I competed in Lincoln-Douglas for three years in high school, and Public Forum for one. I've been coaching and judging LD and PF since then.

Lincoln-Douglas Paradigm

What I Like

I've gotten a few notes from debaters that my paradigm is mostly about what I don't want to see, rather than what I do. In an attempt to remedy that, here is what I enjoy in a debate round.

Evidence Debate - I love when debaters actually engage with the internal warrants of their opponents evidence and arguments. Point out contradictions between pieces of evidence, expose evidence that is too specific or too general to apply, call out evidence that is just claims rather than warrants. Any engagement with evidence beyond "my opponent's evidence is wrong because my evidence is right" will greatly increase your chance of winning my ballot.

Meaningful Framework Debate - I love when debaters pick and choose their battles on framework and clearly impact the results of the framework debate to how I should evaluate impacts in the round. You will not lose my ballot solely for conceding your opponent's framework. Not all rounds need to have a framework debate, even with different values/value criteria, if those frameworks evaluate impacts in roughly the same way or if both debaters have the same impacts in the round (eg, people dying). Debaters who recognize that and focus on the areas of framework that will actually change how I judge arguments, then follow up with an explanation of what I should look for in evaluating the round based on that change will have a much better chance of winning my ballot.

Internal Consistency - I love when debaters commit to their positions. Many arguments, especially the more unusual philosophical arguments require commitment to a whole host of concomitant beliefs and positions. Embrace that. If someone points out that utilitarianism requires defending the interests of the majority over the minority, be willing to defend that position. If someone points out that Kantianism doesn't permit you to lie to a murderer, don't backtrack - explain it. Don't be afraid to say that extinction does not outweigh everything else. Conversely, if you argue that prediction of the future is impossible in order to answer consequentialism and then cite scientific authors to support your claims, I will be much less likely to believe your position. A debater who is committed and consistent in their ethical position will have a much better chance of winning my ballot.

Argument by Analogy - I love when debaters use analogies to explain or clarify their own positions, or to expose inconsistencies, absurd statements or flaws in their opponents arguments. I think analogies are underutilized as a method of analytical argumentation and debaters willing to use analogies to explain or undermine arguments have a much better chance of winning my ballot.

Comparative Weighing - I love when debaters specifically compare impacts when weighing in the round. Rarely does a debater win every single argument in the round and weighing significantly assists me in making a decision when there are multiple impacts for both sides. While I like weighing arguments in the vein of "This argument outweighs all others in the round" more than no weighing at all, a more specific and nuanced analysis along the lines of "this argument outweighs that argument for these reasons" (especially when it explains the weighing in the specific context of the framework) will give a debater a much better chance of winning my ballot.

Disclosure

I don't want to be on the email chain/speech drop/whatever. Debate is a speaking activity, not an essay writing contest. I will judge what you say, not what's written in your case. The only exception is if there is an in-round dispute over what was actually said in a case/card in which case I will ask to see evidence after the round.

Speed

I prefer a slower debate, I think it allows for a more involved, persuasive and all-around better style of speaking and debating. It is your burden to make sure that your speech is clear and understandable and the faster you want to speak, the more clearly you must speak. If I miss an argument, then you didn't make it.

Flex Prep

No. There is designated CX time for a reason. You can ask for evidence during prep, but not clarification.

LARP - Please don't. Discussion of policy implications is necessary for some topics, but if your case is 15 seconds of "util is truetil" and 5:45 of a hyperspecific plan with a chain of 5 vague links ending in two different extinction impacts, I'm not going to be a fan. Realistically speaking, your links are speculative, your impacts won't happen, and despite debaters telling me that extinction is inevitable for 15+ years, it still hasn't happened. Please debate the topic rather than making up your own (unless you warrant why you can do that, in which case, see pre-fiat kritiks). If there is no action in the resolution, you can't run a plan. If there is no action, don't a-spec. If you want to debate policy, do policy debate. As with other arguments, I will evaluate a LARP round but will have a low-threshold to vote on evidentiary arguments, link/brink severance, and framework exclusion.

Evidence Ethics

I will intervene on evidence ethics if I determine that a card is cut in such a way as to contradict or blatantly misrepresent what an author says, even if no argument is made about this in the round. I have no patience for debaters who lie about evidence. Good evidence is not hard to find, there's no need to make it up and doing so simply makes debate worse for everyone.

Arguments

Role of the Ballot: A role of the ballot argument will only influence how I vote on pre-fiat, not post-fiat argumentation. It is not, therefore, a replacement for a framework, unless your entire case is pre-fiat, in which case see "pre-fiat kritiks". A role of the ballot must have a warrant. "The role of the ballot is fighting oppression" is a statement not an argument. You will need to explain why that is the role of the ballot and why it is preferable to "better debater". Please make the warrant specific to debate. "The role of the ballot is fighting oppression because oppression is bad" doesn't tell me why it is specifically the role of this ballot to fight oppression. I have a low threshold for voting against roles of the ballot with no warrants. I will default to a "better debater" role of the ballot.

Theory: Please reserve theory for genuinely abusive arguments or positions which leave one side no ground. I am willing to vote on RVIs if they are made, but I will not vote on theory unless it is specifically impacted to "Vote against my opponent for this violation". I will always use a reasonability standard. Running theory is asking me as the judge in intervene in the round, and I will only do so if I deem it appropriate.

Pre-fiat Kritiks: I am very slow to pull the trigger on most pre-fiat Ks. Ensure you have a role of the ballot which warrants why my vote will have any impact on the world or in debate. I do like alts to be a little more fleshed out than "reject the affirmative", and have a low threshold for voting for no solvency arguments against undeveloped alts. That said, I will vote on pre-fiat Ks - a good metric for my preference is whether your link is specific to the aff's performance in this round or if it could link to any affirmative case on the topic (or any topic). If you're calling out specific parts of the affirmative performance, that's fine.

Post-fiat Kritiks: Run anything you want. I do like alts to be a little more fleshed out than "reject the resolution", and have a low threshold for voting for no solvency arguments against undeveloped alts.

Topicality: Totally fine to run. I have a slight bias towards genericist positions over specificist ones, eg "a means any" rather than "a means one".

Politics Disadvantages: Please don't. If you absolutely must, you need to prove A: The resolution will occur now. B: The affirmative must defend a specific implementation of the topic. C:The affirmative must defend a specific actor for the topic. Without those three interps, I will not vote on a politics DA because it doesn't link to the aff.

Narratives: Fine, as long as you preface with a framework which explains why and how narratives impact the round and tell me how to evaluate it.

Conditionality: I'm permissive but skeptical of conditional argumentation. A conditional argument cannot be kicked if there are turns on it, and I will not vote on contradictory arguments, even if they are conditional. So don't run a cap K and an econ disad. You can't kick out of discourse impacts because performance cannot be erased.

Word PICs: I don't like word PICs. I'll vote on them if they aren't effectively responded to, but I don't like them. I believe that they drastically decrease clash and cut affirmative ground by taking away unique affirmative offense.

Presumption - I do not presume neg. I'm willing to vote on presumption if the aff or neg gives me arguments for why aff or neg should be presumed, but neither side has presumption inherently. Both aff and neg need offense - in the absence of offense, I revert to risk of offense.

Pessimistic Ks - Generally not a fan. I find it difficult to understand why they should motivate me to vote for one side over another, even if the argument is true and the alts are often unclear. I will vote on them but run at your own risk.

Ideal Theory - If you want to run an argument about "ideal theory" (eg Curry 14) please understand what ideal theory is in the context of philosophy. It has nothing to do with theory in debate terms, nor is it just a philosophy which is idealistic. If you do not specify I will assume that you mean that ideal theory is full-compliance theory.

Disclosure - I will not vote on disclosure arguments. I don't believe that disclosure as a norm is beneficial to debate and I see it used to exclude non-circuit debaters far more often than I see debaters who are genuinely unable to engage because they could not predict their opponent's arguments.

Framework - Please have an actual warrant for your framework. If your case reads "My standard is util, contention 1" I will evaluate it, but have a very low threshold to vote against it, like any claim without a warrant. I will not evaluate pre-fiat framework warrants; eg, "Util is preferable because it gives equal ground to both sides". Read the philosophy and make an actual argument. See the section on theory - there are no theory-based framework warrants I consider reasonable.

Speaker Points

Since I've gotten some questions about this..

I judge on a 5 point scale, from 25-30.

25 is a terrible round, with massive flaws in speeches, huge amounts of time left unused, blatantly offensive things said or other glaring rhetorical issues.

26 is a bad round. The debater had consistent issues with clarity, time management, or fluency which make understanding or believing the case more difficult.

27.5 is average. Speaker made no large, consistent mistakes, but nevertheless had persistent smaller errors in fluency, clarity or other areas of rhetoric.

28.5 is above average. Speaker made very few mistakes, which largely weren't consistent or repeated. Speaker was compelling, used rhetorical devices well.

