Pathos

Logos

Ethos

Are all important to me. If I had to rank them it would be in that order. Pathos, then Logos, then Ethos. If you can get me to be emotionally invested then you are winning. Don't be afraid to make your gestures big. Project to fill up the room with your voice. Use your diaphragm. Do NOT yell. Do NOT use your throat.

This is essentially my paradigm, came back to double check if I needed to update it. I don't think so. I can't think of anything else. If you can get me to be emotionally invested, you're doing good. If it makes sense, even better. Ethos is also important but not as much as the other too. Be respectful, on time, etc. 

The only thing I can think to add is I love CONTRAST and silence. If you can do that well, you're probably going to win one way or another.

This paradigm is a little outdated in that I haven't gotten around to adding my prefs for other events so you can ask me in round. It hasn't changed much as far as LD or PF though.

Hi there, I've been judging debate (LD, PF, Congress, Parli, WSD) for about 6 years. I am tabula rasa when it comes to judging a round; don't expect me to know the topic. It is up to the debater to provide a framework that best upholds their arguments. I flow but if you spread, send me (and your opponent) your speech doc. That said, I don't want to look through pages and pages of your speech doc with a couple of words highlighted on each one. If you couldn't tell, I'm more familiar with traditional LD and have little experience in circuit debating. I weigh on framework and impact analysis. I like evidence and logical link chains with clear warrants. I like clash. I don't like falsified evidence, misleading evidence, disclosure theory or bad theory. I'm less familiar with K's, so make sure I can thoroughly understand them if you decide to run them. I'm pretty flay, so make your preferences accordingly. Please be respectful to one another. Being rude, disrespectful, racist, homophobic, and aggressive is not cool and will result in low speaks and/or loss.

Good luck everyone!

A little about me:

Currently coaching: Sage Hill School 2021-Present

Past Coaching: Diamond Ranch HS 2015-2020

I also tab more tournaments, but I keep up with my team so I can follow many of the trends in all events.

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I prefer all of my speakers to make sure that any contentions, plans or the like are clear and always link back to the topic at hand. You're free to run theory or K at your peril. I've heard great rounds on Afro-pessimism and bad rounds on it. I've loved a round full of theory and hated rounds full of theory. All depends on how it's done, and what the point of it.

I am a social studies teacher, so I can't unknow the rules of American government or economics. Don't attempt to stay something that is factually inaccurate that you would know in your classes.

Be respectful of all parties in the room - your opponent(s), your partner (if applicable) and the judge. Hurtful language is in not something I tolerate. Pronouns in your names are an added plus.

Speaking clearly, even if fast, is fine, but spreading can be difficult to understand, especially through two computers. I will say "Clear" if I need to. In an online format, please slow down for the first minute if possible. I haven't had to listen to spreading with online debate.

For LD, I don't mind counterplans and theory discussions as long as they are germane to the topic and as long as they don't result in debating the rules of debate rather than the topic itself. In the last year most of my LD rounds have not been at TOC bid tournaments, but that doesn't mean I can't follow most arguments, but be patient as I adjust.

Truth > tech.

*It's work to make me vote on extinction or nuclear war as a terminal impact in any debate. That link chain needs to be solid if you're doing to expect me to believe it.*

In PF, make sure that you explain your terminal impacts and tell me why I should weight your impacts vs your opponents' impacts.

WSD - I have been around enough tournaments to know what I should hear and I will notice if you're not doing it well. Thinking global always. Models should always be well explained and match the focus on the round. Fiat is a tricky thing in the event now but use it as you see fit.

Hi! My name is Lailee and I'm a political science student at UCLA. I have been a debater since high school and compete primarily in parli although I'm very familiar with other styles of debate.

In general, I enjoy clear and concise arguments that are substantiated with ample evidence. Quality over quantity is a good principle to follow. I will only be able to maintain an accurate flow if you signpost ("our contention 1 is.... contention 2 is...."), so please be sure to do this throughout the duration of the debate. Framework is important, but I almost never vote on it and think the debate should ultimately revolve around the contentions themselves.

Speaking: I almost always give high scores (27+) to debaters by default for just trying. I can understand a fast pace speech as long as it is very clear and you signpost consistently. Please do not spread, though. I shouldn't have to scramble to understand what's going on. If you say something disrespectful, snicker, or laugh during your opponent's speech, I will decimate your speaker points on god. I have no shame and will give you a 20. Please remember that being assertive and confident is different than being rude.

Theory/Ks: Theory is okay although I am admittedly not a theory debater myself. I understand the terminology and can follow techy argumentation but think that truth>tech is a far more constructive and educational principle that debaters should follow, especially in high school. Don't intentionally overcomplicate, the entire point of debate is to learn about different issues, not to read the same pre written T shell every round.

Final speeches: I expect debaters to provide clear voter points and/or impact calculus (discussing why the impacts of your arguments outweigh those of the other team). You can quickly run through some of the most contentious arguments/points of clash in the final speech, but please do not just read every contention again.

Points of order: Only call if there is an absolutely egregious violation. I flow and thus will always catch moving targets (new evidence in the final speech), so don't worry about calling a point of order for this. Also, remember that a moving target consists of a completely new point; using a few new words to explain a concept already discussed is fine.

Overall, have fun! I know that you guys work really hard so I always try to give you the benefit of the doubt. If you have any questions about my RFD, feel free to email me at golesorl@g.ucla.edu.

Please ask specific questions should you have them. Prefer substantive debates. And, fully support teams who take the initiative to stop rounds when concerned re: evidence ethics (the instructions are fully detailed in the NSDA High School Event Manual, pp. 30-33). On Theory and other such arguments in Public Forum Debate:

https://www.vbriefly.com/2021/04/15/equity-in-public-forum-debate-a-critique-of-theory/

Hello kiddos,

I have been in Debate for quite a few years. I am down to evaluate whatever arguments you want to run. I am not here to tell you what to run or how fast to run it. This is your show. I am cool with speed, ks, policy, procedurals, theory, or anything else you want to do. I wouldn't want you to think the round is about appealing to me, I think it is my job to evaluate the discussion you all have. Best of luck to you all.

I mostly judge WSD, the below applies to such.

Clarity and cohesion (as a team) are good. Build off of each other.

If you don't have enough content to fill the entire allotted time, don't feel pressured to drag it out. A good speech can be shorter than 8 minutes.

Try to resolve conflicts on definitions and assumptions quickly. Not doing so cuts into the amount of time debating the substantive points, and it helps neither side.

Debate is a performance as much as it is intellectual exercise, so try to make sure your audience can understand it -- speaking at a conversational pace is best.