Pittsburgh Central Catholic Head Speech Coach

If you have any questions about your ballot, my email is pjb82@pitt.edu

((Extemp Paradigm for National Circuit, if you care))

1) Hooks - Connections to pop culture hinder your ability to deliver a good speech. Please do not waste anyone's time by connecting Afghanistan to SpongeBob. I much prefer the first ~45s-1m to be explaining the context of the question: How did we get here? What historical information do I need to know? Any Definitions?

2) Structure - Detail your structure, and stick to it. Make sure you let me know when we are transitioning points, and keep these transitions simple. Keep your points relatively similar in length. 3 points is better than 2. Put your most salient & impactful point last.

3) Warranting - Along with analysis, you need to warrant your claims clearly. This means connecting your analysis back to your claim for the particular point & connecting it to your overall answer to the prompt, in one fell swoop. Strong warranting means you have real skill in argumentation.

Otherwise, be confident, be clear, don't speak too fast, etc. I will also probably count your sources. Diversify them. Don't lie about citations. Arguing directly with a source that disagrees with your conclusion is strong argumentation.

((Paradigms for other speech events are stupid because you can't change your piece midway through a tournament))

Email chain, please! jkk34@pitt.edu

he/him

Pittsburgh Central Catholic '21 (currently coaching)

If I am judging you in debate, please keep in mind that I am not trained in any style of debate. Please go slow, please warrant your arguments, and please refrain from using jargon.

Policy -

No spreading. It's poor communication and a sign of an inability to deliver your argument competently, concisely and persuasively. Is it standard in policy? Yes. Do I care? No.

No K's or identity arguments. I love substantive debate - it's why we're here, right? To debate policy?

Limit theory only to topicality. Need to have proper warrants, links, and impacts. Proper use of impacts is essential to policy formation.

Public Forum -

I am a former extemper and public forum debater who prefers clear analysis, well-cited arguments and clearly outlined reasons for decision in the third and fourth speeches.

I am a flow judge. I try and balance my final decision between who had persuaded me more of their position overall and who won the key arguments of the round. I find that the winning team almost always is stronger in both regards, but if it is close I typically award the win to the team who has persuaded me more of their position overall.

Along those lines, I don't score the rounds based on a strict win-loss basis for each contention. For example, if the affirmative had the better argument on several contentions, but negative had the stronger argument on the main contention at issue in the round, I typically would award the win to negation.

Teams that clearly outline their reasons for decision/voting issues in the third and fourth speeches tend to do better than those that do not. I like it when teams clearly tell me what issues they believe defined the round and why I should vote for them.

I will not hold the speed of your delivery against you, but spread at your own risk. I can only judge based on the arguments I hear. I prefer a more conversational style but am fine with some faster reading - but if I miss points because you read too fast, that's on you.

I am here to listen to the best arguments you've brought to defend your side. I tend not to rate highly teams that get lost in PF-jargon or who try and score technical points in lieu of making a strong argument.

If you are asked to provide a source and you are unable to provide it, I follow PHSSL rules and consider that an automatic loss. Providing analytical and empirical evidence is always necessary. Citing sources is essential for you to formulate your argument, for your opponents to accept the statistics you provide, and to give me the judge a basis to judge the data both teams are using to convince me their argument is superior. Technology or wifi issues are not an excuse - you should be prepared and have downloaded your case and cards so they're accessible offline before the tournament - as we all know, wifi can be spotty at debate tournaments.

My background: I am a public forum coach. I have judged more public forum rounds than any other event combined over the last three school years. I have an educational background in international affairs and a professional background in public policy and education. I do my best to not allow my prior knowledge to influence my decision-making and strive to decide every round by the arguments brought to bear within the four walls of competition room.

I am a lay judge who prefers clear analysis, well-cited arguments and clearly outlined reasons for decision in the third and fourth speeches. Teams that clearly outline their reasons for decision/voting issues in the third and fourth speeches tend to do better than those that do not. I like it when teams clearly tell me what issues they believe defined the round and why I should vote for them.

I prefer a more conversational style debate with no spreading - if I miss points because you read too fast, that's on you. I am here to listen to the best arguments you've brought to defend your side. I tend not to rate highly teams that rely heavily on PF-jargon or who try and score technical points. If you are asked to provide a source and you are unable to provide it, I follow PHSSL rules and consider that an automatic loss.

- Gloria