Greetings! I am thrilled to be your judge, and look forward to seeing you soon!

About me: I debated for four years in most events—NSDA National Qualifier in Congress (4x), Public Forum (2x), Extemp, Big Questions, and Duo; second-most NSDA points in the U.S. for class of 2022; and four-time elimination round qualifier at NSDA Nationals. Since then, I have judged a lot of Speech and Debate, mainly in Wyoming.

My paradigm is simple: be yourself. This is your space! I will do my best to be objective and consider everything said in the round: framework, then voters/contentions, and any weighing of impacts underneath them. However, I’m not a robot. I will vote for the team that appeals to me the most. Debate is more than an exercise in technicalities—it is an appeal to human thought, logic, and values.

Three quick notes: First, have fun and smile! Debate is such an awesome experience, and I find myself enjoying rounds more when y’all are, too! Second, no off-time roadmaps. Usually these are unnecessarily long, for little reward. Third, presentation matters. Speed should not preclude clarity, and eye contact, rhetoric, and dynamism are instrumental in ensuring that I am convinced by your arguments.

Note about Congress (borrowed from Joshua Hansen): This is a debate, not just a platform speaking event. Speeches on a bill should flow coherently between one another, with rebuttal and refutation, not just existing in a vacuum. Outside of a sponsorship, I'll be much more impressed by a primarily extemporaneous speech that interacts with the round than a perfectly recited, pre-written speech read verbatim off your computer.

Additionally, I'm judging you for the entirety of the round—your questions matter, as does your behavior when you think no one is looking. Excessive whispering or disruption during another competitor's speech is grounds for losing ranks, as is talking over other competitors or otherwise lacking decorum during motions and segues between speeches.

I really enjoy judging, and I will always leave some written feedback for you. For any further questions, please email me at willaepli@princeton.edu.

My top voting issues-

#1- Do not speak too fast and speak clearly! If I can’t understand you, how am I supposed to vote for you?

#2- Show respect to your competitors! If you ask a question, let them answer it. Your non-verbal language also shows respect, so be cautious of how you react.

#3- Give me voters- a summary of what took place shows me you know what you are talking about.

My Background-

My daughter did Policy (CX) debate and that is when I learned I do NOT like speed-reading cases. I have been coaching since 2017 and still feel like a new speech & debate coach.

If you want anything more specific, ask before the round starts.

I have different paradigms for every debate event, so they are as follows:

Public Forum-

This was my high school event. I have the most experience debating and judging Public Forum than the other events. With that being said, I have the most specific PF paradigm. PF is meant to be a traditional style of debate, so I want a logical flow of arguments that point directly to the the resolution. I don't expect the winning team to win every single point, but it is a debate of weighing. Prove why your impacts, contentions, and evidence outweighs your opponents'. Which brings me to my next paradigm- EVIDENCE. Please don't just dump 100 cards and link none of them- I would rather you have less evidence with equal impacts, linking, and framework than tons of evidence with no explanations. PF is NOT Policy light, so don't spread. I can handle speed, but I value speaking ability, enunciation, and intelligent linking in PF above speaking fast & overloading evidence. (But don't misinterpret that to mean don't use evidence- because it is certainly still necessary.) No plans, CP's, K's, Topicalities, etc. Once again, this is NOT Policy light. If you're going to make an evidence validity argument, pair it with another argument- evidence arguments alone don't win arguments for me. Make sure to signpost attacks and defenses. Set up each speech with quick off-time roadmap.

Lincoln-Douglas-

I dabbled in LD, so once again I have a traditional approach to judging LD. This is supposed to be a moral debate, so let's keep it that way. Defend your value at all costs, and use minimal evidence strategically to prove this value as being of greater importance than your opponent's. While I am okay with a little speed in PF and Policy, LD should NOT be a spread event. Enunciate everything and articulate the morality of your case. If you can persuade me of your case's ethics, you'll win my vote. VC should support the value, and explain the measurability of it. If you're going to make an evidence validity argument, make sure you pair it with another argument on the same point- evidence arguments don't win a point for me. Signpost attacks & defenses. Set up every speech with a quick off-time roadmap.

Policy-

With me, anything goes in policy- as long as it makes sense. I can follow speed, link chains, impact turns, etc, but if they don't make logical sense I can't give you the ballot. Just be sure your plan is achievable, your impacts link, and your sources aren't non-sequiturs.

Be civil, respectful, and articulate. I'm okay with intense and semi-aggressive debating, but don't cross the threshold into rudeness. Good luck.

You need to support assertions with analysis and evidence to make them into persuasive arguments. You need to listen to previous speakers in order to provide direct clash and expansion and to avoid mere repetition. You need to speak articulately and succinctly. Your speed needs to not preclude clarity.