30 is perfect. No breaks in fluency, no issues with clarity regardless of speed, very strong use of rhetorical devices and strategies.

Argumentation does not impact how I give speaker points. You could have an innovative, well-developed case with strong evidence that is totally unresponded to, but still get a 26 if your speaking is bad.

While I do not take points off for speed, I do take points off for a lack of fluency or clarity, which speed often creates.

Please please please cut cards with complete, grammatically correct sentences. If I have to try to assemble a bunch of disconnected sentence fragments into a coherent idea, your speaker points will not be good.

Judging style

If there are any aspects of the debate I look to before all others, they would be framework and impact analysis. Not doing one or the other or both makes it much harder for me to vote for you, either because I don't know how to evaluate the impacts in the round or because I don't know how to compare them.

Public Forum Paradigm

Frameworks

I default to an "on balance" metric for evaluating and comparing impacts. I will not consider unwarranted frameworks, especially if they are simply one or two lines asserting the framework without even attempting to justify it.

Topicality

I will evaluate topicality arguments, though only with the impact "ignore the argument", never "drop the team".

Theory

Yes, I understand theory. No, I don't want to hear theory in a PF round. No, I will not vote on a theory argument.

Counterplans

No. Neither the pro nor the con has fiat.

Kritiks

No. Kritiks only function under a truth-testing interpretation of the con burden, I only use comparative worlds in Public Forum.

Burden Interpretations

The pro and the con have an equal and opposite burden of proof. Because of limited time and largely non-technical nature of Public Forum, I consider myself more empowered to intervene against arguments I perceive as unfair or contrary to the rules or spirit of Public Forum debate than I might be while judging LD or Policy.

Grace Baldwin (she/her)- Paradigm

quick info: The Woodlands High School 20' and UT Austin 23', debated policy for over a year, have limited debate experience in PF, LD, and Congress and other IEs. Have judged numerous tournaments in Parli, PF, LD and CX (and IEs).

Feel free to ask questions before the round starts about anything, including UT, college, etc.

my email is gracebaldwin29@outlook.com.

PLS PLS PLS use SPEECH DROP.

Name the doc or subject line "Tournament- Round #- 1AC/1NC etc"- "Lake Travis Round 2 1AC" for example

SPEAKING POINTS

I can and do give low point wins. Clarity is key. Signpost and just give me the order- stick to it. Please organize your speeches well, most people don't. Speed is NOT always better. Spreading will not automatically get you better speaking points. If you choose to spread, SLOW DOWN during your rebuttals or I simply will not flow.

I encourage funny tags and playing music during prep to lighten the mood :)

Lose speaks if you

1. go over time
2. make me keep track of your time
3. speak too quietly/i can't hear you
4. unclear enough that I have to yell clear
5. make bad puns or make me cringe
6. arrive late and you're not cross entered
7. don't give me an order

Public Forum

Heads up to people debating the great power conflict topic: I am an international relations major and senior at UT, and I have studied great power conflict. My research focus is on US-China relations and Chinese domestic security. As such, for this topic, do not BS your argument, I will not buy it . If you don't understand great power conflict, unipolarity and multipolarity, learn it and learn to debate it.

I have limited experience debating PF, but I have judged several tournaments in it. I'm a lot more generous in PF. Be clear.

CROSSFIRE Engage in active crossfire, don't bullzone a crossfire. Don't make it a CX either. Don't give speeches in crossfire either. Use it to clarify arguments. I consider crossfire in my decision if it is well or badly used. Don't go into tangents in crossfire and bring up arguments if they won't appear in the speeches at all. Give me a good grand crossfire. I do not like lopsided teams/one person carrying the team, so please ensure both members are engaging in the debate. I also admire mavericks.

ROLE OF THE JUDGE AND PERSPECTIVE: I generally view PF as mostly educational-- LD and CX are more of games to me-- so I sometimes default to truth. I'm not convinced I can vote on an issue if it is egregiously untrue, however if the opposition concedes, I reluctantly will vote but leave many comments in my RFD.

I haven't been in enough rounds in PF where debaters claim fiat, so I have no strong enough opinions- if you believe PF has fiat, tell me why. I default to role of the judge being to pick the best debater - like CX, I often think about who is winning the central issues- not who wins the most- or pushes a winning framework.

FORMAT/HOW I EVALUATE A ROUND: PF is a short format, exceptionally shorter than policy which I have experience in. As such, be mindful so introduce less arguments and contextualize the debate for me. PF doesn't have burdens, solvency, anything like that, however, I would like you to impact weigh for me.

If you decide to be fancy, especially if you are in VPF, and throw in a CP, DA, or anything like that, make sure it works !! I personally find PF to be too short of a format to manage and have full DAs in. If the link chain in your DA is bs, I will not buy it. Don't make a dumb midterms DA shell and expect me to vote on it. PFers- LD and CX people know midterms and politics DAs are bad- learn from them.

Please don't use theory, Ks, T, or anything else unless you're in varsity, thanks. I am a relatively blank slate when it comes to impact weighing in PF, so do not assume I will weigh util against structural violence or anything like that unless you articulate it. Everyone always under-focuses on impact weighing. If you have the same impacts, like climate change and extinction, weigh probability or magnitude- I can't do anything if you just repeat your impacts. Don't just say "extinction bad" or "our impact is bigger than theirs"- I am a person always interested in the WHY- basically WHY should I evaluate extinction in this round over structural violence.

WINNING THE DEBATE AND SPEAKING: Don't spread in PF unless you are in the upper echelons of varsity. emphasize tags please. Both speakers take into account your summary and final focuses. I pay most attention and consider both speeches heavily as I think the summaries are the most important in the round. You do NOT need to address everything they dump on you, but I need summaries to address two or three major voting issues. I prefer you address major voting issues over spending 10-20 seconds on every single argument. You will not win on just a card but the argument.

CX and LD

Pref order: Traditional, K, K aff and most theory, phil

Disclosure- I will NOT be disclosing for TFA state

SPREADING- I'm not a huge fan of spreading despite doing a lot of it in high school. It often makes debate difficult and not that much engaging. HOWEVER, do it if it is most comfortable to you, I will listen and flow, but you must send docs obv if you spread. Do NOT spread if your opponent is not spreading. Figure it out in advance. I will yell clear if I cannot understand you. Emphasize and slow down on tags please, thank you.

FRAMEWORK-I am a framework judge, I like it a lot. Like PF, but even more so in CX and LD, I am evaluating who is winning the framework. I don't see debate as merely who is winning singularly on contentions/advantages nor do I like to vote on a single CP or DA. I need a lens in how to view the round and particularly in LD, what I ought to value. I feel like there is too much judge intervention if I have to rely on just advantages or a CP to vote on as that ultimately comes down to a personal judgement on which I think is working more in the round, rather than the debater who has successfully framed it. Terminal impacts are important and I think sometimes the link chain doesn't get properly extended so remember that.

I mostly end up judging to what is left on the flow and what I can evaluate. I won't necessarily judge off this one minor point that goes conceded if the other team is winning the critical analysis. A properly extended and explained adv and impact goes a very very long way for me. Conceded arguments are not the end all be all if the warranting and impact isn't extended. Don't say, extend my first contention whose impact is extinction, and expect me to vote off of that. Clash well with the framework, give and extend a solid reasoning why yours is better. Often util vs SV frameworks are just "my framework is better bc mine takes into account more people" like okkkkk...

THEORY- Okay, so I've come to the conclusion that I don't like theory debates. I have been in numerous theory debates and I find them all dreadfully boring. Fundamentally, I think the vast majority of theory debates require too much judge intervention in determining the winner on my end, as there's significantly less critical analysis I'm able to look at and evaluate and more often than not I just defer to case. For example: debates I've been in where people run spreading or specific vs generic resolution affs or disclosure theory. Most often the theory is super generic and I default that you have to prove ill intent - or else why are we wasting a debate discussing theory and not issues? I can vote on theory, I just very much do not want to. Also, if you decide to read theory, especially those long bolded shells- you know what I'm talking about that have 8 points- SLOW DOWN or else YOU HURT MY BRAIN AND I WON'T VOTE FOR YOU. I default to education most often in theory particularly at a place like TFA state.

CPs and DAs-analytical DAs are always better, politics and midterms DAs are almost always bad, generic CPs make me cry and make sure you articulate a good perm thanks.

PICS- pics are fine lol

ROLE OF THE JUDGE-Considering I wax in and out of PF and LD as a judge, more often than not I defer to truth, particularly if it is a policy resolution, unless I am told otherwise. However, if the opposition doesn't say much or push back substantially, then I am more than willing to vote on something stupid. I don't see the judge to be an arbiter of truth but more so a decipher of who is telling a better story or framing their arguments more effectively. I will only buy bs if you bs well enough essentially.

