I have a background in judging World Schools, Asian Parliamentary, Public Forum, and British Parliamentary formats. I have been active (in high school and university debating) since 2013. I also have experience in coaching high school teams in BP and Asians format.

I appreciate speakers that are able to not only make comprehensive and well-analyzed arguments, but also argue the "meta" of the debate, and tell me why their arguments are the most important or relevant compared to the other team's contribution. I appreciate demonstration and discussing pragmatic benefits, but welcome principled argumentation as well. While I do use a timer, I also expect debaters to time themselves. If you have any questions or want feedback, feel free to approach me.

I highly appreciate speeches that engage with the core issues of the debate. There should be effective weighing and compelling argumentation, with sufficient substantiation, to fully credit a speech.

For an argument to be logical and strong enough, I usually evaluate through the following standards: relevance, likelihood or feasibility, impact, and exclusivity.

In terms of style, I prefer those who delivers a clear and properly structured speech. The speed should not be an issue as long as you convey your message well.

I enjoy well-reasoned arguments and dislike arguments without substance. They do not have to perfect, and I am glad to provide feedback whenever possible to improve this skill. I also value creativity with regard to how these arguments are delivered. I look forward to seeing how debaters and orators persuade me

Thank You =)

1. Judge's Name- Vincent Gaviyao

2. Tell us about your debating experience

e. I have judged Public Forum debate for more than one year

3. Tell us about your debating experience

d. I have debated Public Forum for more than a year

4. What I'd your speed preference?

c. TED talk speed (150-200wpm)

5. How much do you know about the topic?

d. I pay attention to this topic, but don't go out of my way to know about it

6. Do you think the second rebuttal speaker should be expected to respond directly to the first rebuttal speaker ( frontlining)?

b. No, the second speaker Rebuttal is only responsible for answering the first constructive

7. How important is the flow(your notes) in making your decision?

What do you write down in your notes?

a. It's very important, l take lots of notes and make my decision based almost entirely on my notes

8. What factors go into your decision as to who wins the debate?

portant facts.

I usually decide the winner of the debate based on three speeches rebuttal, crossfires, and summary. As long as you do well in these three speeches, you are guaranteed success.

I usually decide the winner of the speech based on relevance, relatability, and originality. The contestants who show the greatest emphasis on these three sections win the round.

9. Is there anything else you would like the debaters to know about you?

Lastly, make sure to do your research and prepare extensively before entering the round. Good luck and remember to have fun, everyone!

Hope debaters in my room can speak peacefully, not speaking too fast. And I' m very like the characterizations and mechanisms on how it works when we discuss some topics.

Judge Philosophies

1.Judge’s NameElaine Hu

2.Tell us about your debate judging experience.

a.I have never judged debate before.

b.I have judged debate for less than a year and this is my first time judging Public Forum.

c.I have judged debate for less than a year and have judged Public Forum before.

d.I have judged debate for more than a year, but Public Forum for less than a year.✅

e.I have judged Public Forum debate for more than a year.

3.Tell us about your debating experience.

a.I have never debated competitively before.

b.I debated Public Forum for less than a year.✅

c.I debated other formats for less than a year.

d.I have debated Public Forum for more than a year.

e.I have debated other formats for more than a year, but not Public Forum.

4.What is your speaking speed preference?

a.Deliberate speed (100-120wpm)

b.Conversational speed (120-150wpm)✅

c.TED talk speed (150-200wpm)

d.Fast speed (200+wpm)

5.How much do you know about the topic?

a.I coach debate and have researched this topic

b.I have professional-level knowledge about this topic.

c.I regularly read news about this topic. It’s an interest of mine.✅

d.I pay attention to this topic, but I don’t go out of my way to know about it.

e.I have no idea about the topic. Please make sure I understand things.

6.Do you think the second rebuttal speaker should be expected to respond directly to the first rebuttal speaker (frontlining)?

a.Yes, if the second rebuttal doesn’t respond to the first rebuttal I consider it a dropped argument

b.No, the second speaker rebuttal is only responsible for answering the first constructive✅

c.I’m not sure.

d.Other (please specify)

7.How important is the flow (your notes) in making your decision? What do you write down in your notes?

a.It’s very important. I take lots of notes and make my decision based almost entirely based on my notes.

b.It’s somewhat important. I use my notes to aid me in making my decision.✅

c.It’s not that important. I tend to judge the debate more wholistically.

d.Other (Please Specify)

8.What factors go into your decision as to who wins the debate?

