The Betty Gunn Tournament at Mountain Brook High School
2024 — Mountain Brook, AL/US
Public Forum Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideHey y'all
I'm a fourth-year debater from Vestavia Hills High School.
Stanford LD update:
I'm pretty lay when it comes to LD but I'll evaluate any arguments except Trix.
PF paradigm:
Case: Make sure your case has impacts. It is hard for me to vote on an argument that doesn't tell me how or which population is affected by their impacts. However, make sure you also have warrants. Even if your case has big numbers, I will not evaluate any of your impacts if you don't give me any explanations as to how you get there. Don't worry if your case does not get to 4 minutes; I still evaluate all arguments presented in that timeframe.
Speaking: Speak clearly. For me, you can go a little bit fast and I will still be able to understand your argument. However, I will indicate for you to slow down if you are going too fast. Most importantly, mumbling is gonna negatively affect your speaker points and make it a lot harder to understand. Send speech docs if you plan on spreading. Email is aaryaaluri143@gmail.com
Prog: By all means go ahead and do it. Just beware that my experience with progressive args is pretty limited to theory. I'll evaluate it to the best of my abilities.
Rebuttal: Prioritize offense over defense. In 1st rebuttal, do not go back onto your case unless it is an absolute necessity and you believe you have no other way to fill the 4 minutes. Weighing is not a necessity in 1st rebuttal but it would be good if you started weighing early in round. Weighing should be in 2nd rebuttal. No talking between teammates in rebuttal or any speech for that matter. 2nd rebuttal must respond to all offense that 1st rebuttal brings. 2nd rebuttal would be good to collapse but it is not required for me. Defense is not sticky.
Weighing: WEIGHING IS NECESSARY. I must know why your argument is more important than theirs to be able to vote for you. Additionally, weighing can't be one-sided. You must weigh COMPARING your impact to theirs as opposed to just restating their impact. It can start in rebuttal but IT MUST START IN SUMMARY.
Summary: 1st summary MUST COLLAPSE ON ONE ARGUMENT. Summary must also respond to all offense presented on ALL of their contentions. Summary must also have clean extensions of their case and turns in order for them to stay on my flow. 2nd summary is largely a reactive speech that must respond to the points brought up by 1st summary.
Final Focus: Largely resembles summary. NO NEW INFORMATION IN FINAL FOCUSES. Weighing, case extensions and turn extensions must be present.
Have fun with this activity. It gives back what you give it. You make connections the more you stay in the activity. I will do my best to ease your nerves and help y'all grow in this adventure.
YOU'RE GONNA KILL IT!!!!
I am a labor and employment defense attorney who has been practicing for over 20 years. My preferences are: (1) NO spreading, if you spread I'm not able to follow your case, (2) I look for arguments that flow through to the end of the round, and (3) I like arguments that are logical and are evidence based. Theories are fine except disclosure theory.
Name:
Kane Burnette
Occupation:
Lawyer
Prior Experience Judging:
Minimal - I am a novice.
Philosophy:
I am a novice and do not have an established philosophy of judging debates. In other arenas, I do generally believe in the link of form and substance, and I expect that will carry over into debate as well. I doubt that I will base decisions solely on the arguments, without consideration of the manner in which the arguments are presented. Neither do I expect to be persuaded by polished delivery short on facts. I guess you might call it a balanced approach.
Warning on Speed:
I love the fable of the tortoise and the hare because, in plodding fashion, I am almost always the former (I do fall asleep quickly). Congratulations if you are more of a hare, but if that is your speaking style it may be difficult for me to keep up with you.
Hey everyone!!
I have been debating for 3 years in Public Forum and Congressional debate.
I will flow the round and judge you on how well you weigh the arguments. If you want to be judged on an argument, you need to bring it back up in every speech. Do not expect that I know an argument was wrong, tell me it is wrong and why.
If you are disrespectful to me or your opponents you will get low speaks and your confidence matters!
Have fun!
