Do not spread and please signpost.

Hi! My name's Baraa Alkhani, I debated in LD for 3 years at Stagg High School and was the 2018 IHSA state champion. I debated traditionally and never went to the NatCircuit. Though, by Illinois standards, I guess you can say I was a bit progressive in that I valued cards and was a bit faster as a debater. Currently I'm a law student at the Illinois College of Law, so I'll be judging much less frequently than when I was an undergrad at UIC.

If you ever need anything, my email is balkhani50@gmail.com

Important Points

- Weigh impacts, don't just extend them. Also if you extend a card/argument without explaining it, then it isn’t a real extension and it won’t count.

- Please don't arbitrarily debate FW. If they're similar, then collapse them or agree on a standard. I don’t like long winded FW debates. Addressing both should take you a MAX of a minute of the beginning of your speech, and not even. Save your time for what really matters. I don't flow FW warrants or definitions, though I will mentally note it.

- I don’t intervene when it comes to the decision, but if your argument is completely baseless, inaccurate, or clearly pulled out of your butt, then don’t be mad when I give you the L. You are an intelligent debater. Don’t misconstrue evidence or run oily logic. Complex philosophy that has no impact calc or relation to the resolution is a no-no too. Be straightforward, rational, and accurate.

- I’m very approachable, so don’t be shy to stop by and ask any questions you may have. Unless they’re medically related, I should be able to help :)

For PF

- Standard flow judge. Nothing really special here.

Motivation

Finally, as I've learned through my experiences, have fun. If I give you the L, it's not the end of the world. Trust me, it doesn't mean I hate you. Rather, it means that you can still learn and improve in your journey as a debater. Same with if you win. Always strive to improve your game, your speaking, and case writing. If you choose to be complacent with how you're doing, you'll never get to the next level where you want to be.

Be respectful, professional, and confident. I'm pretty outgoing so never hesitate to ask me questions or reach out to me at a tournament. If something here hasn't been addressed, then ask me prior to the round :)

Name: Emily Carroll

School Affiliation: Homewood-Flossmoor

Number of years judging the event you are registered in: 6 years coaching LD & PF. . Completed in policy debate when I was in high school years ago.

Please share your opinions or beliefs about how the following play into a debate round:

Speed of delivery- All debaters should be able to clearly understand each other- you can’t have clash if you don’t know what the other person is saying! I will let you know if I can’t understand you, and I expect you to be respectful of what your opponent can keep up with.

Format of Summary Speeches (line by line? big picture?)- A good summary speech presents the big picture, and then chooses just a few key arguments on the line by line to address. You do not need to answer every argument.

Extension of arguments into later speeches- Please clearly state what argument you are extending and include warrants and why it matters! Just repeating the name of a card is not an extension.

Flowing/note-taking- I flow carefully on paper. I don’t flow cross x, but I do listen closely and will add to what I have written.

Do you value argument over style? Style over argument? Argument and style equally? I focus mainly on argumentation; that said, your style needs to be accessible to all debaters.

If a team plans to win the debate on an argument, in your opinion does that argument have to be extended in the rebuttal or summary speeches? Yes, and that includes warrants, addressing class on this issue in the round, and impact analysis.

If a team is second speaking, do you require that the team cover the opponents’ case as well as answers to its opponents’ rebuttal in the rebuttal speech? While not every argument made needs to be addressed, speakers should hit the big points of contention on both cases.

Do you vote for arguments that are first raised in the grand crossfire or final focus? No. To be fair, issues should be brought up earlier in the round so all sides can answer. However, there is a difference between a brand new argument and simply going deeper on a point already made.

I view debate first as an educational activity. My job as a judge is to be a blank slate; your job as a debater is to tell me how and why to vote and decide what the resolution/debate means to you. This includes not just topic analysis but also types of arguments and the rules of debate if you would like. If you do not provide me with voters and impacts I will use my own reasoning. I'm open all arguments but they need to be well explained. I spend most of my time in traditional LD/PF circuits.

My preference is for debates with a warranted, clearly explained analysis. I do not think tagline extensions or simply reading a card is an argument that will win you the debate. In the last speech, make it easy for me to vote for you by giving and clearly weighing voting issues- these are summaries of the debate, not simply repeating your contentions! You will have the most impact with me if you discuss magnitude, scope, etc. and also tell me why I look to your voting issues before your opponents. In terms of case debate, please consider how your two cases interact with each other to create more class; I find turns especially effective. I do listen closely during cross (even if I don't flow), so that is a place to make attacks, but if you want them to be fully considered please include them during your speeches.

Good luck and have fun!

OFFENSE OFFENSE OFFENSE!

I weigh turns and whatever offense you extend very heavily. Make sure you also do some work in terms of weighing impact if both you and your opponent are impacting to similar things. In LD, I'll only weigh impacts under the established VC. Also, make sure you sign post throughout and give voter's issues in your last speech. Utilize whatever AT files necessary to answer your opponent's evidence because I don't weigh unwarranted claims (unless I know it's empirically true) as heavy as warranted claims. That being said, make sure your evidence is cited and cut properly.

Regarding speaker points, make sure I can understand you and that you SIGN POST. I mentioned it twice because it's that important.

I'm 100% a game judge, the flow is like a chess board and it is your job to navigate it with whatever tools you have at your disposal. You can run anything; Theory, Topicality, Ks, CP, DA/AD/Plans/KPlans but for all of those you need to give a "why" and impact calc for everything, fail to do that and you will lose the round.

That being said stock issues are inherent to an argument, if you don't solve for anything or you can't show significance then you will also lose. Topicality is loose for me but again if you fail to solve for something or show it's significance then you lose.

Spread as fast as you want, I was reading at 340 wpm once upon a memory. If you turn into a mumble rapper like Post Malone then you are not communicating effectively and you'll have stuff drop on the flow. Clear and fast is fine, murmuring quickly is not fine. When in doubt slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Too often debaters are reliant on judges reading their card for them to put them on the flow rather than conveying the information. If there is something in the debate that is the razors edge that will make or break the round then I will evaluate it but that is rarely ever the case (I have only seen it once, same source cut two different ways).

My default settings:

I will hear theory arguments if you are deeply against any of the following but otherwise this is how I vote.

Disclosure has to be consensual prior to the round but when you are giving the constructive what are you really gaining from not exchanging? Plus it is in the NSDA manual you have to produce evidence for your opponent at their request.

