Cal Invitational UC Berkeley
2025 — Berkeley, CA/US
MS Public Forum Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideI am a parent judge, I evaluate argumentative logic first and care about evidence quality and evidence ethics. Speaking presentation and style are for speaker points but do not substantively impact who wins or loses the debate. Please do not paraphrase when you first introduce evidence. Also, please don't speed-read.
My philosophy is to to making debate experience immensely enjoyable, highly educational and be fair to the debaters in all aspects. I follow the SMART process:
- S - supportive arguments (objective)
- M - measurable (strength of arguments)
- A - Active Listener (content and structure of arguments)
- R - respectful interaction (with all participants)
- T - Transparent decision making (RFD)
STEPHAN BROOKS (updated 06/04/24)
Owner & Director of Brooks Debate Institute in Fremont, CA (2018-Present)
B.A. Communication Studies @ San Jose State University (Class of 2021)
FORMERLY:
- Assistant Debate Coach @ Miller Middle School in San Jose, CA (2021-2023)
- President & Debate Director @ The Brooks Academy in Fremont, CA (2013-2015)
- Debate Coach @ Archbishop Mitty HS in San Jose, CA (2013-2015)
- Debate Coach @ Mission San Jose HS in Fremont, CA (2012-2013)
- Public Forum Coach @ James Logan HS in Union City, CA (2007-2011)
- Competitor @ James Logan HS in Union City, CA (2001-2005)
I have been competing and coaching for 20+ years. I have experience in and have judged most formats of debate at every level: local, leagues, circuit, invitationals, TOC, CA State and NSDA Nationals, etc. I specialize in Public Forum and have coached the format since 2007, coaching the event at several San Francisco Bay Area schools and programs, including my own teams. I currently coach privately, and work primarily with middle school students these days. I was a communication studies major in college. Speech and debate is literally my life.
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TL;DR VERSION
I don't want to read your cards or be on your email evidence chain. I hate homework/spam.
I don't buy crazy low probability impacts like global warming and nuclear war unless you work hard for them: multiple warrants, proper link chains, and a demonstration that you've read more academic literature than I have is typically required. If you say "The impact is nuclear war: 100 million die" followed by author name and without any further warranting, you will likely lose.
Spread over 250 wpm: YOU DIE.
Read only author last names and year for super important/critical cards: YA DIE.
Last speech of any debate: focus on voting issues. If you continue/only debate the flow: YOU DIE DIE DIE.
Run BS Theory & Play Stupid Games: You win stupid prizes. And... YOU DIE.
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REQUIREMENTS & DEAL BREAKERS: (this applies mostly to PF and generally to other formats)
Do or die! Read carefully! Ignore at your own risk!
1. SPEED/SPREAD: No. I will NEVER tolerate it. I refuse. If you speak over 250 words per minute, you AUTOMATICALLY LOSE! I firmly believe that the whole point of debate as an activity to teach and train effective communication skills. Communication is a two-way street: sending AND receiving. If I (your target audience) tell you I HATE SPEED/SPREAD, and you GIVE ME SPEED, then I will GLADLY GIVE YOU A LOSS. Speed kills.
2. EVIDENCE:
2a.Paraphrase (especially in PF) is both OK and actually PREFERRED. I competed in Public Forum when the event was first created in the early 2000's as a response and alternative to circuit/spread LD/Policy. The short speech times of PF are by design: to encourage and challenge debaters to interpret and convey the meaning of vast amounts of research in a very limited amount of time. To have debaters practice being succinct. If you run "Paraphrase Theory" in a PF round, I will automatically drop you and give you zero speaker points in retaliation for trying to destroy my favorite debate event. Note: there should be some direct verbatim citations in your arguments- not all paraphrase.
2b. Email/Evidence Chains: No. I will NEVER call for or read cards- I think judge intervention is bad. It's your job to tell me what to think about the evidence presented in the round, yours and your opponent's. I signed up to judge a debate not do extra reading homework.
2c. Warranting sources is required if you want me to VALUE your evidence when it comes to your most key/consequential cards. Last name and year is NOT good enough for me- your judges don't have a bibliography or works cited page of your case.If you say "Johnson 2020 writes" that means almost nothing to me. I want credentials/qualifications. If your opponent provides source credentials and you don't, I'll default to your opponent's evidence. (Author last name + year is fine for small stuff)
3. FINAL SPEECHES OF ANY DEBATE FORMAT: I REQUIRE 2-3 (no more!) clearly NUMBERED & articulated VOTING ISSUES presented to me at the end of your side's final speech. If you fail to give me voters, and the other side says "our single voting issue is that the sky is blue" I will vote on that issue. Please tell me what you want me to write on my RFD. If you keep debating the flow for the entirety of your final speech, you will lose. I repeat... in the final speech... Don't debate! Tell me why you win!
4.PLANS / COUNTER-PLANS IN PUBLIC FORUM
I've competed in, judged, and coached Public Forum since the event's creation. I am SICK and TIRED of teams who don't know specifically that plans/CP's are by rule "formulized" (debaters created it) and "comprehensive" (actor, timetable, funding, etc.)... if you falsely accuse another team of running a plan/counter-plan and "breaking the rules" when they didn't, you automatically lose and get 0/minimum speaker points. Play stupid games... win stupid prizes. I want to watch good debates- not a bunch of students crying wolf.
Further: the CON/NEG is absolutely allowed to argue that the PRO/AFF shouldn't win because there are better "general practical solutions" out there... so long as they can point to an example or proposal of one. If the CON/NEG formulizes their own plan, that violates the plan/CP rule of PF. If they argue "better alternatives are out there" and can point to one, that's fair game.