As a new judge, I have read a bit about today’s topic but ask that you refrain from spreading, weigh your impacts carefully, and time yourself. As a business education teacher, I value credible sources, logical reasoning, and a well-structured debate. Please use clear introductory statements, transitions, and consistently connect the resolution to your contentions. If I can’t follow your argument, I won’t vote for it. I find that many PF debates are just evidence clashes, so don’t just present facts—tell me why they matter and why I should vote for you. Avoid spreading; clarity is key. Please don’t waste time when calling for evidence, as it disrupts the debate. Above all, be respectful, have fun, and present your best self.
Hey there! My name is Kileigh Dickinson and I am a Senior and a fourth year debater at LAMP High School.
Some notes
-Please be respectful to your opponents!
-I am fine with a lot of speed, but no spreading. If I can't understand you I won't flow you.
-Remember! Public forum is called public forum because someone from the public should be able to walk in and understand what is going on! Make it that way!
-Use all your prep time.
-I don't flow cross.
How to win on my ballot
-I love off-time roadmaps, signposting, and framework debates.
-Explain your impacts! I can't expand on them for you, explain the relevance of your argument and why I should vote for it!
-Comparatively weigh the round. Start weighing as early as rebuttal.
-Tech>Truth, but don't be stupid.
Remember to have fun and enjoy what debate has to offer!
My name is Matt Ferguson. I currently teach psychology and two film studies classes at Mountain Broook High School and for many I taught US History and a Government course. I have judged several tournaments in the past. Events included public forum, and several speech events.
Hi everybody! My name is Blaire and I am currently attending Auburn University and am getting a bachelor's in public relations. I competed for three years at Auburn High School and competed in NSDA 2023 in OO.
For all rounds - Don't be homophobic, racist, sexist, or spew any form of hatred. It will be noted and reported.
For PF rounds -
1. I will not flow cross so if you want to use something said you'll need to bring it up later in round.
2. I appreciate good public speaking skills, but I am anti-spreading. If I can not hear you clearly, it doesn't matter how good your argument is. I like arguments that are clear and packed with evidence.
3. I'm not going to cut you off if you go over time but I will stop flowing and I won't take anything said after the timer ends into consideration for the win. I ask that y'all not interrupt the person speaking if they go over time for the sake of respect.
4. Please do not bring up anything new in Final Focus, it will not be flowed.
5. Signpost! Don't forget to weigh in summary!!!
For Speech events -
1. I love topics that are creative and unexpected.
2. Passion is an important component and if I can tell you don't really care about what you're talking about it won't land as well as it could.
3. Be confident, not cocky.
4. If you mess up DON'T STOP! I'll only be able to tell if you let me. Just keep going.
For Congress
1. Be articulate and professional.
2. Please do not be aggressive towards other congress members.
3. PLEASE be aware of the procedure and rules of Congress before arriving.
If you have any questions for me please don't hesitate to ask, my email isbcg0040@auburn.edu
Good Luck!
I'm a first year who debated 7th-12th grade and was ok.
Respect others; any discriminatory comments will result in an auto drop and I'll contact tab
Please be nice. Debates are not fun at all to judge when people are being rude/condescending in cross and I will give you the L if you're too mean.
I'll disclose only if everyone in the round is comfortable with it. I really hate how competitive debate is, so if you don't want to hear the results, power to you and just say so!
Try to speak for the whole speech time and weigh (tell me why to prefer your impacts over your opponents') and I'll be happy
Please extend arguments!! Tell me the reasons why something happens not just that it happens, and I’m so so much more likely to vote for you. Basically, just warrant what you’re saying and extend arguments properly
Give an off-time roadmap, like "neg, aff"
I think it's my job to adapt to how y'all are debating and that's what I'll try to be doing. As long as you're erring on the side of over-explaining things which aren't problematic in any way, I'd love to vote for you! Please just debate the way you debate best in front of me
My email is patton.hahn@yale.edu if you have any questions after/before round or want to add me to the email chain
Please ask me any questions before round if you have any, and don't aggressively post-round me!
Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!!
Public Forum:
I have extensive debate experience from many years ago (see "In General," below), but I am new, and still adjusting, to judging Public Forum.
I consider myself a tabula rasa judge by default. I will listen to any argument provided it is not outrageously offensive and is reasonably supported by evidence and/or analysis.
