organized. The lowest I usually give to people is ~27 unless they have done something so bad such as being rude or very disorganized throughout the whole round to warrant something lower. Speed plays a part in speaks in that I do not prefer spreading and speed is not my forte in a round. Overall, as long as you are organized and well articulated and respectful throughout the debate I will give you decent speaks.

Extemp/Speech:

I did both FX & DX in high school so I have experience in these events and know what an appropriate speaker looks like. For your speeches, you should obviously be well-spoken and organized in throughout your round. In particular for content, good extemp speakers are able to articulate information from a wide array of sources and convey it in a manner that is articulate and entertaining. Specifically, I prefer speakers who are informative and/are entertaining by incorporating humor, emotional content, pertinent information and a wide array of relevant sources. Being funny when relevant and doing it well will always gain good points with me! Additionally, always be sure to EXPLAIN EXPLAIN EXPLAIN. Many people often just give me some facts and expect the audience to make something of it. Explain what information is important and why! Tell me what it means and how it pertains to the question of your speech. For the beginning of your speech, it should be a well done introduction that at least initially catches my attention through a thought provoking or funny statement, provides some background to your topic, tells me the question verbatim, provides me your answer and a preview of your points. For your actual points, you should aim to provide at least 2 sources of relevant information and have some structure within each point to have some flow and organization. Within each point you should again always explain the information you present to give some good insight into the importance of each point and why the audience should essentially care.

In regards to performance and presentation, I prefer speakers who speak clearly with adequate speed since a lot of people get nervous and tend to speed through their speech and use up their time. As a speaker, you should aim to be relaxed and be able to balance the time you are given throughout your speech to make the most of your presentation. Moreover, having a good physical presentation is preferred such as a good usage of hand gestures, appropriate movement (such as a slight walk when transitioning between points), and maintaining eye contact with your audience.

For cross-examination, I don't put too much emphasis on this as it is not something I would consider making or breaking your speech. Really, I just look for speakers who are kind and respectful and are able to defend their points and know their own topic well. Pretty much just don't be rude or sarcastic and you'll be fine with me.

Congress:

Pretty much refer to my extemp/speech paradigms. I have tons of experience of doing Congress from high school so I know what to look for and how good speakers are supposed to look. For your speeches, aside from the first or second affs/negs of the bill, all speeches should include some sort of clash or argumentation of the other speakers' arguments. This is congressional DEBATE, not congressional speech giving.

Presiding Officers should aim to be quick, effective, organized, and knowledgeable on parliamentary procedure. Just maintain precedence for speakers and be transparent about what is being done so the whole chamber understands what is going on. Making mistakes is okay as long as it is not a pattern so I know you really know what you're doing. Also it's cool with me if you time with your phone as the P.O., just make sure it does not become a problem through using it for communication or if you have tons of notifications that can be distracting.

World Schools Debate:

Just refer to the Speech and LD/PF portion of my paradigms as that is how I generally judge speakers and how I view a round is supposed to look. I do have experience in Worlds so I am pretty aware on how the event runs. Just be well organized, clear, and articulate. As a side note: avoid using more progressive arguments (theory, topicality, k's, etc.) as they are not to exist in worlds in my opinion. Overall, just provide clear impacts and weighing throughout the round and you'll be fine.

CX Debate:

I have no experience in this event and should not be judging it unless you like relatively traditional PF judges.

∨∨∨ If PF skip to the bottom of the page ∨∨∨

UIL: I know UIL is supposed to be more "traditional," but you're welcome to be as techy as you want as long as you're sharing cases!

Shortcuts

1 - Policy/K

2 - Trad

3 - Phil

4 - Theory/T

Strike - Tricks

Tech > Truth

Fairness = Education

Spreading = Bad, Speed = Good

I prefer Speech Drop or NSDA File Share, but my email is larsoncrank@gmail.com

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Background

Klein Collins '22

Texas '26 (History & Government)

I competed on the Houston circuit for 7 years in total (2015-2022). Although I competed in nearly every event, LD was always my favorite and the event that I participated in most frequently. I'm self-taught and because of this I mainly ran trad arguments throughout my career. However, later into high school I focused heavily on LARP and the K. I was a 3x qual for TFA State and NSDA Academic All-American for anyone who cares about my "qualifications."

Considering my background as being self-taught, I sympathize greatly with novice debaters and those that don't have the same resources as other power house schools. If you at any time are unsure of terminology or general proceedings involved in debate, please reach out! I would be more than happy to help anyone who may be struggling or is confused. Asking questions is so important to growing as a debater, and it is something I personally never did enough of.

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Logistics

In regards to the shortcuts listed above, this is simply a measurement of how comfortable/familiar I am with specific styles of debate. I think as a judge I'm obligated to not allow my own biases related to debating techniques impact the RFD. I encourage all competitors to debate how they want and I will adapt as I see accordingly.

