I'm a parent judge. And I judge on the construction and quality of arguments backed by solid evidence. I like to see the contestants engage with arguments from the other side and use different modes of persuasion to land their point of view.

I have been judging LD debates for over four years, with occasional experience in Parli and PF formats. I prioritize clarity, substance, and respect in rounds. If any technical terms are used, please provide clear definitions. I value substantive contentions and points over intimidation or mockery. I flow during the round to track the arguments.

While I remain open-minded and impartial, I expect debaters to uphold the principles of sportsmanship and respect throughout the round. Mockery and intimidation have no place in constructive debate.

Impact calculus is highly appreciated as it helps in evaluating the significance of arguments.

Please include me (karthikakrishnna@gmail.com) in any email chains for reference. Best of luck to all debaters!"

If you need any further adjustments or clarifications, feel free to let me know!

I am a parent judge.

If I don't understand the words, I will not be able to judge your claim.

Emphasize your important points. For example, before getting into a contention, say something like " My 2nd contention is....". Pausing at appropriate places to make sure I've absorbed the gist of what you're sharing would get you extra credit for effective communication.

Use your knowledge and reasoning skills.

I do NOT prefer spreading. Speak with clarity and at a normal cadence/speed.

I will listen with an open mind and I will not impose my personal beliefs, and/or knowledge about the debate topic.

Good luck

This is my second time judging a S&B tournament.

I value the following, ordered from most important to least important:

• Being able to clearly portray a focused POV with little to no jargon. If I can't reasonably understand your point, then I won't use it.
• Responding convincingly to your opponents challenges. This shows foundational strength in your argument.
• Use of logical arguments and limiting spreading.

Above all, being respectful and having a positive competitive attitude.

I would like to see the speakers connect to the judge/audience instead of just reading it out from their work. I would like to see Clarity of arguments in general. I also look for evidence based arguments and really like it to be unique.

Following are some of the criteria that I generally use:

Is the speaker articulate and easy to understand?

Are the arguments clear and easy to follow?

Does the speaker provide unique perspectives or solutions?

How effectively does the debater refute opposing arguments?

Are the arguments compelling and do they frame the speech/debate effectively?

Does the speaker adhere to time limits?

Does the speaker display confidence without being arrogant?

I am a parent judge and have been judging since September 2019. I have primarily judged LD but in the last 2 years I have judged PF, Parli Policy and Congress too. I do flow and take copious notes. I am not comfortable with spreading, so please speak at moderate speed so that I can understand your arguments. Please make sure you are polite to your opponent. Please provide sufficient evidence to substantiate your contentions and be able to provide evidence when asked by your opponent. Do not introduce new evidence in your final speeches or lie that arguments were dropped when they weren't. It will definitely count against you as I do flow. Overall enjoy the debate and have fun!

I am a parent judge; I'll take notes but won't be flowing, so be extra careful about signposting since that's the only way I can keep track of arguments.

I am a lay parent judge.

Please speak slowly and enunciate your words.

I am a parent judge.

I'm a lay parent judge but some things I value are:
1. A deep body of knowledge

2. Not cheating

3. Clear speaking and signposting

I am an experienced parent judge. Please speak slowly and explain your arguments. I will decide based on the arguments' quality and how well you articulate it.

Hi, my name is Sreenivasulu Kankanala.

I am a flow parent judge, so please avoid spreading and make sure you weigh a lot in your final speeches. Please add me to the email chain.

Email: skankan@gmail.com

In my judging, I prioritize three things.

1. Speaking Clearly. Make sure you speak clearly and slow down for taglines so I understand your case. If you want to go a little faster, make sure you send your cases and speech documents to my email.
2. Arguments. Have well fleshed out arguments where you explain the warrants and have a logical link chain.
3. Final speeches. Always weigh. Ensure that you always talk about what argument your are going to refute in your rebuttals. Move cleanly from 1 contention to another and try not to jump around on the flow. Do not bring up new arguments in your final speech.

Debate is supposed to be a safe space. Don't bully anybody. Have fun debating!

