Bellingham Online
2023 — Online, WA/US
LD Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show Hideemail: lydiawang327@gmail.com
background: debated ld in hs, now 1A/2N @UH
come to our debate camp! https://uh.edu/honors/Programs-Minors/co-curricular-programs/debate/debate-workshop/
top level:
Columbia update – prefer not to judge trad rounds, in open there’ no need to adapt to a lay/novice debater anything is fair game, ** extra speaks if you sit down early when you clearly winning **
tech>truth, if something is conceded then it’s true, but warrants still need to be extended
pet peeves:
- pdfs, google sheets, speechdrop
- counting down
- excessive flow clarification
- stealing prep
- splitting the 2nr
theory:
no such thing as friv theory read whatever you want, default c/I, dtd, no rvis
t:
i like these debates, impact weighing = good
plans:
good, higher threshold on 1AR/2AR extensions than most judges
cps:
equally good for cheaty cps and cp, good competition debate = higher speaks, judge kick unless told otherwise
da:
better than most judges for spin on politics DA, ok for intrinsicness debates
k affs:
been on both sides of the debate, probably slightly neg leaning on framework
ks:
dislike "you link you lose", rep ks, word piks, good for anything else
phil:
never read it in debate but familiar with kant, hobbes, levinas, hegel, etc in academic context
tricks:
err on over explanation, will be annoyed if long underview is read but not utilized well, meaning don’t make me flow your 11th point on eval theory after the 1ar if you don’t extend it when conceded
Hi, I'm Pepper Berry, and my pronouns are they/them.
My email if you need it: pberry@seattleu.edu
I've been a debater for five years and I am currently a debater at Seattle University doing British parliamentary.
I have done four years of Lincoln-Douglas debate, about a year of Policy debate, and a tiny bit of public forum. as well as Informative, Impromptu, and Poetry slam.
I am okay with speed within speeches, but you need to be clear. If you are not clear, I cannot flow it. I would much prefer the quality of arguments over quantity, especially for complex arguments.
I will vote on pretty much anything if you are persuasive enough. I am okay with K's, counter plans, framework, theory, etc. as long as they are explained well.
EXPERIENCE
I competed in Policy (among other events) from 2006 to 2010 and in British Parliamentary at the college level from 2010 to 2014. I've been judging since then, and have been running the debate programs at a number of schools since 2016. Please read the applicable paradigm categorized by format below:
POLICY
I'm a Stock Issues judge! My belief is that we're here to debate a policy option, not discuss external advocacy.
Generally not in favor of the K. If a team chooses to run one with me, provide a clear weighing mechanism as to why I should prefer the K over the policy issue we're actually here to debate.
I do not look upon Performance cases favorably. If you want to pull that stunt and expect to win, go do Oratory.
I'm able to understand speed just fine, but prefer clear articulation. Pitching your voice up while continuing to read at the same speed is not spreading.
I highly value clash and a weighing mechanism in the round, and strongly encourage analysis on arguments made. I work to avoid judge intervention if at all possible, unless there is clear abuse of the debate format or both teams have failed to provide effective weighing mechanisms. Don't just give me arguments and expect me to do the math; prove to me that you've won the argument, and then demonstrate how that means you've won the round.
I have a deep hatred of disclosure theory. I expect teams that I judge to be able to respond and adapt to new arguments in-round instead of whining about how they didn't know the 1AC or 1NC ahead of time. If you want to run this, I have an exceedingly high threshold for proving abuse.
Please do not assume that I'm reading along in the doc with you. Debate's meant to be about oral communication, and only stuff that's actually said in round makes it into my flow. If I request the doc, it's purely for verification needs in case there's a challenge.
Finally, I have low tolerance for tech issues. I've been doing this since laptops first came onto the debate scene, and I've never seen computers crash or "crash" more consistently than at debate tournaments in the middle of a round. If there are persistent issues relating to files being ready or shareable, I may offer you a flash drive if I have one for a manual transfer, but I also reserve the right to factor that into my decision if it's a severe issue and extending the round beyond a reasonable point.
LINCOLN-DOUGLAS
I am a firm believer in traditional LD debate. LD was designed around Value-Criterion debate of the philosophical implications of a resolution, and I'm very happy to see debates of this nature. If you want to run a Plan, CP, or any variation of that, I would like to suggest 3 options for you: Go do Policy, have your coach strike me, or hope for a different judge.
I am not a fan of Kritiks, but haven't been shy about voting for them in the past when they're well-impacted and developed with a competitive alt. You're going to have to do some serious work if you want to try and get me to prefer the K, but it's certainly possible. A K without an alternative is just whining.