Aff gets fiat for world building otherwise the debate can't happen.

Neg gets conditionality to truth test with multiple worlds.

General sportsmanship should be observed. I was a debater, I promise you I know abuse when I see it. If your opponent checks it and you don't have some good reason for trying to push that envelope you'll lose. Be excellent to each other.

I do private coaching but I also care deeply about the debate community so please feel free to reach-out with questions after your rounds. mconvey1@jhu.edu

Private Coaching Link

https://www.citrononline.org/camps-and-coaching/p/private-coaching

B.S. Ecology from Arizona State University

M.L.S. Environmental Law from Sandra Day O'Connor Law College

M.S. Geospatial Intelligence from Johns Hopkins University

Debate Director of the Citron Online Speech and Debate District

Overview:

I'm a debater for Evanston township HS. I'm mainly a K debater, but I'll evaluate any argument that you run (given that it isn't sexist, racist, transphobic, ableist, etc.). I'm also very familiar with pomo and other metatheory K's, and I love to see them run well (key word being well). I'm good with traditional kinds of debate too, as well as K AFF's and basically anything you want to throw at me. If you have some new crazy shit that you want to try out, pref me a 1! Quick note, humor will boost your speaks significantly.

Speed/Spreading:

Yes. Be clear.

Speaks:

Kind of a point fairy. Speaks usually start at 28.5. Anything below and you've done something wrong. I'll disclose speaks (as long as they aren't horrendous), just ask.

Traditional LD:

I'm super open to traditional V/VC contention styles of debate. I don't run them very often, but I feel like they're one of the truest arguments that can be ran in debate. If you provide me with solid factual evidence and analysis, I'm reasonably likely to weigh this above a metaphysical framework that doesn't engage at all with what you're saying. I'm a good pref for traditional debate.

Disads/CP:

Sure. Why not.

T/Framework:

I'll sit through a framework shell, but just please don't make me listen to 7 minutes of it in your NC. I personally don't run T or framework, but I think that if you can articulate abuse in your standards then you might as well. However, I don't think that the only way to engage with T is through reading a counterinterp. Impact and link turns using the rhetoric of the AFF go a long way, and you'll have trouble convincing me otherwise. That being said, I'm also very open to a debate on competing interps, as long as the entire debate doesn't just become T (that pisses me off). Last thing I'll say is that I'm much more inclined to give the AFF RVI's than not and I'm also more inclined not to buy the TVA. Not the best judge for T, but I'll vote on it.

Kritiks:

Kritikal debate is my domain. Generic K's like cap and security interest me, but I'll usually think of them as traditional nonunique NC's with alts. Love identity K's, specifically performance identity K's. I believe that this is the truest form of debate. Quick note, a white person running afropess against a black person with a destroy the world alt is probably a red flag. LOVE love pomo, I run Baud and Deleuze mainly, but very open to Bataille, Hegel, etc. That being said, if you run a complex K, I want you to give me a clear overview at the top of your next speech. If I feel like I don't understand anything you're saying I'm likely to vote you down. I'll evaluate Kant, but begrudgingly. Keep in mind, though, that if you choose to run the K, I'll hold you to a higher standard of explanation. Don't just assume that because I already understand it I'm fine with a shitty explanation.

K AFF's:

I read almost exclusively K AFF's, so I am the perfect judge for nontopical debate. BUT, I weigh T more on nontopical AFF's. This means two things. One, if a T shell goes conceded in the 1AR and is extended and contextualized in the 2NR, it will be hard to come back from. BUT, if the AFF turns T very well and extends that throughout the debate that is likely to be a huge voters issue (if of course they win RVI's).

Theory:

Very open to theory if it outlines legitimate abuse. Not a huge fan of frivilous theory, but if you run it I'll simply have to evaluate it.

Tricks:

Tricks fucking suck. Please don't pref me for tricks. Using tricks or floating PICs is an uphill battle and I'll hate you, but that being said I will not flat out reject the argument.

-Signpost. Without signposting it can be difficult for your judge to know where you are in the round. Signposting makes the flow organized and clear for everyone in the round.

-No spreading. I will have difficulties understanding everything if you spread and if the information does not end up on my flow because you are spreading, I can't use it to judge the round.

-Please weigh. Explain to me why your arguments outweigh (don't just tell me that they outweigh) your opponent's arguments.

-At the end of the round please provide clear voting issues.

-No kritiks.

Hello. I am a lay judge but understand most concepts as long as they are explained clearly.

My threshold for speed is pretty much nonexistent, so spread at your own risk.

Since we are online, I would prefer to set up an email chain. But even if I have your case in front of me, if you blitz through evidence, I am not going to go back during prep time to reflow what I couldn't earlier.

Please Sign Post! Please Sign Post! Please Sign Post!

If you don't sign post, I won't be a happy judge, and you won't be happy with your results.

I am a traditional judge, so please weigh your arguments under a framework or standard.

If framework is a wash, I default to util.

Speaker Points:

I am not a speaks fairy, so if you are looking for one, don't pref me!

On that note, I give an average of about 28 for the winner and 27 to the loser.

I have never given out a 30, but do your best to be the first.

Things to do that increase your speaker points:

1. Do not talk over your opponent. I understand that cross can sometimes be heated, but when your opponent cuts you off, please listen.

2. Please speak clearly and professionally. Yelling at the top of your lungs does not make your argument more convincing.

3. Cut out the uhs, ums, and likes. Just take a deep breath instead. They're unnecessary and nervous speech fillers.

4. Don't abuse prep time. When you stop the clock, please be ready to start your speech. If it's not started soon, I will dock major speaks and will continue running your prep.

5. If you can work in the phrase "Luck is the residue of design" somewhere in your speech you'll get +.5

Framework

As I am a fairly lay judge, please do not run crazy frameworks and frivolous theory. If you do, I need them explained explicitly. Do not blitz through your evidence with their explanations.

That being said, if framework is a wash, I will default to util. If you are running util, never try to justify oppression, slavery, or anything like that. I will not be a happy judge and you will not be happy with the result.

If your framework is close enough to your opponent's that it does not warrant a big discussion, i.e. you can weigh under both fairly easily, just collapse the debate. It's not worth your time to argue about or my time to evaluate.

Overall

I try to be a fairly tabula rasa. That being said, I find liberal arguments more appealing.