I flow by ear, but I still want access to your case. Not only does this prevent confusion if there's discrepancy during the round, but I think it's ultimately a good practice to share your case with everyone in the room.

Please give a roadmap before your speech AND signpost during your speech! This makes it so much easier for me to flow, and ensures I don't miss any figures you put out. The clearer you are with the tags, the better!

When it comes to spreading, I think the practice as a whole is entirely destructive for debate. With that being said, there is a perfectly clear line between spreading and speed needed to construct a case. I'm a proponent of speed, but if you are intentionally spreading (you know who you are) I will stop flowing and dock your speaker points. I've started flowing again on paper more frequently as opposed to using my computer, so this may be another reason to slow down at least for tags and line-by-line.

I expect to see clash over framing! You need to reference throughout the round which FW I ought to be evaluating under. I'm so tired of cases (mainly policy-based) that lack any sort of FW. PF exists for a reason! If I don't have a FW then I don't have any standard to compare evidence with which in turn makes producing a good RFD difficult. Not to mention, I will also just err to your opponent's framing if you don't present one or it has a lame offensive position.

I'm going to default tech before truth-testing for the simple reason that it has more objective grounds for me to vote off of. I do my very best to not allow my personal opinions/beliefs impact the RFD and evaluate only what is said during round. I need to see the warrant for every argument though. I won't vote for an unwarranted argument even if it wins in a tech debate!

I don't have a preference for fairness or education as shocking as that might sound. I know most judges tend to prefer fairness, but I think both are beneficial to debate. It is your job as a competitor to prove to me what I should think in this situation. Nonetheless, my threshold to vote on a theory shell is pretty high to begin with. There needs to be a clear story of abuse that overrides whichever standard you choose to defend (or both).

I think speaker points are stupid. Moreover, don't take what I give you to heart because I really don't put much thought into it. I use them more as a gauge to the level of preparedness and passion I see from competitors.

I don't keep time. Time yourselves!

I don't flow CX. However, when it comes to flex prep I don't really have any opinions. As long as both competitors are cool with it, do whatever you want.

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Trad

As mentioned above, I was an extremely traditional debater for the majority of my career. Although it is a simple strategy, I think it can be just as effective as any of the more "progressive" styles. Case debate is something I’m fully capable of evaluating. This is a random thought, but as I've become more experienced with the other forms of debate, I've developed somewhat of an awkwardness to the word "contention."

Tell me when something is non-unique! I found that in my time as a debater there were so many occasions, some I even missed in round, when identifying when something was non-unique could have easily just ended the debate. With that being said, make unique arguments that can’t just be manipulated to support any position!

I love impact turns. Even though trad stuff is considered simplistic, an amazing strategy to shoot for is when you can prove to me that your case/world/whatever solves better.

Trad args can fairly beat the other debate styles on this paradigm no matter how scary they may seem!

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Policy

If you read above regarding my thoughts on trad debate, you would've seen that I don't particularly like the word "contention." Moreover, I'm much more receptive (and think that it sounds better overall) when policy phrases are used such as "ADV" or "DA."

I love DAs. Make sure you have a clear link chain for whatever conclusive impact you are trying to get me to see! Too often debaters write useless tags that claim the card they are reading says one thing (when in reality it is not as impactful/strong as they make it out to seem). Call your opponent out if you see them doing this! It's not always a bad idea to read beyond what is highlighted/underlined/bolded. I want to see line-by-line how X leads to Y and Y leads to Z in a realistic manner. ADVs are cool too, but I figured that was implied from my stance on DAs.

CPs are extremely intuitive and strategic for a Neg that can easily circumvent most Aff cases. However, I will accept (and strongly encourage) Aff arguments of abuse based on Neg interps that are too abstract/broad with little to no in-text plan. I don’t have a ton to say about PICs though because honestly I don’t see them ran that much.

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K

I'm familiar with the basic ones, but it is in your best interest to assume that I know nothing about what you are talking about. Explain your theory and model of debate thoroughly! This is especially true if you’re an Aff wanting to run a K simply because I have much more experience with the Neg K.

Clear Link -> Clear Impact -> Clear Alternative

K needs to be fairly specific when you link it to your opponent’s model of debate, but I think there is leg room for certain positions.

While judging I have found that I actually enjoy K debate much more than I originally thought. Although, if you’re going to run a K but structure it like a trad/policy case to avoid the nuances of the debate, just save us all some time and run the K how it’s supposed to be ran.

Familiar: Cap, Set Colonial, Fem, Heg, Nietz, & Afro-Pess

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T

I will vote for a topical argument if there is genuinely warrant for needing to discuss ambiguities in the resolution/definitions/Aff interps. I think this is especially strategic against things like Ks or frivolous Theory that is extremely far-fetched and/or has very little (if anything) to do with the resolution at hand.