Constructive speech with enough reasoning and impact

Crossfire win is the most important metric in my judging

I prefer debaters do rebut more smartly by knowing what you say and based on what you’ve researched.

9.Is there anything else you would like the debaters to know about you?

no

How important is defining the topic to your decision-making?
Defining the topic helps provide clarity about what the debate will focus on. It ensures that all
participants understand the subject matter and avoid unnecessary tangents or confusion. Clearly defining the topic ensures that all participants have an equal understanding of what is being discussed, preventing any unfair advantages or misunderstandings.
How important is the framework to your decision making?
Having a solid framework is essential for navigating through the exchange of ideas, supporting positions with evidence, and ultimately influencing my decision as a judge. It provides a roadmap for constructing and delivering compelling arguments, contributing significantly to the overall effectiveness of the debate.
How important is the crossfire in your decision making?
In a debate, crossfire is crucial in my decision-making because it allows for direct communication between participants, which makes it easier to clarify points, offer rebuttals, and assess flexibility and critical thinking abilities in real time. This stage provides the opportunity to refute the arguments of opponents while also requiring quick thinking to fill in any holes or weaknesses in the arguments. Crucially, a debater's performance during crossfire influences my perceptions, impacting the debater's position's overall credibility and persuasiveness. This, in turn, has a significant effect on the decision-making process regarding the strength and conviction of arguments presented.
How important is weighing in your decision making?
Argument weighing, which entails comparing and evaluating arguments according to their persuasiveness, quality, and relevance, is a crucial aspect of decision-making during a debate. Debaters can distinguish between important points, rank the strongest arguments, and successfully respond to counterarguments by using this technique. Argument weighing guides me as a judge in determining the most compelling and convincing side of the debate, influencing the final decision regarding the debate's resolution by assessing the strength of evidence, logical reasoning, and relevance to the topic.
How important is persuasive speaking and non-verbal communication in your decision-making?
Persuasive speaking and nonverbal communication are crucial in debate decision-making because they have a significant impact on the delivery and reception of arguments. Persuasive speaking improves the persuasiveness and memorability of arguments through powerful rhetoric and skillful language use, which affects how I evaluate the strength of a debater's position. Simultaneously, nonverbal communication, which includes body language, gestures, and demeanor, supplements verbal arguments by conveying confidence, credibility, and sincerity, ultimately shaping decision-makers' perceptions and having a significant impact on the overall evaluation of the debate's outcome.
How fast should students speak?
Students should generally speak clearly and at a pace that is understandable to the other participants in a debate. Even at faster speaking rates, it's critical to preserve coherence and clarity in debate formats that may promote it. The secret is to effectively communicate arguments without compromising their clarity. Students should strive to speak at a speed that will enable them to interact with their opponents, support their arguments, and make themselves understood by the judge. In order to communicate effectively during a debate, one must strike a balance between speed, articulation and clarity

1.Judge’s Name: Lucy Luo

2.Judging experience: I have judged Public Forum debate for more than a year without receiving complaints.

3.Debating experience: I have debated other formats for more than 2 years but not Public Forum.

4.Preferred speaking speed: conversational speed(120-150wpm) or TED talk speed (150-200wpm)

5.How much do you know about the topic: I pay attention to this topic, but I don’t go out of my way to know about it.

6.Do you think the second rebuttal speaker should be expected to respond directly to the first rebuttal speaker (frontlining)?

:Yes, if the second rebuttal doesn’t respond to the first rebuttal I consider it a dropped argument.

7.How important is the flow (your notes) in making your decision? What do you write down in your notes?

: It’s somewhat important. I use my notes to aid me in making my decision.

8.What factors go into your decision as to who wins the debate?

: The cooperation of the speakers in one team; the response to the opponents; weighing of the cases; the wholeness of the arguments, etc.

9.Is there anything else you would like the debaters to know?