Ks- I ran into many Ks and am familiar with some literature. I ran a K or two during my time in high school. However, don't veer too much off topic. If we're having a discussion on US-China trade, don't plunge into a hole on afro-pessimism performance. I like performance myself and ran into many cap Ks. If you are going to use one, make it a good one. If you run a K Aff, give me a good reason why you're doing it. I'm not a solid traditionalist when it comes to debate but I much prefer an interesting debate about policy and morality. Generic links are meh and while you can win, case specifics are better. I am familiar to a degree with abolition, pess, cap, foucault, setter colonialism, fem, epistemology, ableism, etc. However, considering I mostly judge PF and LD, I would generally strike me if you are running a K that I didn't list, or you should definitely spend more time explaining it thanks. Like framework, I need a good warranting for the alt.

Value, Criterion- establish them early and debate them. I'll accept Affs if neg doesn't have anything substantial.

T- I don't weigh T heavily unless it dominates the debate and I personally find T more often than not distracting as there is rarely ever good clash to come out of it.

Tricks- not a fan, don't do it (or if that's your thing strike me pllsssss)

CX- I like a good CX, and I pay attention. A poorly used CX can reflect badly on whoever is asking. Don't use it for repetition unless for clarification. Don't ask irrelevant questions either. I think CX is pretty binding.

Organization- stick to your roadmap. While I'm ADHD and understand the tendency to move around a lot, it's annoying on the flow when you move around. Use prep time to organize your thoughts. Most people don't organize their speeches well, pls organize yours well thanks.

Debate performance itself is somewhat important to me, but your arguments matter more. I personally really like framework debates and good impact weighing. I very much judge on how the debate ends rather than how it begins.

Make my RFD easy.

SPEECH AND IES

Give me a good and clear roadmap. For novices, if you need a moment to think, better to pause and regroup rather than spitting out something. Calm, cool, and collected.

I like jokes but in good taste.

Organize your thoughts. Give clear evidence.

I know what the "Speakers Triangle" is. Do it, but if you don't do it, I probably will not notice.

Keep the tone conversational or formal.

Keep a steady pace. Go in depth. You don't have to teach me something but you do have to engage me. The best speakers can make the dullest topic engaging.

Use relevant evidence. Evidence for evidence's sake I notice.

Other:

Just because you know all the debate lingo doesn't make you a great debater. I was out of debate and came back in long enough to find that just dumping debate language on top of me IS NOT an argument. Be clear. Thanks.

I have mild ADHD, so if you see me messing with my hair, tapping my foot, or flicking my pen, don't worry, I am listening.

I am an international relations student and well versed in geopolitics, US and Texas politics, and current events. Assume I have a baseline or great amount of knowledge about your topic unless it is completely niche.

flex prep is fine, open CX/cross is fine. keep your own prep and speech times, thank you. I don't care where you sit so long as I can hear you.

Give a trigger warning if you need to. I am warning any speakers and debaters to strike me preemptively if your case/speech/performance includes an abundance of discussion or trivalization of r*pe or SA.

If one might construe what you are saying as racist, misogynistic, ableist, etc. , I do not condone that and will mark you down for it.

In regards to abuse and fairness- I only take it into consideration if you break my paradigm or bring it up during a round.

Email: hechildress25@gmail.com, please include me in any email chains

A little about me, I am a Neuroscience major at Georgia Tech, I'm double minoring in Physiology and Biochemistry/Chemistry with a certificate in Cellular and Molecular Biosciences, and I'm very involved in politics and healthcare related subjects on campus. I've competed in almost every event - I debated for 8 years, went to nationals 4 times, and was finalist for national student of the year in 2024 (I'm just flexing, it's not important). I've judged every single event (PF is my personal favorite) and I've helped in coaching before. My verbal RFD's usually go line-by-line on the ballot; for novice rds, I go more in-depth and explain ways to better the debate.

I will not accept any disrespectful language towards your opponents or judges.

Losses for me: disrespect, sexist/racist/LGBTQ+phobic/literally any discriminatory comments or language, or violence.

Don't browbeat less experienced debaters. Make this a learning experience or else you will not succeed in the round <3

LD: Summary: 1. Trad, 2. Larp, 3. K, 4. Theory (no Friv, tricks, or minimizations of the resolution). I flow spread, but be clear.

FRAMEWORK!!! Framework is the most important and whoever wins framework tends to win with me. Use your contentions to back your framework. I absolute HATE how LD has become less Framework-centric and more Policy-like, use the framework and whoever wins frame wins. PROVE HOW YOURS WINS and how it links to your case.

I like impact analysis, so do what you want with that. Have some philosophy, again this is NOT Policy-JR have some philosophical standing and carry your framework throughout the case. This is a morals and values centric debate and stats are for more policy and implementation centric debates. If it resorts to a stats debate, low speaker points, but better stats win. Please, please, do not have util v. util and concede frame- its boring and lifeless and dull.

PF: Summary: Evidence (stats, examples, etc) heavy, impact weighing, line-by-line

I have never competed in PF, but I have worked with PFers and judged it several times (my favorite event to judge). Use your evidence as impacts and arguments, don't just read it. PF is a partner debate, rely on your partner and if they say one thing, extend it.

I prefer traditional PF. This is not Policy Jr so DO NOT ACT LIKE IT!! Stats are important, but do not overlook the importance of examples and implementation. Go line-by-line, provide evidence (can apply to multiple arguments) with specific attacks. I like warrants in case. If they provide a warrant and your only response is "they don't have evidence for this" but it logically makes sense, I will most likely weigh it. Tell me why your response matters and delinks their case. Be respectful, oftentimes in PF it can get heated very quickly, if I notice this, then low speaks. Be civil and have fun!

Policy: I do not enjoy policy, so if I am judging you in policy, I apologize. I do not know the jargon and I despise spreading, so change accordingly, and I apologize for tab.

Congress: Read a speech and actually know it (or act like you know it). This is supposed to be fun. Don't be rude, and actually get stuff done. Have some clash. For questions, please make them quicker because there isn't much time. PO's: keep track of time, make sure you allow precedence in speeches and questioning (AKA whoever raises their hand first goes).

ALL DEBATE

CLASH - this is a debate, not a tea party. I prefer contention-level impact weighing clash and line-by-line clash, but please don't resort to a definitions debate. If there is no clash, then speaker points will show that (<28). Simply saying "I have a card for this," "there's no link," or other broad arguments is not something I weigh heavily.

I will not do your work for you. If you said something in Cross Ex and don't bring it up, it is not an argument. Explain your links and impacts or else I won't. If you do not bring up any impacts, it will affect speaker points and the overall outcome of the debate.

Speaks- I judge speaks on organization, purposeful inflection, and clarity. 30-Perfect, 29-Great, 28- Good, 27-Ok, 26- Bad, 25- Disrespect/Anything off the losses for me. By the end of a topic, we’ve all heard the basic arguments, so please find some new ways to run a case. If it’s unique, I’ll give better speaks. Monotone is boring, use your tone and body language to aid in your speaking.

Card-Calling- I count that as off-time after cross examination/cross-fire.

Spreading - If I cannot understand what you're saying because you're speaking so fast, I will take off points even if I have the case. I can flow spread, but please speak clearly, and if you don't, then I will not flow the argument. I do not think spreading is helpful in anyway other than to look like you're a "much better debater." I think speaking slower and adding emphasis and tone is more important but whatever floats your boat

Extinction/Nuke War: I will not vote on Extinction arguments without proper links (minimum of 4 cards to prove linkage).

Interp/Speech: Only rule for me- SCREAMING DOES NOT EQUAL EMOTION!! If you can show emotion without screaming, you did good. Now if it's a getting louder because the piece needs to show emphasis, sounds good. (Please have some movement, it makes it look better)

I am a debate coach in Georgia. I also competed in LD and Policy out west. Take that for whatever you think it means.