Moreover, I expect to see debate related to the resolution. If your opponent has neglected their obligation to perform this task, call them out! The extent to what constitutes “debate related to the resolution” I leave up to the competitors.

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Phil

Phil args are good when debaters actually know what they are talking about and not just rambling on about complex theory they can’t even explain themselves. You need to be able to easily contextualize your debate world. This isn’t for my understanding, but simply for the fact that if you can’t explain it in simple terms you probably don’t understand it that well.

I'm familiar with popular writings, but as mentioned in my opinion on Ks, assume I know nothing about what you are talking about. Explain everything there is to know about your model of debate in a timely manner! Somewhat related, but I would advise you to be extremely careful reading Marxism in front of me.

Empirics > Analytics (in most cases)

Familiar: Kant, Locke, Util, Marx, Rawls, Hobbes, Skepticism, & Determinism

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Theory

I have very mixed feelings on theory. Part of me finds it very stupid and just an attempt to talk oneself out of debating against good strategies. The other part of me sees its complexity and admires it as a unique form of debate. If this is your choice of debate, ensure that you have given me a proper rundown on what it is you are trying to get me to vote on. Whether it be an issue regarding fairness, education, or technicality, I need more than just a short excerpt read at the speed of lightning during one of your rebuttals.

I can firmly say that there is an extremely low chance that I will actually "drop the debater" unless something egregious has occurred. "Drop the argument" makes so much more sense than dropping the debater entirely. "Preventing future abuse" and handing them a singular L isn't going to stop them from just running the same case in another round.

STOP SAYING DTD!

I will NOT vote off Disclosure Theory. Not only will I not flow the argument, but I find it very classist and distasteful. I won’t auto-down you, but your speaker points will certainly take a hit. As someone who debated for a small program with few resources dedicated to this activity I sympathize with those that are not adequately included in the loop and/or involved with collective wikis.

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Tricks

I probably won't vote off this, but you can try it if you really want to.

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PF

All of my preferences for logistics and the ROB are the same for PF as they are for LD, so it wouldn't hurt for your team to read through them (obviously some things don't matter as much like FW).

My biggest issue with PF debates is oftentimes they don't discuss the individual impact(s) of their plan enough. Since I don't have a FW to compare the evidence presented, I need for teams to clearly outline why their plan is ultimately better than your opponent's.

Because I am so used to LD, I like to think of these rounds in the terms of cost-benefit analysis or a loose construction of util calc. The team that proves to me the plan with the most pros and the least amount of cons is most likely going to get the W.

I competed in Congressional Debate for four years at McNeil High School. I now attend Texas A&M University and use she/her pronouns.

I believe respectful clash is necessary to Congress. Key word being respectful.

Show the impact of you argument and why your side wins the debate.

I really like it when people flip speeches to the needs of the round because I think it means that you have a full hand on the debate.

I love interesting intros/Taylor Swift intros/respectful humor in speeches. Congress speeches should be dynamic and interesting.

Please don't give constructive speeches late in round. I want to see clash/crystals/adaptation. I am also pretty against rehash. Every speech should add something new to the round.

I consider POs for all ranks (including first). However, I am also pretty harsh on POs, especially in finals rounds. Please don't use POing as an easy break/easy way to get top 5. That being said, if you are a good PO I am willing to rank you accordingly.

Email: ivang6974@gmail.com

LD Debate

For the most part I am lay, but I there are some priorities for me:

Establishing framework is very important and who can most utilize their value as tool against their opponent. I want debaters to argue why the value should weigh more and/or why it can even solve for their opponents case. I have judged LD before, and I get disappointed when framework arguments fade from the center of the debate because they should be focus of LD.

Impact debate is important and will ultimately decide the round. I need to know why I should not vote for the opponent and why I need to vote for your case. If there is an impact to not voting your case, let me know. Or vice versa tell me there is an impact to voting for your opponent. Impact debate can be won by using impact calculus and using the framework to tell me what why yours is more important.

I will listen and vote for K debate, just make sure the argument presented has a clear link and not just an overall generic link to resolution.

Any questions, you can ask me.

Policy Debate

I am typically oriented around policy maker as a judge. The best negative offense for me, are a couple of DAs and a good CP. I expect the DAs to have non-generic strong links. I will mostly evaluate a DA base around the link debate. My only standards for the CPs is that they are creative and can solve for the entirety of the Affirmative case, with a net benefit.

T args: I will only vote for T if it is pretty obvious that the affirmative is not topical, otherwise if they are presenting a common case then T is a time waster for me.

Theory: I do not flow on theory, I think it does not take the debate anywhere.

K debate: I am familiar with Ks, especially Cap, and I would be willing to vote on Ks, as long as they are well represented and are not generically linked to the affirmative case.

