Seven Lakes Cy Park TFA IQT Swing
2024 — Katy, TX/US
Congress - In Person Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideUltimately, the most important thing to know about my judging is that debate is a communication event. If you are not communicating effectively, you cannot win the round. If you are going to speak fast, you have to speak clearly. Do not spread. I do not want to be included on a doc chain. If I cannot follow your case/what you are saying without reading along with you, you are not communicating.
Congress Paradigms:
Your speech should be thoughtful and touch on one to three key issues related to the legislation. Your time should be well balanced between all points. If you are spending significantly less time on one point than on your others, cut it. You aren't spending enough time developing it if your other points are significantly longer.
Your delivery should be slow and deliberate. It should be a conversational, extemporaneous style. If you bring a laptop up to speak from, you will be docked points. You should be communicating and speaking to the chamber and judges, not speaking at them. You cannot accomplish this if you are reading from a laptop.
You should have one to three reliable pieces of evidence per point. I don't believe you need to cite everything in your speech, but you should be able to name the source if asked/challenged.
If you are not the sponsor/author for a piece of legislation, you need to incorporate some element of clash or engagement with earlier speakers. Do not come up and give a completely pre-written speech that doesn't engage with the debate that has already been established. This isn't mini-extemp. You need to be engaged with the debate. If there have been more than 3 cycles of debate on a piece of legislation or the debate is heavily one-sided, someone in the chamber needs to motion for previous question or motion to table to allow competitors to write speeches to allow for a more even debate I shouldn't hear the same speech over and over with nothing new being presented.
What can/should PO's do to earn high ranks? A PO can earn high ranks by running an efficient and error-free chamber. One of the biggest issues I find with POs is their lack of active engagement with the chamber. It is the PO's job to keep the chamber running as quickly and efficiently as possible. If debate is getting repetitive, suggest motions. If there seems to be a confusion about procedure, don't wait for the chamber to figure it out. Suggest motions and keep the chamber moving. Have a strong knowledge/practice with your gaveling or time-signal procedures and precedence tracking. Explain them clearly and then stick to them.
LD:
Value-based arguments based on how things ought to be over policy are most persuasive in LD debates, although policy as support can certainly be useful and demonstrative. Progressive argumentation is fine, and spreading is fine if it can still be understood. I expect the winning argument to be persuasive and effectively communicated, I should feel that I have been made to believe in what is being said and why you should win. If I need your case in writing to follow it, it won't be as persuasive and will be judged accordingly. I expect the debaters to set the terms, rules and the outcome of the debate based on what is said, not left unsaid. I won't connect the dots for your arguments, explain it to me. I'm a huge fan of philosophical arguments setting up for clash. I am familiar with a variety of K's and KvK's are great. I enjoy a debate where both an expert and a lay judge can identify a winner. As far as speakers, I am looking for well-paced delivery, signposts, strong framing, and weighing being presented effectively to tell me why you will win.
General prefs
1 Value Framework/Phil
2 Policy/ Mechanism/ K's- best if topical
3 Theory - when an actual rule is broken, much higher. When its frivolous, good luck
4 Tricks
PF: I would really prefer to see PF done the way it was intended. In other words, pure policy and impact weighing without utilizing more progressive methods of debate. That said, I will judge it the way the debaters debate the topics. So, if you go tech rather than substance, I will still be able to judge properly. I do not expect a value framework, and the default is util calculus. Creative and unique arguments will be appreciated over generic stock argumentation
Policy: Anything goes. I am happy to flow any type of debate but again would prefer it to be substantive.
WSD: Everyone seems to judge wsd a little differently; I prefer a civil debate, strategic use of POI's that are not abusive, non-US centric arguments will be encouraged over US only substantive arguments. Effective rhetoric and persuasive narratives will be more useful on my ballot than plan and mechanism focused strategies. Good arguments should be succinct and lay approachable without tech jargon. Establishing a burden and winning framework is a terrific way to get the w on my ballot. Speaks will be based on persuasive appeal, rhetoric, civility, and decorum.
