I am a flay judge with a little over 10 years experience judging and coaching. I didn't do debate in high school or college, but I have really enjoyed it on the judging side, and I have learned a great deal. Having said that:

1. I prefer arguments to technicalities. Debates about debate are not great.

2. If you are participating in an evidence-based event, do give evidence, and be clear and specific when you cite it.

3. Clash with the opposing arguments; more often than not I end up deciding which arguments I PREFER, rather than which ones I believe.

4. Signpost as you go. It helps me keep my flow organized.

5. Keep your impacts at the forefront.

6. Give me voters and weigh.

7. Ask questions during CX, and engage with your opponents, don't just give more speeches.

Good luck, and have fun.

The Guide to Public Forum Debate stresses remarkably that speakers must appeal to the widest possible audience through sound reasoning, succinct organization, credible evidence, and clear delivery. I really resonate to this statement thus have my preferences below.

Normal speed: Please don't speak too fast. If you believe you have to speak fast or you cannot complete your messages in time, you need to cut your contents to make your messages concise.

Straightforward：Please express yourself in natural way to be understood.

Clear structure: Please integrate all of your points and keep them consistent through the entire session.

Have a fun!

( I am a lay judge.)

Hey! I'm a very lay judge. My daughter is writing this paradigm :) I am only familiar with public forum and the public forum debate format and times, so please forgive me if I am in a non-PF event and don't know the times.

Please speak slowly and clearly! If you spread, I will not understand a word you say.

I am not great at flowing, so do not expect me to remember everything that happens on the flow.

Explain your arguments and weigh your impacts! If I do not understand your link chain, it will be difficult for me to vote for you.

Don't use debate jargon. I know some debate terms, but I probably will not remember them, so your best bet is just to explain something instead of dropping debate words.