Please note that while I will of course listen to topicality and other theory, I also see value in policy and value based arguments. Regardless of your approach, I will look for strong analysis and development of arguments, clash, and smart choices as to arguments to go for at the end of the round.
I will flow rounds and expect clear and reliable roadmaps in advance of speeches. Accordingly, please make sure you know I am ready to start writing before you start a speech. Also, I expect signposting that is clear enough for me to understand where I should be writing during a speech, and (if relevant) where I should be looking during a cross.
If I am not following you, that will likely become apparent, e.g., I might put down my pen and hold my hands out in a pleading fashion.
Please time your own prep time and speeches and crosses. Please do so honestly and bear in mind that I may keep time as well for my own reference despite counting on your doing it yourselves.
In general:
I was a policy debater and coach for several years before I went to law school in the 1990s.
I will not penalize speed but will not vote on arguments that I cannot understand or record.
Please be respectful of others and yourselves. Debate should be a fun, educational and collegial activity.
Hi everyone! I'm a senior at Auburn High School and am in my 3rd year of pf debate.
Just a few comments about things I like and don't like:
- Don't be rude. Any racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. comments will lose you the round and tank your speaks.
- Please be nice to your partner.
- I will time every speech, cross, and prep session but try to time yourself as well.
- tech > truth mostly
- Please signpost and give an off-time road map so I know where you are on the flow. This is a huge thing for me because if I don't know where to flow, I don't write it, and my flow is what I vote on.
- I can handle speed but only talk fast if you can be clear at the same time. I don't give extra speaks for talking fast I care about clarity so please don't feel pressure to talk quick.
- Try your very best to fill all of your speech time, even if you have to just repeat yourself a bunch.
- Make sure you extend your points and weigh!
- I listen to cross but point out the important things again in speech.
- A competitive cross is fine, but don't be disrespectful.
- No prog (friv theory, spark, etc.) at the novice tournament please.
- If I’m judging LD: I understand LD but I’m not perfect because I’ve never personally debated LD but don’t worry, I still know how LD works.
Overall, be nice, have fun, and good luck! If you have any questions, feel free to email me at emilyjiang133@gmail.com
Speaking clearly and at a speed so that I can understand your argument is imperative. I prefer a debate exhibiting quality over a debate exhibiting quantity. Be kind to your fellow debaters whether in or out of the debate room.
I'm Nathan! I do PF for Northridge. Email: njl10723@gmail.com
PF:
- I vote off the flow.
- I don't recommend novices go fast. If you do, be clear.
- I listen to crossfire to give you feedback, but it won’t matter on my flow unless you bring it up in speech.
- Please signpost and give an off-time road map so I know where you are on the flow.
- Warrant and explain lots!
- Make sure to extend your points and weigh your impacts.
- Try your best to use all of your speech time.
- Be nice to each other in cross.
Don't be nervous and have fun :)
Make sure case is organized and well formatted
Have clear tags and contentions
make sure you are going line by line
talking fast is fine as long as things are pronounced properly and I can hear you
absolutely no spreading
I’m looking for how well you can defend your argument
Good luck in today's debate! I am a veteran Lincoln-Douglas debater from Saint James School in Montgomery, where I debated locally and nationally in high school. I was excited about debate then and still am now! After I graduated college and law school I worked for a long time as an attorney and now serve as a federal judge. Free speech and advocacy are a big part of what makes our country special, and I am thrilled that you have chosen to invest your time and talents in civil discourse.
I'm a pretty traditional judge. You can trust that I'm completely unbiased (I maintain my impartiality as part of my everyday work life), and you should not expect to win my ballot if you're not a persuasive advocate. You'll have to speak clearly and make sure that I understand your argument before you can have any expectation that I'll accept it. Spread at your own risk. If your opponent spreads, think big thoughts about how you can slow the round down and still win. In this kind of debate, the gutsy debater with a few good arguments (or even only one) is often more effective than the fastest speaker with loads of weaker things to say. Proper decorum is a must - I'm completely confident that you can be effective without being rude. Stand up straight, make eye contact, and be your best self. Good luck!
I Don’t prefer spreading, but as long as you’re clear and understandable then it’s perfect.
Don’t be rude, it’s not great. Although, aggression during cross is fun, given it is not rude.