• LD - Value/Value Criterion (Framework, Standard, etc,) - this is what separates us from the animals (or at least the policy debaters). It is the unique feature of LD Debate. Have a good value and criterion and link your arguments back to it. I am open to all arguments but present them well, know them, and, above all, Clash - this is a debate not a tea party.
• PF - I side on the traditional side of PF. Don't throw a lot of jargon at me or simply read cards... this isn't Policy Jr., compete in PF for the debate animal it is. Remember debate, especially PF, is meant to persuade - use all the tools in your rhetorical toolbox: Logos, Ethos, and Pathos.
• Speed - Debate is a SPEAKING event. I like speed but not spreading. Speak as fast as is necessary but keep it intelligible. There aren't a lot of jobs for speed readers after high school (auctioneers and pharmaceutical disclaimer commercials) so make sure you are using speed for a purpose. If you spread - it better be clear, I will not yell clear or slow down or quit mumbling, I will just stop listening. If the only way I can understand your case is to read it, you have already lost. If you are PRESENTING and ARGUING and PERSUADING then I need to understand the words coming out of your mouth! NEW for ONLINE DEBATE - I need you to speak slower and clearer, pay attention to where your mike is. On speed in-person, I am a 7-8. Online, make it a 5-6.
• Email Chains Please include me on email chains if it is used in the round, but don't expect me to sit there reading your case to understand your arguments - pchildress@gocats.org **Do not email me outside of the round unless you include your coach in the email.
• Know your case, like you actually did the research and wrote the case and researched the arguments from the other side. If you present it, I expect you to know it from every angle - I want you to know the research behind the statistic and the whole article, not just the blurb on the card.
• Casing - Love traditional but I am game for kritiks, counterplans, theory - but perform them well, KNOW them, I won't do the links for you. I am a student of Toulmin - claim-evidence-warrant/impacts. I don't make the links and don't just throw evidence cards at me with no analysis. It is really hard for you to win with an AFF K with me - it better be stellar. I am not a big fan of Theory shells that are not actually linked in to the topic - if you are going to run Afro-Pes or Feminism you better have STRONG links to the topic at hand, if the links aren't there... Also don't just throw debate terms out, use them for a purpose and if you don't need them, don't use them.
• I like clash. Argue the cases presented, mix it up, have some fun, but remember that debate is civil discourse - don't take it personal, being the loudest speaker won't win the round, being rude to your opponent won't win you the round.
• Debating is a performance in the art of persuasion and your job is to convince me, your judge (not your opponent!!) - use the art of persuasion to win the round: eye contact, vocal variations, appropriate gestures, and know your case well enough that you don't have to read every single word hunched over a computer screen. Keep your logical fallacies for your next round. Rhetoric is an art.
• Technology Woes - I will not stop the clock because your laptop just died or you can't find your case - not my problem, fix it or don't but we are going to move on.
• Ethics - Debate is a great game when everyone plays by the rules. Play by the rules - don't give me a reason to doubt your veracity.
• Win is decided by the flow (remember if you don't LINK it, I don't either), who made the most successful arguments and used evidence and reasoning to back up those arguments.
• Speaker Points are awarded to the best speaker - I end up with a rare low point win each season. I am fairly generous on speaker points. I disclose winner but not speaker points. Even is you are losing a round or not feeling it during the round, don't quit on yourself or your opponent! You may not like the way your opponent set up their case or you may not like a certain style of debate but don't quit in a round.
• Don't browbeat less experienced debaters; you should aim to win off of argumentation skill against less experienced opponents, not smoke screens or jargon. 7 off against a first-year may get you the win, but it kills the educational and ethical debate space you should strive for. As an experienced debater, you should hope to EDUCATE them not run them out of the event.
• Enjoy yourself. Debate is the best sport in the world - win or lose - learn something from each round, don't gloat, don't disparage other teams, judges, or coaches, and don't try to convince me after the round is over. Leave it in the round and realize you may have just made a friend that you will compete against and talk to for the rest of your life. Don't be so caught up in winning that you forget to have some fun - in the round, between rounds, on the bus, and in practice.
• Rule of Debate Life. Sometimes you will be told you are the winner when you believe you didn't win the round - accept it as a gift from the debate gods and move on. Sometimes you will be told you lost a round that you KNOW you won - accept that this is life and move on. Sometimes judges base a decision on something that you considered insignificant or irrelevant and, sometimes, judges get it wrong, it sucks but that is life. However, if the judge is inappropriate - get your advocate, your coach, to address the issue. Arguing with the judge in the round or badmouthing them in the hall or cafeteria won't solve the issue.
• Immediate losers for me - be disparaging to the other team or make racist, homophobic, sexist arguments or comments. Essentially, be kind and respectful if you want to win.
• Questions? - if you have a question ask me.

My background: I am a former CEDA debater (1987-89) and CEDA coach (1990-93) from East Tennessee State University. Upon my retirement in August 2021 I've judged numerous at numerous debate tournaments for PF, LD, IDPA, Parli, and Big Questions (mostly PF and LD). (FYI, when I participated in CEDA it was quasi-policy, not true policy like it is today.)

Speed: I can keep up with a quick-ish speed - enunciation is very important! Pre round I can do a "speed test" and let you know what I think of a participant's speech speed if anyone wants to. I think it is especially important to make sure cases are comprehensible. I look at speech docs if something only if evidence is questioned. I was never a super speed debater and didn’t encourage my students to speed. Please keep all this in mind if you normally utilize speedy delivery.

Theory: I am familiar with topicality and if other theory is introduced, I could probably understand it. (I also used to run hasty generalization but not sure if that’s still a thing or not.) Theory is best used when it’s pertinent to a round, not added for filler and needs to be well developed if I am expected to vote on it. That being said, I also give the team defending themselves against a theory shell quite a bit of latitude to do so; I look more at the big picture of theory vs. arguing a dropped point or 2 and trying to pull it through to win.

The rounds: Racism/sexism etc. will not be tolerated. Rudeness isn’t appreciated either. I do not interject my own thoughts/opinions/judgements to make a decision, I only look at what is provided in the round itself. Re: criteria, I want to hear what the debaters bring forward and not have to come up with my own criteria to judge the round. My default criteria is cost/benefit analysis. I reserve the right to call in evidence. (Once I won a round that came down to a call for evidence, so, it can be important!) As far as overall judging, I always liked what my coach used to say – “write the ballot for me”. Debaters need to point out impacts and make solid, logical arguments. I appreciate good weighing and I will weigh the arguments that carried through to the end of the round more heavily than arguments that are not. Let me know what is important to vote on in your round and why. Sign posting/numbering arguments is appreciated and is VERY important to me; let me know where you plan to go at the top of your speech and also refer back to your roadmap as you go along.

Cross Examination: a good CX that advances the round is always valued. If someone asks a question, please don’t interrupt the debater answering the question. I don’t like to see a cross ex dominated by one side.

In most rounds I will keep back up speaking time and prep time.

I hope to see enjoyable and educational rounds. You will learn so many valuable skills being a debater! Good luck to all participants!

Please treat me like a lay judge.

I will vote on arguments I find more persuasive

**I am functionally retired from debate as of May 2024. I may come back to judge as favors every once in awhile. This will hopefully be rare. Be warned :)**

Put me in email chains or feel free to email me questions: JamieSuzDavenport@Gmail.com

I probably should do an overhaul of my paradigm; it will likely not happen. Seriously just AMA if it will help you going into the round.

Education/Debate Experience:

MPA-MSES @ IU Dec ’23, hoo hoo hoo Hoosiers. CX GA '21-'24.Please note this is an environmental science degree. I have a very low tolerance for climate denial or global warming good and would recommend not going for those args.

BA: IR, Fr, Arabic @ Samford, May ’20, ruff ‘em, CX and novice coaching

HS: LD in GA, ‘16

Misc:

A note: I won't read cards unless instructed or seeking clarity (and if this is the case, I will be grumpy). All comments will be typed in the ballot and am open to questions immediately following the round and via email afterward. I do my best not to intervene or let personal biases cloud my judgment. I do have a deep appreciation for friendly competition and will generally be happier while giving out speaks or making decisions if I think the people in the round embodied that spirit. Conversely, am not afraid to have a come-to-Jesus meeting for unnecessary antagonism.

For eTournaments: I'll need a little more time than normal to adjust to your style of speaking/spreading because online anything gets tricky. Try to keep that in mind for your speeches so my ears can adjust. I'll default to having my camera on.

Zoom debate: PLEASE double-check your mic settings so that background noise suppression is not on. Zoom decides that spreading is background noise and it messes with the audio.

Overall:

Do what you want. I'm pretty go-with-the-flow and will try to adapt to what the round is versus making you adapt to me. The main thing to consider with me is my personal debate experience and potential knowledge gaps because of it. I'm not a great judge for high theory because I simply don't get it and it takes more explaining for me to understand and take it seriously (@ Baudrillard, semio-cap, etc.). There's some k lit that I'm not fully versed in but I try to keep current on major issues. Otherwise go nuts but make good choices.

2AR/NR: I more and more find myself telling debaters to tell me a story so I think I should put it in here. Whether you're going for a K, FW, DAs, extinction - whatever - start the speech telling me what your scenario is and why it's preferable to the other team. This is especially true if going for a perm or in a KvK debate, having a nuanced explanation clearly at the top of the speech frames the rest of the lbl and interactions you go for.

This was formerly organized by each event that I judge but that was getting unmanageable and ugly. If you have specific questions about anything event-specific or otherwise, just email or ask before the round starts.

Theory

Topicality/FW - I'll default that fairness is k2 education – if you want a different standard to be my primary metric, just tell me to do the thing. Might need more explanation of how I can apply the standard but that’s mostly for the atypical ones. Err on the side of over-explaining everything. Please please please explain your (counter)interp and what standards I should apply to favor yours - if there are a bunch of standards, which one do I evaluate first? Why? To reiterate: err on the side of over-explaining everything.

Fiat - I'll imagine it's real for policy v policy debates but more than willing to be sus of it, just tell me why.