Congress: I am looking for congressional debaters to display appropriate round vision and understanding of the argumentation and how it is interacting on the chamber floor. A great constructive speech given in the middle of a session without clash will not be judged as well as if it were given earlier. I like to see good utilization of questions to impact the debate in chambers, as well as good clash during speeches with direct refutation of other congressional reps. Speeches at the end of a debate on a bill should be more crystallization speeches and preferably give me weighing mechanisms for how to vote on each bill. Delivery matters, but proper understanding of the interaction of argumentation and directing that debate appropriately impacts my ballot the most heavily. Good funny AGD's are always appreciated as well as some LARP in congress is always nice to see. Proper framing of the issues is something lacking in most congress sessions and doing so will help you stand out on my ballot.
Speech: I am very familiar with all the core speech events. The basics; fluency, memorization, gestures, structure, and presence will all be considered.
Extemp: The best extemp will be both entertaining and informative. Some questions need to be answered more like a debate, in which case I want to see you defend your answer. Good evidence and warranting will help you move up my rankings. Some topics are more informative in nature, and while I want your answer supported, I’d also like to learn something. When done right, I should feel like I am watching a good documentary that is fun and educational. Don’t be afraid to make me laugh but also don’t forget to bring all your citations. Use the space and your body properly. In good rounds, every element will count.
Impromptu: Give me something new and your unique take on the topic. Fluency and polish are great, but do not give me something rehearsed. It should be pertinent to the topic, have structure, and show me your special spin on the subject matter. Be creative and make connections I didn’t anticipate to really shine on my ballot.
OO/Info: Like extemp, I would like to be informed and entertained. I have much higher performative expectations for these events. Own the floor space and take over the stage. Get me excited, take me on a ride while also telling me something new and unusual. Topic selection, writing and relatability are strongly considered elements. PA events are not just speeches, they are a full performance, I want to see strong movement that is thoughtful and applicable. The best speeches here are the ones I keep thinking about days later, make the topic matter to me.
Interp Events: I want to understand the story you are telling first and foremost. I love seeing strong distinct characterization, creative blocking, and innovative approaches to familiar tales. In each event, integrate the tools available to you. These are truly performances after all, don't hold back. Be bold, be daring, be big (this doesn’t mean always loud) Use the binder, play around with the chairs, and make unique use of the space available. Remain consistent in your roles. Timing is so pivotal, especially in duo events but also in solo events- looking at you HI. Knowing when to pause and when to speed up is vital. Like most speech events, I am judging holistically the total combination of performative elements, the more of these you do well the better your score will be.
I was a long-time high school coach of CX, LD, PF and Congress and was a college policy debater MANY years ago.
Debate Judging Paradigm
1. Speed (Spread):
- I prefer a moderate pace. Excessive speed detracts from the clarity and depth of the arguments, making it difficult to capture the nuances. If you choose to go fast, ensure your arguments are still clear and easy to follow.
2. Critical Arguments:
- I value critical arguments, but they need to be explained thoroughly. I am less persuaded by dense jargon without clear explanations. Focus on the depth and clarity of your analysis.
3. Topicality:
- Topicality is a prima facie issue for me only if there is demonstrated in-round abuse. Merely claiming non-topicality is insufficient; you must show how the case is unfair or disruptive to the round.
4. Argument Strategy:
- Avoid making time-suck arguments that you plan to drop later. This wastes time and detracts from the quality of the debate. If you bring up an argument, be prepared to defend it.
5. Organization:
- I pay close attention to my flow. Please clearly signpost your arguments and keep your refutation organized. This helps me track the debate and evaluate your arguments effectively.
6. LD Debate Specifics (Value and Criterion):
- In Lincoln-Douglas debate, emphasize your value and criterion. These are central to your case, and I expect you to tie your arguments back to them consistently. Make it clear how your arguments uphold your value and criterion better than your opponent’s.
7. Congressional Debate:
- Speeches in Congressional debate should be extemporaneous in nature, showing clear evidence of preparation while allowing flexibility and responsiveness to the debate as it unfolds.
- Make sure to include clash; engage directly with the arguments made by other speakers.
- Strong research is essential, but avoid excessive rehash of points that have already been made. Originality and depth of analysis are key to standing out.
In all types of debate, don’t be rude to your opponent. Respect the activity with professional demeanor.