I don't like to intervene in rounds, as the rounds should really be dictated by the debaters. But if someone is being rude or stalling for a prolonged amount of time, I will step in.

While I'm not a big fan of spikes, when used correctly, I will grudgingly vote on them.

I prefer a more "traditional" round to a "circuit" round, but don't let that sway you too much. Whatever makes you most comfortable is what will allow you to do your best.

If you are more experienced than your opponent and try to run progressive arguments against an opponent who is clearly a novice and more traditional, I will not be happy. You may begrudgingly win the round, but your speaks will reflect poorly.

TL; DR

I am a LAY judge, but am willing to listen to any arguments as long as they are flushed out clearly.

Do not assume I understand debate jargon!

The round is yours, so do as you please.

Please be respectful, debate is an educational activity.

Speed needs to be a reasonable. Too fast is not acceptable. I will NOT weigh anything I can't hear, understand nor if your going too fast so I can't keep up. A good indication is if I put my pen down I'm not flowing.

Sources as well as statistics need to be explained well and how it ways into your case. Clash to your opponents case with evidence of how I should weigh it to your side with how it fits into your framework/impacts.

Blaine High School '14 / Ripon College '18 / Assistant Coach New Trier '18-'20 / Chicago Debates UDL '20-

She/Her/Hers

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About Me:

I'm a former debater from the Minnesota Circuit and have experience debating/judging PF, LD, and Congressional debate. I now work for Chicago Debates recruiting judges for their policy program (don't assume this means I am a "policy" type judge). Since I don't cut cards or coach for a living, I won't come with deep knowledge on every topic. In fact, most of my time will be spent in the policy world so whatever topic I am judging may be my first exposure for the season. I say this so you don't assume anything when making arguments. I come into rounds with a pretty blank slate and that's how I will evaluate your arguments.

***NOTE FOR ONLINE: Typically I'm ok with speed but with online tournaments audio can be choppy and hard to understand. You will need to slow down and adjust for this new reality we are dealing with. I'm going to get annoyed if you're running at top speed and I can't understand you because you didn't adapt to zoom.

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Judging LD:

When I competed in LD I was mainly on the local circuit and thus had a lot of VC debates. I understand that LD has changed a lot since I competed. I am open to alternative structures and off case positions but understand that I won't be technically versed on all of the nuances within these positions. Keep that in mind when making your selection. I'm not a circuit hack so if you're going to run theory, Ks, etc. just make sure you're crystallizing and being clear. DAs, Plans, and CPs are what I'm most familiar with and as an old school LDer Phil debate can even be a fun a time. Other than that I'm open to listening.

****When it comes to email chains I will only reference them if absolutely necessary such as evidence check. As a judge it is not my burden to read your docs. As the debater it is your burden to be clear and easy to follow so I don't have to reference the docs.

Speaking of being easy to follow, the flow is very important to me and thus so is organization and clear signposting. My biggest pet peeve is the abandonment of a clear signpost. Also if you're going to be throwing multiple arguments against one particular card/argument make sure to number your responses. This may seem super trivial but makes a huge difference in the quantity of arguments I'm able to evaluate at the end of the round. My rule of thumb is if I don't flow it I don't vote on it. If you're unclear or messy I won't flow it. Deductive reasoning should tell you that I'd prefer quality over quantity of arguments/positions.

In addition to signposting, weighing is huge for me! If you're not comparing and weighing your arguments why should I have to when casting my ballot. My high school coach used to always say, "the worst thing you can do is make your judge think." Now as a judge myself, I completely agree. Without weighing or evaluating clash your arguments are just two ships passing in the night and I'm left with two random flows. If you're unsure what to weigh it can be as simple as showing me what an aff vs. neg world looks like. If you're an experienced debater give me impact analysis and/or meta-weighing. Weighing is everything!

More common questions that come up: Yes I will accept disclosure theory and believe it is a good norm but I don't personally care if you disclose or not. That's up for your opponent to decide how they strategically want to handle it. Cool with speed but please see my note if this is a virtual tournament.

Speaks start at a 27.5 for me if you lost the round and were disorganized/made blippy arguments. Most debaters will end up somewhere in the 28 range for me. The 29 range is reserved for debaters who were organized, persuasive, and made unique arguments. These are the debaters that understand quality or quantity in their argumentation strategy. 30s are rare for me. I save this for debaters who made me say, "wow that was a good debate." I also don't disclose speaks.

tl;dr: I try to approach every round with a blank slate. The most organized and persuasive debater who takes care of the flow will win my ballot. This is a communication activity after all. Oh, and PLEASE WEIGH. It's that simple.

Judging PF:

My biggest issue with Public Form debate is card clipping and evidence abuse. You need to make sure if you are reading evidence they are full cited cards and not a random sentence you cut for an article and strung together with sentences from other articles.

When it comes to first rebuttal I don't have preference if you go back and frontline/defend your own case. That's a strategic choice you need to make. The summary speech is the most important speech to me and often where I write my ballot. Make sure you are fully extending and weighing your arguments here. This is not just a second rebuttal. The best debaters will make time to boil down the debate and setup their partner for the final focus.

[copied from my LD section] If you're not comparing and weighing your arguments why should I have to when casting my ballot. My high school coach used to always say, "the worst thing you can do is make your judge think." Now as a judge myself, I completely agree. Without weighing or evaluating clash your arguments are just two ships passing in the night and I'm left with two random flows. If you're unsure what to weigh it can be as simple as showing me what an aff vs. neg world looks like. If you're an experienced debater give me impact analysis and/or meta-weighing. Weighing is everything!

I also look for cohesion between partners. You are working as a team so don't setup key issues in the summary and then ignore these key issues in the final focus. Work together to make a complete and clean extension through the round.

One of my biggest pet peeves in PF is when someone asks before CX "Do you mind if I ask the first question." Uh you just did. Take control and just ask a question.

Speaks start at a 27 for me if you lost the round and were disorganized/made blippy arguments. Most debaters will end up somewhere in the 28 range for me. The 29 range is reserved for debaters who were organized, persuasive, and made unique arguments. These are the debaters that understand quality or quantity in their argumentation strategy. 30s are rare for me. I save this for debaters who made me say, "wow that was a good debate." I also don't disclose speaks.

Judging Congress

If you're competing in congress and reading this, kudos to you for being strategic about your judges. I believe judge adaptation can totally be a thing in congress.