: You can surely have your own timer. No conversation when one is making rebuttal or constructive speech. No need to be angry when your opponents' talking nonsense, the judge will know. Please stay calm and don't let others' feelings lead you astray.

a. I have never judged debate before.

b. I have judged debate for less than a year and this is my first time judging Public Forum.

c. I have judged debate for less than a year and have judged Public Forum before.

d. I have judged debate for more than a year, but Public Forum for less than a year.

e. I have judged Public Forum debate for more than a year.

a. I have never debated competitively before.

b. I debated Public Forum for less than a year.

c. I debated other formats for less than a year.

d. I have debated Public Forum for more than a year.

e. I have debated other formats for more than a year, but not Public Forum.

a. Deliberate speed (100-120wpm)

b. Conversational speed (120-150wpm)

c. TED talk speed (150-200wpm)

d. Fast speed (200+wpm)

a. I coach debate and have researched this topic

b. I have professional-level knowledge about this topic.

c. I regularly read news about this topic. It’s an interest of mine.

d. I pay attention to this topic, but I don’t go out of my way to know about it.

e. I have no idea about the topic. Please make sure I understand things.

a. Yes, if the second rebuttal doesn’t respond to the first rebuttal I consider it a dropped argument

b. No, the second speaker rebuttal is only responsible for answering the first constructive

c. I’m not sure.

d. Other (please specify)

a. It’s very important. I take lots of notes and make my decision based almost entirely based on my notes.

b. It’s somewhat important. I use my notes to aid me in making my decision.

c. It’s not that important. I tend to judge the debate more wholistically.

d. Other (Please Specify)

The effectiveness of your own case—comprising the clarity of your claim, the coherence of your mechanism, and the significance of your impact. Equally crucial is your engagement with your opponents' case, including rebuttals, weighing etc. Lastly, the adequacy and quality of your evidence—encompassing its truthfulness, authority, importance, and influence.

I firmly believe that it's essential to respect your opponents in a debate, steering clear of any aggressive intentions or actions, and instead opting for a polite and courteous approach.

1. What types of debate have you participated in before and how long is your debate career?

PF and BP. Have 6 years of debate experience. I've judged 20+ TOC, 10+ WSDA, and 10+ DLC tournaments. Also, I did a half-year TA experience at Speechcraft in Chengdu, mainly for PF debate and speech.

2. How do you consider fast-talking?

This requires a combination of the clarity of the debater's delivery, as well as the accuracy of the delivery. If the debater can emphasize the key points by using voice intonation or appropriate pauses. It is acceptable to speak at a fast pace if the articulation is clear and the arguments given are detailed.

3. How do you consider aggressiveness?

This depends on the specific situation, if it does not involve personal attacks on the opponent with insulting words, or radical political statements, as well as discriminatory and racist content. It is only the personal debate character of the debater, will be expressed in the speed of speech, or emotional ups and downs fluctuate strongly, this is acceptable.

4. How do you usually determine the winner of the debate?

I would consider the following three sections:

First, the completeness of the structure of the speech. From the constructive speech whether to establish a detailed framework and definition (not just repeat the motion's content), rebuttal speech performance (including: whether to carry out effective rebuttal, and based on the constructive speech on the output of new extensions), and the final focus/summary speech whether to summarize the clashes properly, and point of valid view comparison (not just repeat the previous point of view needs to be summarized and condensed), and the final focus/summary speech whether to summarize the clashes and point of view comparison (not just repeat the previous arguements needs to be summarized and condensed). The performance of the rebuttal speech (including: whether there are effective rebuttals, and whether there are new ideas based on teammates' constructive speeches), and whether there are clashes in the final focus/summary speech, as well as the comparison of ideas (not just repeating previous ideas, but summarizing and condensing them).

Second, the overall performance at crossfire. Including: strategy design, whether to be able to ask effective questions (do a good job of attacking). As well as the ability to answer questions to improve their own side of the argument, to enhance their own side of the position (whether the defense is in place). Extra bonus points for performance: the ability to catch the other side's loopholes and contradictions in the answer to carry out many repeated attacks (here is the test of the team's two-person cooperation).

Third, how well the team works together, whether the pacing of the two people stays synergistic/complementary, and whether both people are on point when it comes to wrapping up at the end of the debate.

5. Please specify any additional notes you want to share with debaters, including any unique preference of the debate.

I don't have any preference for debating styles, but I hope that everyone will be able to have your thoughts and not just concentrate on reading scripts/flows just for the speed of speech and debate.

I am very attentive to the logic of each team's debate, as well as your interpretation of the topic and demonstration of your arguments. I hope everyone can respect the competition and your opponents, and don't be rude and interrupt when others are speaking.