In any debate event, try not to spread too much. Some speed is fine, but I can't vote based on arguments I can't understand.
For interp events, I pay close attention to the flow of the cut, unique characterizations (including voice and body language), and transitions. Make sure those pantomimes are clean!
For speaking events, fluency is important. Make sure your ideas flow well from one point to the next. In extemp, be sure to actually answer the question, and try to connect each point back your answer as a whole.
Debate
1.Arguments: I am generally open to all types of arguments; however,I do not vote for any arguments that I do not fully comprehend. Meaning if you are planning of running kritiq or various progressive/novel arguments, be prepared to provide clear context and explain to be why this your argument is applicable to the round.
2. Speed- Talking fast is not usually an issue for me, however, keep in mind you do run the risk of enabling key arguments slipping through the cracks. Do not spread unnecessarily. I strongly prefer rebuttals with strong analysis rather than a rushed synopsis of all your arguments. I witnessed many debaters conditioning themselves into thinking it imperative to speak fast. While sometime speed is necessary to cover your bases, it is more more impressive if you can cover the same bases using less words. Be concise.
3. Technical stuff - If you have any short and specific questions, feel free to bring them up before or after the round. Here are some things to keep in mind. When extending, make sure your arguments have warrants. If you say something like " Please extend Dugan 2020," without re-addressing what argument that card entails, I might opt to disregard that argument. Also, when responding to an opposing argument, please don't simply rephrase your the same argument in your initial case without adding anything significant. I will sometime consider this as you conceding the argument. For any type of debate, I really like it if you can set up the framework on how the round should be judge along with giving strong voters. This essentially helps you prioritize what's important throughout the round. Always weigh whenever possible.
4. Additional items.
a. When sharing or requesting case files, we be expedient. If this is during the round and prep timer is not running, no one should be working on their cases. This exchange should be very brief. Please do not abuse this.
b. For PF crossfire, I prefer it if you didn't conduct it passively where both side take turns asking basic questions regarding two different arguments. I also rather if you built on from your opponent's responses by asking probing questions. Capitalize on this chance to articulate your arguments instead of using it to ask a few question.
For docs, please use speechdrop. My stupid school email has a ridiculous filter and it will often take a few hours for your email chain to get to me.
Background: I'm a second year debate coach at Lake Travis (Austin, TX). I'm also a lawyer and teacher. I debated mostly LD but graduated HS in 2004.
ALL Debate: I'm a mostly tech judge, with some exceptions. Presumption goes to the neg unless otherwise established in round.
Arguments need to be warranted when they're initially made if you want me to evaluate/vote for the argument later (meaning: don't just blip out a bunch of unwarranted claims in an underview and expect to win on a drop).
I will generally not vote on frivolous theory. If you want to make an argument about abuse or norm violations, I am open to it, just make sure you're telling a clear story here. I am willing to vote for RVIs if that argument is won.
I have no qualms about voting on T. If your aff is going to be non-topical (or borderline-topical), you need to establish why/how you can still win and be prepared to beat back the inevitable T.
K's are fine, though I'm not personally familiar with much critical literature so you're going to need to explain it.
I will not evaluate or consider "30 speaks" theory arguments or similar arguments that lock speaks. It disrupts the competitive integrity of the tournament at-large.
I will usually drop speaks for repeatedly telling me that your opponent dropped or conceded an argument that was clearly addressed. Point out drops, but don't lie to me. (this is not about a mistake or accidental statement, this is for the people who compulsively say that every argument was "clean conceded" when they weren't).
Along with "don't lie to me" above, I reserve the right to vote against teams that I notice are fabricating or significantlymisconstruing what evidence says during the round even if the other team does not make it a voting issue. Assume Iam going to read your evidence. I don't like power-tagging and it will make me skeptical of your other arguments.
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CX: I'm not generally a policy judge so I am not going to be fluent in the deeper jargon (if you're abbreviating everything in particular). Explain your arguments if you want me to vote on them, don't just blip through them.
Speed is fine, so long as you're clear and you slow down for analytics or complex argumentation. If you're planning on really spreading, I find it very helpful to have the doc.
