LD Paradigm

The No, No's

I am open to any argument that does not enter ethical repugnancy- ae Kill the Poor, Hitler was right, Racism doesn't exist.

Pronouns will be respected, blantant intolerance will unilaterally lose you the ballot. Someone's gender indentity is not up for debate period.

Do not authenticity test, the debate round is not a place to question someone's sexual, or racial identity.

If you lie about a piece of evidence, with malicous intent, YOu will get 0 speaks, and if egregious you will lose the round, and I could possibly talk to tab about disqualification.

Please do,

Test the boundaries. I am open to any argumentation, and implore debaters to not only challenge their own ideas, but the norms of debate, in its ideology and practice.

Include trigger warnings on anything talking about, or detailing sexual assault, or any other form of interpersonal violence.

Ask me to read a piece of evidence, if it comes into contention about its content.

Feel free to ask questions during my RFD, though remember you will not change the outcome of the debate.

Specific Debate Philosophy

I will vote on Counter plans (as long as they are mutually exclusive with the AFF), Kritiks, Performance affs/negs, and god forbid, even well debated and FULLY IMPACTED, RVI's. 

Value Debate-

I find that value debate often defaults to the generality that good things are good, so I don't often find much offense to vote Aff or Neg. But I could possibly if there is significant clash.

Criterion Debate- I am bit of a romantic when it comes to old school criterions, such as Locke Social Contract, or other distinct philosophies such as Taoism. I believe these forms of broad philosophical frameworks make LD unique, and offer interesting clash and education. I think with these forms of framework allow one to win the debate, with just the criterion debate, if you win that your framework is mutually exclusive with that of your opponents framework, and that your opponents case, or points clashes with that philosophical framework or starting point. And this applies to all forms of offensive framework, and I will follow that winning framework in how I evaluate impacts and there in, so if you win the framework that protecting rights comes before anything else, I will, in the realm of decency, follow you in that, and weigh points in the debate accordingly. I find this philosophy not necessarily inline with the current tropes and trends, as it seems, the trend is to have criterions that are a more strict measurement of contention success, such as "maximizing welfare", or "decreasing income inequality". I often find it hard to get distinct offense, because, hardly ever, is any opponent's framework strictly antithetical to these ideas. But don't you worry, you do you boo, I will go with whatever you want to do, and you can win with any criterion, just debate it well.

Contention- I Love Evidence, I Love Speed, I Flow. But mostly, I Love debaters doing what they are comfortable with, and debating arguments that they care about. I will judge any style. I am not opposed to reading evidence, and will do so if the legitimacy or the interpretation of evidence comes into question.

Cross Ex

1) Is binding

2) Direct and malicious lie=0 speaks, and maybe losing the round.

3) You don't always have to disagree with your opponents.

4) I don't flow cross ex, but I will hold you to your answers.

5) I put a lot of weight in cross ex when it comes to speaker points, and I just want to say that each debater should be respectful, but that doesn't mean be a pushover, just be willing to let the other talk, and if your opponent starts rambling, you can say thank you and move on, but let them attempt to answer.

6) The "yes or no" trick is kind of silly, most questions cant be answered strictly with a yes or no.

Final thoughts,

I think debate is a unique and wonderful opportunity for diversity in ideas, and beliefs. It represents a wonderful part of my life, and hope competitors use it to grow.

I will adopt the debaters' paradigms and hear just about any type of argument as long as analytics are given to explain. I won't intervene by providing my own links or analysis if debaters just read cards at me.

Likewise, give me a framework and tell me how to weigh the round. In LD, I want this to be explicitly stated, even if it is a progressive framework. I'm fine with a non-traditional framework. Just explain it to me. In PF, the framework may or may not be explicitly stated, but I should be able to easily extrapolate a standard.

It is imperative that debaters give voting issues and impact calculus linked back to the framework. If you don't, I'm stuck comparing argument to argument.

I am fine with both progressive debate or traditional debate. A bit of speed is fine, but I would prefer that it not rise to the rates in CX. Also, keep in mind that more isn't necessarily better. Be strategic. Introduce what you think you can reasonably handle. I'm fine with debaters kicking out of arguments. Funnel arguments down to what is really important and viable in the round.

I have been judging regularly for about 15 years; and I am in my seventh year coaching Harding Charter Prep HS in Oklahoma City. I love every single event offered for competition. They are all valid. Memes hating on particular events are lame. Follow @hcpspeechdebate on Instagram and Twitter.

