As a judge, I approach each round with the utmost respect for the competitors and their craft. My goal is to provide constructive feedback that helps speakers grow while also fairly evaluating their performances. Here are the key criteria I consider:

1. Content and Argumentation:

   • The content should be well-researched, relevant, and organized.
   • A clear thesis or argument should be presented.
   • Supporting points should be logically developed and effectively communicated.
   • The speaker's understanding of the topic should be demonstrated.

2. Delivery and Presentation:

   • The speaker should engage the audience effectively.
   • Delivery should be confident, articulate, and expressive.
   • Tone, pace, and volume should be varied appropriately.
   • Gestures and body language should enhance the message without becoming distracting.

3. Voice and Diction:

   • The speaker's voice should be clear and easy to understand.
   • Proper pronunciation and enunciation should be demonstrated.
   • Pauses and emphasis should be used effectively to convey meaning.
   • Vocal range and control should be exhibited.

4. Presence and Persona:

   • The speaker should command the stage and maintain poise throughout the presentation.
   • Authenticity and sincerity should be evident in the delivery.
   • A connection with the audience should be established.
   • Nervousness or distractions should be effectively managed.

In evaluating each performance, I strive to maintain objectivity, fairness, and constructive criticism. I recognize the dedication and hard work that goes into preparing for speech individual events, and I aim to provide feedback that both celebrates achievements and encourages continued growth. Thank you for entrusting me with the opportunity to serve as a judge.

As a judge, I am looking first and foremost at speaking skill. A well planned and spoken speech ranks high on my radar. I also place value on evidence based speeches. Your evidence should be current and relevant. Confidence, kindness, and professionalism are key, as well.

Experience: Competed for the University of Arkansas (2000-05); Coach at the University of Central Arkansas (2007-present). Most of that experience is in IPDA. While I appreciate and am happy to judge other forms of debate, I'm an IPDA purist at heart, and that governs my philosophy. I'm also a licensed attorney and spent seven years working for the Arkansas Court of Appeals. My job involved reading arguments with real-world consequences. While I am willing to vote for any well-reasoned argument, I'm a policymaker judge more than anything.

Delivery: I'm not a fan of speed. I sometimes listen to podcasts at 1.5x speed, and that is about as fast as I would prefer a debater go before I get uncomfortable. If it is a form of debate where speed is frowned upon (basically anything other than CEDA/Policy) and you speed, it will be reflected in your speaker points, even if I can follow you.

Don't spread. I would rather hear three well-developed arguments than 5-6 poor ones.

Speaker Points: Pretty arbitrary, especially if the ballot does not contain a rubric. If it is an IPDA round, I will have traditional criteria in mind: delivery, courtesy, organization, tone, logic, support, CX, refutation. Each is assessed on a 5-point scale. I will add them up, and that will be your total. An average debater will receive a 4 in each category, a good debater will receive a 5. I won't go less than 3 in a category unless you affirmatively do something to warrant it.

Case and Burdens: Unless it is a public forum round, the affirmative has the burden of proof, and the negative has the burden of clash. Failing to meet that burden is an automatic L before we reach the rebuttals. If it is an IPDA round and both sides fail their respective burdens, I will default to the stronger speaker.

As a policymaker judge, I would prefer to vote based on the merits/demerits of the resolution itself, especially if it is form of debate where you get to choose the topic. I'll vote on topicality, but if it is close, I'll give the affirmative the benefit of the doubt. (If you are going to run T, I'm big on framer's intent.)

I'm willing to vote for a K, but again, I would rather vote on the merits of the resolution itself. Like topicality, the affirmative will get the benefit of the doubt if it is close. Also, assume that I know little to nothing about the theory and prepare to explain it to me.

I flow the round. By the time we get to rebuttals, you should be telling me why you have won the round. Put out any fires created by your opponent's previous speech if necessary, but please don't go line by line. I'm very big on impact calculus, especially if the criterion is cost-benefit analysis, comparative advantage, or something similar.

Evidence: Quality over quantity. Better evidence beats more evidence. Explain why your evidence supports your case. I do not enjoy rounds where debaters dump numbers and stats without context. Second, source presses are a waste of time unless (1) your opponent makes a spurious claim or (2) you have evidence that contradicts your opponents. If the only argument you have against an argument is that no source was provided, you will lose that argument unless you explain why the lack of source is important.

Topic Disclosure: If the resolution is straightforward and affirmative's interpretation is in line, I will not entertain an argument that the debate was unfair due to a lack of disclosure. If the resolution is metaphorical or otherwise vague, you should probably disclose.

While I will not punish a debate who does not disclose, I will DQ a debater who gives a false or misleading disclosure. At the same time, I believe that the affirmative is entitled to use the prep time as they see fit. If your plan takes you in a different direction, you are entitled to change your mind (especially if the negative pressed you for disclosure before you started prepping your case). But be reasonable. Doing so with twenty minutes of prep left is fine. Doing so with ten minutes left is not.

NPDA debaters: I miss points of information. Please use them.

I judge majorly based on the flow. This means that I primarily look at argumentation and refutation. Are your arguments well supported, is there a clear warrant and impacts, do your refutations directly apply to and negate your opponents points, did you drop any points, etc.? In order to ensure a good flow, so that I can better judge the round, competitors should not spread and should use signposts during speeches. I do not tolerate ad hominem fallacies (personal attacks to the opponent) within debate rounds. Debate should remain respectful to all parties involved, this includes groups of people being debated about or mentioned within the debate, not just the competitors and judges.

Introduction -

My Name is Dakota Thompson, I am a Biologist and a Biology Teacher at Mills High School. My introduction into Debate and Forensics is quite new but I am the assistant debate coach at Mills High School.

Debate Judging -

When judging I look for confidence, delivery, and sound logical arguments during debates. I enjoy clear and confident speakers, if your points and contentions do not make any sense then it will count against you. As for your delivery I would like you to sound knowledgeable and informed on your topic. If you are simply reading from your computer or notes for the entire debate I see that as a lack of preparation and information. As for speaking as a whole, speed is not an issue for me as long as what you are saying is clear, if you speak fast and I can clearly understand that is fine, if you speak fast and you slur and I cannot grasp the information it will be counted towards you. I will take notes during the debate but it is not my job to be kept up with what was said, I do not flow during any Cross X, that is your job as a debater. As may be expected I do not have any tolerance for Racism, Sexism, Homophobia or anything of the sorts directed towards your opponents during debate.

Speech Judging -

When judging an event such as HI, Poetry or Prose I look for clean Delivery, I would like to see a person understand what is being said and is able to convey with a clear set of words and phrases. I always love to see Emotion in rounds, especially in events such as poetry and POI. If you truly connect with the topic you have chosen I need to be able to see that, show me how well you connect with the idea of your poetry and POI reports by connecting with it live. Confidence in any form of competition is a vital resource, if you do not seem confident in what you are doing and how you convey it comes off as under prepared and not at a competing level.

I am a junior high speech and debate coach. While I do tolerate some speed please do not spread. Please make sure to signpost. Impacts are important please make sure you connect them back to your value/criterion. Have fun and be kind to each other.

I am a communications teacher (I was never a debater) therefore I focus more on the educational aspect of the debate. Please do not assume that I understand all debate terminology and techniques. I need you to educate and persuade me through organized speeches and clear explanations.