I care about format so organize your cases.
If a point is not responded to then I will consider it dropped. Impacts. Those are important. Make or break kinda stuff.
No matter how bad your case is, make me believe it’s worth voting for.
Hi I'm Malcolm Portera and I've been doing PF for six years
Tech over truth
Don't try to do anything dumb like abusive theory, tricks, or Ks that don't really have a link to the topic if you want me to vote for you, debate is for debate, not confusing your opponent by running insane args.
Regardless of what you believe in don't make fun of the other debaters or be mean-spirited in round.
Cross is important but I won't vote off of it unless you mention the points you made in an actual speech.
For LD: Consider me as lay as possible as an LD judge, I have only debated it once and I have never judged it so keep it as simple as you possibly can
2025mgp1@student.mtnbrook.k12.al.us
Hey guys, I'm Archana! I'm a Freshman at the University of Alabama. I used to be on the Vestavia Hills High School PF Debate Team. I've been doing debate for four years, and was captain!
For the Vestavia Novice tourney:
- debating for the first few times can be scary, don't freak out or be stressed. we all make mistakes, everyone is a novice and are learning, just focus on giving it your best!
- take everything with a grain of salt, and use this tournament as a learning experience for you to build up on your experience and skills
- any feedback i give is constructive criticism, to give advice/help you improve
GOOD LUCK! :))
Here are some gen things to take note of in round:
- NO derogatory, discriminatory or offensive comments of any kind!!
- tech > truth, ill flow any arg as long as it is throughly warranted
- i usually adapt myself to your debating style
- try to use all of your speech time pls
- speak loud and clear
- extend args
- signpost during speechs so i'm not lost, give me an off time roadmap
- weigh, weigh, weigh! i wanna hear why your impacts are better than your opponents
- collapse
- ok w/speed but if you spread send me your speech doc
- i don't flow cross so if your opponent mentions something important bring it back up in one of your speechs for me to flow it through the round
- be nice to your opponents in cross!
- i strongly prefer for you to keep your own time, but i will be too just incase
- i'll disclose if everyone is ok with it
PF:
- i don't flow through new arguments that are brought up after summary
- start weighing early on in the round
- frontline
- pls dont cause chaos/yell over each other in grandcross :))
- not as accustomed with theory/prog args but go ahead, just explain it well
l
- i've seen enough LD rounds to gauge what's going on and know how it works
- i'm g with trad debates (focus on weighing and fw); i will say i'm open to but definitely not experienced with anything prog -- such as theory, K's, DA's, plans, tricks etc -- but i'll do my best to understand if explained throughly
- weigh framework properly
- im ok with speed but if you spread send speech doc
feel free to add me to the email chain: archanaraja.nkl@gmail.com
if you have any questions pre/post round, reach out to me and i'll be happy to answer
don't stress, have fun with debate, and make the best out of it. you're gonna do great, i believe in you GOOD LUCK!!! :)
Jay Rye - Head Coach - Montgomery Academy
Experience- I have been involved with L/D debate since 1985 as a former L/D debater, judge, and coach. I have been involved with Policy debate since 1998. I have coached Public Forum debate since it began in 2002. I have served as part of the CAP for World Schools Debate at the NSDA National Tournament for the last 3 years, and I have judged, while limited, some Big Questions Debate over the past 6 years. While at many tournaments I serve in the role as tournament administrator running tournaments from coast to coast, every year I intentionally put myself into the judge pool to remain up to date on the topics as well as with the direction and evolving styles of debate. I have worked at summer camps since 2003 throughout the United States.
Philosophy
I would identify myself as what is commonly called a traditional L/D judge. Both sides have the burden to present and weigh the values and/or the central arguments as they emerge during the course of the round. I try to never allow my personal views on the topic to enter into my decision, and, because I won't intervene, the arguments that I evaluate are the ones brought into the round - I won't make assumptions as to what I "think" you mean. I am actually open to a lot of arguments - traditional and progressive - a good debater is a good debater and an average debater is just that - average.
While for the most part I am a "tabula rasa" judge, I do have a few things that I dislike and will bias me against you during the course of the round either as it relates to speaker points or an actual decision. Here they are:
1) I believe that proper decorum during the round is a must. Do not be rude or insulting to your opponent or to me and the other judges in the room. Not sure what you are trying to accomplish with that approach to debate.