Despite what people may think, congress is still a debate activity. The debaters I rank highest in the chamber are those that show a range in their speaking, create clash, and are actively involved through the entire session. I am not only judging your speech but also the amount of questions you ask, if you're utilizing Robert's Rules, and when you choose to speak. If you are someone that is going to give 3 sponsorship/first neg speeches then you won't rank that high. I'm much more impressed by a debater who can be flexible and join the debate at any point than a well rehearsed speaker. I also look at number of sources and times you reference other senators/reps. Flowing is still a thing that can be utilized in congress and I notice when you do it well.

If you serve as a PO that's already license for a higher rank but I will be watching to see if you take control of the chamber and if you're consistent with calling on questioners without showing preference.

Lastly the speeches you give should still be a well organized and presented speech with intro, 2-3 points, and a conclusion. I love a cheesy intro with a bit of personality so have fun with it.

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Please Don't Do These (applicable for all formats)

-Forget to signpost (This is #1 for me). I hate disorganized debate

-Argue sexist, racists, or homophobic points

-Card Clipping

-Extend without analysis or impact. It's not enough to tell me to extend a card.

-Ignore the framework debate if it is applicable

-Turn the last speech of the round into a second rebuttal.

-Excessive off-time road maps, especially when there is only an aff/neg flow to worry about.

-Be mean or obnoxious to novice or newer debaters

-Look at me for facial expressions and validity if you think your opponent is being dumb or whatever. I usually have a straight face while judging and won't give any indication to validate you. The best way to tell if I'm getting everything you're saying is if my head is down and flowing.

1. Conflicts [as of 10/04/2020]

• No Univ of Chicago Lab
• No Iowa City

2. Short Version

• tech over truth
• strong analytics/analysis can beat carded evidence
• prioritize your impacts
• have fun!

3. Pandemic Social Distancing Related Technology Notes

• Please slow down 5-10%. Emphasize your warrants. Without a microphone stem, your quality fluctuates. Keep in mind that I still flow on paper.
• Please get explicit visual or audio confirmation from everyone in the debate before beginning your speech. I may use a thumbs up to indicate I am ready.
• If my camera is off, unless I explicitly have told you otherwise, assume I'm not at the computer.
• If the current speaker has significant tech problems, I'll try to interrupt your speech and mark the last argument and timestamp.

4. Some Detail

I've been meaning to do this for a while, but have not really had the time. My hope is that I end up judging better debates as a result of this updated philosophy. I am now changing to a more linear philosophy, it is my hope that you read this in its entirety before choosing where to place me on the pref sheet. I debated for four years at Homewood-Flossmoor High School in the south Chicago suburbs from 2007-2011. During that time I debated, Sub-Saharan Africa, Alternative Energy, Social services and substantial reductions in Military presence.

Nearing a decade ago, during would would have been the h.s. space topic. I started at the University of Northern Iowa, Where I debated NDT/CEDA Middle East/North Africa while judging a few debate rounds across the midwest. After my freshman year I transferred to the University of Iowa, where I started coaching at Iowa City High School. This year, I will continue to coach the City High Debate team.

Framing, Issue choice and impact calculus are in my opinion the most important aspects of argumentation, and you should make sure they are components in your speeches. Late rebuttals that lack this analysis are severely.

I preference tech over truth. Your in round performance is far more important to me, as it is what I hear. I greatly attempt to preference the speaking portion of the debate. Increasingly, I've found that my reading evidence is not necessarily an aspect of close debates, but rather results from poor argument explanation and clarification. The majority of 'close rounds' that I've judged fall into the category of closeness by lack of explanation. In some limited instances, I may call for evidence in order to satisfy my intellectual fascination with the activity. Anything other than that--which I will usually express during the RFD--probably falls upon inadequate explanation and should be treated as such.

I feel my role as a judge is split evenly between policymaker and 'referee' in that when called to resolve an issue of fairness. I will prioritize that first. Addressing inequities in side balance, ability to prepare and generate offense is something may at times find slightly more important than substance. In short, I consider myself a good judge for theory, THAT BEING SAID, rarely do I find theory debates resolved in a manner that satisfies my liking - I feel theoretical arguments should be challenged tantamount to their substance based counterparts. Simply reading the block isn't enough. Though I was a 2A[≈ High power LED current, peak 2.7 A] in high school I have since found myself sliding towards the negative on theoretical questions. I can be convinced, however, to limit the scope of negative offense quite easily, so long as the arguments are well explained and adjudicated.

I consider reasonability better than competing interpretations, with the caveat that I will vote on the best interpretation presented. But topicality questions shouldn't be a major concern if the team has answered.

I have a long and complicated relationship with the K. I have a level of familiarity with the mainstream literature, so go ahead and read Capitalism or Neolib. Less familiar arguments will require more depth/better explanation.

About me:

I have been coaching and judging PF for eleven years. I judge on local circuit tournaments and have also judged many national circuit tournaments, including the TOC. I am familiar with the topic, but that does not mean that you should not explain your arguments. As a coach I am very aware of all the nuances of Public Forum debate.

Put me on the email chain: nkroepel@district100.com and belviderenorthpf@gmail.com

Round specifics:

Tech>truth (I always try to be tabula rasa and not interject my knowledge into your round). I will vote on just about anything besides abusive, offensive arguments. I will take arguments as true, unless otherwise argued by your opponent for the scope of the round.

I can flow speed, but I prefer not to. I do not want you to use it as a way to exclude your opponents. In the end, Debate is about intelligible conversation, if you are going too fast, and don't do it well, it can get in the way of clarity of expression, which upsets me.

I do not flow cross-fire, but I do pay attention to it. However, if you make an excellent point in cross-fire, you will have to bring that information up in a subsequent speech. Also, DO NOT be rude, I will reduce your speaker points for it. It is inappropriate for teams to make their opponent's feel inferior or humiliate them in the round.

If you are speaking second, please address your opponent's responses to your case, especially turns. It does not have to be an even split, but make sure it is something that you do. Defense is not sticky, you need to extend it.

I expect that summary and final focus are cohesive to each other. First summary needs extend defense. Second summary needs to address responses on your case, especially in areas you are going to collapse on, and it should also respond to turns. I do expect that you collapse and not go for everything on the flow in summary. I WILL NOT vote on an issue if it is not brought up in summary. Please weigh in your final two speeches and clash your arguments to those provided by your opponent.