Competed for four years for Jackson Hole, Wyoming—NSDA national qualifier in Public Forum (2x), Congressional Debate (3x), Big Questions, and Duet Interpretation; most NSDA points in the U.S. for class of 2021; TOC National Champion Presiding Officer in 2021.

I won't vote you down for speed, but if I can't understand an argument, I won't vote on it. The quality of your speaking and presentation matters. Please weigh and contextualize your arguments.

For any questions regarding my paradigm or an RFD, I can be reached at joshuahansen@college.harvard.edu.

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For Congressional Debate:

This is a debate, not just a platform speaking event. Speeches on a bill should flow coherently between one another, with rebuttal and refutation, not just existing in a vacuum. Outside of a sponsorship, I'll be much more impressed by a primarily extemporaneous speech that interacts with the round than a perfectly recited, pre-written speech read verbatim off your computer.

Additionally, I'm judging you for the entirety of the round—your questions matter, as does your behavior when you think no one is looking. Excessive whispering or disruption during another competitor's speech is grounds for losing ranks, as is talking over other competitors or otherwise lacking decorum during motions and segues between speeches.

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For the Ronald Reagan Great Communicator Debate Series:

I was a 2020 National Finalist, competed at and made out-rounds in four regional tournaments, and have judged multiple final rounds at regionals since graduating. I take the GCDS prescribed paradigm seriously—be polite, be presidential, focus on the big picture, and don’t treat it like a normal NSDA debate event.

My biggest paradigm is to be respectful to your opponents. I want to see a clean fair debate. I want debaters to speak clearly and don't rush so fast that I can't understand them.

I am a platform speech and debate coach with experience coaching kids in oratory, informative, extemporaneous speaking, and congressional debate. I also have past experience helping kids write cases for debates and cut literature for poetry, drama, and poi.

As a platform or interpretive events judge, I try to follow the recommended rubric and rate speakers on the quality of their logic, their development, their delivery, and their physical presence.

The one event you absolutely do not want me to judge is humor. However, I would be best suited to judging oratory or extemporaneous speaking.

As a debate judge, I pay attention to the logical flow of arguments and prefer to hear sound logic without reliance on logical fallacies. I can judge any of the debate formats, but my personal preference is Lincoln-Douglas due to the added requirement of adhering to a value and criterion throughout the debate.

Howdy! My name is Breeze (she/they) and I am very excited to be judging whatever it is you are competing in.

A little about me I attend Hamilton College in Clinton, NY where I am a major in International Relations.

I did speech and debate for four years in High School. I did almost every event under the sun (PF, LD, Congress, OO, Info, DUO, PO, Impromptu). I like to think I was pretty good. I've got two national tournaments under my belt and a top 24 in congressional debate at the 2020 nat tourney.

If you are looking at this I'm gonna assume you are here because you are a debater so let's get to the good stuff.

All Debaters: Please, on-time road maps (With the exception of CX). I will be timing you, any speaking past a 10 second grace period will not be considered in the debate. This should be obvious and a standard at this point but hate speech and disrespectful debate are never tolerable. Got a chain? Add me breezepetty@gmail.com

LD: Clash is super important obviously, but that includes value, value criterion, and contention clash. Don't get too caught up on one versus the other. I will be flowing so make sure you do your best to cover the entire flow in every speech. Evidence is good but philosophic debate is it's equal I just ask that every new argument you make is supported by one or the other, otherwise, it gets challenging to weigh it accurately in the debate.

PF: Clash is important, duh. I want to see evidence supporting every argument made in the debate and validity of evidence is a welcome point of contention in the event it is necessary.

CX: Not a big fan of spreading but if you speak clearly I will probably follow. Stock issues are important.

Congress: Wow I didn't think congress kids looked at paradigms, I'm impressed if you are here. I like to see good concise speeches with structure and evidence. If you are speaking later in the debate on a bill don't waste everyone's time arguing the same thing that's been argued before.

For CX - I am a Stock Issues judge. I like to see a lot of on case being debated. I like to see policy being debated. I do not like blatant lies in a debate. I want to see direct clash. I have no problem giving a low point win. If the argument is better that is what will win you the debate. While I can flow spreading I’m not impressed by it. Speak well, work well with your partner, and debate the policy.

WS:

I have coached World Schools for two years now. I look for a good oratory speaking style paired with a strong, common theme that unities what point you are trying to make. I want your 3rd substantive to be a more interesting argument. Your team needs to work together well to create a strategy to win. Do not be too aggressive, be kind, be respectful, and don’t just say “they are wrong”. Back up all arguments with a reason why they are wrong. 