Condo – dispo is an archaic interp and I think you can get better offense from other brightlines (2, what they did minus 1, etc.). I’ll vote on dispo but it’ll take more for you to win it than you need to do. Generally, think condo gets to its extremes when in the 3-4+ area, but new affs could change that yadda yadda, do what you want.

Other theory – whatever, just make the interp/counter-interp clear and tell me what to do with it.

RVI’s – please strike me or pref me real real low if this is your thing. I just don’t like it. This is one of if not the only hard-line I draw on content. They’re a time suck to play weird chess instead of engaging in the substance of the debate. Also, the majority of the time, horribly explained/extended.

Content

No huge preferences here

Cross-ex - I don’t flow cx unless something spicy grabs my attention and it’s usually obvious when that happens based on my reaction. Bring it up in a speech to remind me. Open cross, flex prep, is fine – I for real check out for flex prep.

Card clipping – you’ll lose. Might report it to tab/your coach if I’m feeling zesty that day.

Silliness

Love a good joke, wordplay, or reference. I currently am trying to incorporate “slay”, “yeehaw”, “gaslight gatekeep girlboss” and more into my regular debate vernacular. Feel free to also use these and I’ll at least laugh, maybe boost speaks, who knows – depends on how much of a silly goofy mood I’m in.

Updated 2025, following Harvard

Dr. Brice Ezell – The Lovett School, Debate Coach (he/his)

Bakersfield Christian High School, 2006-10 (LD, competed mostly in local CA tournaments and at NSDAs; broke in LD in 2009)
George Fox University, BA, 2010-2014 (WUDC, competed nationally and at Worlds twice)
University of Texas, PhD and MA, 2015-21 (involved sporadically in judging, but was not on UT's college teams; my PhD subject matter involved a lot of reading in phil/K lit, however)

Speechdrop is preferred, but if it's email do add me to the chain -- my email is brice.ezell@lovett.org

The TL;DR below should honestly suffice for most folks. PF debaters: scroll to the bottom (though plenty of my judging philosophy in the LD section aligns with my thinking for PF as well.)

If you want a more fun presentation of all of the below, here's a thing: Judging Aphorisms (After Wilde).

TL;DR Summary of Everything in this Paradigm

In general, I will vote on whatever is most successfully warranted, weighed and impacted in the round. Arguments can have all sorts of impacts: to the fairness of the debating activity, to the possibility of nuclear war, to violating a universal ethical principle, etc. However you impact your arguments, you also need to sell me on some kind of standard by which I am to evaluate the in-round impacts. This doesn’t mean you have to use the old-school value/criterion structure, but rather that you as part of your weighing need to tell me the yardstick by which to measure all the in-round impacts.

Prefs

Though I hesitated to do this at first, as I don’t want debaters to get the sense that they have to run one kind of argument in front of me to succeed, below is how I’d categorize my preferences when it comes to LD -- listed alphabetically by section. I recognize there is value to being transparent about this as a judge, though I really try to be tabula rasa in-round as this is an activity whose practices are created by its participants. Debate is as much a creative as it is an academic activity.

I Like These and Vote on Them Regularly - Run Truly Whatever

Philosophy

Policy (LOVE plan/CP debates)

Post-fiat K debates

Skep (moral or epistemological - big fan of args involving the latter, actually)

Theory

Truth-testing

I Could Definitely Vote on these But My Threshold is Higher

Performance (though I stress one thing: make sure you know what the word "performative" actually means)

PICs (the closer to mutually exclusive they are the more I respect them -- not a fan of "the whole AFF except one minuscule part of it," e.g. 50 states CPs)

Serious gaming

I Have Resistance to These Arguments but I Have Voted for Them At Least Once Before -- Try at Your Own Peril

Non-topical Affs

Pre-fiat Ks

Strike Me if These Are Your Thing

Frivolous theory (e.g. "URL theory," font sizes, etc)

Tricks (indexicals, any argument predicated on blowing up something insubstantial in the AC as a "knockout" that precedes everything else in the round for some reason)

A Few Qualifications of the Above

*I will of course listen to substantive arguments about evidence ethics. But I put things like "URL theory" under the "frivolous" label because almost every one of these shells I've read/heard is incredibly thin on the ground, and they tend to make some pretty absurd claims. For example, on URLs: you're telling me a debater should be punished for going to the library and doing meaningful research with old books that haven't been digitized? ONLY digitized evidence counts? Or, on the most laughable one of these I've heard, "bracketing theory," which claimed that it's bad scholarly practice to bracket a quotation to adjust for tense, etc -- if that's true, then that's news to me and the authors of articles in peer-reviewed journals where bracketing is, in fact, a common and accepted practice. If your opponent meaningfully misrepresents evidence or plagiarizes, that is absolutely a key concern on which I would vote. But lots of the theory claims made about cutting evidence just amount to trying to win on the blippiest technicality rather than serious charges of scholarly malpractice.

*On pre-fiat Ks and non-topical AFFs: I have a pretty low threshold for voting for well-argued T violations against the AFFs, same for arguments from AFFs that the ROB shouldn't be about assessing pre-fiat states. I generally am of the belief that AFFs should be topical, and a debater would have to be particularly persuasive in convincing me otherwise. In my experience, these kinds of arguments make weird suppositions about what one can't do as a debater on a given side, which supposedly justifies the "rupture" of not affirming the resolution/not engaging the fiat of the resolution. I don't think a lot of the versions of these arguments I've heard have ever overcome the fundamental contradiction identified in one RFD at the end of thatResolved documentary from the 2000s: if debate norms are so procedurally corrupt/racist/sexist/ableist/etc that pre-fiat interrogation or norm-breaking through eschewing topicality is a necessary intervention, then one wonders why we keep doing this activity at all, in which topics are part of the game. Or, to put it succinctly: if the opponent to a pre-fiat K or a non-topical AFF makes the case that participation in this activity evidences a clear embrace of its values, I'm likely to vote them up, especially because -- as many debaters have successfully argued in front of me -- the profusion of these kinds of K cases since the 2000s has not, in fact, completely upended debate as an activity, and if anything debate has gotten *better* about inclusivity of ideas in the past decade and a half. (That said, I do need more from debaters opposing these kinds of cases than "vote for whoever's the better debater," which is on its own not a terribly helpful ROJ.)

Stray Things

Speed: No problem! But be especially clear with your tags and author attributions. If I have to say "clear" more than once some of your args might not end up on my flow.

Tech>Truth?: Yes. But this bears saying: when I'm listening to and flowing your arguments, they need to, at some level, make sense. So if you're running a K or otherwise philosophically inclined argument with its own jargon, explain what key terms mean and what they look like applied to the debate at hand, even if you think I know the body of literature from which you're drawing. An example: feel free to run a psychoanalysis K in front of me, but if you read some tagline that's like "The alternative is to run towards the Real," like... I'll flow it, but I don't know what that means unless your tag or card gives me some explanation of what that would look like. You shouldn't be clarifying key claims of a case only in the rebuttals. The strategy of obfuscating in the 1AC/NC and then in rebuttals being articulate in the way you should have been in the constructives will bode poorly for speaks in front of me.

Cross-x: Is binding. I flow it and think it’s one of the most important parts of the debate.

Flex-prep: I’m cool with it.

Timing: I trust debaters to keep their own time but note that I will keep time as well (a) as an extra accountability measure in case there’s a dispute, and (b) because I like to make note on my ballot of how speakers allocate their time strategically.

RVIS?: Probably not.

Speaks: I don't disclose speaks, nor do I listen to any arguments about speaker point allocation. Trying "give me 30 speaks" arguments in front of me is a recipe for not getting 30 speaks. Here's how I allocate speaks unless a tournament gives me a bespoke speaker point scale:

30: No notes. If I were a betting kind of person I'd bet you're going to win the tournament.

29.6 - 29.9: Near-flawless strategy and delivery. If this kind of performance is repeated, I'd expect you to get to late elims at this tournament, if not win the tournament altogether.

29.2 - 29.5: Your strategy and delivery mark you as a debater I'd expect, assuming consistent performance at this level, to get solidly far into elims.

28.8 - 29.1: I'd expect you to break based on how you executed strategy and delivery in this round, assuming consistent performance at this level.

28.4 - 28.7: I'd award in this range if I thought you'd break or be on the bubble for breaking, but there are strategic or delivery issues that I could see being an issue in other rounds.

28.0 - 28.3: This is where I start my adjudicating of a round. A debater who stays at this score level is merely "fine" -- nothing too bad, but nothing too flashy either. I would not expect a debater consistently competing at this point level to break.

27.0 - 27.9: You've got a lot of work to do, either in strategy or delivery.

26.0 - 26.9: You've got a lot of work to do in both strategy and delivery.

25: You did something profoundly offensive.