No speed. A conversational speaking rate is more than adequate if you've done your homework and refined your case.
Performance/meme cases will result in swift and appalling reprisals in your speaker points, even in the unlikely event that you win the round. A low-point win is virtually inevitable in that case, and indicates that your opponent has somehow become incapacitated during the round and was unable to gurgle a response.
Adaptation to your audience is one of the most basic and essential factors in debate, and public speaking in general. Please keep that in mind when formulating your strategy for the round.
PUBLIC FORUM
I strongly prefer traditional public forum debate. Do not treat this like Policy Lite. PF was intended to be accessible to the layperson, and I take that seriously. Go do Policy if you want to use jargon, run plans or kritiks, or spread. If I hear a plan text, it's likely that I'll be signing my ballot right there and then.
In order to earn the ballot from me, focus on making clear, well-articulated arguments that have appropriate supporting evidence. Remember to tell me why I should prefer your evidence/points over your opponent's. Make sure your advocacy is continually supported through the round, and give me a good summary at the end to show why you've won.
WORLDS DEBATE
Traditional Worlds adjudication; please remember which format you're competing in. Do not spread. I voted down a team in Triple Octafinals at 2018 Nationals for it.
DEBATE GENERAL: I am not a fan of spreading/spewing; if I cannot understand the speakers, I cannot judge based upon the arguments. Fast is fine as long as enunciation is clear. If it gets to the point where I cannot flow, I will judge you based upon presentation alone. During cross, I want to know that you can answer the question, not only rely upon cards. I prefer a civil debate; it makes my job more difficult if I have to discern between what you're saying and how it's presented.
CON: I expect a debate. Unless it's the first aff/neg speeches, I do not expect canned speeches. I am not a fan of voting blocks to keep people low on priority because I think it's important to see how everyone is doing, not just the select few who are better at networking. That being said, if the debate is not being furthered because there are no new arguments or clash and the same speeches are given over and over again, I welcome a motion to PQ to move the session along. I expect the Chair to know the basics, like Robert's Rules, as well as the Orders of the Day, and keep everything running smoothly.
PF/LD: I am looking for evidence but I also want to know that you understand your cases. In LD, if you are going to run a CP, make sure all of the components are there. While a criterion is not required, I do prefer that you have one. In PF, if there is a framework, I expect it to be upheld.
CX: While the biggest impact is important, it should be a realistic one.
Howdy!
I am Jarrod, and I did Lincoln Douglas (LD) at La Cueva High School from 2012 to 2016. I have helped run various Model United Nations conferences in college from 2016 to 2018, as well. I have a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations from American University and work for the federal government in Washington, DC.
I am a traditional LD debater, and will always be a traditional LD debater; however, I am open to more modern LD debate styles as a judge. I will flow the debate, and will review the flow extensively before I make a decision. I do not like spreading, particularly because it diminishes my understanding of the arguments (if I am not flowing, please slow down). I am supportive of creative arguments (e.g. Ks, CPs) as long as you can strongly support them. Please see the additional paradigms below:
Definitions: I am not fond of definition debates, but I will see the merit in a definition debate if it ends up being critical to the round.
Value/Criterion Debates: I am not fond of value/criterion debates (e.g. "morality outweighs justice because philosophy says so"), particularly because often these are meant to clash by design. Please demonstrate how your contentions support your value/criterion to outweigh your opponent's - these will rarely outweigh your opponent's on their own.
Voters: I am very fond of voters, particularly at the end of your final rebuttal, as a way to crystallize the most important themes during the round.
I have one final paradigm - the most important of all - HAVE FUN!
Hello everyone,
I would consider followings in my judge,
1) Speak clearly 2) Respect each other - don't want you to bother your opponent's speaking
3) Make questions/answers precisely
4) Keep time strictly
Good Luck!
Email Address : damonrang79@gmail.com
Trent Kuykendoll (he/him)
Bellingham High School/Sehome High School/Squalicum High School
Add me to the chain: trentkuykendoll@gmail.com
For Puget Sound Nat Quals:
Considering I'll be seeing most if not all of you multiple times throughout this tournament, please make it interesting for me. This is a great opportunity to start breaking fun new strats for state/other end of year tournaments. I'll lower speaks based on lack of creativity. Rest of paradigm remains the same.
Update:
If there is a significant skill-mismatch between teams, the better team has an obligation to make the round accessible in my opinion. I'm tired of seeing way more experienced teams just beating up on newer teams, so from here on out I'm going to give low-speaks if I see that. Same situation if you're running tricks.
