National Speech and Debate Tournament

2024 — Des Moines, IA/US

Laura Livingston Paradigm

Policy
Policy Debate Judge Philosophy

Your experience with Policy Debate (check all that apply)

Coach of a team
NDT/CEDA debater in college
Policy debater in high school
Frequently judge Policy Debate

How many Policy rounds have you judged this year?

0-10

Which best describes your approach to judging Policy Debate?

Policymaker
 

RATE OF DELIVERY

5/91 = slow and deliberate
9 = very rapid
 

QUANTITY OF ARGUMENTS

6/91 = a few well-developed arguments
9 = the more arguments the better
 

COMMUNICATION AND ISSUES

6/91 = communication skills most important
9 = resolving substantive issues most important
 

TOPICALITY: I am willing to vote on topicality:

1/91 = often
9 = rarely
 

COUNTERPLANS

1/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

GENERIC DISADVANTAGES

8/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

CONDITIONAL NEGATIVE POSITIONS

5/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

DEBATE THEORY ARGUMENTS

7/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
 

CRITIQUE (KRITIK) ARGUMENTS

6/91 = acceptable
9 = unacceptable
Additional remarks: Please see my paradigm. I will listen to almost any argument and vote on the winning arguments. I am more interested in arguments about the topic than I am in arguments about the theory of debate. Stock issues are very important to me. If you speed past me and depend on me to flow from the case or args you've emailed me, I will be less effective as a judge. Debate is about persuasion - persuade me! Also, no args like, "they didn't disclose their case!" Debate is supposed to encourage your ability to think on your feet and if you can't handle this, then stop debating.

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.