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JUDGING PREFERENCES:
- I am a "POLICYMAKER" judge and like to tell all of the competitors that I judge that "I like to vote for the team that made the world a better place." That is my ultimate criteria for judging most debate rounds, but I am absolutely open to debaters providing, justifying, and impacting to their own standards.
- I am VERY STRICT about debating the EXACT WORDING of the RESOLUTION: Letter of the law! For example... if the resolution says "X produces more benefits than harms" then I believe we are debating a FACT TOPIC (not policy!) and I will vote for the team that presented the best benefits / worst harms. I will NOT vote for the team that treated the resolution as a POLICY TOPIC and spent the round impacting to a nuclear war in the future that hasn't happened yet.
- Strong impacts are extremely important to me in order to weigh arguments as offense for each side. If you don't impact, I don't weigh. Don't make me do work for you.
- I believe in "affirmative burden of proof"- the AFF typically gets the privilege of defining and last word (outside of PF), so they had better prove the resolution true by the end of the round. If teams argue to a draw, or if both teams are just plain terrible, then I tend to "default NEG" to the status quo.
- As a policymaker judge I like and vote on strong offensive arguments. On that note: I love counter-plans. Run'em if ya got'em. (PF: see above).
- I appreciate strong framework, fair definitions, and I love to be given clear standards by which I should weigh arguments and decide rounds. Tell me how to think.
- I am NOT a "Tabula Rasa" judge- Although I hate judge intervention, I reserve the right to interpret and weigh your argument against my own knowledge. I am fine with voting for an argument that runs contrary to my beliefs if it is explained well and warranted. I am NOT fine with voting for arguments that are blatantly false, lies, or unwarranted. If you tell me the sky is green, and I look outside and it's blue, you'll lose.
- I am NOT a "Games Player" judge. Leave that stuff at home. I want real-world impacts not garbage. I hate it when debaters make all sorts of crazy arguments about stuff that would never have a remote chance of happening in reality. Example: "Building high speed rail will lead to a steel shortage (sure...) and then a trade war with China.. (uh huh...) and then a NUCLEAR WAR!" (right...)
- On that note, I HATE MOST "THEORY" & "PROGRESSIVE" ARGUMENTS.I love it when debaters debate about the actual topic. I hate it when debaters debate about debate. Don't do it! You'll lose! Unless your opponent is legit guilty of a genuine fairness violation: moving target, fair ground, etc. Then I will absolutely drop them.
- I flow, but I do NOT "vote on the flow"- my flow helps me to decide rounds, but I'm smart enough that I don't need my legal pad and pens to decide rounds for me.
- Final speeches of ANY debate I watch should emphasize voting issues. Tell me how I should weigh the round and explain which key arguments I should vote for- DO NOT repeat the entire debate, you'll lose.
- Speed: I'm okay with some speed, but I ABSOLUTELY HATE SPREAD. You should be concerned with quality of arguments over quantity. If you're reading more than 250+0 words per minute, you're probably going too fast.
- Global Warming / Nuclear War / Extinction Impacts: Good luck with those. I rarely if ever buy any of those exaggerated / overblown / 1% probability impacts unless you explain thoroughly and in great detail how 10+ million plus people are going to die. You can't just say "China will get mad and nuke Taiwan and then we all die." I have a Chinese Tiger Mom. I've personally seen Chinese aggression up close: thrown slippers and passive-aggression hurt. They don't hurt that bad.
- Capitalism Ks: LOL!You're gonna read me something off of a Macbook Pro that you were given by your hired debate coach while competing for a private school that charges Stanford tuition prices. Didn't your parents drop you off at the tournament in a Tesla Model S? That nice suit you're wearing better not be Armani.
- I generally critique and disclose whenever possible.
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PERSONAL BACKGROUND:
POLITICAL
- I identify as a Classical Liberal.
- I treat politics the same way I treat religion: like an all you can eat buffet. If I see something I like I put it on my plate, regardless of what party/group it came from, and sometimes even if it clashes with my core beliefs/values. A good idea is a good idea.
- I voted for Obama in 2008, and stay registered as a Democrat in order to vote in the California primary. I made the mistake of donating to Bernie Sanders in 2016 and now the Dems have my email/phone number and hit me up for money every election cycle. (I now donate in cash... don't make the same mistake I made kids!)
- I'm a big fan of Andrew Yang and the Forward Party. I may not personally agree with Yang on all issues, but I like him as a thinker.
- I listen to Ben Shapiro's podcast/show during the week when I'm the mood for angry news and watch Bill Maher on Friday nights for laughs. I like to think I honestly have an ear for both sides and major political parties in the U.S.
COMPETITIVE
- I competed for James Logan High School in Union City, CA from 2001-2005.
- Trained in Policy Debate the summer before 9th grade.
- Went to VBI to learn LD summer before 10th grade.
- Took up Parli in 11th grade.
- Midway through my junior year I tried out this brand new debate event called "Ted Turner," which would be known as "Controversy" until finally becoming Public Forum Debate.
- Speech: IMP, EXTEMP, DEC/OI
Current college student at UC Berkeley
Add me to email chain: isabelle.cho123@gmail.com (I will be checking if the cards are cut properly & the factualness of it, but it is your duty to call your opponent's out for it, I can't do the work for you)
Did PF for 4 years went to TOC quarterfinals & nationals, a trad debater
Tech> truth (if your opponent says the sky is purple, & u don't refute it, on my flow the sky is purple) But lies or misconstrued facts = low speaks
I don't flow cross ex, or vote off it. I have not done PF in a while and have no background knowledge of the topics, so pls take this in mind if you plan on spreading, if I can't understand I will not flow it and I don't really like reading speech docs.
