National Speech and Debate Tournament
2022 — Louisville, KY/US
John Holen Paradigm
Policy
Policy Debate Judge Philosophy
Your experience with Policy Debate (check all that apply)
Coach of a teamPolicy debater in high school
Frequently judge Policy Debate
How many Policy rounds have you judged this year?
21-30Which best describes your approach to judging Policy Debate?
Games-playingRATE OF DELIVERY
8/91 = slow and deliberate9 = very rapid
QUANTITY OF ARGUMENTS
5/91 = a few well-developed arguments9 = the more arguments the better
COMMUNICATION AND ISSUES
9/91 = communication skills most important9 = resolving substantive issues most important
TOPICALITY: I am willing to vote on topicality:
2/91 = often9 = rarely
COUNTERPLANS
5/91 = acceptable9 = unacceptable
GENERIC DISADVANTAGES
4/91 = acceptable9 = unacceptable
CONDITIONAL NEGATIVE POSITIONS
3/91 = acceptable9 = unacceptable
DEBATE THEORY ARGUMENTS
2/91 = acceptable9 = unacceptable
CRITIQUE (KRITIK) ARGUMENTS
1/91 = acceptable9 = unacceptable
My full paradigm is on Tabroom and includes a detailed overview for each argument type, I would encourage you to read that. In short, you do you and if you do it well, you'll likely get my ballot. Run whatever you want as long as it isn't offensive (examples of offensive arguments: 'racism does not exist' or 'sexism good' or 'ableism inevitable'), just make sure you can justify whatever you are doing because I am open to debates about debate (ie theory, framework, and topicality). I enjoy creativity and a well-organized flow.
I am a coach of a team that competes on the national circuit. We typically run either critical (of both the PoMo and identity flavors) or middle ground strategies (ie critical twists on stock arguments), but I am familiar with traditional, policy-making strats from novice coaching. I also competed in NFA LD and NPDA/NPTE parli, so I have familiarity with running trad args as well.
Note: if you wish for your pronouns to appear the debaters you judge on text/email blasts, log into Tabroom, click Profile at top, and add them in the Pronouns field.