Madill Speech Invitational
2024 — Madill, OK/US
Novice LD and PF Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideExperience
I am currently a senior in high school and have experience in both LD and PF, taking PF to state multiple times.
How I Will Judge
- If you speak too quietly, fast, or I am otherwise unable to understand you, I will try my best to flow what I can but I can't flow what I can't understand so try to speak clearly.
- I prefer you stand when you speak because it is more professional and it is easier for me to know which speaker is asking the CX questions when I see you standing.
- Please try your best not to look at your opponent. You are trying to convince me to vote for you, not for your opponent to change their mind.
- I take speaking quality into consideration but I will likely vote for whoever makes better points, supports them with more evidence, and defends them from opponents attacks better.
Try not to worry too much, if I'm judging you you're probably a novice so just have fun and try to learn as much as you can :)
Hi, I'm Blake, and my pronouns are she/her. I'm a completely neutral judge with no biases.
I've been involved in Speech and Debate for 3 years and have 6 years of experience in theater.
I adore Harry Potter and The Crucible. If someone references either of them in their debate, I might even toss in some extra speaker points! :)
Debate-
I'm not very strict (I can be if I need to), but if you (or your partner) spread, I won't flow, and you're unlikely to earn high speaker points. Remember, your opponent isn't the one judging you or awarding speaker points—I am. So, make sure you're clear and understandable because if your opponent can't flow you, I won't be able to either.
Don't mumble or speak under your breath. Speak confidently and clearly. While it's a debate, presenting yourself with confidence and clarity is important—it will benefit you in the long run. Charisma has never been a disadvantage!
Be kind and considerate, not just to me and the judges, but also to your opponent(s) before, during, and after the round. I've encountered many people who were friendly at first but became less so during the round, and it reflects poorly on sportsmanship and character. So, just be kind! :)
Speech-
Unfortunately, I'm not as lenient in my judging for speech events.
Make sure to research the rules for your event before you perform, because I will be enforcing them.
Memorization is key, and while I understand that everyone gets nervous and mistakes happen (big or small), it's up to you whether you let a slip-up be your downfall or just a minor setback. If you or your partner forget your lines during your performance, don’t freeze—improvise and get back on track.
During your event, stay off your phone before it's your turn to perform. If you bring a spectator, don't whisper or talk to them the entire time—it’s distracting for both me and the person(s) performing.
Also, don't make negative faces while someone else is performing. Just because you're not the one performing doesn't mean you're not being judged on your etiquette.