Top
I’m a TAB/flow judge. Tech > truth, however, will intervene (specifically in impact weighing) if those arguments go unaddressed by both teams. Also, I do judge kick if you're condo or uncontested. Anyone who needs you to spec judge kick is an LD nerd. Here is a pref cheat-sheet before we go into the weeds:
Speed Clarity ---------------------x------- Spread
Depth More args ---------------------X------- More development
Topicality Non-voter --------X-------------------- #1 Issue
Inherency Non-voter --X-------------------------- #1 Issue
K Debate Maybe Cap ------------------------X---- Try your craziest strat.
Impacts Magnitude -------------------X--------- Probability
K Affs Nah ----------------------X------ Yeehaw
Performance Nah ---------------------------X- Yeehaw
Fairness I/L ------X---------------------- Independent Voter
Education I/L ---------------------------X- Independent Voter
Theory Vios DTA --------X-------------------- DTD
Condo Bad -------------------X--------- Good
PICs Bad ---------X------------------- Good
Agent CPs Bad ----------------------X------ Good
Adv. CPs Bad ------X---------------------- Good
Int. Fiat Bad -------------------X--------- Good
Stock Issues
I have no loyalties to stock issues and winning a stock issue on the neg will not win the round. I need a reason to vote against a team that is un-topical, has no inherency, etc. I often have a hard time buying half-baked T arguments. If you’re going for topicality, you should probably collapse to T in the 2NR. The other stock issue I have my gripes with is inherency. Full disclosure, I almost never buy that a lack of a barrier to the plan is coherent argument, (however if you can win a round on inherency alone for a plan that has not been implemented already, I’ll give that team perfect speaks… good luck). As far as other stocks go, explain why they’re relevant to the ballot and please, for my sanity, don’t say “harms”.
Theory
A 2-hour round is non-negotiable as are -isms. Outside of these, the rules are for you and your opponents to agree upon and if there is something in round that you don’t agree with, run theory on it (this includes Flex prep, tag-team, etc.). <-Read my paradigm on this portion and stop asking. If it does not require the round to be stopped, I will not intervene and I will tell you as much if asked (this means I don’t have any opinions on tag-teaming, flex prep, clipping, altered speech times, etc. unless brought up as a theory argument). I tend to be more willing to drop specific arguments or err one way on evidence or during ties. This being said, I am more likely to drop the team if the round is collapsed to that theory argument in rebuttal. I have no problem with Affs kicking case and going for theory.
I enjoy well developed (emphasis on well developed) theory rounds. I tend to skew condo good, unless the neg is running 3+ conditional counter-advocacies. I have a much lower threshold to buy DTA than DTD/DTT. If you go for drop the debater, I will expect the abuse, real and potential, to rise to the level at which only dropping the team is a sufficient sanction. For this reason, if you want me to buy a DTD argument, I would recommend going for that alone in the second rebuttal, regardless aff or neg.
If you have further questions, ask pre-round.
Paradigm for PF:
- I am okay with faster speed, but don’t talk over 300 words per minute for PF
- Sign Post everything, helps me keep track and maintain a fair ballot
- Clash and weigh arguments: interact your arguments with your opponents, if both of you drop an argument, and there’s no comparison, it calls for judge intervention and preference, which I don’t want to do.
- Assume I know nothing about the topic.
- Be prepared to give cards or provide evidence, I don’t enjoy waiting 20 minutes for a card to be summoned in the middle of prep.
- Don’t be rude during CX, but that also doesn’t mean you can’t be aggressive. There’s a pretty big difference.
- If you can be funny or mix in some cultural references I will give higher speaks, but it won’t help in my decision for the round.
Paradigm for LD:
- Just don't talk super fast, I can deal with some speed
- Clash and weigh arguments: interact your arguments with your opponents, if both of you drop an argument, and there’s no comparison, it calls for judge intervention and preference, which I don’t want to do.
- I don't flow CX, but you can bring it up in your speech and it will be flowed
4
My History: I competed in LD, Impromptu, and OO for four years at Anacortes High School (2008 - 2012) I have been an LD / IE Judge since then (11 years) and I am now the Assistant Debate Coach.
Email for chains:emcintyreroth@gmail.com
For All Events: This is paramount to me - be respectful of your opponent. I will take away speaker points if you speak down to, act rude during rounds, or mock your opponent. There is a fine line between being sassy/confident and being disrespectful - at your age you should know the difference. Speech & Debate should be accessible for everyone, and not everyone is competing at the same level yet. Treat them respectfully regardless. For some people, this may be their first time competing. It costs nothing to be kind - in fact it is the bare minimum.
Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated in any of my rounds. I will contact your coach, I will contact TAB.
Side Note: If you have observers / are an observer in any of my rounds, and I see you making faces at your friends, whispering, laughing at someone presenting (unless HI, DUO, or intentionally humorous speeches), using your phone while someone is presenting, or being generally disruptive and rude, I will ask you to leave as soon as the speech is over.
If you are uncomfortable with observers in the round, let me know. I will always ask before a round begins.
For LD:
Come prepared. I do not want to wait 10-15 minutes for you to pre-flow, rework your case, etc. Taking a moment to share docs with those in the room is one thing, or jot down last minute notes. However, my time, your opponent's time, and the time of the competitors following you is also valuable. We all know how easily tournaments get pushed behind.
I value clarity in rounds. I can follow speed, I do not like super spreading. I am a flow-judge, If I can't understand you, I will stop flowing. Quality > Quantity.
Know your evidence and your arguments. It is clear to me when you are presenting evidence but have no understanding of the material.
I will vote on Kritiks if they are clearly warranted, well explained, and made accessible to your opponents. (I am admittedly not a fan of K's but will vote on them.) I don't particularly like the whole "debating debate thing".
I am absolutely a more traditional judge. That being said - if you can convince me to, I will vote on almost anything. Be clear on WHY I should vote for you however. Clearly show me the impacts. Why something is warranted. Clear, concise voters.
I like to see clash in a round. Strong V/C. Solid Framework and how your case ties it back to your V/VC. Clear Impacts. Links. Definitions.
All that being said - congratulations on making it to state this year. You’ve all worked so hard to be here this weekend, so bring what you got, and lay it all out on the table. You have a very strong pool of competitors here. Good luck to you all!
My name is Robin Monteith and I am the coach for The Overlake School in Remond, Wa. I am a parent coach and was introduced to speech and debate through being a parent judge. This is my 7th year judging at speech and debate competitions. All years, I judged PF, LD, Congress, and many speech categories. I have no policy experience. I became a coach in the 2019-2020 school, and coach students in many speech categories, PF, LD, and Congress. My educational background is in psychology and social work.
I am looking for students to convince me that the side they are arguing on is right. I like statistics, but am also looking for the big picture, but with enough specifics to understand the big picture. It will help if you give a clear and highly organized case. Make sure that you don't talk so fast that you lose your enunciation. Also, remember that I am trying to write and process what you are saying so if you are talking really fast some of your arguments may be missed. While the point of debate is to take apart your opponents case, I do not like it when teams get too aggressive or cross the line into being rude. I value both argument and style in that I think your style can help get your argument across or not get it across well. Don't do theory or Kritiks. I am not a flow judge, but do take extensive notes. You need to extend arguments in your summary and final focus and I will disregard any new arguments presented in final focus and second summary as this is unfair to your opponents. In summary I like for you to summarize the important parts of the debate for me. Both your side and your opponents. In final focus I want to hear voters. Why do you think you won the debate. What evidence did you present that outweighs your opponents evidence, etc.
Preferred email: rmonteith@overlake.org
TLDR: Substance first. Depth over Breadth. Speed mostly fine (Yes Clarity still matters -_-). K's n stuff fine. Not the biggest fan of T. Be organized.
I don't usually count flashing as prep unless it becomes a problem. Only ever had a problem in Policy and (funnily enough) Pufo rounds.
Email: graythesun@gmail.com
Pronouns: He/Him
Prep:
All Prep is running prep. I'm not setting a timer, I'm using a stopwatch for all prep. Watch your own time.
Flex-Prep is valid. As in, asking questions during Prep time. I prefer if Flex-prep is more used for clarifying arguments rather then finding tricky questions... you had your chance in CX.
Framework:
As a judge I really like framework, it tends to make for an easier decision. I.E. some arguments that are argued don't really fit within frameworks in round, and I can just drop them. If there are competing frameworks I expect you to debate them, and end up with one superseding the other. That being said... if you have the same or similar frameworks, unless you're gonna describe what the nuanced difference is and how that changes the valuation in round, it's almost better to just agree that the Fw's are the same.
Contention level:
I definitely prefer depth of argumentation over breadth, knowing your evidence is key to educating yourself on the topic. I will always buy a warrant from your evidence that's well explained and utilized over one that isn't. A lot of responses to arguments made against a card can be found within the card itself. This doesn't mean you should just re-read the card. This does not mean that you can reread your card or tagline and be good.