As I expect the summary and final focus to be consistent, that also means that the story/narrative coming from your partnership also be consistent. I may not give you a loss because of it, but it is harder to establish ethos. Defend a consistent worldview using your warrants and impacts.

Make it easy for me to fill out my ballot. Tell me where I should be voting and why. Be sure to be clear and sign-post throughout.

Extensions need to be clean and not just done through ink. In order for you to cleanly extend, you need to respond to responses, and develop your warrant(s). You cannot win an impact without warranting. In rebuttal, please make sure you are explaining implications of responses, not just card dumping. Explain how those responses interact with your opponents' case and what their place in the round means. DO NOT just extend card names in subsequent speeches.

The flow rules in my round for the most part, unless the weighing is non-existent. I will not call for evidence unless it is a huge deal, because I view it as interventionist.

DO NOT make blippy arguments-warranting matters!

DO NOT make the round a card battle, PLEASE. Explain the cards, explain why they outweigh. A card battle with no explanation or weighing gets you nowhere except to show me why I shouldn't vote on it.

And finally progressive debate-I'd strongly prefer you do not read atopical arguments. I think most kritikal positions are exceptionally unpersuasive on a truth level, but this should not explicitly influence how I evaluate them, except to say that I'm probably more willing than most to evaluate intelligent analytical defense to Ks even if your opponents have "cards" to make their claims. I am still learning when it comes to judging/evaluating theory. I need a slower debate with clear warranting-neither K or T are a big part of my judging experience either. You CAN run it in front of me but combining it with speed makes me even more confused. I can't promise that I will always make the right decision.

Name: Steve Kroepel

School Affiliation: Belvidere North High School

Number of Years Judging Public Forum: 8

What is your current occupation? Data Analyst

Please share your opinions or beliefs about how the following play into a debate round:

Speed of Delivery - brisk conversational - no faster

Format of Summary Speeches (line by line? big picture?) Big picture

Extension of Arguments into later speeches - If you want me to vote on it, yes

Flowing/note-taking - I am a flow judge as long as the round takes place at a reasonable pace and I am able to keep up, if you go faster than I can flow, and something does not end up on my flow, I will not vote on it

Do you value argument over style? Style over argument? Argument and style equally? As far as the W or L is concerned, 100% argumentation. If you can't articulate your warrant, don't expect to win on it.

If a team plans to win the debate on an argument, in your opinion does that argument have to be extended in the rebuttal or summary speeches? Yes

If a team is second speaking, do you require that the team cover the opponents’ case as well as answers to its opponents’ rebuttal in the rebuttal speech? Yes, if the round is happening at a reasonable pace, if one team sounds like an auctioneer so the other team is not able to get to all of their arguments, debating at a reasonable pace, I will not be as firm on this.

Do you vote for arguments that are first raised in the grand crossfire or final focus? No.

Traditional LD judge

Speak clearly. Speed is not an issue as long as you speak clearly. If I can’t understand you, I will put down my pen. You will not get credit for saying anything that I cannot understand.

The value and criterion is the essence of the round; don’t forget that. LD is a value debate, not strictly an evidence debate.

Signpost clearly throughout with contention numbers/letters, and refer to evidence clearly (include topical content, not just the author name in your reference).

No K cases.

Remember decorum, and have fun.

Be diligent about keeping track of your own time.

In your final speech you should be clear about voting points.

Name: Brenda Moreno

School Affiliation: Palatine High School

Number of years judging: 10

Opinions or beliefs about how the following play into a debate round:

Speed of delivery: I'd prefer if debaters don't speak too fast, but I am comfortable with speed. However, I'd like to emphasize that debaters should speak clearly and audibly so that the judge and opponents can easily understand what is being said. Often, debaters might find 'spreading' as a tool to get more arguments in, but keep in mind that the goal is to argue the issues at length and to do so substantially, so I'd caution against trying to fit in the most arguments since often this can lead dropping arguments or failure to respond to arguments.

Format of Summary Speeches (line by line? big picture?): I prefer line-by-line analysis earlier in the debate, and then a big picture analysis when it comes to rebuttals. I see rebuttals as a way to crystalize what has occurred in the round, and an opportunity for debaters to focus on the arguments they believe have won them the round.

Extension of arguments into later speeches: Extend arguments if applicable. However, be sure to explicitly tell me what arguments I should extend andwhy.You can let me know by referring to the author of the card or by signaling to me which contention or argument you need me to extend on my flow.

Flowing/note-taking: I flow the constructive speeches pretty religiously. While I listen to cross-examination/cross-fire very attentively, this time is really for the debaters to gather additional information to use in the round; it is not an opportunity for me to decide what I will be voting on. That being said, if a debater feels something that was brought up within Cross needs to be extended/addressed in later speeches, they need to tell me and explain why I need to flow through what was brought up during Cross.

Do you value argument over style? Style over argument? Argument and style equally?: I value argument over style--arguments will influence my decision. Style is important, too, so maintain decorum; however, style alone will not necessarily win you the round. To me, style = speaker points, arguments = who wins the round.

If a team plans to win the debate on an argument, in your opinion does that argument have to be extended in the rebuttal or summary speeches?: In my opinion, arguments need to be extended in both if that's what the debater hopes to win the round on.

If a team is second speaking, do you require that the team cover the opponents’ case as well as answers to its opponents’ rebuttal in the rebuttal speech?: No. I will flow what the debater tells me to flow. In PF, I believe every speech carries a specific purpose. If you are second speaking, please provide me with an off-time roadmap and tell me what you will be addressing so that I know where to flow.

Do you vote for arguments that are first raised in the grand crossfire or final focus?: Final focus. See comment above on cross-examination.

I am a traditional Lincoln-Douglas judge and have been judging / debating since the early 2000s.

Value (V) & Value Criterion (VC) Debate:

The decision-maker & breaker is based on whichever side BEST upholds their Value / Value criterion. Essentially, the winning debater will be able to showcase that in his/her world his/her value is superior and is better upheld. It is always beneficial to attack the logic of the other side's Value / Value Criterion to demonstrate this. For example, say the affirmative has a value of Justice and a value criterion of Equality. A successful attack on the logic here would be to show how Equality and Justice are in conflict such as if we set hiring quotas, affirmative action, etc. (everything will be equal but it is not always fair). Of course, bringing this up in the context of the resolution will bolster the argument (for example, if we are not debating affirmative action). Logic and reasoning hold a lot of weight and can substitute for traditional evidence (statistics, studies, quotes, etc.)