Case: Aff just make sure your entire case is defended and upheld.

Impact: A big chunk of my decision will be based on impact debate. So each side please provide an Impact Cal, and I am willing to listen to big and small stick impacts. However, I will have a higher standard for probability for big stick impacts.

If you have any other questions then please just ask me before a round starts.

Hi, I'm Karthik - TAMU '28 - McNeil '24 - 4 years of LD on TFA and national circuit

speechdrop is chill, email is chill too: karthik.jay531@gmail.com

General

i flow by ear. don't spread anything you want me to understand/flow. if i miss something, i might feel bad for you but i won't vote on it

only time I'll check the doc is for ev ethics, but I'd rather you read it as a shell

only rules are speech times, rest is up for debate

tech>truth for the ballot (only exception is safety/ -isms), speaks are up to me (read: no speaks spikes)

defaults: theory > rob/framework > offense , presumption and permissibility negate

Novice

weighing is everything

pls don't read theory or K's, everything else is chill

don't worry too much about wins and losses, focus on getting better so you can move up to varsity

Pref sheet

Phil - 1/2 depending on the phil

This is what I find the most interesting in debate, I read some Rawls, Kant, Hobbes, etc. but don't assume ik your philosopher

skep, determinism, and logic tricks like paradoxes are also fine, but make sure to explain why they justify voting for you

K - 3

did a little of this (cap, setcol, security), but don't assume I know your K

not afraid to vote on presumption v a K aff if I don't know what it does

if you can't explain your thesis to a 5 year old within cross ex, then don't read the K in front of me

dislike doc botted 2nrs full of buzzwords

Theory - 1

Did a lot of this as a debater, I'll vote on friv shells if you're winning the flow

I dislike theory spikes without good warranting, but if they have warrants I'll vote on it i guess

judge instruction is key when collapsing to theory, esp when you have to up layer over ROB

defaults: ci>reasonability, drop the debater, no RVI

LARP - 3/4 depending on complexity

I did very little of this, but it seems straightforward enough

assume I don't know anything about current events

I like overviews in 2nr/2ar explaining what the collapse/win condition will be esp in complex debates (multiple condo cp's, impact turns, etc)

other info

speaks

speaks are somewhat arbitrary but influenced by being nice and good judge instruction

shout outs

influenced by: Henderson, Anshul Gulati, Yara Mustafa, Ben Duong, Vishnu Nataraja

shout outs: Rohan Sthanu, Manu Yenikapati, Aditya Patwardhan, Nithya Challa

"live laugh love lose"

hello!

My name is Merina Joseph and I'm a sophomore at McNeil High School, located in Austin, Tx. I'm an LD debater. My interests include long walks on the beach.

please add me to the email chain: merinatjoseph@gmail.com

I'm good with anything, just make sure you explain your links and weigh. That being said, I usually run LARP arguments, but I'm fine with Phil/Theory/K, etc. Like I said, just make sure you explain your argument well. I'm good with speed as well, just make sure your opponent is okay with spreading.

I love to laugh so please make your speech entertaining. i love puns. funny speech = more speaks (that kinda rhymes lol) i want

if you're mean, i'll dock speaks

good luck and have fun! ask me any questions you want after round, y'all got this. fake it till you make it.

remember: live laugh love lose

"There was a debate suggesting the environment isn’t that important after all. It was pretty anti-climatic"

"After debating with a needle, I saw his point."

"I debated about global warming the other day, boy did things heat up in there"

Hi I am Blake Leschber. I graduated from CSA in 2022 and I am currently a Freshman at Texas State University!

I will be judging Extemp, Public Speaking, and Interpretation Events.

WHAT I LOOK FOR IN EXTEMP (DX,FX,NX)

INTRO: A hook is not important but definitely appreciated. The intro needs to have a clear tagline that responds to the question appropriately. The answer needs to be specific enough (for example, don't just say "yes" or "no" tell me in the answer why it's a "yes" or no"). Provide what your points are going to be so that I can understand the flow.

ACTUAL POINTS: Each point needs to provide at least one source but I would prefer two in each. I would prefer if you give the source and date when introducing it so that I know if it is timely. Your points need to respond to both the question and the answer that you provided. Stay consistent with your points, don't go off on a tangent that isn't pertinent to your speech. That can also harm your time and your clarity.  

CONCLUSION: Model it like the introduction. Don't provide any additional information, just wrap up what you talked about. Repeat the question and the points. If you provide a hook, use it to wrap up conclusion; it's not necessary but I think it's really fun. :)

TIME: I will automatically give the last place if the speech goes over 7:30. It is not fair to the other competitors if you score higher because you had more time. I will try with my time signals to verbally stop at 7:30 but it is also the competitor's responsibility to stay under time while I am giving time signals. I also need the speech to be at least 5:30. I think anything under that is lacking in information and would not score high for me. 