2) Both sides must tell me why to vote "for" them as opposed to simply why I should vote "against" their opponent. In your final speech, tell me why I should vote for you - some call this "crystallization" while others call it "voting issues" and still others just say, "here is why I win" - whatever you call it, I call it letting your judge know why you did the better job in the round.
3) I am not a big fan of speed. You are more than welcome to go as fast as you want, but if it is not on my flow, then it was not stated, so speed at your own risk. Let me say that to the back of the room - SPEED AT YOUR OWN RISK! If you have a need for speed, at the very least slow down on the tag lines as well as when you first begin your speech so that my ears can adjust to your vocal quality and tone.
4) I am not a big fan of "debate speak" - Don't just say, cross-apply, drop, non-unique, or other phrases without telling me why it is important. This activity is supposed to teach you how to make convincing arguments in the real world and the phrase "cross-apply my card to my opponents dropped argument which is non-unique" - this means nothing. In other words, avoid being busy saying nothing.
5) Realizing that many debaters have decided to rely on the Wiki, an email chain, or other platforms to exchange the written word, in a debate round you use your verbal and non-verbal skills to convince me as your judge why you win the round. I rarely call for evidence and I do not ask to be on any email chain nor will I accept an invitation to do so.
6) I do pay attention to CX or Crossfire depending on the type of debate. Six to nine to twelve minutes within a debate are designated to an exchange of questions and answers. While I don't flow this time period, I will write down what I believe might be relevant later in the debate.
This will be my 5rd year serving as a judge (12th tournament). I have a child who is involved in debate with a focus on PF. I have judged mostly PF but also a number of LD rounds. I understand that speed is important to presenting all of your ideas on the topic, however, speed without clarity may lead to confusion or my inability to evaluate the argument. I also feel like all competitions should reflect good sportsmanship and be civil in nature. I prefer to have factual information to substantiate your case and support your argument. Please weigh in summary and final focus and make sure to present all of your arguments and analysis prior to the final focus. Finally, while many of these topics are serious discussions, remember to have fun. See you in round!
Hello!
I’m a student at UAB studying nursing, but in high school I was a varsity PF debater! The most important thing to me is clarity during the round. If you are speaking too fast and I can’t understand what you are saying, I will not be able to flow it and it may cost you the round. Also, make sure to be respectful to your opponents. I will not tolerate any racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. comments. It will cause you to automatically lose. I don’t flow cross so if your opponents bring up something you want to use, you must bring it up in a speech. Make sure to weigh the round and that you flow across your cards throughout the round. Please do not bring up new evidence in your last speech since that is unfair to your opponents.
Concerning speaker points- speak clearly and annunciate well. Don’t let your words run together when you are trying to talk fast. I also value when a person uses their whole time.
Good luck + I look forward to watching y’all debate! :)
Hey everyone! I'm a competitive debater that can handle speed and complexity.
My judging style; I give speaks for delivery and I vote off the flow. I vote based solely on your analysis in final focus. You can build a 10/10 point, but if you don't extend it in final speech I haven't been told why it matters.
Its good to have arguments. It's great to tell my why your impacts matter more.
I don't judge cross- but if you expose flaws in cross and bring it up in the following speech It becomes part of the round and part of my judgement.
I buy ALL arguments unless the opponent disproves them.
If you say pufferfish death leads to the sun exploding and the opponent doesn't respond... I'm flowing sun explosion impacts through.
Don't be abusive, but I'll boost your speaks for competitive edge.
"Believe in your flyness... conquer your shyness" -Kanye West.
First-time judge, parent of a PF debater. Appreciate thoughtful and substantive arguments presented at an understandable speed.