I am a parent judge and have judged LD for the 2 years and PF for 2 years. I have recently started to judge Speech events too.

Speech and decorum: Effectively communicate your position. Keep to the topic and please do not spread since the it’s hard to follow. The use of evidence and logic to support your contentions is important. Please track your time as my attention is on the content.

Argument preference: I prefer debaters present their arguments and explain how it is superior. An argument must have a claim and support data with the source and full citation available if requested. I considered both the probability and the magnitude of the arguments.

In the end the person that effectively supports their initial position and also offers competent clash with the opponents arguments will likely win.

I have 26 years experience as a litigator, including appeals. Before that, I did mock trial and moot court in law school. College debate-wise, I have 1 semester NDT/policy and 3 & 1/2 years of CEDA team & LD (with judges Steve Clemmons and Michael ("Mike") Giove). I can take a brisk flow. That does not mean gutspread. It is not my job to keep up with you especially if you overrate your ability to be understood. I like clash. I like counterintuitive positions. And I really like debaters who, lacking extensive backfiles, rely on their ability to find and analyze their opponents' weaknesses. Bear in mind that all those super-credentialed sources you have aren't putting your case together for you. And just because you have a card doesn't mean you have successfully advocated your position. Presumption exists. Participate in cross-x in good faith or risk regretting not doing so. I will not reject any position out of hand (I am not a political judger) but I am not a fan of contrived procedural positions. A dropped argument in rebuttals is not, per se, fatal. If I'm not buying it or you haven't sold it, then dropping it doesn't matter. Weigh stuff out and advocate for your position. Years ago I judged a tournament at Bellarmine. The final round to determine who went to state (or whatever they called it) came down to doom being inevitable. Neg was fast, polished, and sophisticated but the not fast, not polished, and not sophisticated aff solved tuberculosis along the way. Doom w/TB cure > Doom w/o TB cure.

I am a parent judge. I listen to the arguments and only judge based on the arguments presented.

I appreciate good sign posting, as it's a proxy for a clearly thought-out argument. I'd like to be able to walk away and remember the 2 or 3 major points on which you constructed your argument. In your final round, I'd appreciate a clear statement of why you should win.

I appreciate off-time roadmaps.

Please try to avoid debate jargon and technical debating...I am a humble parent judge. Here's what I know about:

Circuit: V=IR

Spreading: jam on toast!

K: Atomic number 19, atomic mass 39.098

Shell: oil company

I will do my best to give substantive, constructive feedback to help you in your future rounds.

Have fun!

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A few tips for Novice debaters debating before parent judges:

1. State your contentions as full sentences with a subject and a predicate, not just a subject. Instead of saying "Veto power," state a full sentence that tells the judge what to think about Veto power. Think of it as a thesis sentence where you give an overview of the contention. This will help parent judges keep track of your arguments. For example, "Permanent membership on the UN SC preserves veto power which leads to atrocities and nuclear war." Or, even just "Veto power leads to atrocities and nuclear war." Seriously, sometimes parent judges lose track of which side is aff and which side is neg! Help us out by being crystal clear when you state your contention, so we know what you want us to think / believe.
2. Try to avoid using abbreviations unless you first explain them. The parent judge might not be familiar with the topic, and won't be able to follow your arguments as well. For example: P5, SC
3. When reading from cards, some debaters just read whatever they have bolded or highlighted on the card, stringing together highlighted phrases. However, those phrases, strung together, often don't flow out as coherent sentences. This makes it very hard for parent judges to follow the argument. If you're reading highlighted sections from cards, make sure you add in any verbs or nouns or prepositions that are needed to make the phrases flow together smoothly as coherent sentences.
4. Speak more slowly than you might speak before experienced judges :)

I am an experienced parent judge (lay style, not circuit style).

I started judging in Jan 2022. Please minimize excessive spreading.

I like well-constructed, linear arguments that bear directly on the debate topic.

I do not generally comprehend "meta-rhetoric" (that is, arguments about the merits or validity of the debate question itself).