Jean-Luc Willson (He/They)

Please put me on the email chain: jlfwillson@gmail.com

Updated 1/9/2024

I competed in the Wyoming high school debate circuit for 4 years and am currently a 2nd year policy debater at the University of Wyoming and debate coach for Hot Springs County High School. I request that everyone be respectful to each other both in and out of the round and I will not tolerate any racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism or any other discrimination and intolerance.

LD

I am well versed in LD debate as I did it for three years in high school. I like to see clash in substance, especially if the values are the same or similar. A framework debate is important, but without a winning link to said framework I see no reason to vote. Make sure to prioritize impacts in your voters. Make sure your claims are substantiated with warrants, even if there isn't evidence for your claim. Smart, logical, analytic arguments are amazing, but they need to be well explained and warranted. Debate is a space for students to do what they want, so "this isn't policy debate" isn't a real argument. Explain why what they have done is bad for LD, don't just assert that is. This is probably best done on the framework level of the debate, have a value that prioritizes theory over pragmatism and convince me that their focus on consequences is bad.

PF

This is the format I am least familiar with so make sure to tell me in round what is the most important facet I need to vote on. Prioritize impacts over anything else. I have no familiarity with this topic, so make sure to be clear and explain your arguments in depth so I know exactly what I need to evaluate when voting

Policy

I am most well versed here as this is the format I do in college. Bottom line is that I am comfortable with any position that you would like to run. I am familiar with K debate, multi-plank counterplans, and theory debates, so perform to your hearts content as I should be able to follow along. Speed is not an issue for me, in fact I quite enjoy a fast debate, especially in the early speeches. I have absolutely no familiarity with this topic so make sure that the link chains are clearly explained and impacts are very noticeable and well explained.

DAs

Love a good DA, especially at the internal link level. The better the internals are the more convinced I will be to vote on it and that's where I think AFFs can put the most convincing pressure. Impacts are important and I love turns case arguments so give them in your overviews.

CPs

I am fairly comfortable with counterplans at both a functional and theoretical level. Perms are a test of competition, so simply winning the perm doesn't mean you get the net benefit for AFFs. I tend to kick the counterplan for negatives if they lose it and then evaluate the impacts with the status quo, so if you are against judge kick make a strong push in the rebuttals. I like to see condo debates, I tend to lean towards multiple conditional worlds, however I will look at conditionality as its own separate debate and if the AFF wins then the AFF wins the round. If you are to have a condo debate, please make it in depth and worthwhile, not shallow one liners. Make sure all counterplans have a clear net benefit and explain the specific mechanisms that they use to solve the AFF.

Case

Teams should have better case debates around a few, well-developed args in the 2NR. I like to see a bunch of stuff to test the AFF early and then boil down to one or two positions per sheet that have a really convincing story. Go in-depth and use examples and applications to show why it mitigates the solvency of the AFF and makes the DA/Alt more threatening. Teams go for too much in the 2NR/2AR, make the debate small and powerful.

Ks vs. Policy AFF

I am comfortable with kritikal debate as I run Ks in college. FW heavy Ks are valid and having an in depth discussion of how I should weigh the impacts of the round is important. Alternatives can be largely theoretical if you have a strong defense of FW, but it does make the burden of the NEG higher. Alternatives do not have to solve the entirety of the AFF nor result in the AFF but NEG teams should at least explain why I shouldn't evaluate those impacts and how it solves the links. Make sure link packages are specific to the AFF and explain the links that were made in the round. Overviews are cool because they provide an opportunity to engage with the impacts of the AFF and solvency to create a presumption push.

FW vs. K AFF

FW is a T argument at its core, so you should provide me with impacts for why their model of debate is bad for topic engagement. I will evaluate both fairness and clash as impacts, although I tend to be more persuaded by clash and skills. TVAs help a lot, give me reasons it accesses their lit base and solves your offense. I will vote on AFF impact turns, but I like to see a well developed counter-interp. This should function like a counterplan/alt that solves the AFF and NEG offense. Debating about debate is one of the most fun parts about this activity, so enjoy your opportunity to have a meta discussion about the activity you are participating in!

T

I am comfortable with topicality. Just like every other position, make sure to prioritize the impacts and why your opponents interpretation is harmful for debate. I probably won't vote on RVI. In depth explanations are appreciated as these debates can often become very complicated. Explain why grounds and limits are important to the debate i.e. why they are internal links to your larger impacts. 2NRs should directly compare models of debate, what does debate look like under their interpretation, what's the case list, is there a TVA? These are all very important questions to answer.