DEBATE EVENTS:

I am a practicing attorney who occasionally moonlights as a debate judge. Over the past 30 years I have watched competitive debate deteriorate from a program of teaching students effective communication to a program contrived to win rounds by any strategy, including so-called "progressive" tactics that are designed to confuse and overwhelm opponents with tangential and obscure minutia rather than inform and persuade judges with impactful, well-reasoned argumentation.

This is ironic because in real life, in a real courtroom, I will only win a trial if I win the hearts and minds of the jury---presenting artfully crafted arguments that accentuate my personal ethos, while balancing appropriate appeals to logic and passion. If I tried to "spew" or "spread" my arguments to a jury, I would lose the case. If I tried it in front of a judge, I would get kicked out of the courtroom! If I tried to win every case by overwhelming the judge, jury and counsel with every "card" I ever stumbled upon (even remotely related to the case), I would lose all my cases and my clients with them.

The same goes for nearly every other professional communicator. No teacher would teach that way. No news broadcaster would report that way. As far as I can tell, the only job opportunity available to a "progressively" trained debater is to deliver the annoying legal disclaimers at the end of radio commercials.

I realize that my views are hopelessly outdated. No one reading this paradigm statement will ever select me as "1" on a judge preference sheet. Nevertheless, if you have the bad luck of getting me in a round anyway, here are some tips on how to get my vote:

(1) Speak at a normal, conversational rate;

(2) Look me in the eye;

(3) Begin with a clear, real-life illustration of how the Affirmative or Negative case effects real people;

(4) Make me laugh;

(5) Make me cry;

(6) Make me care;

(7) Help me understand what the resolution means;

(8) Help me understand why your ideas are right;

(9) Help me understand why your opponent is wrong; and,

(10) Organize your ideas in a way that makes sense.

I realize that this rhetorical model is profoundly outdated (it is in fact about 2,500 years old). Nevertheless, in the spirit of learning something useful (rather than simply winning another piece of shiny plastic today for speed-reading), please give these ideas a try!

SPEECH EVENTS:

Many Debaters [and coaches] consider speech events to be "throw-away" events---something to do when debaters are not in a "real" debate round. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Speech events teach students about the power of pathos---of making human connections. They provide a wonderful balance to the logos-heavy debate events. To capture my vote [or the vote of most ordinary human beings], a student must be prepared to do the following:

(1) Begin with a clear, real-life illustration of how your topic effects real people;

(2) Make me laugh;

(3) Make me cry;

(4) Make me care;

(5) Help me understand what you mean;

(6) Help me understand why your ideas are right;

(7) Help me understand why any competing viewpoint is wrong [or "misinformed"]; and,

(8) Organize your ideas in a way that makes sense.

Don't be intimidated by all of this this [if you happen to be a hard-core, card-flipping, evidence-stacking debater]. Instead, embrace the opportunity to learn a new [and equally real] way of communicating in a way that focuses on building human connections [rather than squabbling over obscure, marginally-relevant minutia].

Be civil. Debate beyond your case. As you debate, interact with and include all of the information brought up in the round. Speak clearly, and organize your arguments in a clear and concise manner.

Traditional, no spreading.

My biggest thing with debates specifically is respect. There’s no need to hostile/passive-aggressive to your opponents. If you’re rude or straight up offensive it will show in your speaker points. Spewing is an ineffective strategy, if your opponents, partner, or myself don’t understand what you’re saying then there’s no point in having a debate. Also, cite your sources! Evidence in debates is important!

When it comes to speech events I’m a lot less picky. However, speeches that utilize logos, pathos, and ethos generally do better. Cite sources! As for interps, just make sure you follow tournament/NSDA rules.

In debate events, I have four expectations:

1. Respect. If either team/debater shows disrespect to the other's argument, it will reflect badly. Great debates can happen politely. I also expect a level of respect for debate protocols--please don't go over time, don't make statements while questioning, and remember to thank your opponents after the debate is over.
2. Logic. A case needs to make logical sense. If your arguments stay strong on their own, that's best. If you have to defend them, I expect you to think about the topic in new ways. Repeating your contentions is not an adequate defense. My perception of each team's position should change as the debate goes on and they formulate new ways to argue for their sides.
3. Counters. No matter how strong a team's case is, they'll still need to address the case of their opponents. For me, this part of debate determines who wins or loses. If either team/debater has a contention that goes through the debate uncontested, that team is winning in my eyes, so make sure to prepare counters for each of your opponents' contentions. In making counterarguments, refer to expectations 1 and 2.
4. Clarity. It is crucial that I am able to understand each debater's arguments. This includes speaking well (loud enough, with diction, etc.) and thinking well. If you make a point that makes no sense to me, it's not a good point. As debaters, your job is to inform me about the topic and present well-thought-out, clear arguments to me. If I don't understand something, that's on you.

In speech events, I have three expectations:

1. Organization. Especially in impromptu events, make an effort to keep your thoughts and speech orderly. Conjuring thoughts off the top of your head, pausing to think of what to say next, and random interjections that change the topic or flow are discouraged. Remember to speak circularly--rehash everything you've said at the end of your speech, just like in an essay.
2. Speaking Skills. These are speech events, which means you should be comfortable speaking publicly. It's ok to be nervous, but your words themselves should be as solid as you can make them. Have sufficient diction, volume, and inflections. Be mindful of your physical movements and how quickly or slowly you are speaking.
3. Content. Whatever the event, your topic should be clear, thought through, and specific. I want to have a takeaway from your speech. Interpretive events should follow this mold as well--there should be a reason you are giving the speech. If you said a lot of things well but I'm confused about what your speech was about, that's not great.

Overall, I hope you guys have fun and enjoy yourselves! Speech and Debate is one of the most enjoyable activities you can participate in at this age. Good luck!

Above all, I appreciate civility. Respect your opponents and maintain a positive attitude. I don't mind a little aggression, but if you start to get snarky or roll eyes, I will start deducting speaker points. I'm not a fan of spreading or spewing. I will flow as best as I can, but if I can't follow, don't expect to win. Please keep your case appropriate for today's practical application. Clash well, speak clearly and persuasively, and have fun and you should do well.

CITE THE SOURCES OF YOUR EVIDENCE