Value criterions are there as such: a weighing mechanism. This is often lost / falls on deaf ears amongst debaters. A weighing mechanism is just that -- a method to determine what is the best determinant for a specific value. Let use this crude example illustrate that. Say we are debating what makes a great UFC fighter. In an LD context, our Values are "Successful MMA Fighter." Well, what determines their success? Is it heart? Is it experience? Is it youth? Speed? Strength? Striking? Wrestling? Resilience? Whichever criterion you think best allows for a successful UFC fighter should be the "VC" in this example.

Burdens and Case Logic:

The affirmative has the Burden of Proof during the round. This means, they must prove the resolution valid beyond a reasonable doubt. Similar to a criminal case, it is the prosecution job to prove the defendant is guilty. It is not the defendant's responsibility to prove his innocent, he simply has to prove that he is not guilty. This applies to the negative as well, he does not have to prove the inverse of the resolution. Please ask me for clarification on this point if you wish.

The negative the burden of initiating clash during the round. I would prefer that AT LEAST SOMETHING is said for each of the contentions and sub-points, even if you are running out of time. It can be something minor.

That being said, just because someone misses a contention doesn't mean that it can make or break a debate. The debater must demonstrate WHY that particular contention matters. Of course, the other extreme is not appropriate either (i.e., a particular side fails to attack anything or misses major parts of the case but has a strong case of their own).

In addition, I like when the contentions relate in someway to the value and value criterion. It clarifies the logic in the case and in general makes it easier for the side to argue their Value/VC.

The Negative's case can be flawed yet still win if the attacks on the affirmative are strong enough. Conversely, the negative can have a much better case than the Affirmative but if it never initiates clash, then I will defer to the affirmative (this hasn't been a problem).

Evidence is great, but evidence is not an argument. Debaters need to explain how/why that piece of evidence matters and relates to their argument. In addition, debaters need to explain the source and why this person's opinion matters. Just throwing "cards" at me, will not sway my decision.

In some ways, I prefer philosophical and logical discussions based on axioms and syllogisms. Stat-bombing me with studies and "cards" are not a substitute for solid argumentation and logical analysis. This may be controversial to some of you. But should we dismiss the arguments of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle simply because they didn't have peer-reviewed studies which fit a certain criteria?

General

I am a traditional LD debate judge, have been doing this for 20+ years. I generally dislike when you concede frameworks it shows a lack of analysis into the values and criterions themselves and kind of comes off as lazy.

Speaking can be a little quick but if you speak too fast and I miss contentions/sub-points it will negatively affect you (i.e., spreading).

Obviously, sign-posting is a must.

Cross-ex needs to be used strategically. It only matters if you refer back to it in a subsequent speech.

Clear, specific and unique arguments for each contention that are powerful and sub-point is superior. Repeating the same argument over and over again is not a strong strategy for success. Quality over quantity.

Voting issues are best at the end and it helps when the debater provides a clear reason why I should vote for a particular side.

Update December 2020: I am removing from a mild head injury, I would probably advise against spreading especially with the online format.

Update January 2021: 60-75% speed is OK.

I am a special education teacher and coach debate for New Trier Township High School (IL). I debated Lincoln Douglas and some PF at Valley High School 2008-2013.

Online Debate: Please start the email chain before the round starts. YES, I would like to be included. megan.nubel@gmail.com. PLEASE slow down. If tournaments have guidelines/protocols for what to do if someone drops off the call, I will follow those. If not, please:

-Record your speeches on your own end in case someone drops off the call. If you do NOT do this, I'm sorry but I have to consider that your problem. If you are unable to for some reason please let me know before the round. You may want to record the speeches individually because some platforms/iPhone have length limits for recordings. Audio recording only is fine.

-If YOU drop off the call in the middle of the speech: finish the speech via recording and then send immediately via the email chain. We will time-check to verify your speech was within the time limit, etc. Your opponent will be provided with the time necessary to flow the recording.

-If YOUR OPPONENT drops off the call in the middle of the speech: finish your speech (again, you should be recording) and then immediately send via the email chain. I will provide up to the length of the missed speech for your opponent to flow before they must take prep/begin their speech.

-If YOUR JUDGE (me) drops off the call, finish your speech and send the recording at the end. I may rejoin prior to the end of the speech, but still send the recording so I can fill in the gaps. I will attempt to do so during prep time but may need additional time.

Overall: Debate the way you know how in the best way you can. Clearly explain your arguments, impacts, and interactions in the round. Articulate what my reason for the decision should be. Here's how I evaluate the round once it ends: (1) Look at the 2ar, decide whether there's anything the aff can win on, (2) if yes, consider neg interaction with that/those argument(s) and consider comparable neg offense then decide what wins, (3) if no, look at the NR and decide if there's anything that the neg can win on, (4) if still no, ???

General/neither here nor there:

-Sit wherever makes sense. I don't care which side sits in which place in the room, and feel free to sit or stand at any point in the debate.

-Flash before your speech but you don't need to use prep time to do so. Please flash analytics.

-I think brackets are fine in evidence if they are used *properly.* Please line down cards honestly and include full citations.

-The value is not particularly important to me; the value-criterion is how I evaluate the framework if it’s relevant in the round.

-I judge on the national circuit a few times tournaments year, so please don't expect me to know the general happenings or stock arguments.

-I don't flow off of speech docs but I will look at cards after the round (sometimes prompted, sometimes unprompted)

-Please disclose. There are some exceptions to this that are more lenient (local debater and you're not sure what that means, wiki down, etc) but if your opponent asks what the aff is, don’t leave them on read. You probably don’t have to disclose >30 min before the round but I’m open to hearing otherwise.

Arguments:

-I don't default to anything on theory or T, I just sit there very confused when things aren't explicit and justified. If you justify the argument once and it's dropped, then it becomes my default.

-I'm familiar with most types of arguments (traditional, disads, advantages, plans, theory, topicality, critical, types of counter-plans, types of perms). I have heard of and judged most frameworks used in debate but I'm not deeply knowledgeable about any.

-Sometimes I’ll get questions like “are you ok with...” or “will you listen to...” and the answer is yes. There are no arguments I feel so strongly about that I’ll reject them outright. I don’t even really have arguments I prefer. It’s my job to judge the debate so I do. That being said, I will react negatively if your argument feels abhorrent.

