• I'm a volunteer and I've read over some information about this topic, but I'm fairly new to judging. I prioritize presentation skills and clarity of argument.

Debate- I always choose a winner based on rebuttals and final speeches. I favor the team that shows the most clash while also defending their own contentions. I can handle fast talking as long as the debater can speak quickly while still being intelligible.

Congress- I appreciate a good road map in the speech intro and solid examples that support your contentions. I also highly rate representatives that are active questioners.

Speech- Clear organization is very important, I need to be able to follow your speech. As far as delivery, I really notice and appreciate speakers who incorporate vocal variety and make consistent eye contact.

I did Public Forum for 4 years, and have been judging for 3.

I can handle speed as long as you aren't reading at the speed of a policy constructive

I trust you guys to time yourselves

I do not like debater math

I lean toward tech>truth

I do not flow cross, It is a clarifying period for both debaters, however, if you deem something important was brought up in cross, please mention it in a speech in order for it to continue on the flow. Make sure not to end up having cross becoming a yelling match, it is not going to make me want to vote for you more.

Make sure to weigh and use Impact Calculus in final speeches, ex.(magnitude, timeframe)

if you need my email for email chains: scottccoller@gmail.com

Debated for Rowland Hall (~1 yr on the circuit), West HS (1), and Brookfield East (1).

Add me to the chain mdagar2074@gmail.com

TL;DR debate is a game

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I learned from the goat Arunabh

- send evidence read in speech to the chain for a bump up in speaks, same goes for open-source disclosing and not paraphrasing

- don't delay the round so just preflow before round

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Topical stuff

- if you read like a 4 contention case I'll be sad, sole contentions tend to have better depth of argumentation.

- DAs/Overviews in PF are very scummy so if you read a DA make sure it actually interacts with some level of the argument (preferably link).

- weighing should be started in rebuttal -- it makes for the most fun debates imo.

Speed

- Fine with speed if it is cut card spreading just send a doc if above 275 wpm and slow down on tags and author names.

- do not spread 250+ wpm if you paraphrase it just makes me wanna cry bruh cause its a 4 minute speech scattered with 50 cards and blippy warranting.

- I'll yell clear.

- slow down in final

Evidence

- even though I don't like paraphrasing I'll still evaluate paraphrased ev.

- misconstrued evidence is struck off the flow but depending on the severity it can warrant an L

Prog (Theory/K/T)

I believe that disclosing is good (here's how to) and paraphrasing is bad but I won't necessarily hack for either.

- If you read disclosure theory I expect open source disclosure with tags, highlights, and cites/creds. I'll evaluate OS v Full-text debates.

- If you read paraphrasing theory I expect you to tag, not just read the cut (the vacancy of tags just leads to more blippy args which doesn't abide by one of the common justifications of the theory)

- default to competing interps and no RVIs

- Read trigger warnings for obviously triggering subjects

- severance is bad -- explain kicks or turns are fair game

- kritiks are ok especially topical ones (please not cap k though). Make sure you have an alt that isn't "reject the aff." I don't really like judging these rounds though.

- no tricks

- theory spikes are kinda wack but I'll evaluate them

My paradigm is pretty by the books. Please stick to the general rules of each given round and you'll be fine. I believe the best argument, presentation and speakers should win each round. Cross-examination is something that is important to me in each round that I judge so I will flow it and will take it into account when deciding a winner of a round. But again Sticking to the given rules of each round is my biggest preference. here is a list things that I will not accept as a Judge. 

1. Being disrespectful/rude to your opponents. (over-talking, talking out of turn, shouting, cursing at your opponents etc.)
2. Not being on time for your round.
3. Going outside of your allotted speaking times.

LD: As I flow your round, I’ll be looking to see how your value and criterion work in tandem to prove the moral rationale that LD rests; furthermore, I don’t like when crossfires engage in obnoxious back-and-forths with questions that don’t add any substantive value to the round. Lastly, it's imperative that you underscore the credibility of your cards, especially when making claims including stats, data, points, and political and historical claims that attack your opponent’s arguments.

PF: I enjoy PF and like to flow the rounds I judge to provide you with the best feedback I can. I love to see link chains and impacts that are substantial to the case; rather than just reading the cards, I’d appreciate you explaining and further reinforcing your points, data, and stats, to let me know that you know your case all around. If you speak too fast, I’ll try to keep up as I flow but once you’ve lost me, I’ll stop flowing. I am not a fan of voters that are reliant on ethos; I prefer you use logic in voters that explain to me what you’ve argued in round. Don’t forget that I’m also flowing the round so if your claim is that they’ve dropped certain points, I’ll refer to my flow to assess that claim.