My email address for sending evidence and cases is joe_lee@yahoo.com

I am a "lay" judge. Please speak clearly, avoid speed, explain thoroughly and do not make assumptions about my knowledge of the topic. I prefer well articulated argumentation. Please don't be too tech-y with me, I don't know what Ks or T or phil are.

My philosophy and decisions regarding Debate judging is based on the following...

1. Do the debaters have a good strong point of contention to the side they are speaking about.
2. Do they provide references to the information given or quoted.
3. Do they have statistical data that backs up their claim.
4. Does their cross examination challenge the point of contention.
5. Are the debaters speaking clearly, concisely and understandable.
6. Is there some eye to eye contact with the opponent and the judge.
7. Does their final speech capture all the points and rebuttals discussed.

I am a first year parent judge. I did Oxford debate in high school. I would prefer moderately paced taking and no spreading. I will not be able to keep up with you if you start spreading. Since I am a first year judge, I will need you to clearly spell out your arguments, rebutals, and points during the round. Make sure you tell me why you or your team should win the round and why your arguments outweigh your opponents'. Thank you and good luck on your rounds!

I'm a parent judge. My idea of a good debate is a healthy exchange of ideas presented professionally. Your arguments must not be argumentative; you win by the soundness--not loudness--of your argument. I do not penalize (or reward) debaters merely on technicalities. I enjoy listening to debaters who display a mastery of the topic and make their case with conviction. I can handle speed; you do not have to slow down for me.

I am new to judging.

I am a parent judge who has judged LD primarily for the past 2 years. I struggle with extreme circuit style speakers, so kindly slow down a little bit for me if you are a circuit style debater.

Objective and reasonable having moderate experience judging and being a parent for Saint Francis High School. I welcome fair, considerate, and rational arguments which are not needlessly biased, discriminatory, rascist, or sexist. It is crucial that debaters demonstrate polite and respectful behavior to all during the entire debate process.

Do not expect me to act as a gatekeeper during the debate process and debaters are reminded to be articulate, be mindful of process and time constraints, and speak at a reasonable flow rate. Policy and factual arguments are preferred - particularly when mixed appropriately with creativity to yield a point. Please be mindful that I have a wide breadth of background and knowledge but often minimal depth relative to specific positions.

Thank you and I look forward to consider your presentation and debate!

Hi,

I am a parent judge. I have some experience with judging LD

Please be respectful, stick to the facts, manage your time, and speak clearly.

Fewer well developed points is my preference

I am a lay judge. Adapt your argumentation as such. If you use any debate jargon, please clearly define it. I take notes while you debate, but please speak slowly and clearly (no spreading please!). I evaluate the debate based the quality of your arguments and responses, and in a case of a close debate, your speaking skills.

I am a parent judge with >7 years of judging experience in LD, PF, Parli and Policy debates as well as individual events. As a typical lay judge, my primary emphasis lies in evaluating the logical coherence of arguments, which should be well-supported by solid evidence. I flow and prefer clear speaking with no spreading. Additionally, I believe in the significance of maintaining respect towards opponents throughout the round.

Welcome to the competition! Debates and speeches are exceptional events and a fun way for students to engage discussing social, economic, and a wide range of topics.

I have been judging both speech and debate in the current stint for 3 years with 4 years of prior judging experience. I am a parent judge. I am a former competitor as well.

Please follow your methodology relevant to your event and respect your fellow competitors. All the best!

From San Jose CA. My son is active in debate and I've judged speech and debate competitions for ~6 years.

Speed- I prefer elucidation and clarity to speed.

I like fewer more well developed points versus lots of varied but weaker arguments.

I dislike rude behavior, verbal or through gestures.

I really enjoy the creativity that teams bring to their debate topics and the diligence they bring to the preparation.

To begin with, I am a relatively new judge and value clear, concise arguments which leave no doubt about stance. What I look for is polite, respectful debaters who present their arguments in an easily understandable way. It is important to me that speeches are delivered at a moderate pace. I try not be biased and am open to unique and creative solutions.

