I appreciate the clear delivery of your speech, it doesn't have to be slow, but CLEAR.

If you have a framework, I would like to see whether you have successfully proven your framework, it is your burden to prove it. Otherwise, I will just take your opponent's framework.

It is not enough to propose a principle argument, principle always has to be combined with practical impacts.

When doing rebuttals, please don't only provide a chunk of evidence and think you've done the rebuttals by doing so. Providing another chunk of evidence doesn't necessarily mean your opponent's evidence is false. Do give me reasonings on why their evidence doesn't count or is not so important. Numbers won't defeat numbers, but reasonings on numbers will. And if it's necessary, use the "even if" model, because sometimes you have to admit your opponent's evidence is trustworthy, but you can always weigh them to your advantage.

Do weigh more impacts, and tell me why your impacts are bigger.

I will try to be fair in evaluating your case, and the main determinant of my decision will be clashes. DO prove to me you win most of the clashes in the debate.

Lastly, please be polite, and don't yell at crossfire, it doesn't help anything at all.

Judge Philosophies

1.Judge’s NameElaine Hu

2.Tell us about your debate judging experience.

a.I have never judged debate before.

b.I have judged debate for less than a year and this is my first time judging Public Forum.

c.I have judged debate for less than a year and have judged Public Forum before.

d.I have judged debate for more than a year, but Public Forum for less than a year.✅

e.I have judged Public Forum debate for more than a year.

3.Tell us about your debating experience.

a.I have never debated competitively before.

b.I debated Public Forum for less than a year.✅

c.I debated other formats for less than a year.

d.I have debated Public Forum for more than a year.

e.I have debated other formats for more than a year, but not Public Forum.

4.What is your speaking speed preference?

a.Deliberate speed (100-120wpm)

b.Conversational speed (120-150wpm)✅

c.TED talk speed (150-200wpm)

d.Fast speed (200+wpm)

5.How much do you know about the topic?

a.I coach debate and have researched this topic

b.I have professional-level knowledge about this topic.

c.I regularly read news about this topic. It’s an interest of mine.✅

d.I pay attention to this topic, but I don’t go out of my way to know about it.

e.I have no idea about the topic. Please make sure I understand things.

6.Do you think the second rebuttal speaker should be expected to respond directly to the first rebuttal speaker (frontlining)?

a.Yes, if the second rebuttal doesn’t respond to the first rebuttal I consider it a dropped argument

b.No, the second speaker rebuttal is only responsible for answering the first constructive✅

c.I’m not sure.

d.Other (please specify)

7.How important is the flow (your notes) in making your decision? What do you write down in your notes?

a.It’s very important. I take lots of notes and make my decision based almost entirely based on my notes.

b.It’s somewhat important. I use my notes to aid me in making my decision.✅

c.It’s not that important. I tend to judge the debate more wholistically.

d.Other (Please Specify)

8.What factors go into your decision as to who wins the debate?

Constructive speech with enough reasoning and impact

Crossfire win is the most important metric in my judging

I prefer debaters do rebut more smartly by knowing what you say and based on what you’ve researched.

9.Is there anything else you would like the debaters to know about you?

no

1.Judge’s Name: Lucy Luo

2.Judging experience: I have judged Public Forum debate for more than a year without receiving complaints.

3.Debating experience: I have debated other formats for more than 2 years but not Public Forum.

4.Preferred speaking speed: conversational speed(120-150wpm) or TED talk speed (150-200wpm)

5.How much do you know about the topic: I pay attention to this topic, but I don’t go out of my way to know about it.

6.Do you think the second rebuttal speaker should be expected to respond directly to the first rebuttal speaker (frontlining)?

:Yes, if the second rebuttal doesn’t respond to the first rebuttal I consider it a dropped argument.

7.How important is the flow (your notes) in making your decision? What do you write down in your notes?

: It’s somewhat important. I use my notes to aid me in making my decision.

8.What factors go into your decision as to who wins the debate?

: The cooperation of the speakers in one team; the response to the opponents; weighing of the cases; the wholeness of the arguments, etc.

9.Is there anything else you would like the debaters to know?

: You can surely have your own timer. No conversation when one is making rebuttal or constructive speech. No need to be angry when your opponents' talking nonsense, the judge will know. Please stay calm and don't let others' feelings lead you astray.

a. I have never judged debate before.

b. I have judged debate for less than a year and this is my first time judging Public Forum.

c. I have judged debate for less than a year and have judged Public Forum before.

d. I have judged debate for more than a year, but Public Forum for less than a year.

e. I have judged Public Forum debate for more than a year.

a. I have never debated competitively before.

b. I debated Public Forum for less than a year.

c. I debated other formats for less than a year.

d. I have debated Public Forum for more than a year.

e. I have debated other formats for more than a year, but not Public Forum.

a. Deliberate speed (100-120wpm)

b. Conversational speed (120-150wpm)

c. TED talk speed (150-200wpm)

d. Fast speed (200+wpm)

a. I coach debate and have researched this topic

b. I have professional-level knowledge about this topic.

c. I regularly read news about this topic. It’s an interest of mine.

d. I pay attention to this topic, but I don’t go out of my way to know about it.

e. I have no idea about the topic. Please make sure I understand things.

a. Yes, if the second rebuttal doesn’t respond to the first rebuttal I consider it a dropped argument

b. No, the second speaker rebuttal is only responsible for answering the first constructive

c. I’m not sure.

d. Other (please specify)

a. It’s very important. I take lots of notes and make my decision based almost entirely based on my notes.

b. It’s somewhat important. I use my notes to aid me in making my decision.

c. It’s not that important. I tend to judge the debate more wholistically.

d. Other (Please Specify)

The effectiveness of your own case—comprising the clarity of your claim, the coherence of your mechanism, and the significance of your impact. Equally crucial is your engagement with your opponents' case, including rebuttals, weighing etc. Lastly, the adequacy and quality of your evidence—encompassing its truthfulness, authority, importance, and influence.

I firmly believe that it's essential to respect your opponents in a debate, steering clear of any aggressive intentions or actions, and instead opting for a polite and courteous approach.

My idea of a good speech:

Organization

1. Clear structures
2. Effective transitions
3. Natural development of speech

Analysis

1. Direct address to the prompt
2. Justifications for ideas
3. Establish significance to the points
4. Examples should be explained and linked to ideas

Delivery

1. Confidence
2. Effective voice movement and expression
3. Appropriate volume
4. Eye contact

What I look for in a debate

Arguments

1. Clear and relevant
2. Organized and easy to follow
3. Strong credible evidence

• Current events
• Historical data
• Cite reliable source

Rebuttal

1. Rebut each point
2. Tackle logical fallacies if you can
3. Explain Why your own position is more preferable

Time allocation

1. Spend enough time on important points

Teamwork

1. Unified development
2. Complementary arguments

Style and rhetoric (least important)

1. Fluent and compelling
2. Appropriate pace (I won’t write anything down if I can’t hear)