LD/PFD: I prefer quality of information and sources as well as clarity and presence of speakers over speed and quantity of information and sources. The more you can tell me about the qualifications of a source, the better I can weigh them. If you give a simple (Last Name/Year) tag, you can assume I know nothing about the author. I like to see your personality as a debater and jokes/lighthearted moments are welcome as long as they are within the scope of the topic. I dislike plans and policy-style approaches to Lincoln-Douglas debate; if you want to do Policy, there's a debate for that. I believe that the heart of Public Forum debate is that it should assume any judge is a lay judge and is more informal and free of debate jargon. Limit pre-case observations and don't place impossible burdens on your opponent. Be civil and professional during cross-examination or your speaker points are toast. Use cross-examination time to ask questions, not make another speech. Use your speech time and prep time! Your constructive speeches should be as close to memorized as possible. I want to see you speaking/debating, not just reading. Cases on paper vs on a laptop gain an automatic advantage. Have fun!

Big Questions: Please, please, please read the Format Manual. Then read it again. Use the Format Manual as evidence in round if you need to. Please let this thing have a chance to become its own thing before we drown it in the other debate sauces.

Policy: If I am judging round round, I apologize in advance. Something has gone awry at this tournament and I am a kind-hearted person with a semi-functioning brain that has been put in to prevent the round starting hours late. We'll make it through this together. I'm probably not gonna disclose unless tab forces me to.

Congress: Don't read word-for-word pre-written speeches. You should have an outline. Pay attention to the whole of the round, not just sitting there prepping for when you are going to talk. Keep questions concise.

World Schools: Requests for POIs should rise/raise as often as needed but don't be a pest about it. You are at the discretion of the speaker. Avoid debate jargon. Rely on reason and logic. Appeal persuasively. Prop arguments should do their best to prove the resolution beyond a shadow of a doubt. Opposition arguments should be about broad rejection of the resolution, not just finding an outlier to say that one example is representative of all.

Final Thoughts: This activity is for education. Winning and excellence should always be celebrated, but not the only goal. Remember that Words Matter and Words have Power. Respect the purpose of the Pronouns and name pronunciation options in Tabroom. The NSDA has worked hard to be inclusive. Don't abuse that. #NotGarbagePeople

I am Lexie Fredrickson, and I am the assistant debate coach for Crossings Christian School. I debated for Crossings in high school for my junior and senior year and when I graduated I debated at UCO for a year. This is my fourth year coaching at Crossings. As a debater I ran all types of arguments, including Kritiks, Counter Plans, Topical Affs, Judo affs, Topicality, etc. and I am open to hearing all types of arguments. I am tabula rasa meaning if you define the rules of the round and your opponent doesn't challenge it your definitions will frame the round. I will listen to and vote on Ks but I place a higher burden of proof on alt solvency than most other judges I have seen. I am fine with speed, open cx, and I don't care if you keep time on your phone. If you have any specific questions, please don't hesitate to ask them before the round.

I am open to most any type of argumentation. I love kritiks, theory shells, topicalities, and all things squirrelly. That said, I believe spreading is an unethical practice and if I can't understand you enough to flow, you didn't say it. I have voted on probably 80% of speed Ks I have heard.

I was an LD debater from 2012 to 2015, PF 2015 to 2016. Rule number 1 is to be respectful to everyone.

LD: I ran LD as a traditionalist of sorts. That said, I need to see both sides engage the resolution and incorporate framework. Impact, impact, impact: tell me how your arguments matter, and why that leads to you winning the round. Voters are an essential part of a good last speech. Tell me explicitly why I should vote for you; do not leave it up to me.

PF: My role as a PF judge as that of the American juror (so sayeth the NSDA Manual). With that in mind, I see my role as that of someone with little formal debate experience. Make arguments that make sense to a lay judge. This does not mean dumb things down, but it might mean I see some things as intrinsically good. Take your time to spell out your impacts and how they differ from your opponents. Keep your evidence available and ready for your opponents, be kind to one another in crossfire, and remember to stay on point.

CX: I didn't do it as a student, but I've taken a liking to it as a judge. I can handle speed, just make sure to signpost clearly. Impacts will be weighed based on what you tell me in the round. No inherent pref for on-case vs off-case unless you frame one for me. I have a decent grasp on the concepts of T, K, DA and the rest, but maybe not by their names. That doesn't mean don't run it - if it's a good argument it will be weighed as such - but it does mean you might want to take a second to tell me why it matters in more casual terms. Basically, impact. Be respectful of everyones time in the round and we shouldn't have a problem. I'll only disclose if everyone on each team wants me to.

Speaker Points: In all categories these are awarded or deducted based on (in order):

1) Respect for your opponent(s), respect for your judge(s) and respect for your partner(s). This includes things like using appropriate pronouns, using prep time properly and honestly, and generally ensuring the debate space is an inclusive one. The fastest way to lose speaker points from me is to be rude.

2) Quality of diction and presentation, with special consideration to the speeches that follow the case presentation

3) Quality of speech structure (making effective use of your time in your speeches)

4) Verbal prompting, while sometimes helpful, is discouraged by the NSDA manual. I'll subtract speaker points starting with the second instance of prompting.