I'm a PF debater, but make sure to speak at lay speed and be clear
General Stuff:
1. Respect others
2. Time yourself. I will also do it too, but it makes it way easier for me if you do it yourself
3. Do NOT sacrifice clarity for speed. If I can't understand what you are saying I won't flow
4. Tell me where you are on your flow when you give your speech
5. Use up all of your speech time if you can!! You know more than you think, and if all else fails just explain your case
6. I don’t flow cross
Rebuttals
1. Quality > Quantity; I prefer responses that are explained, especially with how it interacts with the case
Summary
1. COLLAPSE COLLAPSE COLLAPSE down on one or two arguments. Do not give me a summary of everything
2. weigh. weigh. weigh. start early. I expect weighing in BOTH summary and final focus. Tell me why I prefer your arguments and compare your arguments with your opponents.
3. No new arguments or evidence should be read AFTER the first summary unless you are responding to a new response in the first summary.
Final Focus
1. If it's not in summary, it can't be in the final focus.
2. Paint a narrative by the final focus speeches. EXTEND the full link chain and warrants and impact.
Background:
Senior at The Altamont School
I've been debating for 6 years (Policy, LD, and PF)
Paradigm:
1) Tell me the order / roadmap of your speech before you start. For example: "I will start on my case, then go onto my opponent's case."
2) Do impact comparison. I decide the winner based on who accesses the most significant impact at the end of the round, so I need you to explain why your impact outweighs your opponent’s impact during your rebuttal speeches.
3) Relax. I know I'm going to be judging novice PFers and LDers, so I just want y'all to know that I understand debate can be scary. I'll try my best to make the debate environment less intimidating for everyone - feel free to ask me any questions if you are confused before, during, or after the debate.
Also, if you have any questions about the round or about debate in general, I encourage you to email me at any time with questions! My email is: stumpffj25@altamontschool.org
sher/her | 4th year
[email chains or questions: mwhitener017@gmail.com]
Please be respectful to all of your opponents and judges. Don’t make any rude (homophobic, racist, sexist, etc.) comments.
[General]
DISCLOSURE → If disclosure is allowed and there’s enough time, I’ll disclose and provide feedback
TECH > TRUTH → If you give me good, warranted evidence (e.g. the earth will explode in 2030 cause xyz) then I’ll believe that until disproved)
SPEED → Any speaking speed is fine
TIME → Please keep track of your prep + speech times (just in case I’ll keep up w/ time too!) and try to use up all of your speech time
CROSS → I don’t flow cross, if something important’s mentioned, bring it up in the next speech
SPEAKING → Make sure you’re speaking clearly, use offtime roadmaps + signpost throughout your speech!!!
EXTEND → Remember to extend major/important args in the round, tell me why you win that arg (warrant)
WEIGH, WEIGH, WEIGH!!!
[Public Forum]
CASE → Try to fill up all 4 mins + speak clearly
REBUTTAL → Stay organized on the flow, cover all major args + impacts, weigh
SUMMARY + FF → Extend all major cards/args made in rebuttal, extend weighing, anything said in FF needs to have been said in summary (no new evidence in 2nd summ- I won’t flow it)
[LD]
1AC → Make sure you have a clear fwk w/ criteria +/or definitions
1NC → Make sure you have a clear fwk w/ criteria +/or definitions, manage your time well to cover your opponent’s case
1AR + 2AR → Address fwk as needed, cover major points from both cases, weigh impacts, extend points from 1AR to 2AR (no new evidence brought up in 2AR)
1NR → Address fwk as needed, cover major points from both cases, weigh impacts, extend points from 1NC
*Prog is fine but make sure it’s warranted
**Plans, CPs, and theory is fine but make sure it’s argued well
You guys got this!! HAVE FUN AND GOOD LUCK!!! :)
My name is Anvitha, and I am a PF debater at Vestavia Hills High School. These are my preferences!
General:
- Do not spread in PF, but speed is fine.
- Tech over truth
- Correlation, not causation
- Do not take more than three minutes of prep time.
- No new information or cards should be brought up after 1st summary (NSDA rules).
- When asking for a card, you MUST take prep while looking at it (NO CARD DROP DOC).
- Always time yourselves, but I will be timing as well
- I will let you finish your sentence if you run out of time, but do not go more than 20 sec over.
- Sign post and give off time road maps (rebuttal, summary, final focus).
- Try to fill up all of your time.
- I will call for cards if I believe that they are suspicious. Try not to paraphrase cards when reading them for the first time. Definitely please do not miscut or mislead evidence.