One sure way to get good speaks from me: quality on-case argumentation and engagement with the opponent's cards and tags. I too often feel that even good debaters hear the tag of the AC (e.g. "oh they're running X policy case"), and then rather than engage the substance (or maybe lack thereof) in the AC, will go only for off arguments and weighing, leaving little time for direct arguments on case. Go for your offense, of course, but show me that you're engaging your opponent's case in detail! Put most succinctly, debaters that get good speaks for me eagerly go for clash, and to me part of good clash is getting into your opponent's case and saying how and why they're wrong.

What About Public Forum?

I believe that PF should be insulated from the "prog-ification" that's endemic to the other major debating formats. A PF round really should be viewable by all, including the mythical "average person on the street." This isn't because I'm against spread/prog debate -- far from it. Rather, I just think the strictures of the PF form (four minute speeches max, topics that change every month) make "prog PF" a kind of contradiction in terms. PF should be about a clearly defined and persuasively delivered (in the traditional sense) clash on a current events topic with which a parent uninitiated to debating could follow.

For PF, you don't have to go lay speed -- I'm fine with you going faster than conversational, it's the way I'd talk in debate rounds too -- but I'd prefer no spreading. I really think it is silly in this format. What's more, as an educator, I have for accessibility and variety reasons come to see a lot of value in having a debate format that (a) allows skilled debaters who like trad debate a venue where they can reliably debate in that mode, and (b) doesn't require the financial and time resources to devote to all of the camp/prep group things that tend to accompany debaters that are best at the prog-heavy formats.

Though PF doesn't have the value framework of LD, be absolutely clear with your weighing. Timeframe, probability, magnitude... I don't care which, but make the scale obvious and, if your side's the heavier of the scale, you'll get my ballot.

One specific note on the rules of PF debating, since this issue has come up in some rounds for my debaters: the CON is not required to defend the status quo. Though plan texts are verboten in this format (and, yes, that means I honor the no-plans rule, and by extension no CPs), the CON is allowed to advocate (without a specific plan-text) alternatives to the PRO advocacy. For example, on a topic like "The United States federal government should forgive all federal student loan debt," the CON is not required to defend a world with no student loan forgiveness or only the types of forgiveness that exist in the status quo; they could say, as a generalized claim, "We support some targeted means-testing style forgiveness programs, those that target historically disenfranchised groups in America." There couldn't be, however, a specific plan iterating the details of that advocacy. I'm not sure why so many people think PF would be set up to where all debates are "X or the status quo," and in any event there's certainly nothing in "the rulebook" for PF to suggest that the CON can't offer alternatives in the same generalized way that the PRO advocates for a given case.

To illustrate, for PF, here's how I see it, using the aforementioned student loans topic:

PRO Advocacy (fine): The USFG should forgive all student loans, effective with the PRO ballot being signed.

PRO Plan (not fine): The USFG should pass Senator X's plan from 2021 to forgive all student loans.

CON Advocacy (fine): Though the US should not forgive ALL student loans, we would not be opposed to loan forgiveness as part of historical reparations programs for groups such as Black and Indigenous Americans. [In this circumstance, though, that alternative wouldn't be the whole case, but rather a counter-advocacy that the CON could prove avoids an opportunity cost of the pro -- i.e. doesn't even need to be a contention, just a qualifying statement in rebuttal or CX]

CON Counterplan (not fine): The USFG should pass Senator Kamala Harris' 2019 plan to forgive student loans for Pell Grant recipients who start a business in disadvantaged communities.

Currently a coach and PhD student at The University of Kansas.

Add me to the chain plz and thank you DerekHilligoss@gmail.com

if you have any questions or want something clarified feel free to reach out!

for college add rockchalkdebate@gmail.com as well

TL;DR do what you do and do it well. Don't let my preferences/career/coaching record sway you away from doing what you want.

The only thing I ever wanted from a judge, both as a debater and coach, is someone who will try hard and vote no matter who the teams are or what the arguments are. Those are the qualities I try and emulate if given the chance to judge you.

The biggest thing for me is that I value good impact framing/calc. If you aren't explaining why your impacts matter more then your opponents you are leaving it up for me or the other team to decide.

This is greatly influenced by Jarrod Atchison's paradigm as I've come to realize that I care less and less about what argument you go for but more HOW you go for that argument/explain that argument/impact that argument matters.

How I flow----
I will flow on paper or laptop in a line-by-line format. I will not be actively looking at evidence/docs during the debate.

Otherwise, my goal as a judge is to only flow and evaluate the arguments presented verbally in the debate. I enjoy watching debater's arguments clash not their documents.

How I come to make a decision----

I take a sheet of paper and write down a few things

First, what are the big issues?
---- typically these come through top level framing and "even if" statements but typically want to get an idea of the "big picture" of the debate.
---- I usually work top down from the flow--- i.e. most of your important framing/big issues will be framed near the top of the flows--- unlikely happening in the last 30 seconds but could!

Second is a list of questions for the big issue/question---- for example---
--- if all arguments are won by both sides who wins?
--- execution errors?
--- where do the arguments interact? on the flow and across flows?
--- impact framing arguments/framing in general for how I should decide?

Third is to create the "mini-debates" that are occurring under or around these big questions attempting to resolve these questions. I.e. link vs link turn debate looking at the third and fourth level of arguments and thinking through that.

Fourth is evidence. In most cases I will probably never ask for a card doc. But I look at questions of evidence last so as to not influence the other parts of my decision. I.e. I want to evaluate your explanation vs the opponents before being influence by my reading of the evidence.

Fifth and finally I will write a short draft ballot and play devil’s advocate with myself--- this can look like "I vote negative because the link on the disad turns and outweighs the aff plus risk of case defense"
and then pretend I'm the aff and ask the "what about?" questions--- my goal is to try and answer most/all of your questions by end of my RFD and doing this ensures I'm thinking through all of your arguments as best I can with what is presented.

I will then type most if not all of this up on the tabroom notes section--- this is 1) to let your go back (with coaches) and review during redoes and 2) to prevent me from rambling, which I tend to do quite often. This means I take some time during the decision time.

Random other things:

I wander around the room during prep to think about the debate as it's occurring/sitting in a room for that long is annoying--- if I'm not back when prep is done just poke your head outside and I'm probably there.

I'll put my headphones on while I write my RFD to block out the noise. If you want to walk around after the debate please feel free.

I tend to have a blank face while judging--- don't take that as I'm annoyed at yall or your arguments--- I'm actually excited and love judging but tend to make tons of face regularly that can be overinterpreted. I will nod at times when something "makes sense" (doesn't mean you are winning just means makes sense to me) or if you can genuinely get me to laugh I will but... don't force it lol.

thing's I'm bad for (read: not impossible but either lack of knowledge or desire make it harder for me to want to vote on them)--- LD tricks/shenanigans, debate theory, "fairness paradox" as an answer to K affs, arguments about things that occurred outside of the round,

a note on Theory--- I think people tend to have these so blocked out and memorized they don't explain things--- mostly true of process theory debates where I tend to lend towards the aff on the perm--- so if this is your strategy just be sure you are breaking down the theory concepts because I don't think as deeply about this part of debate as yall do.

Be nice! :) I love debate and debaters but am also a human. You are more than welcome to disagree with the decision but attempts to belittle or insult me or your opponents won't go over well for you.

I started judging my two kids' speech and debate tournaments in high school. I judge IE's, LD, and Policy. And have continued judging these tournaments after my kids moved on to college.

I prefer that you speak loud and clearly. However I do not have a preference on speed. You may flow as fast or slow as you see fit.

I take notes throughout the entire event.

Simply, debate is a very fun game that I used to play and enjoy watching. Do what you do best. I will vote for you if I think you win. And please be nice to your opponents.

As far as preconceived notions of debate go, here are a few of mine:

(1) I think the topic should be debated.

(2) I enjoy case debates and plan specific counterplans.

(3) I love for you to be clear when speaking.

Seven lakes High School '21 | University of Texas at Dallas '25

contact: pkasibhatla4@gmail.com

He/Him

Debate experience:

I mainly participated in PF debate throughout high school at both local and national tournaments

PF:

- I am a standard flow judge who evaluates tech over truth.

- Okay with any arguments along as they are not offensive, racist, homophobic, etc.

- I am fine with speed as long as everyone in the round can clearly hear the arguments. I do not like spreading.

- Evidence: Paraphrasing is fine as long as you don't blatantly misconstrue the evidence. When providing paraphrased evidence please give the specific line that you reference. Evidence ethics are important, call your opponents out for any misconstrued evidence, false claims or any lies.

- Speaker points: Speaker points are awarded based on strategy and obviously how well you speak. As mentioned above, I will dock both speaker points and drop you if you have bad evidence ethics. Moreover, i'll give bonus speaker points if the round is entertaining and respectful. Being rude and loud will only decrease your speaker points so don't do that

- Give a roadmap of the speech beforehand and signpost throughout the speech.

- To extend an argument you must extend the contention name, the name of the cards and more importantly what the card says. You can't just tell me to extend 'x card' without telling me why the card is important to both your argument and the round. Speaking of extensions, the round should flow from your constructive to the final focus. The second rebuttal should respond to all offensive arguments or I consider them as drops. First summary must extend arguments and defense if it's responded to in second rebuttal. I will more than likely be voting on both the cleanest argument.