Don't just dump cards and blocks, need some warranting to how it interacts and responds to your opponent's case. Frontline or else all responses will be flowed through. If you don't frontline it will be very hard to win.
Weigh, i also love prereqs, metaweighing, etc
Running prog arguments are risky, i don't vote for disclosure (personally think that spending a debate on disclosure is a waste of time, when there is so much you can learn and interact with under the topic itself)
I am unfamiliar with majority of Ks, so run at your own risk, will try to evaluate the best I can
Time your opps ⏰ (esp prep time)- i will only time if the debate is taking so long im getting tired. Please do not drag on the debate, if you take too long to find or ask for a card it will come out of prep time. Off time road maps should be 10 secs or less.
Speaks: determined on rhetoric, being on time, organization, cross ex, politeness, good partner chemistry!!!
Good luck in your round!! I hope you have fun and enjoy the tournament!
I am a parent judge. I have very little experience, though my child has started to participate in the PF from last year. So I have now enough understanding about the PF and evaluation criteria. My judging guideline is as follow :
I have a traditional approach to debate, valuing clear argumentation, logical consistency, and persuasive speaking above all. Speed is not my preference; I believe that the quality of arguments cannot be sacrificed for quantity. I prioritize well-structured speeches that are easy to follow and engage directly with the opponent's points. In terms of content, I appreciate debates that stay focused on the resolution without veering too far into theoretical or tangential areas. For me, the essence of debate is in its persuasiveness and the ability to argue effectively within the confines of the topic. Speaker points will be awarded based on clarity, organization, and the effectiveness of engagement with the opposing side's arguments.
Email:
traviswaynecochran@gmail.com
Affiliations - Present:
The Harker School
2023-2024 Updates:
- Everyone should slow down. Debate would be better. Does this mean you might have to read less in the 1NC? YES! Does this mean that 2As might have to make less/better answers? YES! Does this mean you need to slow down on prewritten extensions and analytics? YES! I want to fully grasp EVERYTHING in the debate and not just get the gist of things. If you do not want to adapt to this, then you have prefs and strikes. I suggest you use them accordingly ...
- Debaters that flow and give speeches from their flows, as opposed to their prewritten speech docs, are the gold standard.
- Great debaters use the full spectrum of human emotion to persuade judges. Anger, sadness, humor, fear, hope, love, and all the other things we feel, connect us to the arguments we're making. If your debates only have one emotion (or none), then it will probably be pretty boring.
Top Level Stuffs:
1. Speech docs: I want to be included on any email chains; however, I will be flowing based on what I hear from year speech and not following along with the speech doc. I will use my flow to determine the decision, which can be different from speech docs, especially if you aren't clear and give me enough pen time. Also, I never was the best flow as a debater and I still am not as a judge!
2. All of you are smarter than me. I'll work hard to be a good judge, but I won't promise I will get everything that is happening in the round. Your job will be to explain very complex concepts to a very simple mind.
3. I'm an only-parent of two young children. Always a chance that something happens where I have to take a few minutes of judge prep. I'll work hard to minimize these instances, but cannot promise they will not happen.
4. The "ideal" number of off-case positions in a round for me when I am in the back of the room is anywhere from 0-5. You can absolutely read more, but I get angrier as the number of counterplans in the 1NC rises. I think 1-2 counterplans in a 1NC is reasonable. I prefer 1NCs without throwaway positions but still have a lot of block/2NR optionality. Basically, I am a fan of clash and vertical spread.
If you still think it's good to have me in the back of the room after you know this, then continue reading and see if you still feel that way when you're done.
Argument Feelings:
Topicality: It is up to the debaters to determine how I evaluate topicality. I tend to default to reasonability. Slow down a tick on T or you will make me sad. I cannot keep up with you reading your 2NC/1NR blocks at full speed.
Counterplans: The more specific the better, but I’m game for whatever. Consult CPs are fine. Delay is fine. Conditioning is cool tooI. PICs are the bees knees. However, I am open to theory arguments that any of these should not be allowed. I do not like counterplans with a lot of planks that the negative can jettison at will. Such counterplans will leave me sympathetic to affirmative theory arguments.
Counterplan Theory: Sketchy counterplans should lose to theory. However, theory violations should be well developed and it is up to the affirmative to prove why I should reject the team and not the argument. It's no secret that I am not the quickest flow, so slow down for me on theory debates. I'm more favorable to limited forms of conditionality and/or no conditionality compared national trends.
Theory in General: I almost always think that education > fairness, but ... I think negatives are getting away with too much. People can run multiple contradictory counterplans/advocacies all they want in front of me and I will not automatically vote them down for it. However; I am sympathetic to well articulated theory arguments as to why it is a bad educational practice, as well as sympathetic to affirmatives that use negative shenanigans to justify affirmative shenanigans. Play dirty pool at your own risk in front of me…aff or neg. I do not like cheap shot theory. I try to not vote for cheap shot theory arguments, even if they are dropped. However, I will use cheap shot theory arguments as a way out of difficult rounds in which both teams were making my job painful. I try not to let cheap shots determine the outcome of rounds that are well debated on both sides. I reward good smart debate. No New AFFs is not a good arg in front of me. Pref Sheet Disclosure is not a good arg in front of me.
**** If you're reading this as an LD'er: I am a very bad judge for Tricks debate. Very bad ...
Disads: The more specific the better. I prefer 1 or 2 good uniqueness cards to 10 bad uniqueness cards. I prefer 1 or 2 good warrants to 10 bad uniqueness cards. Disads are great and are a fundamental part of policy and/or critical strategies. Yayy DAs!