- I will almost always disclose at the end of the round if permitted.
- Do not talk to your partner during any speech or crossfire.
- I am completely unbiased.
- If you see me nodding, I most likely think it is a good argument.
- DO NOT BE DISRESPECTFUL before, during, or after the round
Speaker Points:
- You will lose speaker points if you are disrespectful.
- You will get speaker points for collapsing effectively.
- You will get speaker points for signposting and going in order of the flow
- You will get speaker points if you make eye contact.
- You will get speaker points if you speak clearly with minimal filler words (um, like, so, uh).
PF:
Constructive:
- Cost benefit analysis is not a framework. If you do not say a framework, I assume it is cost benefit analysis.
- If you run a framework in case, you have to extend throughout the whole round.
- I prefer less contentions with stronger link chains than a bunch of weak contentions.
- Cards are better than paraphrasing
- If you have evidence for it, I'll buy it until the opposing disproves it
- I'm not familiar with Ks and theory and don't think it should be run in PF.
- Your case should be offense, not defense.
Rebuttal:
- Give me an off time roadmap
- Try to weigh if possible (I understand there might not be enough time)
- When reading a block or frontline, do not just read the card. Explain how your cards relate to the argument.
- Please go in order of the flow. Do not respond to C2 and then C1.
- In 1st rebuttal, you should respond to your opponent's case.
- In 2nd rebuttal, you should respond to your opponent's case and respond to 1st rebuttal's summary (front lining)
- Do not summarize your case in 1st rebuttal, unless that is your only option to fill up time.
Summary:
- Give me an off time roadmap
- I prefer you weigh at the start of the speech.
- 1st summary should frontline before extending responses from rebuttal.
- 2nd summary should respond to 1st summary.
- No new information or cards should be read in 2nd summary.
- Extend responses from rebuttal(if you drop any response, I won't flow it to final focus). Also, please extend in the order of the flow. Do not extend the fourth response your partner made in rebuttal before the 1st response they made.
- You do not have to collapse, but I prefer 1 strong argument over a bunch of weak ones (realistically, you don't have time to extend all of your arguments with good quality). If you do collapse, respond to all turns made on the contention before you collapse.
Final Focus:
- Give me an off time roadmap
- Weigh at the beginning
- You should tell me why I should vote for you and why I shouldn't vote for your opponents.
- If your opponents do not extend responses through summary, you win on those arguments and do not have to extend them to final focus. However, if your opponents drop an argument, I suggest you bring it up in final focus just in case I missed it.
- If you drop an argument, it goes to your opponents.
- Do not re-read the whole card. If you want to extend the card, say the author's name, the year, and summarize the card.
- I get that final focus is short, but please try to extend crucial responses.
Cross Fire:
- I don't flow cross but I will be paying attention
- Do not get too aggressive in cross
- If something important happened in cross, bring it up in your next speech
- Try not to call for cards in cross.Although, you can ask for your opponents to summarize a card.
- Try to ask questions that challenge your opponents' case, and try to limit clarification questions.
- Please do not ask "do you agree?" questions. (ex. Do you agree that climate change is a problem?)
- Actually ask questions, rather than talking back and forth. Team A should ask a question, then Team B should respond, then Team B should ask a question...
- Do not hog cross
- Ask your opponents for a follow up question before you ask one
LD:
I have seen a couple of LD rounds before. When it comes to LD, I am practically a lay judge. However, I will vote off of weighing, framework, and maybe theory. Also, if you are going to spread, please share your doc with me. Ask me for my email before the round starts.
Good luck and have fun!
Hey guys! I'm a senior at VHHS and I have been competing in PF for 4 years.
Add me to an email chain: bzhang757@gmail.com
I'm fine with talking fast, but please make sure you are speaking loud and clearly. If I can't understand you, I won't flow you.
Please signpost; give an off-time roadmap before every speech but the constructive.
MAKE SURE TO WEIGH. You will most likely lose if you don't.
I won't flow cross, but if you want me to consider something mentioned in crossfire, mention it in your speech
I am Tech > Truth
Be polite and follow all the rules of debate. If you are rude or cheat the round in any way, it will be an automatic loss for you.
Don't be nervous, good luck, and have fun!