- Weighing is great, the more you weigh throughout the round the easier it is for me to vote. Please start weighing during rebuttals. New weighing after second summary is too late and I will not evaluate that.

- Any arguments or concessions during Cross must be brought up in speeches.

- If you read a framework, read warrants. The Framework debate must include weighing.

- Final focus should have the same arguments as summary

Email me if you have any questions!

Background

I have experience in just about all types of debate. While some distinctions between formats I see similarities rooted in intentional relationships, education and rhetoric. I do not see the judge as a blank slate. So I have some things that I think, based on my experiences as a debater, social science teacher, coach, parent and program director effect my role as a judge. We all have filters.

Personally, I debated NDT for the University of Houston in the early 80's. Achieving out rounds at major national tournaments and debating at both the NDT and CEDA Nationals. I have coached all debate events and many speech events. My policy teams won St. Marks and Memorial TOC tournaments and enjoyed success nationally. My students were also successful on Texas UIL and local circuits. I have had debate teams, LD debaters, extemp speakers and congress entries placed 1st or 2nd in Texas and have also coached a state oratory champion.

Currently, I consult and do debate on the side from home. I'm 62 years old. Concerns or questions about a judge that age are addressed below. The two biggest concerns are usually handling "speed" and "progressive" arguments. Speed with style and good technique is one thing speed that seems like a stream of consciousness is another. As for what progress is or progressive is, well that depends on your experiences.

I am open to alternative approaches to resolutions but also enjoy frameworks employed in the past. Debating and coaching in Houston and teaching at the UTNIF for a decade definitely shaped my my ability to listen to different types of frameworks - or what the debate is supposed to mean or accomplish. I have coached at so many levels, for many years on different topics - instead of seeing differences I see many similarities in the way arguments are framed evolve. I debated when it was highly questionable to do anything beyond policy debate - even counterplans, much less conditional frameworks, but being from a small squad (in a different info environment - when access to research and evidence was definiteley privileged) we pursued the edge strategies - such as hypothesis testing to level the field. Coaching in policy we ran all range of arguments. Over time shifting to a more critical approach. Once again in response, in part, to the changing information space. On an education topic we went deep all year on Critical Pedagogy and on a criminal justice - Constitutive Criminology. There are very few rules in debate. What policy debate means and what my vote means are for grabs by both teams. I'm not into labels at way to define myself. If I had to pick a term it would be: Critic of Argument

A couple of notes

Speed, unless evolution is really off track, speed can't be any faster, even from when we debated in college. Speed is rarely what set the best debaters apart. However, these are my first NDT rounds this year. (I'm contemplating grad schools in the mountain west for next year) Make sure acronyms, initialisms etc. are clear first before ripping through what will be new information for me. I suggest making sure each of you arguments (CP/K/DA - plan objection if you're old -) have a quick efficient thesis that makes sure I understand your position and its potential in the round before you take off speaking more quickly.

Evidence

I evaluate your proofs. Proof is a broad term - much more than published material.

I consider evidence to be expert testimony. A type of proof. The debater who presents experts to support their claims should lay the predicate - explain why that source is relevant and qualified to be an expert - when they present the evidence. Quotations submitted as evidence with just a publication title or name and date often fall short of this standard. Generally I don't want to call for a card after the round whose author was not qualified when presented in constructives. I will call for evidence on contested points. However, that evidence has been well qualified by the team presenting it and the debaters are usually talking about lines and warrants from the card. It is highly unlikely that I will call for card not qualified and/or not talked about in rebuttals. If a piece of evidence is not qualified in a meaningful way during a debaters speech - it is unlikely I would call for it after the round. I've seen traveling graduate students from England just dismantle top flight policy teams - they had proofs that all knew and accepted often with out some of the "debate tech" norms found in academic policy debate (NDT/CEDA). See the comments below on what matters in rebuttals!

Notes on Education

Spurious "quick claims" claims of a specific educational standard thrown out with out all elements of an argument are problematic. I am a life long educator who has witnessed and evolved with debate. Often teams quick claim Education as a voting issue. As an educator, I often see performance methodology (like only reading names and dates to qualify evidence or "card stacking" reading only the parts of a card that favor you - even if full context sheds a different light OR speed reading through post-modern literature as probably much more important than a debate tech argument) as serious education issues that could be discussed - and much more primary to education - than debate tech one offs.

I find "debate tech" like spreading and some uses of technology in round serve to privilege or tilt the playing field. This doesn't mean to slow to a crawl - fast and efficient - but also accessible to both the other team and the judge. So winning because the affirmative can't respond in depth to 8 off case arguments is not persuasive to me. Be bold - go deep on issues that you think are yours. "Debate Terms of Art" often fall in this category. Language choice should be accessible - even if it means adapting to your opponent as well as your judge.

Evidence often is not enough

Most debates aren't won early - the changing information space has created a lot of equity. But there two things debaters do in my experience in rebuttals that make a difference. After they have strategically collapsed or decided which issue to go for they:

1. They talk authors and specific warrants contained in the evidence - usually contrasting opposing authors and warrants. These warrants are prima facia - they are best when clearly identified - even in the opening speeches.

2. They can tell a narrative - or give examples of the mechanics, warrants, internal links in the card. They can also explain sequences of events - what would happen if I voted for your argument/position or team.

From an educators view - this is the goal of debate.

Counterplans and debate tech

Counterplan "micro theory" has really evolved. That is my term for many variations of counterplans that drive focus away from clash on the topic. Superficial, procedural and timing exceptions or additions counterplans. I actually spent time reviewing two articles on the history of PICs and their evolution prior to writing this. The excessive use of academic debate "Terms of Art" is problematic, sometimes exclusionary. I prefer head on collision in debate - and debaters who figure out how to position themselves for that debate. I prefer the debate come down to clash on field contextual issue as opposed to "side swiping" the topic. Just my preference.

I also find that this type of debate tech functions as a tool of exclusion. The debate should be accesable to your opponents without an overreliance of theory or tech debates. If they are used as time sucks that rubs me the wrong way going to your Ethos as a debater.

I do not and will not vote on or enforce a preround disclosure issue. Settle that before the round starts. Take it over my head if you object. If you ask me to adjudicate that - you might not like the answer.

How we treat each other

This is something that might trigger my voting in way you don't expect. Let's work on accomodating each other and creating safe spaces for academic discourse and the development of positive intentional relationships.

Parent lay judge.

Don't spread. Speak clearly. If I cant understand your argument I cant vote on it/weight it.

I need clear reasons (warrants) to vote on. Make sure that your arguments are logical and easy to follow. A dropped argument isn't going to be a reason for my decision if the the argument is not warranted properly.

Links must be reasonable/logical. From the rounds I've judged, I've found extinction impacts extremely hard to vote on.

Make sure your rebuttals are organized and logical. Off-time roadmaps help fulfil this. Make sure to signpost.

Lastly, be nice. Don't be snarky or roll your eyes at your opponent while they are speaking. Also, debate is meant to be fun and educational and if I find you are abusive in any way I will dock speaker points or possibly drop you.

Hi, I am a parent judge. I have been judging debate for around 1 year.

In a round, I am looking for clear argumentation. Use well-researched arguments and have specific sources to back the evidence up. Speak at a conversational pace. There has to be good communication and a fair debate. Please be respectful to your opponent. I will be looking forward to an interesting round.

LD:

You need to convince me about your contentions, your framework and weighing in order to win the round. At the end of your final speech, it should be clear on why you should win. I will only flow your speeches and will not flow cross examination. Please refrain from speaking quickly.

Speaker Points:

I will award between 25 to 30 speaker points based on the skill and quality of speaking.

Educational Background:

Georgia State University (2004-2007) - English Major in Literary Studies; Speech Minor

Augusta University (2010-2011) - Masters in Arts in Teaching

Georgia State University (2015-2016) - Postbaccalaureate work in Philosophy

Relevant Career Experience:

English Teacher/Debate Coach (2011-2015) Grovetown High School

LD Debate Coach (2015-2018) Marist School

English Teacher/Debate Coach (2018-2022) Northview High School

English Teacher/Debate Coach (2022-present) Lassiter High School

Public Forum

Argue well. Don’t be rude. I’ll flow your debate, so make the arguments you need to make.

Policy

I haven't judged a lot of policy debates. I'm more comfortable with a little slower speed since I don't hear a lot of debates on the topic. I'm okay with almost any argumentation, but I'm less likely to vote on theory arguments than K or Case arguments. Add me to your email chains.

Lincoln Douglas

I appreciate well-warranted and strong arguments. Keep those fallacies out of my rounds.

If the negative fails to give me a warranted reason to weigh her value/value criterion above the one offered by the affirmative in the first negative speech, I will adopt the affirmative's FW. Likewise, if the negative offers a warranted reason that goes unaddressed in the AR1, I will adopt the negative FW.