-Complete extensions are a must. Claim, warrant, and impact. Please do your impact analysis for me and address all aspects of the debate in your crystallization. If I don't clearly understand your side and ballot story, you might not get my vote because of confusion or misinterpretation on my end. Pre-correct for my potential judging errors in your speeches.

Delivery:

-I have high-frequency hearing loss so my ears ring. If you anticipate your speech will include very loud noises or high-frequency pitches from music, etc, please let me know.

-I'm not going to flow what I don't hear or understand. Sometimes I say clear or slow or louder if necessary. I don't always look at my keyboard or computer when I'm typing, so if I'm looking at you it doesn't necessarily mean I'm not flowing. I can type very fast so sometimes I’ll just flow extensions verbatim to sort them out later.

-If I'm flowing on paper you probably need to go about 60% of your top speed. If I am flowing on a computer it’s all good, just work up to your top speed and slow down on tags, transitions between offs, etc. If I miss the author name I just write “CARD/“ on my flow.

Please feel free to ask me about anything not mentioned here that might be pertinent to your debate. I can't say I have many strong opinions in any direction way when it comes to debate styles, arguments, etc.

I use the VC to filter offense through the round, make sure you're extending your impacts and any pieces of offense that you plan on using in your voting issues.

I'm OK with speed, but if your opponent can't understand it, then I'll ask you to avoid spreading.

I'm fine with any arguments.

Keep the debate civil, be polite, and be friendly. If you do, I'll give high speaks.

I’m big picture focused. So I favor well-explained links between contentions and framework as well as real-world impacts and crystallization over straight line-by-line debate. Most importantly, understand your constructive arguments and know your evidence; speaker points will reflect when a debater clearly is not familiar with the case she’s reading. I’m a parent judge but have a couple years’ experience judging LD and am an attorney.

belvidere required paradigm info:

Name: Kalina Pierga

School Affiliation: Barrington High School

Were you previously affiliated with any other school? No

Number of years and/or tournaments judging the event you are registered in: 4 years debating, 5 years judging/coaching

Have you judged in other debate events? Please describe if so. PF

Please share your opinions or beliefs about how the following play into a debate round:

Speed of delivery preference (slow, conversational, brisk conversational, etc.) Does not factor into decision unless completely incomprehensible + no speech doc.

How important is the value criterion in making your decision? Depends on whether VC becomes a voting issue in the debate.

Do you have any specific expectations for the format of the 2nd Affirmative Rebuttal and 2 Negative Rebuttal (i.e. line by line/ direct refutation and/or big picture?)-No expectations, do your thing. I think overviews and framing on top is strategic, though.

Are voting issues necessary for your decision? Yes unless you love judge intervention

How critical are ”extensions” of arguments into later speeches- Critical

Flowing/note-taking- No opinions or beliefs on this

Do you value argument over style? Style over argument? Argument and style equally? argument > style

In order to win a debate round, does the debater need to win their framework or can they win using their opponent’s framework?Depends on the round. But yes, a debater can still win using their opponent's FW.

How necessary do you feel the use of evidence (analytical and/or empirical) is in the round? Necessary, unless uplayering to T.

GBX 2023 update:

as per below, for accessibility purposes, it's in your best interest to send your doc esp if you're spreading analytics.

harvard disclosure theory update: i default to reasonability on disclosure theory. it will be nearly impossible to prove to me that not having an updated wiki is a reason for someone to lose a debate round. running disclosure against small school debaters will get your speaks docked. just debate lol

kalinapierga@gmail.com

For accessibility purposes I request that all speech docs be sent to an email chain if possible.

Debate background: I debated for Barrington High School and for NYU's Policy Team for one year, did mostly K debate in both.

Run whatever you want to run. Keep things clear & do thorough analytical work. Don't assume I am familiar with your literature base/args or that I will fill in gaps for you!

General:

If for any reason you feel unable to continue the round, feel free to stop time and let me know.

If you have questions regarding any of the above, let me know before round. Happy to answer questions/concerns after round as well.

Background: I'm a freshman at UIUC majoring in Information Systems and Accounting. Broke to semis in IHSA for both Lincoln Douglas and Congressional debate (Senior, Freshman year respectively).

I did Congressional and Lincoln Douglas Debate for four years at Schaumburg high school. Although I didn’t compete nationally I’m fine with whatever policy-ish arguments you run in any tournament, somehow linking court clog into a topic will make me very happy (that being said bring in any pre-read or pre-written shells and spikes into a round and I will for sure drop you, so strike me if that’s your way of debating).

LD:

Points: High Speaks aren’t going to be given to people who only “speak pretty” or to anyone who’s probably reading off every argument their varsity member wrote for them without knowing each nuance behind the argument they’re making. Knowing that, I generally give 27s-28.5s. I’m probably going to be the only one who ever says this, but I like Jargon - it shows specialization in the event. So saying “extend” or “turn”, and doing them properly will get you good speaks. I’m fine with spreading, but do it smartly (e.x. If you spread an AC and you have a minute left after then that wasn’t really necessary).

Judging Calc: To have a value that isn’t morality and justice requires lots of explanation on your part. I don’t vote off the flow (I.e. whoever extends the most things wins). If you’re winning off an argument, and you know dropping is strategic - go for it. Also links to framework literally write my ballot for me. I despise evidence debate , like arguing whether the correlation existed or even a refutation saying the card was made by professors so it’s better won’t do anything.

Congress

Points: Speaking ‘pretty’ will at most get you a 5. 6’s are for people who refute, analyze, and offer some rationale for the side. I don’t set aside 6’s for specific people, if you do what you’re supposed to, then you’ll probably get it.

Noms/Ranks: Participation in chamber is pivotal, so getting good amount of speeches and barely standing up for a question will get you a High score from me, but you’d be in the bottom of my preferential ballot or you won’t be nommed. If you aren’t the first speech (I.e. sponsorship), then have a refutation (an actual one, not some superficial refutation where you just say “representative” and not really do anything), if I don’t here any then you didn’t do any part of the debate. Just because you said x,y,z names before your claim doesn’t mean you refuted. Presence in chamber is a good indication - this doesn’t mean being aggressive and loud, rather people who motion and people who ask a lot of questions are preferred higher.

Lastly, the “perfect speech” doesn’t exist so if you make your entire two-three hours about one specific speech on one specific side and then refuse to switch or prep other legislations, then the likelihood of getting a nom/rank is very unlikely.