FLUENCY: I am not a big stickler for fluency or the way one talks. I struggled with that a lot in high school so I get it. I just need to understand what is being said and I need some aura of confidence. Occasional eye contact and posture contributes to that. While these issues won't drop someone in my rankings, it might make a difference between a 1 or a 2 so just keep that in mind. :)

WHAT I LOOK FOR IN PUBLIC SPEAKING (INFO,OO)

INTRO: The intro should have a hook that relates to your topic. It does not necessarily have to be humorous just present. There should be a clear thesis that provides what the speech is about and a roadmap that will discuss more of the points. 

ACTUAL POINTS: The points themselves need to be independent of each other. I want to see that each point can stand alone. I need at least one source in each point but two is preferred. The specific content I am looking for really depends on the point. Just make sure that all information relates to the general thesis and is not irrelevant.

CONCLUSION: Needs to be similar to the intro in that no new information is provided. A repeat of the thesis and the roadmap is crucial in this point. Also wrap up what the hook is to make a nice ending. 

TIME: The speech must be under 10:30. If it goes over, I will automatically give the last place. It is not fair for the other competitors for you to be ranked higher because you had more time to make an impact. I also need the speech to be over 8:30. Anything underneath it is lacking in information. I won't automatically give last, but it will be hard to get a high ranking. 

FLUENCY: This matters here a little more than in extemp. I need to know that you are confident in your information and what you are discussing. Issues with this won't drop you in the rankings but could be a difference between a 1 or a 2. 

WHAT I LOOK FOR IN INTERPRETATION (DI,DA,DUO,HI,PRO,POE)

INTRO: Not super important to me, just needs to discuss what the central theme of the performance is and introduce the piece itself (title and author[s]).

BLOCKING: I need to understand what the movements are entailing. I don't want to be confused about the actual scene because I don't understand the actions themselves. They need to be fluent and natural; them being forced just feels awkward :/. 

PERFORMANCE: I need to be convinced that you are the performance. Be powerful and your tone needs to match what is happening in the scene. Make an impact on the audience and judges, don't make us feel empty or that something is missing. 

TIME: For DI, DUO, DA, and HI it cannot be over 10:30. I will automatically give last place as it is not fair to the other contestants. It also needs to be at least 8:30 as I believe that something is missing in the performance. I won't automatically give last place but it will be hard to get a high ranking. For PRO and POE it cannot be over 7:30 or under 5:30. Same argument as above. 

OVERALL HAVE FUN AND ENJOY YOURSELF. THE BEST WAY TO CONVINCE AN AUDIENCE AND A JUDGE OF YOUR SPEECH/PERFORMANCE IS TO TRULY CHERISH IT AND HAVE FUN WITH IT. THAT ENERGY WILL BE SHOWN TO EVERYONE AND WILL BE ENJOYABLE. :)

DEb8 don’t H8.

Quick run down: Do you what you do best. I mostly read policy arguments in high school. If you are a K team spend the time to explain the lit that you almost definitely know more than me about. Be nice and have fun. No one wants to spend their Saturday feeling bad about themselves.

Style/Speed: Make sure to sign post well so I can stay organized. Fine with speed just please slow down on tags, authors, and analytics.

T: Can either be pretty interesting or really really boring. Not saying don’t read T, just saying that a meaningful standards debate and proof of in round abuse will go a long way. T is a voter and RVIs are probably not the best idea in front of me.

Theory: probably reject the argument unless condo. I don’t like the 3 second ASPEC blips or ASPEC hidden in the word doc with no verbatim heading.

DA: I don’t need really specific links, just contextualize it to the aff. I think that disad turns the aff is convincing as well as a good impact calc. Feel free to read politics or generics but specific disads are always neat.

CP: Same thing as DA’s, generic is fine, specifics are cool. Affs should be able to explain what each perm would look like.

K: They can be fun with good debating and understanding of the argument. I am not going to know as much about the K literature as you do, debate accordingly. Specific links can be convincing but contextualization of any link to the aff is a must. A long overview explaining the K would be helpful, but if you feel that you can do a good explanation in the line by line with a shorter overview, then im good with that too.

K Aff: Same thing as K, do some work explaining the thesis but feel free to read them.

Case: read it and impact turns can be fun if you really flesh them out in the block/2nr.

My email is ferry4554@gmail.com for the email chain.

Im an experienced debater. I competed at nationals and tfa state three straight years in pf debate. In cx I competed at UIL state three out of four years, making it to semifinals and winning third in two of those years. I’m open to any argument as long as you have a clear link, get creative!! I don’t want to watch a card dump round. No spreading will be flowed, I’m okay with speed on case reading however.