I appreciate when debaters provide voters during the final speeches.

Debaters would probably describe me as leaning "traditional", but I am working to be more comfortable with progressive arguments. However, I'll vote and have voted, on many types of arguments (Plans, Counterplans, Ks, Aff Ks, and theory if there is legitimate abuse). However, the more progressive the argument and the further away from the topic, the more in-depth and slower your explanation needs to be. Don't make any assumptions about what I'm supposed to know.

Debates that don't do any weighing are hard to judge. Be clear about what you think should be on my ballot if you're winning the round.

Speed

If you feel it necessary to spread, I will do my best to keep up with the caveat that you are responsible for what I miss. I appreciate folks who value delivery. Take that as you will. If you're going to go fast, you can email me your case.

Disclosure

I try to disclose and answer questions if at all possible.

Cross-Examination/Crossfire

I'm not a fan of "gotcha" debate. The goal in the crossfire shouldn't get your opponent to agree to some tricky idea and then make that the reason that you are winning debates. Crossfire isn't binding. Debaters have the right to clean up a misstatement made in crossfire/cross-ex in their speeches.

Virtual Debate

The expectation is that your cameras remain on for the entirety of the time you are speaking in the debate round. My camera will be on as well. Please add me to the chain.

Axioms

“That which is asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.” — Christopher Hitchens

”There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way to be kind.” — Mr. Rogers

Contact: jonwaters7@gmail.com

Judge Philosophy

Name: Lisa Willoughby

Current Affiliation: Midtown High School formerly Henry W. Grady High School

Conflicts: AUDL teams

Debate Experience: 1 year debating High School 1978-79, Coaching High School 1984-present

How many rounds have you judged in 2012-13: 50, 2013-2014: 45, 2015-2016: 25, 2016-17 15, 2017-2018: 30, 2018-19: 30, 2019-20:10, 2020-21: 40, 2021-2022: 35, 2022-2023:6

send evidence e-mail chain to quaintt@aol.com

I still view my self as a policy maker unless the debaters specify a different role for my ballot. I love impact comparison between disadvantages and advantages, what Rich Edwards used to call Desirability. I don’t mind the politics disad, but I am open to Kritiks of Politics.

I like Counterplans, especially case specific counterplans. I certainly think that some counterplans are arguably illegitimate; for example, I think that some international counterplans are utopian, and arguably claim advantages beyond the reciprocal scope of the affirmative, and are, therefore, unfair. I think that negatives should offer a solvency advocate for all aspects of their counterplan, and that multi-plank cps are problematic. I think that there are several reasons why consultation counterplans, and the States CP could be unfair. I will not vote unilaterally on any of these theoretical objections; the debaters need to demonstrate for me why a particular counterplan would be unfair.

I have a minor in Philosophy, and love good Kritik debate. Sadly, I have seen a lot of bad Kritik debate. I think that K debaters need to have a strong understanding of the K authors that they embrace. I really want to understand the alternative or the role of my ballot. I have no problem with a K Aff, but am certainly willing to vote on Framework/T against a case that does not have at least a clear advocacy statement that I can understand. I am persuadable on "AFF must be USFG."

I like Topicality, Theory and Framework arguments when they are merited. I want to see fair division of ground or discourse that allows both teams a chance to prepare and be ready to engage the arguments.

I prefer substance to theory; go for the theoretical objections when the abuse is real.

As for style, I love good line-by-line debate. I adore evidence comparison, and argument comparison. I am fairly comfortable with speed, but I like clarity. I have discovered that as I get older, I am very comfortable asking the students to "clear." I enjoy humor; I prefer entertaining cross-examinations to belligerent CX. Warrant your claims with evidence or reasoning.

Ultimately, I demand civility: any rhetoric, language, performance or interactions that demean, dehumanize or trivialize fellow debaters, their arguments or judges would be problematic, and I believe, a voting issue.

An occasional interruption of a partner’s speech or deferring to a more expert partner to answer a CX question is not a problem in my view. Generally only one debater at a time should be speaking. Interruptions of partner speeches or CX that makes one partner merely a ventriloquist for the other are extremely problematic.

Clipping cards is cheating. Quoting authors or evidence out of context, or distorting the original meaning of a text or narrative is both intellectually bankrupt and unfair.

There is no such thing as one ideal form or type of debate. I love the clash of ideas and argumentation. That said, I prefer discourse that is educational, and substantive. I want to walk away from a round, as I often do, feeling reassured that the policy makers, educators, and citizens of the future will seek to do a reasonable and ethical job of running the world.

For Lincoln Douglas debates:

I am "old school" and feel most comfortable in a Value/Criterion Framework, but it is your debate to frame. Because I judge policy frequently, I am comfortable with speed but generally find it is needless. Clarity is paramount. Because of the limited time, I find that I typically err AFF on theoretical objections much more than I would in a policy round.

I believe that any argument that an AFF wants to weigh in the 2AR needs to be in the 1AR. I will vote against new 2AR arguments.

I believe that NEG has an obligation to clash with the AFF. For this reason, a counterplan would only be justified in a round when the AFF argues for a plan; otherwise a counterplan is an argument for the AFF. The NEG must force a decision, and for that reason, I am not fond of what used to be called a 'balance neg.'

pronouns: she/her/hers

Hey! I'm a fourth year at Emory University, and I did PF for four years in high school (Myers Park) on the national and local NC circuit. I'm now a Policy debater on Emory's team. Debate is absolutely my favorite activity, and it makes me happy. Overall, I hope you enjoy the round/have fun.

Include me in the email chain! mirandawwilson@gmail.com

Policy:

-Ks: I do not think I am very good for the K because most of the literature is unfamiliar to me. Feel free to strike me. However, I will vote for the K if it is well-explained and well argued. I really value a detailed/comprehensive explanation of the alt and why that is better than the plan. If I don't understand what your alt does, I prob won't vote for the K.

Taken from @Emilyn Hazelbrook's paradigm (which I largely agree with in it's entirety):

-K Affs: Your reason for not defending the resolution should be built into your 1ac. You should prioritize line by line over extensive overviews. Impact turns are more persuasive than counter-interp debating, and clash makes a bit more sense as an impact over fairness, although I will vote on either.

-Topicality: I default to competing interps. Make sure to explain what debates would look like under your interp and theirs in rebuttals and read case lists.

-Theory: Condo is good until you read 4+ advocacies. Everything but condo is a reason to reject the argument, and I can’t see myself voting on most procedurals unless they're egregiously mishandled. Please slow down on theory standards—you're only speaking as fast as I can flow.

-Counterplans: I lean neg on most questions of competition (minus consult cps). If you're aff, read solvency deficits specific to your aff’s mechanism and smart perms. I default to judge kick if the neg says the cp is conditional, but I also think that smart 2nrs won't spend 2 minutes extending a losing cp.

-Disadvantages: Actually compare the aff and disad impacts in rebuttals and read turns case arguments. I prefer topic-specific disads, but enjoy politics disads when debated with very specific links.

-Case: Debates where neg teams invest time into picking apart the 1ac are my favorite to judge. Impact turns, circumvention, and analytics pressing the internal links/aff mechanism are much better than generic impact defense.

Public Forum:

-For PF, tech = truth.

-The flow is important to me but so is narrative. When determining speaks, I will look at how effectively you combined evidence with rhetoric.

-I can handle any speed. I don't love that spreading has entered PF, but oh well.

-Please frontline in second rebuttal!

-I will not flow disads in second rebuttal. Rebuttal is not the time to add in a third contention or argument, it is a time for defense.

-The same cards/arguments/weighing need to be extended in both summary and final focus. Please give me a clear weighing mechanism and explain it! It will make my job much easier.

-Signpost!!!!!!!!!

-I find historical precedent extremely important and love when it's argued in round. I also love framework debates; I think good framework can be used really effectively.

-I love unique arguments!! However, I do not have much experience with theory, and I don't think PF is necessarily the place for it. I'm willing to hear it, but I can't promise you'll be happy with how I evaluate it.

-Please don't misinterpret evidence. I'm begging you. There are so many articles out there. Find a piece of evidence that says what you want it to say instead of misconstruing. Don't be surprised if I call for evidence at the end of a round, especially if it gets indicted.

-To extend evidence you don't necessarily have to extend the citation, just make sure the content of the card stays consistent.

Miscellaneous:

-Be respectful. I have dealt with a lot of sexism during my time in debate, and if you are condescending in anyway I will dock your speaks. Any racist, homophobic, or sexist arguments and you will automatically lose.

-If you don't know someone's pronouns in round (they have not explicitly said them), it's probably best to default to they/them. I do appreciate when debaters post their pronouns before round in the chat.

-I will disclose and give an RFD if both teams want/the tournament allows.

-If your opponent didn't drop an argument, then don't say they dropped it. Also, don't extend through ink.

-Feel free to ask any questions after the round!

-Have fun:)