CX: I like to flow Policy rounds - please be mindful that I will flow the round and I appreciate signposts. If you’re speaking too fast (spreading) and I lose track of what you’re arguing, I may not be able to appropriately flow the round. I like policy and I’ll be looking for which side proves the resolution is true or false. I’m not a fan of off-cases (T, XT, FX, or Ks) unless they’re CPs. If you must absolutely run a K because you believe you have an edge over your competitors, please explain it to me if it’s an obscure or unpopular K.

This is my 2nd year judging at debate tournaments. Last year I judged mostly speech events and this year I have started judging debate events (mostly PF). I was a political science major in college, and I am a cardiologist.

I judge based on whether an argument is persuasive, backed up by facts and references, ability to counter opponents points, eye contact, body language, and clarity of the oratory itself. Even if an argument is valid and persuasive, it really helps when backed up with examples, facts, references. I strive to provide helpful feedback and really appreciate all the work that you all put into these events.

Hi guys!

My name is Zoey and I debated PF on the national circuit for all four years of high school at Rowland Hall in Salt Lake City Utah. I qualified for nationals two years in a row and have made it pretty far in some high skill national tournaments, such as Alta, Jack Howe, ASU, etc. I love debate and know a lot about debate so no need to be worried about me being a lay judge in any way.

As for what I would like to see in rounds. First and foremost please please please be respectful. If I see or hear any homophobia, xenophobia, racism, or ignorance of any kind, wether in arguments or in cross, I will nuke your speaks if not drop your entire team. Abusiveness in arguments or presence is not welcome in the debate space. Additionally if I see debaters, specifically female or nonbinary ones, being spoken down to, interrupted, or made uncomfortable I will, again, either injure your speaks or drop you depending on the severity.

Okay, secondly, I am totally okay with progressive debate, speed, theory, K's, tricks, etc. If you are planning on speed, I would prefer you just speak at a pace where I can flow on my computer or, if needed, send me a doc. I am pretty good with theory and K's and tricks, but please if the other team is not do not use it as a cheap way to win, I will view that as bad debate.

As for speeches in general, I am tech over truth, but don't push that, lie, and be abusive. Framework is cool but not necessary. PLEASE FRONTLINE! Frontlining starts as early as second rebuttal, and I expect extensions to be from resolution to impact, do not just extend through ink. Additionally please collapse, taking on too many arguments at once makes for bad debate. I expect summaries to be the best speeches in the round because you have the most to do in just three minutes so make use of your time and learn what matters in a speech. Final focus is pretty simple, weigh weigh weigh, impact impact impact. I believe that weighing should be brought up in rebuttals, but I also understand not having enough time. That being said if one team weighs in rebuttal and extends through FF, and one team waits until FF to start, there will be a large advantage for the other team. Honestly just debate well, weigh, extend resolution to impact, collapse, and be respectful :)

Cross will in no way impact who wins or your speaks but if there is abuse that can change. Please make cross fun, yes use it as a way to answer questions you need answered, but also the best part about cross is making your opponents get flustered and feel behind. Use it to your advantage, it can help in speeches. If you bring up something said in cross during a speech I will flow it but in general I will not be flowing cross.

As for evidence, I have high evidence standards, I am cool with paraphrasing don't worry, I think it is needed in PF, but please have everything carded and ready to show your opponents. I will only call for cards if it is contended or seems sus.

If I am forgetting something feel free to ask me before the round starts! Also please be on time to rounds :) have fun, debate well, be kind, and good luck

Here is a collection of my most recent paradigms for each event I have judged. I'll try my best to keep my current tournament at the top.

CX (ASU 2025)
I competed in speech and debate for three years in high school and then did a semester of speech in college. Beyond that I’ve coached for the last four years. I competed in policy for one season, but never went to a debate camp. Most of what I know from the event has come from judging and coaching kids who are far better than I ever was. It would be accurate to say that most of my experience as a competitor was in speech. That being said, I know how to flow, I know how to evaluate kritiks, theory, couterplans, dissads, etc, so run whatever you please. Your best course of action is to treat me like an experienced lay judge. I know what I’m doing, but I won’t be able to keep up with the highest levels of competition.

I also have some unpopular hot takes about policy debate you should know about:

· I believe debate is an activity built around oral communication, and I want to hear you speak. Because of this, I will likely not be reading your speech doc unless an issue arises. Ask yourself this, if you’re talking so fast someone needs to read your script to keep up, is it even a speech? Or is it just an indiscernible collection of words to satisfy a technicality. Speaking with a rapid pace is fine, but I ask that you maintain clear enunciation during signposting, taglines, and anything that isn’t strictly the body of evidence. You’re free to spread however you see fit, but I leave you with this wisdom: if you want me to write it down, slow down and give emphasis.

