Explain it to me like I am a five year old.

Hello! My name is Kaushal Dhumal. When judging a round I look at the depth of the argument, logic, and your internal links that connect to a larger impact. Make sure you have plenty of supporting evidence and  analyze your and your opponent’s arguments thoroughly. Your speech should be clear and concise, and please don’t spread. Also please make sure you have fun and be considerate towards everyone! All these things together are sure to make the win come your way! 

hi ,

I haven´t been to a lot of tournaments but I have competed in PF and IPDA.

I haven´t competed in congress,but it is one of my favorite styles of debate .

When judging i´m looking for Loud confident speaking

I don ´ t mind if you speak fast, I understand that nerves can change the pace of your speech so whatever pace you need is fine ,but I prefer conversational pace.

i´m also looking for definitions, I also enjoy knowing how you Interpret the topic or resolution.

I find debates are really strong when you have lots of CREDIBLE cards/sources.

Keep debate friendly. keep a good tone between opponent , stay respectful .

I absolutely do not tolerate any form of hate speech (Racism, homophobia, Anti-Religion,etc).

FILL YOUR TIME

lastly, HAVE FUN.

I hope debating is enjoyable for you and I can't wait to be your judge. Debates are really fun and it is all about being competitive while having good sportsmanship.

What I look for is not much. Whoever has the most direct, most interesting, and valid speech is what I look for most. Also, I feel as if spreading the information throughout your speech will always be more helpful. I also encourage you to speak with confidence and as clear as possible because it will get very boring if you do not.

Of course I can understand very clearly if you cannot speak strongly but doing this can also help you become a strong debater. Don't ever be afraid to crack a joke!

This is the first time I have judged a debate. I have taken a debate class, I mainly focused on policy debate.

Being a strong speaker is one of the most important factors when it comes to persuasion. Confidence is crucial to being a strong debater. I struggle to understand spreading, so if I cannot understand you, I won't be able to flow your speech.

Good luck!!

Current Eleventh Grader in Bentonville High School. No prior debate knowledge.

Please be respectful and friendly to each other.

I have not judged this debate style before, so I would rather everyone speak slowly please.

Ability to persuade and being the stronger debater will most of the time win you the round. Tools to be able to do this- effective & dominant speaking ability, emotion, etc. It is not as easy to be convinced by a team that is not as strong in persuasion, but in that event it does I will explain why..

I will connect some dots myself, but I do appreciate any mental load you take off of me as your judge by explaining.

But most of all, enjoy debating!

Experience:For the past four years, I have been an active NSDA debater. I primarily do LD, PF, and Mock Trial but have also had experiences in Duo Interp, Duo Improv, Congressional Debate, Impromptu speaking, and IPDA.

LD: I like progressive arguments, although be careful if you narrow your scope too far into the resolution. I can follow K's but don't really prefer to see them in a round (as long as you do not confuse me or your competitor you will be fine). I like speed, I can follow it, just be sure to be clear and concise so there is no misdirection. If you need to email your competitor or me a copy of your case, please email it to the following to start a chain: sm041009@sdale.org.

PF: Be fun and surprising; I like unique topics and where they flow in a round. I prefer Tech>Truth, make sure to keep that in mind when I am flowing the round. Do not run progressive, save it for LD or CX. If you provide a counter-point I will automatically not carry that through the round (unless it is for rebuttal against a point that has been brought up).

IPDA: I look for structure more heavily than I look for evidence. Some IPDA topics can be heavy on one side of the debate so I will take that into consideration when valuing the weight of points. Make sure in the NEG2 and the AFF3 to crystalize and signpost or I will get lost in the flow.

General: What I am looking for is confidence, owning the space that you are in, and extending your ability beyond that of your opponent. Think outside the box. I will not disclose results at the end of the round (unless told otherwise by tab), but I will give sides critiques for speaking and about the flow in general if wanted. Any references to the PGA Tour or the Ryder Cup will earn you an automatic +1 speaker point. Most of all the debate is just a debate, not your entire life, so have fun and remember that you deserve to be here.

• I will assess debates based on the clarity, relevance, and persuasiveness of arguments presented by each team.
• I will consider the organization of speeches, teamwork, and effective use of evidence.
• I will take into account the quality of rebuttals and cross-examination.
• I will evaluate each speaker's ability to communicate their ideas effectively, including clarity of speech, articulation, and confidence.
• I will consider how well speakers engage with the audience while maintaining a respectful tone.
• I will assess the quality of rebuttals and how well debaters engage with the opposing team's arguments.
• I do not love serious spreading. If I cannot understand you, I will stop keeping up with you

My Experience:

I mainly focus on congressional debate and have competed and worked on my abilities within that style of debate for a decent time now. I have also done IPDA and PF when it comes to other forms of debate. I have touched impromptu speaking and extemp here and their as well.

