National Speech and Debate Tournament
2025 — Des Moines, IA/US
Hunter Sexton Paradigm
Lincoln-Douglas
Lincoln Douglas Debate Judge Philosophy
Your experience with LD Debate (check all that apply)
Current LD coachFormer LD competitor
Experienced LD judge
Former Policy debater
Current Public Forum coach or judge
Speech coach
How many years have you judged LD debate?
2How many LD rounds have you judged this year?
21-30What is your preferred rate of delivery?
7/91 = Slow conversational style9 = Rapid conversation speed
Does the rate of delivery weigh heavily in your decision?
NWill you vote against a student solely for exceeding your preferred speed?
NHow important is the criterion in making your decision?
It is a major factor in my evaluationDo you feel that a value and criterion are required elements of a case?
NRebuttals and Crystallization
Voting issues should be given:
Either is acceptableThe use of jargon or technical language ("extend", "cross-apply", "turn", etc.) during rebuttals:
Should be kept to a minimumFinal rebuttals should include:
Voting issuesVoting issues are:
Absolutely necessaryHow do you decide the winner of the round?
I decide who is the person who persuaded me more of their positionHow necessary do you feel the use of evidence (both analytical and empirical) is in the round?
8/91 = Not necessary9 = Always necessary
Please describe your personal note-taking during the round
I keep a rigorous flowEncourage - Delivery of a well-reasoned constructive, cross-examination that ties directly to rebuttal argumentation, evidence-based reasoning, evidence that blocks/turns opponent's contentions.
Discourage - Sitting while presenting. Disorganized and/or contradictory argumentation. Off-the-clock road-mapping or argumentation of any kind. Reductive or circular analytical analysis. Argumentation that is akin to "my value is required by the opponent's value so I automatically win."
Automatic point losses: Disrupting an opponent during their prep time. Misuse of technical rules (example: quoting an NSDA rule at a CFL event). Going well-over the allotted speech time after being signaled to cease the speech.
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