Criticisms: The more specific the better. You probably know more about your specific criticism than I do. However, debate is not about who knows the most about a topic; it is about how much you can teach me within the time limits of the round. If I cannot explain your position back to you at the end of the debate, then I cannot vote for it. I believe that AFFs get perms, even critical AFFs. I believe that Ks can win based on winning 100% defense, so, yes ... you can kick the ALT and go for presumption in front of me. On framework, I default to a "middle of the road" approach where NEGs get ALTs & links to whatever, but AFF gets to weigh their 1AC as defenses of their ontology/epistemology/axiology. Only get "links to plan" or "ALT must be competitive policy option" is an uphill battle. Same goes for "you link, you lose" or "they can't weigh their AFF!" For me, those questions are best resolved on link level, alt level, and theory of power level.
Framework: Sure. You can go that route, but please slow down. I prefer substance to theory, meaning that I almost always believe education > fairness. I don't find the procedural fairness stuff that persuasive. Institutions good and training is a much better route with me in the back. TVAs are persuasive to me. So, will I vote on framework? If it is based on why you have a better educational model, then absolutely! If it is based on procedural fairness, then I might still vote on it, but it's an uphill battle. Most of the time I vote on procedural fairness it is a result of some AFF concessions, which is why it's important for me to have a good flow if this is your strategy. I almost always think the better approach is just to take them up on the case page or offer a counterplan.
Performance/Nontraditional/Critical AFFs: I’m cool with it. I don't find your argument persuasive that these AFFs shouldn't get perms. If I can't explain your AFF back to you then it will be really hard for me to vote for you. I have no problem voting NEG on presumption if I don't know what you do or if the NEG has a compelling argument that you do nothing. Honestly, I think that NEGs versus various critical approaches are in a better position with me in the back to go for case turns and solvency arguments. K v K is wonderful, too! This is just my heads up to the policy teams that want my ballot - case, DAs, & CPs are more strategic when I'm in the back than FW.
Case: I honestly think that a well developed case attack (offense and a heck of a lot of good defense) with a DA and/or critique are much more effective than a big off 1NC. Case debate is good and underrated. This is true for policy debaters and k debaters. This is true for policy AFFs and K AFFs.
I’m open to any kind of argument you have as long as it is intelligent, arguably true, and not problematic.
My Idiosyncrasies:
One thing that everyone should know is that I naturally give a lot of nonverbal (sometimes verbal) feedback, even in the middle of rounds. If I think your argument is really smart then you will probably see me smiling and nodding. If I think your argument is not smart or just wrong, my face will look contorted and I will be shaking it in a different direction. If this happens…do not freak out. Use it to your advantage that you know which arguments I like and do not like. Other times, I look unhappy because I am in pain or very hungry (my health ain't the best), so this might throw you off ... sorry! Debate tournaments are hard on all of us. I'm not going to pretend like I'm a machine for longer than two hours while I judge your round.
I will also intervene in cross x if I think that a team is being particularly evasive on a point that needs to be clarified to conduct a good clean debate. I do not believe that the gold standard for judging is to avoid intervention at all costs. I believe intervention is almost always inevitable ... I'm just one of the few people who are willing to say that out loud. Interventions, like the type above, are very rare. I am fully willing and happy to led debaters take the lead and let me render a decision based on the round that happened without me saying a word until the RFD.
Additionally, I usually make fairly quick decisions. I don't scour through evidence and meticulously line up my flows all the way until the decision deadline. Sometimes I will do that if it is warranted to decide the round. However, for me, it doesn't usually require that. I believe that debate is a communication activity and I judge rounds based on what is communicated to me. I use my flows to confirm or deny my suspicions of why I think someone is winning/losing at the conclusion of the debate. Typically, I am making my mind up about who is winning the round and in which ways they might lose it after every speech. This usually creates a checklist of what each team would need to do to win/lose. While listening to 2NRs/2ARs, I go through my checklist & flows to see which ones get marked off. Sometimes this is an easy process. Sometimes it takes me a lot longer to check those boxes ...
I KNOW that you all work VERY HARD for each and every round. I take that very seriously. But, me deciding rounds quickly is not dismissive of you or your work. Instead, my "thoughtful snapshots" of rounds are meant to give some sort of fidelity to the round I witnessed instead of recreating it post hoc. Some people go to concerts and record songs to remember the experience later. I don't. That's not out of disrespect to the artists or their art, rather, it's my own version of honoring their efforts by trying to honor the moment. Some of y'all think that is some BS justification for me to do "less work" after a round, and that's fine, you're entitled to that opinion, as well as where you place me on your strike sheets.
Finally, I am unabashedly human. I am open to the whims of fatigue, hunger, emotions and an overwhelming desire to do what I think is right, no matter how inconsistent and possibly misguided at the time. I try desperately to live my life in a way where I can look in a mirror and be okay with myself (not always successfully). I do the same thing when I am a judge (again, not always successfully). This is just a fair warning to any of you that will be inevitably upset if my decision seems to vary from this judging philosophy. I'm not a robot and sometimes my opinions about my role and this activity changes while judging a round. The truth is that y'all are good at what y'all do, and sometimes you make me change my mind about things. These are the facts of having me in the back of the room, and these facts, no matter how fact-y they might be, are facts that y'all have to deal with :-)
Debate is fun…at least it should be. If it's not, you're doing it wrong!
I will look for strong posture, a clear voice, and an engaging presence matter. Frame your arguments comellingly and not just technically. Have solid evidence and engage directly with your opponents and why your impact matters more. Be persuasive and accessible. Convince me, don't just inform me.