For email chain, Kolban.mills@gmail.com

general debate tips

1. line by line is so important and how i'll be following the whole round. more so in the rebuttal and final focus Clash is veryyyyyy important, the less clash the less I'm going to listen to you. Use your time effectively, don't consistently repeat yourself.

2. impact calc is so important, show me what I have to weigh in the debate and why i should vote you (magnitude, timeframe, etc) and especially in pf be concise on why your impact outweighs theirs.

3. time yourselves

4. be nice to one another, I will destroy your speaker points.

5. if you are gonna read a framework please use it during the rest of the debate also. If you are not gonna use it dont read it, but if you do read one its usually where I start when looking to make a decision in the round, because I believe the framework is supposed to frame the round, which means all of your args should probably be filtered/tied to your framework.

6. I'll listen to any argument, just prove it to me

7. For CX, if you run a topicality run it well. If its broken, abusive, or confusing I wont flow

8. Most importantly have fun, debate is supposed to be fun

PF- line by line is so important and how i'll be following the whole round. More so in the rebuttal and final focus Clash is very important, the less clash the less I'm going to listen to you. Use your time effectively, don't consistently repeat yourself. I don't want to listen to a card dump, don't do it. Have analysis of your evidence, not just reading as many evidence cards as you can. Because its PF, evidence and analysis will be equally needed.

I judge and coach primarily LD Debate and Public Forum, though I have coached some CX, and I married a CXer! I have an Extemp Debate paradigm at the bottom also.

LD Debate:

I consider myself traditional. I do not like what LD has become in the TFA/TOC/National circuit.

I do not like speed. Debaters who spread their opening cases because they are not ready for a traditional judge have not done their homework. Speeding up at the end of a rebuttal because you are running out of time and want to get to the last few points is somewhat forgivable.

I do not like you spouting 27 cards and trying to win the debate just by having more evidence and more points than your opponent. I want you to explain your position clearly. I want you to explain how the evidence you are providing is relevant and how it helps to make a logical argument.

I dislike debate jargon. Debaters tend to develop bad speaking habits as they go through their careers. I like a debater that can talk like a normal human being. For example, rather than saying, "Counterplan" as some overarching title, say, "I want to suggest we do something different."

I do believe that LD Debate is at its core still a values debate. I want to hear you talk about values and explain how a value is reached or not. That said, I prefer a contention level debate to an overly long framework. Think about it...we call it FRAMEWORK, yet some debaters spend nearly the whole speech on it! Give a brief framework and move on to explain the argument that supports your V-C and connects clearly to the resolution.

I like a summary at the end of the NR. For the 2AR, please do NOT think you have to do line-by-line. Stick with a simple explanation of why you won.

PFD:

See the LD paradigm on speed, etc. PFD is about simply convincing me your side is right. If both of you have contradictory evidence for the same point, then point that out, and try to win the argument somewhere else. Presentation matters in PFD more than in any other debate event, except maybe Congress.

CX/Policy:

I'm a stock issues judge. Slow down! Give me clear Harms--Plan--Solvency. Provide clear funding if applicable. I'm good with CP's and like disads. However, I think the nuclear war impact is rather silly and could be destroyed by someone that got up and pointed out that it hasn't happened and likely won't happen just because Russia gets mad. T's are okay, but I don't suggest you put all your eggs in that basket. Knowing that I'm an old LDer, the best CX teams will appeal to my logical side, rather than my "I think I have a card around here somewhere" side.

EXTEMP DEBATE

This is NOT a shorter version of LD or Policy. You have two minutes. Just give me a clear explanation on why your side is correct. Essentially, this is a crystallization debate. Brief evidence is necessary, but this is not a card v. card debate. Don't chastise your opponent for not having evidence for things that are generally known. Don't chastise your opponent for not addressing your case in the Constructive; they don't have to. Don't provide definitions unless it is truly necessary. Don't be FRANTIC! Calm, cool delivery is best.

Hi, I'm Aditya, McNeil '24

[0] Logistics:

• I prefer email chain over SpeechDrop. Please send docs to adityap[dot]thecool[at]gmail[dot]com. Ideal email chain title is something like "{Tournament Name} {Event} {Round Number} Aff {insert debater} vs Neg {insert debater}".
• Please be punctual. That means sending the 1AC before the official round start time and minimizing time between speeches (don't steal prep or take 30 seconds to ask if judge and opponent are ready)
• Prep can be CX but you can't blatantly use CX as prep. I count sending docs as using prep.

[1] I'll judge any category of argument (syllogism with a claim, warrant and impact.) Assume I have no prior knowledge about the lit you read (I don't want to do extra work for you by filling in gaps in your explanations)

[2] I flow by ear and on paper. I will not backflow or evaluate "insert rehighlighting" and "insert chart" statements.

[3] Don't read racism good, sexism good, etc. You'll get the lowest speaks possible.