If you have any questions, email me: raphaelportillo01@gmail.com

I am lazy and stupid. Please treat me as such. Tell me exactly where to flow, how to weigh, and why you won this round. I am a coach, but I am not a former debater. So if you would like to run ks, plans, theory or whatever, you can. However, you need to break it down to a fairly basic level, and they should be used to enhance the debate space, not to limit it. I'm fine with speed as long as you enunciate. If I am not getting what you are saying, I'll make a face like :/

I judge a lot, and I hear the same thing over and over so many times. If you have a non-stock case, I'd love to hear it. Run something weird!

Pet peeve: Making debate an exclusionary space in any way.

email chains to moiraquealy@gmail.com

Name: Moira Quealy

School Affiliation: Barrington High School

Were you previously affiliated with any other school? I student taught at Carl Sandburg in 2017, and I helped out the the PF team while I was there.

Number of years and/or tournaments judging the event you are registered in: I've judged LD since 2017. I tallied it up in Tabroom, and I think I have judged over 200 rounds of LD just at tournaments. I am a weary soul.

Have you judged in other debate events? Please describe if so. I have judged PF from time to time, but it is not my specialty.

Please share your opinions or beliefs about how the following play into a debate round:

Speed of delivery preference (slow, conversational, brisk conversational, etc.): I like a quicker pace if you can pull it off without sacrificing clarity. If you are spreading, I need an email chain. If you are at a local tournament, you should probably not be spreading. If you speak quickly as a strategy for confusing your opponent, you should definitely not have time left over in your speech.

How important is the value criterion in making your decision? Generally, I think it is my rubric for the debate. That being said, if your frameworks are similar, I don't feel the need to spend too much time going back and forth. Collapsing and focusing on who fulfills the general fw better is a very fair and time-conscious move.

Do you have any specific expectations for the format of the 2nd Affirmative Rebuttal and 2 Negative Rebuttal (i.e. line by line/ direct refutation and/or big picture?)I would say the 2NR should be pretty line-by-line. You have the time. I do not have the same expectation for the 2AR. Voting issues are essential, and I'd rather have those than a line-by-line.

Are voting issues necessary for your decision?I wouldn't count it as an automatic loss if you don't do voting issues (especially as a Novice), but oftentimes voters are where I end up making my decision. Not including them is a detriment to your ballot.

How critical are ”extensions” of arguments into later speeches. This is an essential part of debate. If you aren't doing this, I am not sure what the debate round would consist of.

Flowing/note-takingI flow on my laptop. I may jump to my phone during CX to check in on my team and make sure everyone's rounds are going okay, but I will still listen. If you are running a team case and I have judged your school before, I may just copy and paste the flow over, so don't worry if you don't see me typing during the constructive.

Do you value argument over style? Style over argument? Argument and style equally? Argument is reflected in your ballot, style is reflected in your speaks.

In order to win a debate round, does the debater need to win their framework or can they win using their opponent’s framework?You can win under your opponent's framework, but YOU need to make that connection for me.

How necessary do you feel the use of evidence (analytical and/or empirical) is in the round? This is an essential part of debate. If you aren't doing this, I am not sure what the debate round would consist of.

Any other relevant information (optional)?I will not flow new arguments in the 2NR or 2AR. It's a waste of your time and mine.

Speaks: I will disregard anything I cannot completely understand, so do no prioritize speed over clarity. Be respectful of your opponent. Uses of derogatory language or any 'attacks' on anything that doesn't have to do with their argument will not be tolerated. 

Signposting: Will almost always help me to keep track of your arguments and points 
Extensions: I will not consider extensions of cards, authors, or any sources, but I will consider extensions of arguments.
Timing: Do not depend on me to keep time for you. I will let you know when your time is up, but I expect that you will be able to time your own arguments.

Besides those things above, I tend to let the debaters utilize whatever techniques are at their disposal. I am open to theories, kritiks, disadvantages, and counter-plans etc. What you should know though, is that I almost always value legitimate evidence over pure theory or conjecture. I follow Tabula Rasa, so my choice is about the current argument being given rather than preconceived ideas regarding morality.

I do not tend to give any oral critiques. Any feedback will be given on the ballot.

I was a 3-year LD debater for Fremd HS and 2005 IHSA LD Varsity State Champion. I have been judging for over ten years now, almost exclusively LD but some PF.
Speed: Do not go faster than the rate at which you can clearly enunciate.
The framework debate is important to me. I want to know which V & VC I am looking at to weigh the round.
Give me reasons to believe your claims.
Tell me why it matters if your claims are true, usually tying directly to the framework(s) in the round.
Tell me why you won with good voting issues. If I agree, I'll just transfer those right over to the ballot.

Do Not: 1. Ask me my paradigm when it is on Tabroom.com 2. Take an inordinate amount of time between when you claim your prep time is over and when you start speaking - I don't need your 'off-time' roadmap.

For the email chain: ltoro38601@gmail.com

I started debate in high school and did four years of LD. I mainly read K stuff during those four years. I continued debating in college for two years, NFA LD, and two years of college policy.

You can read anything in front of me, but I judge critical arguments better because it is what I have the most experience with. But these last three years, I have been reading and going for a few policy arguments.

I debated for 4 years in high school, I have been judging LD/PF for 11 years and coaching LD/PF at Fenwick High School for 8 years. I will be evaluating each team based on their clarity, logical coherence, evidence, rebuttal, delivery, cross-examination, and respect. I will be looking for the team that presents the strongest argument overall, based on these criteria.

In general, I am open to nearly every argument; with a few exceptions/variations.

1. Theory - I am fine with it. I find some theory debates to be quite interesting, however I will not vote on frivolous theory, especially not on disclosure theory.

2. Kritiks - In general, I think they can be very educational arguments. However, I am not a fan of performance arguments. I just do not enjoy them. Plain and simple.

3. Plans/CPs/Disads - Even though I believe these often stunt an otherwise incredibly intellectual atmosphere, there are exceptions to this rule. If you can run a good plan, I can see myself voting on it. As for counterplans—no PICs. Please. I do not find that these make for a decent debate round.

4. Voters Issues - Please have them.

Speed is okay but I will say “clear” if I cannot understand you or if you are speaking too
fast; because if I can’t hear it, I can’t flow it. Be intelligible and make sure to signpost