General:

Please don't spread unless it is an event that calls for it. If you are speeding through 20 contentions in IPDA it just doesnt make sense in my opion. Certain debate styles call for it and in that case it is ok, but if it isnt a debate style that has spreading as a set norm, please dont do it. Also, I really enjoy clash. You will see that when I go over the individual debate styles but having good clash really makes the debate intresting. Lastly, have fun. Debate is something im really passionate about and I hope each and every one of you feels the same. I really enjoy the congressional side more then others sure but debate in general is a fun competition and I want to make sure it stays that way for everyone, no matter it be congressional, PF, IPDA, LD, etc.

PF:

In PF I want to see clash and rebuttle. Make sure you set up your case strongly at the begining of the round and then as the round progresses, make sure you entertain clash within your debate. I dont want to see the same repeditive points brought up over and over again. I want to see an entertaining debate that talks about new rebuttle points and not just giving constructives the entire debate. Also, please crystalize the round clearly at the end. If you can do this, it will help my decision in who will win the round.

IPDA:

Please dont make it all a sourse debate. I have had many instances where I was stuck simply arguing sourses and not the resolution. Their are only 30 minutes of prep for debate so if their is a slight error in a sourse, you may bring it up but dont center that around your argument. Other then that I would say bring clash and rebuttle and focus on your weighing mechanism throuout the round. If you can refute your opponents claims and show how your side relates to the weighing mechanism, it will help me make that decision on who should win.

Congressional:

When it comes to congressional I like to see fluid speeches that also incorperate things that have been said within the chamber and session as well. For example, if your giving a basic constructive, make sure your speech is fluid and that you know what you are talking about. If its a later speech, incorperate things other representitives have said to entertain clash within the session. If you can stay active within the chamber and session and add clash to a side of debate it will help get you ranked high. Also, a really good knowlege of Parlimentary Procedure will help you rank higher. Knowing your motions and basic parli pro shows you know how things work in a session which helps me rank you as a speaker. If you PO, please make sure you know your presidence and reccency and also know Parlimentary Procedure. If you can run the session efficently and effectivly with little errors, you will be ranked high.

Other Forms of Debate

I know I missed a few forms of debate but I will pretty much be looking for clash and a clear flow of debate. If you can bring those in all forms of debate it will show a clear cut understanding of the debate style and topic and makes chosing a winner easier.

Have Fun and good Luck!!

Hello, my name is Smriti Singh, and I'm a current junior at Bentonville High School. All debate is about arguing for or against a position you hold. Persuade me and convince me that your argument is better than that of your opponent. In order to make sure that we are on the same page before I start the round, I would also appreciate receiving an off-the-clock roadmap before it begins.

Debating is a valuable talent to have, even after you're done with high school. However, always remember to have fun, and I wish you the best of luck!

Hello! My name is Aneeka Srivastava, I'm a student at Bentonville High School, & this is my third year in the Speech & Debate scene. I'm a debater who specializes in LD, but I have also competed in IPDA and POI.

LIKES:

Respect is key. Your ability to remain professional in strenuous situations will be the best way to win speaker points, and may be a deciding factor in the case that the round is close.

For debate, clearly structured cases with defined points and definitions would be ideal. At the end of the day, I must be able to discern one point from the other. Furthermore, I would really appreciate an off the clock road maps, just to allow easier flow.

For forensics, engage me! Try your best to separate yourself from your opponents, and make it clear that you know your source material.

DISLIKES:

Bigotry will not be accepted and considered an automatic loss.

For debate, DO NOT SPREAD. The only times in which this will be accepted is in Policy debate. Don't save all your points for cross examination. I will NOT judge cross, therefore any point mentioned will be considered null and void.

For forensics, be polite to your opponents. Pettiness will be noted and taken in bad taste.

Don't shy away from making me laugh or asking questions, we're all here to learn and have fun. Enjoy your rounds, and good luck!

she/her prns

I expect everyone to be polite and respectful of each other. I pay close attention to your claims and the evidence that backs those claims. I will also look closely at how you present these claims and evidence. It should be easy to follow and easy to understand. As a new judge, I would like to ask you to not spread, otherwise, it will be too hard for me to keep up and you can lose points on this.

Hello! My name is Will Yamamoto, and I am a sophomore here at BHS, and your judge today. This is my first time judging debate however I am in the debate club and have regular practice with IPDA debate.

What do I want to see in a debate?

-Powerful weighing mechanisms

-Cohesive thought process

-Clear speech and articulation

-Powerful argumentative skills can surpass evidence that feels flat.

What do I want absent from a debate?

-Spreading, more arguments do not equal a better argument

- If you are talking fast enough to where I mentally cannot understand you or keep track, I will stop flowing.