Last changed on
Thu October 10, 2024 at 10:21 AM CST
Hello!
First and foremost I want to wish all competitors good luck and just know that it is an accomplishment to be competing no matter the outcome.
I am a Tab judge in all things. I judge based on the merits of your argument in the round so any team or person can win my ballot at a given time.
Congress:
I look for good argumentation within your speeches that includes facts and evidence that are pertinent to the content on the floor. Eye contact and professionalism are a must. I look for passion when you deliver your speech as you are working to convince your fellow delegates that your argument is correct. Better speeches are those that can interpret and use information from fellow members of the room to either turn in their favor or refute arguments. Make sure any claims you make in your speech are backed up by evidence and sound reason.
Extemp:
I look for you to use your time effectively and for you to have a structure to your speech. I want to see the evidence that you have for your topic applied to the points you are making. It is all about the application of your reasoning for me. Stylistically it's important to make eye contact and be engaging when you are speaking. If it is persuasive I expect you to employ rhetoric in your speech and to be convincing. A good speech is engaging and I like the use of a good AGD.
CX:
I am a tab judge who values direct clash in a round. I do not like spreading and if you are too speedy I will stop flowing your arguments thus even if it is a beautifully well-written and well-reasoned argument I won't count it for you. Clarity of spoken word is more important than massive amounts of information when you cannot actually apply it because you are speaking too fast by just reading a card. I do not like topicality attacks for the sake of a topicality argument. Let's assume we are all topical unless it is so egregious that it really is untopical. Impacts are important in CX as well as the application of your information. I will look at dropped arguments and case rebuilds within my flow as a weighing mechanism. Be sure to give impacts of your argumentation, and give voters at the end of your rebuttals.
LD:
Is a beautiful debate! I love a good philosophical/ethical argument that you support with sound reasoning. I am old school in the fact that I prefer less reading of evidence cards and more application of the information you present. Evidence is necessary for a good argument, but just spouting it without linking it to your value and criterion is useless to me in LD. Direct clash and attack of the AFF is necessary for the NEG! I want to see exactly why I should prefer one side over the other.
Interp:
For me, the key to a wonderful performance is a fully immersive experience. I want to see the emotions and character you are portraying not just in your words, tone, and inflection but in your body language. Make the selection come alive for the audience. If a selection changes characters or personas, I want to see distinct ways that you are bringing each one to life. Gestures and eye contact are important as well. I value a well-paced selection. Pacing can add intensity or emotion and it can often be a nuance that can cause someone to rank better than others.