[4] Specifics

[a] Policy (LARP)

• Love weighing
• Case debate is great, especially to expose bad affs.
• Link turns need uniqueness to become offense.
• Unless argued otherwise, I presume that permutations are a test of competition.
• By default, presumption goes to the side of least change from the status quo and permissibility negates.
• Default yes intrinsic perms and no judgekick or severance perms, but argumentation can change that

[b] Kritiks

• Prefer line-by-line to overviews, and short taglines to essays (although I understand why one would want to deviate from typical models of debate)
• Ideally permutations do not sever out of the assumptions that are being critiqued
• Please use real-world examples in your explanations and contextualize your extensions to the debate so I know you're not being a docbot. I won't vote on anything I don't understand
• Arguments like no perms in a method debate, the "state" link, etc. aren't my favorite, but I'll evaluate them
• Non-T affs should justify their model of debate.
• Willing to vote on impact turns (e.g. cap good and heg good)

[c] Philosophy

• Prefer syllogistic frameworks to a list of independent reasons to prefer
• I default to epistemic confidence.
• Extinction outweighs probably assumes consequentialism, so it shouldn't be hard to beat back
• If no framework is presented by either side, I won't evaluate the round using util. I will evaluate the round based on strength of link weighing.

[d] Theory and Topicality

• Defaults: Fairness > Education, Competing Interpretations, Drop the Debater on shells indicting entire positions, No RVI's, T > Theory > K
• Theory debates can get messy so please use judge instruction
• T interps and counter-interps should be carded
• I will not evaluate a "speaks spike"

[e] "Tricks"

• I'm not opposed to these but you'd probably be better off reading something else in front of me
• Please explain why us living in a hologram means I should vote for you

[5] Evidence Ethics - I will evaluate challenges (staking the round) in a way that is consistent with tournament rules. By default, the winner of the challenge will get speaker points based on their performance up until the challenge (it's not an auto-30.) The loser of the challenge will get an L25.

[6] Influenced by/shout-outs: Henderson, Blake Andrews, Anshul Gulati, Yara Mustafa, Karthik Jayakumar, Rohan Sthanu, Manu Yenikapati

[7] Good luck!

I am a parent/lay judge. Debate/speak accordingly. Good luck!

CX Philosophy

As a judge, I look to you to tell me the rules of the round. I try to be as fluid as possible when it comes two framework and arguments. I only ask that you make sure you explain it and how it impacts the round. In regards to speed, I would say I am more comfortable with mid level speed, however it would be smart to speak slower on tag lines. Remember, if I am part of the email chain/Speechdrop then that makes speed much less of a factor in my decision. I am good with CPs, DAs, Ks, and pretty much any other style of argument as long as it is run properly. If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask.

LD Philosophy

I'm up for about anything when it comes to arguments. Run what you feel comfortable running. I prefer the debaters to tell me what they want the round to look like. If you leave it up to me I will vote almost exclusively on framework and impacts. Not a big fan of speed at all. If you are spreading then you aren't trying to win my ballot. If I can't follow you then I won't flow the arguments. If I don't flow it then I won't vote on it. If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask.

Good for judging traditional debates LD, Congress, Poetry

Hi,

I am a first year student at UT Austin. My pronouns are he/him. I did Ld debate for four years in highschool so that's what I'm most familiar with. In terms of other events like pf and extemp, I am pretty much going into it with an open mind. Feel free to ask me any questions in person in case I forgot anything in my paradigm.

LD - So I did varsity LD for four years but never really got into the high level debate. That being said, I am much more comfortable with phil and larp arguments. You can run tricks and theory but I can't promise anything. I'm fine with spreading as long as you slow down for your taglines and card names. If you have an email chain, I would like to be on it.

Overall, clarity and articulation go a long way for me. As long as you're confident and respectful you should be good!

I also give out perfect speech points if you make a reference to breaking bad, one piece, and the McRib. Good luck!

Please add me to the email chain: hstringer@princetonisd.net

CX Philosophy
As a judge, I look to you to tell me the rules of the round. I try to be as fluid as possible when it comes to framework and argument. I only ask that you make sure you explain it and how it impacts the round.

I enjoy topical affirmatives and unique arguments from the negative that link to the affirmative case. If an argument applies to any topical affirmative, I tend to not vote for it (provided the affirmative shows that it is non-unique). Really good impact debate is my happy place.

In regards to speed, I would say I am comfortable with mid-high, however it would be smart to think slower on procedurals and tag lines. Go ahead and add me to the email/flash chain and then do what makes you happy.

My facial expressions are pretty readable. If you see me making a face, you may want to slow down and/or explain more thoroughly.

I don't count flashing as part of prep, but prep for flashing/sending files (organizing files, trying to find the right speech, deleting other files, etc) are. It shouldn't take more than about 30 seconds to send files. Going on 5 minutes is a bit excessive.