I am a Quarry Lane parent and am new at judging. I would prefer debaters:
- show respect to their opponents,
- speak at a reasonable pace,
- make strong impact calculus starting in the summary,
- collapse in 2nd rebuttal and 1st summary to one contention each ("collapse")
- only make arguments in the summary/final focus that exist in the prior speech ("no new args"),
- use cross-fire for clarification and resolution (and not brand-new arguments),
- and read direct quotes when first introducing evidence in a debate (i.e., do not paraphrase).
Hello competitors! This is my first time judging, so I’m excited to see what you bring to the table. Here’s what I value in speeches and how I’ll approach my decision-making.
Truth Over Technicalities
Clarity and Organization
Respectful and Engaging Delivery
Since this is my first time judging, please bear with me if I’m still getting the hang of things. I’ll do my best to judge fairly!
Good luck, and most importantly, have fun!
I'm a father of two kids, a middle schooler (participating), and a 4th grader. Personally, excited to listen to the young minds debating finer details, more than happy to share my thoughts at the end with constructive feedback. I would like the participants to ensure they keep time, make coherent arguments, deliver in a legible way instead of going at breakneck speed, be respectful to the opposition, and try to have fun along with learning.
This is my 2nd competition so I relatively new to judging Public Forum debates. I would appreciate if you speak slowly and clearly as I can judge only the basis of what I understand. I will be jotting down key arguments during the debate. I also expect debaters to be professional and respectful to everyone participating in the round.
Hello,
I am a first time parent judge. I am looking forward to hear the arguments from the participants. Below are a few preferences:
- Be respectful & polite to others. Unprofessional or disrespectful behavior for others will override all factors in final decision.
- Stick to your allocated time. I will not be keeping time. Participants can time their opponents.
- Quality is more important to me than quantity. You would want to be clear & concise with good points vs saying too many things which are hard to absorb.
- Numbers, facts & researches will strengthen your case. Making good arguments based on evidence and research are more important to me than speaking fast and making too many low quality arguments.
- Quality of questions & follow up questions will be a key parameter in addition to content and delivery style.
- Have fun!
- Speak clearly and confidently.
- Be respectful & polite to others. Unprofessional or disrespectful behavior for others will override all factors in the final decision.
- Stick to your allocated time.
- Quality is more important to me than quantity. You would want to be clear & concise with good points vs. saying too many things that are hard to absorb.
- Numbers, facts, & research will strengthen your case. Making good arguments based on evidence and research is more important to me than speaking fast and making too many low quality arguments.
- Quality of questions & follow up questions will be a key parameter in addition to content and delivery style.
- Have fun!
I am a Quarry Lane parent and am new at judging.
• I am keen on seeing constructive discussion and effective communication among debaters. I will evaluate the debate based on the merits of the arguments presented and reward debaters for engaging thoughtfully.
• I expect debaters to show respect towards their opponents throughout the debate. This includes acknowledging the validity of opposing arguments
• Debaters should clearly articulate why their arguments matter, weighing their significance against their opponents
Wishing you all the very best!
Judge: Prince Jose
Background: Over 3 years of experience in speech and debate.
Philosophy: Prioritizes clear, structured arguments with effective communication.
Delivery: Emphasizes good eye contact and gestures.
Content: Values structured content with evidence and support. Memorable phrases, content recaps.
Persuasion: Engage the audience, include thrilling stories and surprises.
Dislikes: Disrespectful behavior and over-reliance on notes.
Advice: Advocate with conviction. Be daring in your presentation approach.
Feedback Promise: Committed to offering insights that foster growth and enhance speaking abilities.
Hello, my name is Anish and I work in semiconductor materials research and technology area.
Below are some of the things I look for in debater/speaker:
- Consistency of thought
- Depth of inquiry and research, specificity of impact
- Clear connections between contentions, evidence and impact
- Dynamic communication during X-exams
I grew up in San Jose, CA and attended school in the area.
I personally have no competitive speech/debate background, but have occasionally volunteered as a judge since 2022.
SPEED & PRESENTATION are absolutely critical!
Because I didn't compete in debate, anything over 200 words per minute will be difficult for me to follow/flow. Please do not debate over 200wpm if I'm you're judge! If one side/team is speaking slowly and clearly, and the other side decides to speak super fast (even despite me warning them not to here!), I will ALWAYS vote for the slower/clearer speaking team. Good communication requires that your audience understands you in the first place! If I can't understand you, I can't vote for you!
Further, because I didn't personally compete in debate, please avoid any/all progressive arguments / overly technical strategies / jargon. Stick to debating the actual debate topic: which I'd very much like to hear!
Lastly: it's nice to be nice. Respect your partners and your opponents. Debaters that are overly aggressive/mean/rude automatically lose.
Hi debaters!
My name is Rupa Krishnan and I will be your judge for this round. I am a parent judge and this is my first tournament judging, so please be patient with me.
I value clarity in arguments above all else. Clearly explain how your points flow from each other and signpost so I know what your contentions are. Please talk to me and not at me. Don’t go too fast, if I can’t understand it I can’t flow it.
Finally, please be respectful to each other and play fair. Mocking or yelling at opponents will not be tolerated. Have fun! :)
I am a parent judge.
Please speak clearly and slowly, signpost your arguments, and have a clear roadmap at the beginning of your speech. Have good etiquette - don't speak over each other in crossfire, and respect your opponents.
Hi,
My name is Sean Lam and l am a Parent Judge from Quarry Lane School.
Here are my expectations.
For Constructive etc, l would like to see clarity and fluidity in delivering your case. When the time is up, debaters may finish their last sentence. You will not continue a new sentence, else points will be deducted.
Please follow the general rules of debate.
State your winning factors clearly and l will give you my ballot.
Thank you
Hi, debaters!
My name is Shirley Lin, and I’ll be your judge for this round.
