Congress:

it's a debate event so don't make sure to both refute + weigh/extend. Delivery is p important but content will win you the round. I love hearing good rhetoric and impacts! Please give time specific speeches (i.e. sponsor explains the bill; crystal sums up + extends the debate)

Extemp - I love hearing new info! If you give me a new perspective on the topic, that's really amazing. Make sure to clearly answer the question and back it with evidence. I don't really care about the amount of sources at MS level; just give me more than 3

Extemp:

Answer the question.

Have good humor.

Quality links and content, backed up by specifics. Make complicated topics simple and easy to interprate.

Solid, formal, yet conversational speaking.

Congress:

Don't spread. :)

Extemp

1. ANSWER THE QUESTION!!!

2. Be organized, clear and structured in what you're saying. Your speech should follow the general extemp format that's easy and clear to understand.

3. Funny jokes and good humor will never hurt you!!

4. Always have logical links within each argument. Over-complicating a simple topic won't help you or me understand it any better. Additionally, the more simple you can make a complicated topic, the better it will be for your rank!

5. Most importantly, have fun and be confident in your speaking

Hi everyone! I'm a current freshman at UT Austin, and I'm excited to be judging you. I mainly competed in International Extemp in high school, though I'm also familiar with US Extemp, Congress, and Worlds.

For Extemp, PLEASE answer the question, and (if needed) preface how you're going to answer the question in your intro. In general, I value analysis more than presentation, but I always like a good joke.

In Congress, I care most that the speech you give matches where you are in the round. If you're beyond the first cycle, please refute previous speakers!

Have fun! I made my best friends from debate :)

Plano East 24’ & UT Austin 28’

I compete primarily in Congress but I have also qualified to TFA State & NIETOC in Extemp. If you have questions about the round or how you can improve feel free to text me after the tournament. (817)-691-9094. I love teaching debate so don't be shy to reach out :)

Congress:

I am a competitor that finaled national circuit tournaments like FBK, UT, Stanford, and broke at championship tournaments like the TOC and TFA State. You will be ranked well if you:

1. Make arguments that WIN the debate. Ethan Wilkes articulated this perfectly when he said, “The easiest path to my 1 is for you to stop making arguments that you think are decent or good and start making arguments that you think will WIN the debate. There is a very key difference. Answer that argument nobody else will and defend your side's winning condition if you want my 1.”

2. Frame your speech within the rest of the round. Zach Wu once said, “Congress involves many different debaters spewing many different facts at the judges -- the best debater is the one who can provide the judge with a coherent and advantageous arrangement of said facts.”

3. Say more with less. You have only three minutes to convince me you are the best. I don’t care how you “structure” your speech so long as it is signposted and easy to follow. Every part of your speech should be thought out and fit together. AGDs should flow throughout your speech and be tied back at the end. The “smartest best-delivering” speaker will get my 1.

Presiding Officer - If you make mistakes you will not break. If you do not make mistakes, you will break. If it is finals and you do not make mistakes expect a rank somewhere within my t6. If you are truly exceptional and/or no speakers stand out, you could get the 1.

Oral Interpretation:

When ranking an OI round, these are the things I consider (most important first):

1. Real emotions

2. A piece with good plot structure

3. Unique and good blocking

4. An intro with a universal message

Extemporaneous Speaking:

You will get my 1 if you do the following -

1. Answer the question well

2. Have zero fluency breaks

3. Include excellent structure and analysis

4. Are the “smartest best-delivering” speaker.

Hi! I've had past experience with all speech events besides interpretation and informative, and I've done/do both Extemps, Public Forum, and Congress.

Extemp:

Delivery:
For online, just try and watch the camera. It's tempting to look at yourself to see how it is, but that makes your eyes look unfocused on the camera, and that'll raise suspicions.

I'm old, so I like Extemp Walk, but it isn't required.

Stutters aren't too big unless they're frequent, but swaying/pacing/fidgeting leaves a big mark about you in my head.

For a general style, don't act like you're completely formal; be slightly conversational, engage me and act like you know your topic.

Content:

ANSWER THE QUESTION PROPERLY! Don't duck or dodge around it.

Needs proper (sub)structure, analysis and relations to your umbrella are a must. Nothing too big in content preference.

I need sources, best 2 per point, with at least year if you can. Analyze statistics, don't just point them out.

If there's any hint of personal opinion when it isn't necessary (sexism, racism, etc) you aren't winning the round regardless of the rest of your speech.

PF:

Spreading is ok until it reaches the point where you aren't able to articulate 35% of your case/speech. Then the judges can't hear anything and it gets hard to judge.

Weigh clearly and specifically, I as a judge need to know exactly why I should vote you. Use juxtaposition directly between your case and that of your opponents.

Utilize prep time; hearing an unprepped rebuttal from a confident speaker isn't going to cut it for me, you can definitely do better if you use at least 10 seconds or so to collect your thoughts beforehand.

You can ask questions but I'm not going to change my decision.

I'll do my best to give a verbal disclosure at the end of each round.

Public Speaking:

Confidence is key, any topic can win a round as long as it's presented persuasively and with sufficient research.

Mostly looking for the same delivery I look for in extemp, except stutters will be taken into account more seriously because of the nature of the event.

Congress:

Please don't spread.

Clash is key; I don't wanna watch a boring round.

If you are PO, I expect near flawless performance; you should know what you're doing.

If you're restating a previously brought up argument, add something to it. Don't just say it again for the sake of it.

LD:

I have experience but not as much as other events.

I'll mostly follow the same rules I have for PF, as the only noticeable difference is the number of debaters in the room.

For email chains or questions, reach me at abezhang9@gmail.com

Good luck and have fun!