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LD: My LD experience is a bit outdated from the current circuit standard. I am very open to new innovations and outgrowths since I debated, but my fluency in modern off-case argumentation is a bit limited. I'm open to voting on those, but you'll need to explain them well and be clear with your voters. I don't have any strong feelings on policy vs philosophical approaches, but I'm not going to be deeply familiar with a lot of Phil stuff, so if it's complex you should probably hold my hand through it a bit.
Tricks suck, especially if they're purposefully hidden. You want to argue epistemic skepticism or something - sure that's really just a phil argument (though it needs to be appropriately warranted, not off-doc spread-through as half a line hidden in the middle of some card). I will flatly not evaluate arguments that tell me to evaluate the round after the 1AC or similar. Iwill consider voting for theory arguments on why such things are abusive.
If I don't understand the argument, I won't be voting on it.
Speed is fine, so long as you're clear and you slow down for analytics or complex argumentation. If you're planning on really spreading, I find it very helpful to have the doc.
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PF: The above information applies to PF rounds as well, with the added provision that I will reduce speaks for being cruel/disrespectful of opponents (and I don't like that I have to put that here for PF)
Speed is fine, so long as you're clear and you slow down for analytics or complex argumentation. If you're planning on really spreading, I find it very helpful to have the doc.
(credit to JS) - Don't play the "I can share this card if you want me to, oh which card was it? Hold on let me find it..." game. You read a card? Drop it in the speech drop. Every other debate event is efficient with this, let's do better if we want to be taken seriously.
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Congress: I am looking for both strong content and speaking for my Congress ranks. One without the other is not a recipe for a good score. Speakers that use the bulk of their speech rehashing earlier points usually get scored down. Clash is good, just make sure you're not mischaracterizing the opposition's argument when you do so.
Particularly incisive points (especially as clash points) are likely to draw my attention. I do pay at least some attention during questioning - strong lines of questioning (or defenses to your own position) are likely to result in a higher rank.
You should be cognizant of the speech you're giving in a round. For example, if you're giving a sponsorship, you should be explaining how this bill solves the problem you're trying to address. If you're speaking last, crystallize the debate that's come before.
For POs: Generally the best POs are the POs where I barely notice them as the round runs smoothly. I typically rank good POs well, but rarely will they get the 1 unless it's a particularly weak round.
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Extemp: Similar to Congress, I'm looking for both Strong content and strong speaking skill. One without the other will rarely receive top ranks on my ballot. I'm not looking for a specific number of sources, but good/varied sourcing is important.
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Interp: Interp events are where I definitely have the least experience. Generally, though, I'm pretty standard as an interp judge - i'm looking mostly for strong characterization and (in the relevant events) narrative structure.
Updated -Nov. 2023 (mostly changes to LD section)
Currently coaching: Memorial HS.
Formerly coached: Spring Woods HS, Stratford HS
Email: mhsdebateyu@gmail.com
I was a LD debater in high school (Spring Woods) and a Policy debater in college (Trinity) who mainly debated Ks. My coaching style is focused on narrative building. I think it's important/educational for debate to be about conveying a clear story of what the aff and the neg world looks like at the end of the round. I have a high threshold on Theory arguments and prefer more traditional impact calculus debates. Either way, please signpost as much as you can, the more organized your speeches are the likelihood of good speaks increases. My average speaker point range is 27 - 29.2. I generally do not give out 30 speaks unless the debater is one of the top 5% of debaters I've judged. I believe debate is an art. You are welcome to add me to any email chains: (mhsdebateyu@gmail.com) More in depth explanations provided below.
Interp. Paradigm:
Perform with passion. I would like you tell me why it is significant or relevant. There should be a message or take-away after I see your performance. I think clean performances > quality of content is true most of the time.
PF Paradigm:
I believe that PF is a great synthesis of the technical and presentation side of debate. The event should be distinct from Policy or LD, so please don't spread in PF. While I am a flow judge, I will not flow crossfire, but will rely on crossfire to determine speaker points. Since my background is mostly in LD and CX, I use a similar lens when weighing arguments in PF. I used to think Framework in PF was unnecessary, but I think it can be interesting to explore in some rounds. I usually default on a Util framework. Deontological frameworks are welcomed, but requires some explanation for why it's preferred. I think running kritik-lite arguments in PF is not particularly strategic, so I will be a little hesitant extending those arguments for you if you're not doing the work to explain the internal links or the alternative. Most of the time, it feels lazy, for example, to run a Settler Col K shell, and then assume I will extend the links just because I am familiar with the argument is probably not the play. I dislike excessive time spent on card checking. I will not read cards after the round. I prefer actually cut card and dislike paraphrasing (but I won't hold that against you). First Summary doesn't need to extend defense, but should since it's 3 minutes.