· I believe that debate is more than a game. I see debate as a place where some of the brightest young people in the world can discuss incredibly important issues. It’s for this reason that I’m not too fond of convoluted impacts scenarios. Not every policy arg needs to end in a nuclear war and not every kritik needs to end in some foolishly assumed global revolution. There are authentic and tangible issues that people suffer through every day that are neglected for the sake of having a bigger impact. It’s a silly arms race that scorns the real problems happening in the world. “To ignore the plight of those one might conceivably save is not wisdom ─ it is indolence.”

· I believe that cards are not truth currency, and not all arguments are created equal. While you may have the ability to find impact evidence for almost any scenario imaginable, I expect you to critically evaluate who or what qualifies as a credible source. Overall, I’m tech over truth, but if your argument stinks and lacks basis in reality it won’t take much from your opponent to convince me. And please, do weighing. Applying X card to Y argument does not tell me why their argument is wrong, it just tells me you have a massive block file. Spell it out for me.

Speech (MS NSDA 2024)

To put my experience briefly I did two years of debate and one year of FX, placing at HS Utah state finals in 2019. I've been coaching and judging on and off ever since.

I have one simple rule: entertain me. If the speech is entertaining and memorable and well executed you will get my vote. Extempers, bring good sources, I will be counting. I expect a good structure and an introduction as well. Impromptu, if your speech feels canned at all it'll not get a good reaction from me, you're better than that. Oratory, the floor is yours for 10 minutes, go wild, but please don't abuse the grace period. Interps, I expect an overall compelling narrative not just overstimulation for 10 minutes.

PF (Jack Howe 2023)

Something I should say right off the bat, I have zero experience judging or coaching this particular topic.

I have 3 years of high school competitor experience doing public forum, policy, and extemp. I also did a semester of various speech events in college before the pandemic. I was an assistant high school coach for the 2022 season and have done a variety of coaching and judging for just about every event since.

What I look for in a public forum debate is accessibility. Feel free to call me archaic, but I believe that this event should stay true to it’s name and not become a hyper-competitive and hyper-meta space like policy. What I look for is great speeches with thought out articulation, not just a slew of cards thrown at me down a line. That being said, I’m flexible with the arguments you can run and don’t carry much bias in that regard. I’m perfectly fine hearing arguments that are a little out of the box and not just stolen from a brief somewhere, the variety is nice. I also weigh your demeanor and respect for your opponents heavily when it comes to speaker points.

One bias I like to be transparent about is that I am a scientist by trade. I am perfectly capable of accepting tech over truth in a debate space, however, if the round is close, being on the side of truth will be advantageous to you.

Debate smart, be polite, be truthful, and remember to have fun!

Hello, my name is Tamara Townsend. I am an energy and environmental attorney. I really enjoy judging and am so impressed with the intelligence and professionalism of the competitors. Things I look for:

1) Energy- whatever side you are arguing, step fully into that role and persuade me that it is your preferred position. Often the passion and energy of a competitor shows their preparation and enthusiasm for the topic. Persuade me that you should win.
2) Responsive- Show your flexibility and depth of knowledge by specifically attacking your opponents case with logic and evidence.
3) Respect- A vigorous debate is encouraged but please maintain the highest level of professionalism and respect.

I have judged a lot of debate events. I do not mind spreading as long as I have a copy of the brief. If you plan to spread put me on the email chain.

I appreciate off-time roadmaps. Please do not spread during off-time roadmaps--that is a chance for me to understand your organization. Use words not lingo in your roadmap--it does not count against your time.

I do not like a ton of lingo or abbreviations, especially in policy debate. I understand the lingo but I would rather hear your analysis in full words not abbreviations.

Two housekeeping items: I am friendly but I don't like to shake hands; please don't take it personally. Also, the answer is always yes keep your own time. I will keep time too.

Your debate experience will serve you well and build resilience. I hope you enjoy the process! Thank you, Tamara Townsend

To be completely honest I am very new to judging, and don't know all of the ins and outs of a debate round. This means that clarity makes a big difference in how I will vote if you are unclear on your argument.

Hi,

I am a lay judge. Please treat me accordingly (This is my first tournament). Please do not spread or read any theory arguments/K's. I value CLEAR arguments over anything else. I will not vote off of cross fire but I will listen. Please explain why your arguments matter and how I should view them. Also please give clear impacts and tell me why I should vote for them. Don't assume I know anything! Goodluck!

I teach speech and debate, and I currently serve as a coach for Park City High School. I have been involved as a parent, a judge and a coach since 2015. I enter each round with respect and admiration for all of you, because you have chosen to engage in important conversations within this educational space.

If you want to read theory, please strike me.

In-round Preferences:

I love comparative weighing throughout the round.

The language you use during round is important. Please refrain from making arguments that contain language that might be hurtful to marginalized groups.

A good, robust cross is always appreciated, and I love a healthy clash, as long as it is respectful.

You know the rest - convince me that your arguments are better and you will pick-up my ballot.

My email is awilliams@pcschools.us