For email chains, please use kevin@civis.org

Debate background: I debated both LD and policy in high school and both CEDA and NDT in college. I also coached high school debate while in college and coached college debate while in graduate school. I have also directed several tournaments of a public forum nature for embassies in Washington, DC. I now coach and judge for my daughter's high school public forum team, so I have probably done at least some research and thinking about the topic. In my day job I design and publish historical board games.

My ballot is either an endorsement or rejection of the affirmative based on its (a) anticipated outcomes and (b) philosophical underpinnings. If the affirmative is not (reasonably) topical, then I lack jurisdiction to evaluate it and must vote negative.

I have a very strong preference for the probability of impacts over the magnitude of impacts. This is not to say I dislike big impacts, but you need a good link story to access those impacts. I am willing to assign zero risk to a disad if the links are just not there. I also find affirmative solvency to often be lacking - with the proper analytical and evidentiary presses, I am very willing to vote negative on "zero solvency."

I am very fond of counterplans but find that I lean affirmative on most theoretical issues. I find "counterplan solves better" a very compelling argument and can be in itself the net benefit.

As I noted above, the philosophical underpinnings of the plan are also an important consideration. An on-point criticism that engages with the plan can be very compelling to me. I am less interested in some kind of magical "alternative" that wishes away all the cares in the world.

flow, 2 years Ms debate & 2 years hs pf debate

I haven't done much research on the topic, so I expect debaters to explain their evidence + link

Middle School Debate

Some Important Points I'm going to be judging on:

1st:

Speech: Good, fluent speech with eye contact

Time: I'm not too concerned about going over time, just make sure to not get over by too much

2nd:

Responding to opponent's arguments with reasonable responses - Please Signpost (Telling me what point your responding to)

frontline your argument

3rd:

Compare the two arguments, explain to me why your impact is more important

Crystalizing the Debate for me (Finding the main points of clash in the debate)

Tell me why you won the debate (Weighing and flat out just saying it.)

Experience: competing on natcirc in hs (pf), also 1 yr of ms parli debate at lms

Tell me before round starts if you have any questions about my paradigm

• Fine w/ speed, just speak clearly and take into account your opponents
• have good contextualization
• be dominant and persuasive
• No excessive POIs.. if you do, get ready to say bye bye to your speaks
• please please please weigh everything youre going for (Tell me why your argument is more important than your opponent's)
• extend anything you want me to evaluate in 3rd speech (summarize your reasonings)
• terminalize your impacts ("40% gdp" is not an impact)
• please signpost (say what youre responding to or where youre gonna go next in your speech) clearly, be organized when responding!
• be respectful,

Don't do bad stuff - Anything that could have an -ist at the end of it is obviously not ok and I will consider dropping you based on my judgement of the round.

Finally, make these rounds interesting. Debate is a game, have fun with it.

Extra speaks if you bring me food !! (auto +1) also extra speaks if you say objection!!! then point and laugh theatrically with no elaboration at all

If you have any questions about my RFD(reason for decision) tell me after round and I will do my best to be helpful

hey, i'm harrison (he/him), and i debate for Walt Whitman High School in PF.

this is my middle school parli paradigm

general:

i'll let y'all know straight up that i've never debated middle school parli

i'll try my best to vote the way i would vote in a PF round (more on that in the next section)

i've looked over the rules and stuff; i'm down to keep time. apparently time starts on your first word, so i'll go with that

i'll cut you off when your time is up. if you're finishing a sentence, finish it quickly (it's fine if you go a few seconds over)

you don't have to call me judge; i'm probably only 3 or so years older than you

i think heckling is pretty funny, but don't be obnoxious about it

i don't fully understand POI's, but i guess you can ask them in the first and second speeches (please no POI's in the final speech)

tech > truth??? i don't know exactly what that means for middle school debate, but if you concede something, it'll be evaluated as true and you can't respond to the thing you conceded later in the round.

if any of my paradigm is confusing, ask me before round

voting stuff and preferences:

i'm not going to be a stickler about extensions, but it would really help if you get up in the final speech and tell me, "we're going for our contention x on..."

i'll probably vote for the team that weighs their impacts the best (i know it's obvious, but tell me why 1 million people going into poverty is worse than 10 people going into poverty)

i'm flowing the round - let me know where to flow. in other words, signpost ("in response to their contention on x, they say this, but we say...")

i'll check and see if i'm allowed to disclose after the round. the general rules say i am, but it sometimes varies tournament to tournament. i'll give y'all a quick rfd on why i voted a particular way.

you can ask me questions after the round if you want; it's all about learning!

speaker points:

not sure how i'm supposed to give out speaks, but you'll probably get good ones

yes, it will be at least slightly based on how you speak and how you present stuff, but i'm mostly concerned with strategy

a few ways to up your speaks:

• signposting

• good weighing

• funny heckling (don't heckle against a new kid please)

• just being generally nice and fun

Respect is top priority. If you don't respect your opponents you will lose the round.

Pronouns she/her

Preferences:

Speed is fine but make sure what you're saying is clear; enunciate your words

Eye contact is important, but I understand if you can't do so, as we are in a virtual setting

It's recommended that you keep your own time- I will keep time as well

Please roadmap your speeches, as I will be flowing. Make it clear to me what you are talking about

Weighing is crucial and will be a huge part of my decision as to who won or lost

I will give personal feedback to every speaker.

Use up all or as much as possible of your time- it tells me you have a lot to say and adds to your case

Obviously, be respectful to both your teammates and your opponents. No interrupting others

Things that will help me decide the win- weighing, impacts, and rebuttals.

May the odds ever be in your favor :)