Be polite and most importantly, have fun.

I am a parent judge. I prefer to give a written comment instead verbal comment at the end of the debate.

I'm a parent judge looking for clear, articulate reasoning and evidence to back up rationale.

Don't assume I can draw the conclusion you want me to draw. Lead me to the cause and effect through explanation, data, reason or sound judgement.

If you are referencing events in history, or specific data points, please explain the source and the event briefly so it is clear why the example or reference is appropriate.

Normal speed, especially when there is dense content or facts.

I tend to side with data/facts, but am open to believable hypotheses.

Show me you're prepared, comfortable with the content, and poised in delivery and structure of the material. Don't read off scripts or pre-prepared agendas. React to your opponent's arguments and points.

Most importantly, show me you're passionate about the topic and you're having fun!

Dear Participants,

Welcome to the debate round. I am looking forward to knowing your thoughts by conscientiously listening to your viewpoints on the topic under discussion. I have a fair experience in judging debate rounds and am a parent judge as well.

Please, try to talk at a voice level respecting the audience and allotted time. Also, stay relaxed and calm which will help you be more productive in the rounds. I am confident you will do your best.

Good Luck,

Taruna

I am a parent judge who has been judging for a couple of years but have a long history of participating and winning speech and debate tournaments.

I value calm cogent coherent arguments over bombastic and aggressive harangue.

Be kind - to yourself and to your opponents.

Be yourself. 

Be the best person you can be.

Be respectful.

Ad hominem arguments are an immediate fail in my book.

I take a dim view of spreading; if I can't understand you, evidently you can't convince me of the soundness of your arguments.

If you are not clear or understandable, I'll call out "Clear!" Please heed it.  I will not be repeating the call more than twice. 

Time: I expect the candidates to time themselves and honor it. But I do keep watch.

If you are using frameworks, define them clearly at the outset.

I appreciate good rebuttals and cross examinations.

Good luck, and most importantly, have fun.

I am a parent judge. I expect you to demonstrate your knowledge and depth of the content as well as the ability to make a confident argument towards your stance.

I cannot judge what I cannot understand so clear and logical communication is key.

Also, keep track of your own and other team's speech/prep times.

Basically just be nice and enjoy your passion towards debate.

Hello, I am a second-year LD/Policy judge. Please be respectful and courteous to your fellow participants. Keep track of time. Be confident, clear, and consistent with your arguments throughout the debate. And have fun!

All the best.

email: verma_classes@outlook.com

Parent lay judge with not much experience judging circuit debates. 

Please be clear in your speeches for me to follow you and flow. Also, please provide docs.

Above all, be kind.

I have been a judging PF from 2018 onwards. I have judged varied tournaments from Novice to Varsity levels.

Present your story clearly.  My preference will be clarity over ambiguity.

I don't mind if you speak fast.

I also weigh based on maturity of the thought, clear communication and metrics relating to your argument

Hello

This is my time judging and I will try my best to keep up.

Please be respectful to each other. You can talk fast and clearly but do not spread (remember: if your opponents can’t hear your arguments, I can’t hear your arguments)

Refrain from using biased information, I will judge based on how well your data is applicable to the impact and how respectful you are to each others arguments.

I’m a parent judge, I’ve judged a couple tournaments. Please speak at measured speed. I have a wide array of topic knowledge.

I am not comfortable with spreading, so please speak at a moderate pace and be clear. I cannot judge what I cannot understand. Demonstrate your knowledge of the topic. Please do not just throw statistics out, explain how they matter. That being said, do also ensure you have evidence based arguments. Have structured speeches. Warrant and weight your arguments.

Keep track of your own timings. Enjoy the round!!

I’m a new parent judge, first year, please be on normal conversational pace.

I will vote on clarity, logical arguments and understandable explaining.

Help my decision by emphasizing your key arguments and applying comparative weighting in your summary.

Enjoy debating!

I am a parent judge. Please speak clearly and slowly.

I appreciate your being respectful and courteous to your opponents.

Good luck!