I want you to know that I’m here to listen to your arguments carefully and fairly. I will do my best to evaluate the debate based on the clarity of your reasoning, the strength of your evidence, and how well you engage with each other’s points.
Here are my expectations:
•Speak clearly and at a reasonable pace so I can follow your arguments.
• If you reference evidence, try to explain it well rather than just stating a source.
• Keep the debate respectful—engage with the arguments, not the person.
• I appreciate good structure, so signposting where you’re going helps me follow along.
Most importantly, have fun and use this as a learning experience. Good luck to both sides!
Hey debaters!
I'm a lay judge, so spreading is not preferred for your cases. If you do spread or speak fast however, it would be greatly appreciated if you could send me your case to helenxiangliu@yahoo.com. Please add me to the email chains as well. Since I'm a lay judge and have no context on this topic, I need you all to make your point clear. I will vote based on how organized your case is, and I would appreciate signposting so I know what you guys are talking about. Be assertive in cross x but don't be rude to your opponents.
Good luck!
This is my first tournament.
For Debate:
Please speak slowly and clearly, repeating important points many times so I will remember them when writing my ballot.
Refrain from using any debate jargon.
I will vote for whichever team has the better points and can respond to their opponent well.
Thank you and good luck!
My name is Eve Luo, and my email is yqstudio1221@gmail.com
As a parent and a debate judge who has gained some experience since last season, my commitment to fairness, clarity, and respect is steadfast. My judging philosophy centers around clear communication, persuasive argumentation, and mutual respect.
I deeply value effective communication and encourage debaters to speak at a pace that prioritizes clarity over speed. A brilliant argument is only valuable if it can be fully understood, so I appreciate when complex ideas are explained with both logic and simplicity.
Persuasion in debate isn’t about volume or speed; it’s about crafting compelling arguments, presenting strong evidence, and engaging respectfully with opposing views. Please ensure that evidence is presented accurately, as honesty is crucial to a fair competition.
I’m here to create a positive, enriching environment for all participants. Best of luck, and enjoy the debate!
As a parent judge and a non-native English speaker, the followings are important to me
- communicate your ideas with clarity
- make good arguments
- support arguments with evidences
- debate as a team
I'm a member of the University of San Francisco's Debate Team, and I've competed in many styles of debate over the years. When judging, I look for a clear structure of evidence and information, a lively or captivating speaking style, and direct clash during cross-examination.
I am currently a junior at Emory university. I debated public forum at the quarry lane school for four years.
tech > truth
please add me to the email chain - sahanan345@gmail.com. Send speech docs before each speech !
I'm fine with speed just be clear. Cross is binding but doesn't matter unless it's in speech. Please collapse !!!
Start weighing as early as possible.
Always be respectful towards your opponents!
Regarding prog arguments, I am not a great judge for Ks. I’ve debated/read theory before, but also not the best judge for that.
Good luck and lmk before or after the round if you have any questions.
About Me
I competed in policy in high school and college at Copper Hills under Scott Odekirk and then at Weber under Ryan Wash. Both coaches heavily influenced my views of debate. For reference on what I'm most knowledgeable about, I always read a K aff that focused on the experiences of migrant women, but read a diversity of arguments on the negative, ranging from performance-based K debate to more traditional DA/CP/T strategies. I don't support the exclusionary and uneducational practice of deciding rounds based on one's ideological preferences. I am willing to listen to any argument and will judge it based on the competitive framing done in round.
Since graduating high school, I have coached and judged Policy, LD, and Congress on and off. 2024 - 2025 will be my sixth-year judging.
Policy / LD / Kind of PF (Congress paradigm is at the bottom)
debatewrecksmyinbox@gmail.com
Add me on the email chain now rather than later (if there is one)
Basiz Biz
Time yourself. Tag teams fine. Don't be explicit about your racism/sexism when interacting with your peers if you don't want me to evaluate it. Evaluations tbd.
"Anyone not ready?" doesn't work in online debate. If my camera is off, then you can presume that I am not ready.
Clarity is a prerequisite for me flowing the debate. If I have to say clear more than 3 times, I will stop. Any instances of clipping will stop the round and be an auto loss.
Card quality is important in the sense that it shouldn't be cast aside as a) author credibility only being something PF discusses b) overcharged tag lines being accepted as fact and c) presumably having warrants for each of the claims that you are asserting. I will read the cards that are referenced in the last speeches.
Affirmatives
I think I have a lower threshold for presumption arguments. I usually believe going into a round that most affirmatives don't solve as much as they say they do, nor do they have internal link scenarios that are as cohesive as their tag lines would suggest. The first thing I look at after round is whether the burden of proof (however that is defined based on the framework of the debate) for the aff has been met.
If you are reading a kritik, I believe having a method is necessary.
If you have a topical plan - please write out the full version of acronyms under tags if they are not in the body of the card or your tags themselves. I don't usually research the topic prior to judging at a tournament, so there are some terms that may not be familiar to me even if they are a common phrase under the topic.
Framework vs K Affs
I view these debates as competing models of the activity. Debate is inherently competitive, but how we compete is also important. I am not easily persuaded by "you destroy the activity" impacts. I prefer arguments centered around creating better interactions, whether that be a dialogue, political, accessible, fair, educational, etc, and default to how that affects debaters. If you want me to default to something else, please tell me in your speech.
Kritiks
Connect the theories to events / experiences / history and the affirmative if you want to make it more compelling for me. Connecting it to the affirmative may seem self-evident with the K requiring a link and all (at least if you want to win), but in most debates I find myself not being told how the K relates to the answers the aff has given or certain parts of the AC. I'm not saying you need a link for every word they say, but that a link to the story of the affirmative is important sans an explanation of why the part you are critiquing comes before or outweighs other parts of the aff.
