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National Speech and Debate Tournament

2025 — Des Moines, IA/US

Charlie Synn Paradigm

Policy

Policy Debate Judge Philosophy

Your experience with Policy Debate (check all that apply)

Coach of a team

How many Policy rounds have you judged this year?

31-40

Which best describes your approach to judging Policy Debate?

Hypothesis tester

RATE OF DELIVERY

9/91 = slow and deliberate
9 = very rapid

QUANTITY OF ARGUMENTS

9/91 = a few well-developed arguments
9 = the more arguments the better

COMMUNICATION AND ISSUES

9/91 = communication skills most important
9 = resolving substantive issues most important

TOPICALITY: I am willing to vote on topicality:

3/91 = often
9 = rarely

COUNTERPLANS

1/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable

GENERIC DISADVANTAGES

1/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable

CONDITIONAL NEGATIVE POSITIONS

1/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable

DEBATE THEORY ARGUMENTS

1/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable

CRITIQUE (KRITIK) ARGUMENTS

1/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable

Additional remarks: I was a policy debater for 4 years at Spring Valley HS (SC) and 4 years at Harvard, 1979-1987. I have been coaching my kids for the past 6 years, the last three as the head coach at Canyon Crest Academy (CA). I'm an experienced Policy judge. I am open to all aspects of modern policy debate.

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