I reserve the right to deduct or award speaker points for incidental things that may come up in the round, and I'll try to provide feedback on the ballot in these cases.

Hi! My name is Robert (Trey) Morris, and I did a lot of traditional Lincoln Douglas throughout my 4 years in high school. I have some experience with progressive LD, not as much as much as most circuit judges that you will run into, but as long as you articulate and explain your argument well enough, I should be able to understand it. I am somewhat conflicted with spreading in LD, so I am a bit susceptible to arguments against it in general but if both debaters are fine with it then feel free to go all out. I will say clear 2 times before i stop flowing you all together. I usually am pretty kind when it comes to speaker points, as long as a debater does not say something racist, homophobic, transphobic, or sexist. I do not want to see any attempts to exclude your opponent from the debate space. As far as traditional LD goes, I think that framework by itself is unimportant, the only time framework matters, is if it is coupled with impacts and is contradictory to what your opponent is arguing on framework. It is just a weighing mechanism, so if both debaters have similar framework just state that you will argue it on the contention and impact level on that part of the flow. Also values are usually pretty dumb, I definitely will not vote off of a value, only the standard (criterion). I do not want to intervene in the debate (in most circumstances), so weighing is pretty critical. I will listen to T or Theory of pretty much any kind and will vote on it as necessary. I will not listen to PIC's. Don't do it. PIC's are dumb. I will not vote on a PIC. If there are any more questions feel free to ask me before the round.

If I had to choose between framework and case, I choose framework.

Otherwise, do your best! I recognize effort. :)

I would like to be on the email chain: dsavill@snu.edu

Director of Debate for Southern Nazarene University since 2021 and former coach of Crossings Christian School from 2011 to 2023.

Things you need to know for prefs:

Kritiks: Very familiar with kritiks and non-topical affs. I like kritiks and K affs and can vote for them.

Policy: I am familiar with policy debates and can judge those. My squad is designed to be flex so I am good with either.

Speed: I can handle any kind of speed as long as you are clear.

Theory/FW/T: I am not a fan of FW-only debates so if you are neg and hit a non-topical aff I will entertain FW but that shouldn't be your only off-case. Contesting theory of power is a good strat for me.

Performance/non-traditional debate: Despite what some would think coming from a Christian school, I actually like these kinds of debates and have voted up many teams.

I try to be a tab judge but I know I tend to vote on more technical prowess. I believe debate should be a fun and respectful activity and I try to have a good time judging the round. I think debaters are among the smartest students in the nation and I always find it a privilege to judge a round and give feedback.

Hello! My name is Ian Stone, and I did a mix of traditional Lincoln Douglas and Public Forum throughout my 4 years in high school. I am currently a debater on the OU Parli team. I am down for pretty much all types of argumentation. I think Oklahoma LD is often far too restrictive on the types of arguments debaters are supposed to run. Definitely feel free to spread, run a k, run theory, run weird link chains or do whatever you want in front of me. I will attempt to be as tab as possible. I enjoy funky arguments that either make me laugh or learn about something new. I will give you better speaker points if you run something I haven't heard before or if you do something unique and interesting in round. If I can't understand you I will clear you, but I am usually cool with most speed. I am pretty kind when it comes to speaker points most rounds, as long as a debater does not say something racist, homophobic, transphobic, or sexist. If you do, I'll dock your speaks and talk to your coach. Also, just be comfortable in the round. You don't have to ask me to use your phone as a timer or anything like that, just you do you. Also, I think it's dumb/prohibitory to dress up for debate, but that's a different subject. Don't worry if you don't have a tie in front of me or anything like that lol. Also, I definitely do not want to shake your hand after the round. I've touched enough clammy debate hands from my time as a competitor.

As far as traditional LD goes, I think that framework by itself is unimportant. The only time framework matters is if it is coupled with impacts. It is just a weighing mechanism, but people in traditional LD sometimes do not grasp that. It is not a voter in and of itself. Tell me how evaluating the round through your lens (the criterion) affects the big picture of the round. Also, values are usually pretty dumb, I definitely will not vote off of a value. Like, don't even read one in front of me probably? Kind of a waste of time to talk about IMO. Also, I do not want to intervene in the debate, so weighing is pretty critical. If there are any more questions feel free to ask me before the round! I disclose every round so stick around if you want me to tell you how I voted. More people in Oklahoma need to disclose because it makes tournaments way less stressful and better for competitors! Please be nice in round. In high school, I absolutely hated it when people were just obnoxious in round. I still hate it in college. Lets all just hang out, have a good discussion, and have fun. If you're mean to your opponent or talk over them a bunch in CX your speaks will definitely be affected. Also, if you're being mansplain-y or weird I'm going to dock your speaks.

For email chains, questions, or extended criticism: ianestone99@gmail.com