Counterplans
Be explicit about the NB in the 1NC. I do think some CPs cheat more than others but have not seen enough tricky counterplan strategies to have a strong opinion on whether some are just bad for debate. Feel more than welcome to inform me through a theory debate that has clear explanations of your impacts.
Disadvantages
I have a very vague understanding of Politics DA theory, so if you're going for it you should contextualize it to the round (ex. winding way, bottom of the docket, anything w fiat).
Theory
Enunciate as much as you can or slow down on your blocks for theory. It feels like going bloop bloop bloop fairness and education is a common practice, and like I said at the top, clarity is a prereq to me flowing.
Everything is up for debate as far as what should be done in debate.
Topicality
My third-grade knowledge of grammar is not thriving. Any standard relying on English grammar tests runs the risk of my Google interpretation being incorrect.
Congress
There are four things I evaluate when ranking, in order of importance:
1) Quality of your content: Construct your arguments effectively and efficiently. I define effectiveness by the ability to use credible sources, FRAME YOUR IMPACTS, display strong evidence analysis and introduce new claims and warrants for why we should pass/fail. After the first two speeches, each speech should have some matter of refutation. Efficiency is shown through clear and concise verbiage, sign posting, and only using repetition strategically.
2) Speech delivery: The best congress folks recognize that body language is more than half of our communication. The speech triangle works because it makes us use intentional movement in our transitions. If you don't understand the reasoning behind why it works and apply it to other parts of your speech, you are limiting yourself to the culture of "doing things because that's what other people do" found so often in Speech and Debate. Being cognizant of your hand motions, foot movements, posture and facial expressions and then using them to your advantage will set you apart for me, particularly if you demonstrate a large range. Project your voice. I strongly prefer that students do not read off of their laptop, particularly if they are doing it because it is the best way to have the most pre-written content available. In general, only reading pre-written content cuts you off from your audience in body language, doesn't translate well to spoken word, and limits the possibility of vocal emphasis. I've noticed that these speeches also tend to not be timed well.
3) Cross ex: Use your questions to establish presence and style in the round. Maintain control of the tempo of the discussion, meaning that you don't try to give a speech in cx or try to speak for your opponent. In my opinion, the goal is for you to get them to say what you want them to say without saying it yourself. Defend your points or set them up effectively, depending on when you give a speech in the session in relation to the cx at hand.
4) Round awareness: Demonstrate that you are capable of assessing when to speak, what arguments are important on the bill in discussion, and most importantly, what refutations or framing will be most convincing. I think all three of these are dependent on you asking yourselves questions throughout the round that determine how you change your behaviors from session to session. What hasn't been said? Who are my judges? If that representative has already said "my framing is going to clarify the debate," then should I do the same thing because I always do? What other formulaic behaviors do I need to adapt?
Hi! My name is Sachi (she/her) and I did Public Forum at Quarry Lane for 4 years on the national circuit. I'm now a sophomore in college and coach for Quarry Lane. Add me to the email chain: spatel0275@gmail.com
-- Public Forum --
**Send speech docs with cut cards for case and rebuttal BEFORE the speech. I have more tolerance for less experienced debaters, but if you're in JV/varsity and aren't doing this, your speaks will most likely be getting docked.
Tech > Truth
Good with speed as long as it's clear, if you’re going >250 wpm just send a doc. And please SIGNPOST.
Frontline in second rebuttal → If you don’t frontline defense on an argument you’re going for and your opponents extend that defense, I will evaluate it as conceded.
WEIGH!! very very very important. Make it comparative + the earlier the better, I look to the weighing debate first when evaluating rounds. Hearing smart, well-warranted weighing (clever link-ins, prereqs, short circuits, etc.) makes me happy.
Collapse if it is strategic (most of the time it is). This means collapsing on your own contentions/case args but also collapsing on responses on your opponent's case (Quality > Quantity). Note** I am fine with you dropping case and going for turns on their case. It's fun if you can pull it off well (please weigh).
GOOD EXTENSIONS MATTER. Fully extend case args w/ uniqueness, links, impacts, etc. and responses should be well implicated. This can be as simple as pre-writing case extensions and reading them in the back-half, but for some reason it is still poorly done, which is sad :(
Any offense you’re going for in final focus must be in summary. Defense is not sticky.
I don't really listen to cross, won't evaluate anything from cross unless it's brought up in a speech.
Feel free to postround me -- I think it's educational and am more than happy to elaborate on any part of my decision/answer questions.
Progressive Args:
I will try my best! Generally lean towards disclosure good, paraphrasing bad but I won’t hack for either. I can probably evaluate a decent theory debate … anything outside of that realm run at your own risk.
Speaks:
Strategic round decisions = good speaks !
Not sending speech docs, stealing prep, being disrespectful = bad speaks :(
Finally, this goes without saying but don’t read arguments that are racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. because they WILL NOT be evaluated and you will most likely get terrible speaks/get dropped.
Have fun!!!
I am a software professional with responsibilities in managing Engineering orgs.
Although I have not competed in public forum debates, I have been a parent-judge for few tournaments now and understand the process and its intricacies.
Here are few things I like :
- Be respectful to each other and let your opponent or team member finish their point over talking over each other.
- A good rebuttal, not just questioning an argument : It doesnt just help questioning your opponents argument but providing a counter argument aka rebuttal adds true weight to your argument.
- Enunciate / Clear communication
- Focus and stress on your key winning points.
- Good evidence : Reasonable logic is good but a legit evidence can trump a good reasoning given legit evidence is based on research by a reputable organization. As a judge, participants are welcome to question either the source of evidence or the content within by providing counter evidence. I will intervene when there is a contradiction in interpreting the evidence / card.