I have a high threshold for theory arguments in general. There is not enough time in PF for theory arguments to mean much to me. If there is something abusive, make the claim, but there is no need to spend 2 minutes on it. I'm not sure if telling me the rules of debate fits with the idea of PF debate. I have noticed more and more theory arguments showing up in PF rounds and I think it's actually more abusive to run theory arguments than exposing potential abuse due to the time constraints.
LD Paradigm: (*updated for Glenbrooks 2023)
Treat me like a policy judge. While I do enjoy phil debates, I don’t always know how to evaluate them if I am unfamiliar with the literature. It’s far easier for me to understand policy arguments. I don’t think tech vs. truth is a good label, because I go back and forth on how I feel about policy arguments and Kritiks. I want to see creativity in debate rounds, but more importantly I want to learn something from every round I judge.
Speed is ok, but I’m usually annoyed when there are stumbles or lack of articulation. Spreading is a choice, and I assume that if you are going to utilize speed, be good at it. If you are unclear or too fast, I won’t tell you (saying “clear” or “slow” is oftentimes ignored), I will just choose to not flow. While I am relatively progressive, I don't like tricks or nibs even though my team have, in the past, used them without me knowing.
I will vote on the Kritik 7/10 times depending on clarity of link and whether the Alt has solvency. I will vote on Theory 2/10 times because judging for many years, I already have preconceived notions about debate norms, If you run multiple theory shells I am likely to vote against you so increasing the # of theory arguments won't increase your chances (sorry, but condo is bad). I tend to vote neg on presumption if there is nothing else to vote on. I enjoy LD debates that are very organized and clean line by lines. If a lot of time is spent on framework/framing, please extend them throughout the round. I need to be reminded of what the role of the ballot should be, since it tends to change round by round.
CX Paradigm:
I'm much more open to different arguments in Policy than any other forms of debate. While I probably prefer standard Policy rounds, I mostly ran Ks in college. I am slowly warming up to the idea of Affirmative Ks, but I'm still adverse to with topical counterplans. I'm more truth than tech when it comes to policy debate. Unlike LD, I think condo is good in policy, but that doesn't mean you should run 3 different kritiks in the 1NC + a Politics DA. Speaking of, Politics DAs are relatively generic and needs very clear links or else I'll be really confused and will forget to flow the rest of your speech trying to figure out how it functions, this is a result of not keeping up with the news as much as I used to. I don't like to vote on Topicality because it's usually used as a time suck more than anything else. If there is a clear violation, then you don't need to debate further, but if there is no violation, nothing happens. If I have to vote on T, I will be very bored.
Congress Paradigm:
I'm looking for analysis that actually engages the legislation, not just the general concepts. I believe that presentation is very important in how persuasive you are. I will note fluency breaks and distracting gestures. However, I am primarily a flow judge, so I might not be looking at you during your speeches. Being able to clearly articulate and weigh impacts (clash) is paramount. I dislike too much rehash, but I want to see a clear narrative. What is the story of your argument.
I'm used to LD and CX, so I prefer some form of Impact Calculus/framework. At least some sense as to why losing lives is more important than systemic violence. etc.
Some requests:
- Please don't say, "Judge, in your paradigm, you said..." in the round and expose me like that.
- Please don't post-round me while I am still in the room, you are welcome to do so when I am not present.
- Please don't try to shake my hand before/after the round.
- I have the same expression all the time, please don't read into it.
- Please time yourself for everything. I don't want to.
- I don’t have a preference for any presentation norms in debate, such as I don’t care if you sit or stand, I don’t care if you want to use “flex prep”, I don’t care which side of the room you sit or where I should sit. If you end up asking me these questions, it will tell me that you did not read my paradigm, which is probably okay, i’ll just be confused starting the round.