In terms of critical debate: I am not opposed to it, but I am not well versed, so be sure to really explain any kritiks and how they impact the debate. One of my students called me a lazy progressive judge. That fits. I don't read the literature or envelope myself in the K. Do the work for me; I don't want to.

Counterplans, disadvantages and solvency/advantage debates are great.

I think topicality is necessary to debate, but tend to skew to the aff as long as they can show how they are reasonably topical.

All that being said, I will flow anything and vote on anything until a team proves it isn't worthy of a vote.

LD Philosophy

I have been near LD Debate for about 20 years, but have never been trained in it. So, I am knowledgeable about the event, but not about the content within it. You will probably need to explain more to me and why I should vote on a particular issue. As a policy debater, I tend toward evidence and argumentation. However, I will vote on what you tell me is important to vote on unless your opponent makes a more compelling argument for me to vote on something else.

Public Forum Debate Philosophy

My favorite part of public forum debate is the niceties that are expected here. I love to watch a debater give a killer speech and then turn to politeness in crossfire. Polite confidence is a major selling point for me. Not that I won't vote for you if you aren't polite, but I might look harder for a winning argument for your opponent. In PF, I look more for communication of ideas over quantity of argumentation. I don't coach public forum, so I am not well versed in the content. Make sure you explain and don't just assume I know the inner workings of the topic.

I'm here to assess your best. Be sure to offer perspective and well developed arguments that show a total understanding of the topic. How everything relates. For example, articulate the connection between funding and solvency - "if there's no money to pay for the enforcement/products/etc, then it can't work" type of conceptual development. There should be some sort of evidence to back up a theory, but too much evidence without depth is not enough to win an argument. Really answer the WHYs and the HOWs.

I value the speaking style as much as the quality of the material. Speeches should be a convincing presentation, effectively communicating ideas, bringing everyone in the room into the discussion. (read: Speaking like an auctioneer or the person in medicine commercials reading the side effect warning label isn't including the room or natural communication in any other setting. think: professor. politician. lawyer. TED talks.)

Specifics

CX: Not everything ends in nuclear war/annihilation. It hasn't before, so what's a realistic outcome NOW? Which other impacts are there that are massively damaging to people, society, culture, etc that have happened before and could happen again in the Aff scenario? Don't spread. If you "cross supply" an author or evidence, specify which arguments are important and WHY they are, in order to show the conceptual clash. (Flush out your ideas.)

LD: Most focus should be on answering the WHY's - WHY is this wrong in the status quo, WHY is this harming people, WHY should we help, type of questions. (If we took a plan to congress and said it would cost $78M, they wouldn't say, "sure!" instantly; it would be, "wow, a lot of money. why should we spend this?") Strong V/C clash.

Extemp: Clear organization. Engaging speaking. Sources. Thorough development of what the question is asking - the context of the topic question.

Interp: Why did you choose this/these as a piece/s? Which aspect resonates with you...and why? Authenticity over emphatics. Natural and organic and what feels believable is more meaningful, for me, than a very dramatic and (overly) emotional interpretation of a scenario.

Specific Questions? I can BRIEFLY answer questions before the round.

Hello. I am the Westwood High School Speech and Debate Director. This is my first year teaching and directing Speech and Debate, however, I am a licensed attorney with much experience in the real world. I prefer judging speech events.

I prefer straightforward arguments, following the extemp flow.

As far as other speech events, I value creativity, manner of speaking, charisma, and if you are the one person I remembered specifically as best in the round.

Hello,

My name is Hari, and I am a parent judge.I am new to judging. I will try to assess you based on content as much as I can. Good luck!

Hello! My name is Manu, and I am a sophomore at McNeil who debates LD.

If I am judging you, you are probably novices. Most novice rounds are decided on weighing, so make sure to do that well.

If I am judging you in PF - I am not very familiar with the event, but I will try to evaluate all the arguments as best as I can.   

If I am judging you in extemp - Again, not very familiar with the event, but I will be looking for well warranted arguments in your speech.

I will vote you down if you are making the debate unsafe for anyone. Just be nice to each other, one debate round will not change your life. 

Good luck debating!

My name is Becky Zmarzly  (she/her), and I'm a first-year parent judge from Austin, TX. I work as a technical content editor, and I debated LD for a couple of years at my Missouri high school many moons ago. I have a BA in French and an MA in Tudor History, with a certification in editing.

Given my day job as an editor, I am comfortable providing feedback and judging both sides of the topic. Make sure your arguments are cohesive and make logical sense. Good supporting evidence is crucial. I judge based on the information presented, not preconceptions or inferences/implications. Those who make the best case, prevail.

Be kind, be respectful, and have a good attitude. Competition can be invigorating, but don't go overboard with your opponent. Enjoy the experience and use it to improve your skills for the next round (whether you win or lose).