- Its not about making a point but more about how effectively you communicated your point across. After the debate, if you ever feel like you did state the point called out in my feedback, all I can say is the point wasnt delivered effectively enough for me to truly see the value in your statement.
Here are few things I do not like :
- Running away with words : Communication is about your ability to get your message across to your listeners. If your listeners are unable to catch your words, your message is lost. When you run away with words, to me its more about you vomiting words more than communicating.
- Make a statement without a legit evidence : Do not throw statements that you are unable to backup with legit evidence.
- Going tangential and not Sticking to the topic and its scope : Don't play scare tactics. Such as calling out potential nuclear war for topics such as "High Speed rail" or "Single Usage Plastics ban". The result will be counter productive since I perceive this as a lack of an understanding and being focused on the immediate impacts.
I am a Quarry Lane parent and am new at judging. I would prefer debaters:
- show respect to their opponents,
- speak at a reasonable pace,
- make strong impact calculus starting in the summary,
- collapse in 2nd rebuttal and 1st summary to one contention each ("collapse")
- only make arguments in the summary/final focus that exist in the prior speech ("no new args"),
- use cross-fire for clarification and resolution (and not brand-new arguments),
- and read direct quotes when first introducing evidence in a debate (i.e., do not paraphrase).
John Shackelford
Independent: Able2Shine, Park City High School, Rowland Hall, The Harker School
***ONLINE DEBATE***
I keep my camera on as often as I can. I still try to look at faces during CX and rebuttals. Extra decimals if you try to put analytics in doc.
I end prep once the doc has been sent.
GO SLOWER
****TLDR IN BOLD****
Please include me in email chains during the debate (johnshackelf[at]gmail). I do not follow along with the speech doc during a speech, but sometimes I will follow along to check clipping and cross-ex questions about specific pieces of evidence.
Here is what an ideal debate looks like. (Heads up! I can be a silly goose, so the more you do this, the better I can judge you)
- Line by Line (Do it in order)
- Extending > reading a new card (Your better cards are in your first speech anyway. Tell me how the card is and how it frames the debate in your future analysis)
- More content >Less Jargon (avoid talking about the judge, another team, flows, yourselves. Focus on the substance. Avoid saying: special metaphors, Turns back, check back, the link check, Pulling or extending across, Voting up or down. They don’t exist.)
- Great Cross-examination (I am okay with tag team, I just find it unstrategic)
- Compare > description (Compare more, describe less)
- Overviews/Impact Calc (Focus on the core controversy of the debate. Offense wins)
- Engage > Exclude
- Clarity > Speed
- Making generics specific to the round
- Researched T Shells (Do work before reading T. I love T, but I have a standard on what is a good T debate)
- Arguments you can only read on this topic!!
Popular Q&A
- K/FW: More sympathetic to Ks that are unique to the topic. But I dig the 1 off FW strat or 9 off vs a K.
- Theory: Perfcon theory is a thing, condo theory is not a thing. I like cheating strats. I like it when people read theory against cheating strats too.
- Prep time: I stop prep time when you eject your jump drive or when you hit send for the email. I am probably the most annoying judge about this, but I am tired of teams stealing prep and I want to keep this round moving
- I flow on my computer
Want extra decimals?
Do what I say above, and have fun with it. I reward self-awareness, clash, sound research, humor, and bold decisions. It is all about how you play the game.
Cite like Michigan State and open source like Kentucky
Speaker Points-Scale - I'll do my best to adhere to the following unless otherwise instructed by a tournament's invite:
30-99%perfect
29.5-This is the best speech I will hear at this tournament, and probably at the following one as well.
29-I expect you to get a speaker award.
28.5-You're clearly in the top third of the speakers at the tournament.
28-You're around the upper middle (ish area)
27.5-You need some work, but generally, you're doing pretty well
27-You need some work
26.5-You don't know what you're doing at all
26 and lower-you've done something ethically wrong or obscenely offensive that is explained on the ballot.
All in all, debate in front of me if your panel was Mike Bausch, Mike Shackelford, Hannah Shoell, Catherine Shackelford, and Ian Beier
If you have any questions, then I would be more than happy to answer them
I value clarity, logical structure, and strong evidence. Please speak clearly and at a moderate pace—argumentation is most compelling when I can understand it fully. I prioritize well-explained impacts and the weighing of arguments over speed or excessive jargon. Frameworks should be clearly established at the start of the round and consistently applied. Above all, maintain respect and professionalism throughout the round.
Friends, it has been a few (several) years--so dumb it down for me! xoxo
General Notes:
-Include me in email chains: olivia@thewhiteleyfamily.com
-Clarity over speed
-Overviews, Impact Calc, and Line by Line or else
Argument-Specific Notes:
-Kritical Affirmatives/Framework: A well-run framework argument is compelling to me. I am willing to vote for a limits/fairness argument. For kritikal affirmatives, the alt debate matters to me. Win it.
-Topicality: If fleshed out, I am willing to vote on reasonability. Fairness is also legitimate. I lean truth over tech in these debates--but tech still matters.
-CPs: If enough work is done on the theory debate, Process CPs, Advantage CPs, and PICs can be legitimate. Work means engaging with the other side's arguments; repeating your shell in the rebuttals is not enough.
-DAs: DA and case is a strat. Generics are fine. Politics is my jam.
-Ks: Contextual link work and a clear, direct explanation of how your alt works may get you the ballot. Explain your jargon. I'm not down for "we're a K so as long as we win the general thesis of the argument, it doesn't matter if we drop stuff." Dropping stuff matters. If you make that argument, you will probably lose.