University of Georgia HS Bulldog Debates
2016 — GA/US
NCX Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideGenerally speaking, I am a policymaking judge. Give me a pragmatic (which is not to say one should exclude creativity) plan that solves real harms in the status quo if you want me to vote for your affirmative. On negative, show me that the there aren't significant harms attendant to the status quo or that the plan carries disadvantages that make it not worth implementing. I'm willing to entertain kritiks or topicality arguments if they have legs to them, but don't appreciate it when they are run simply for the sake of running an additional argument.
Run arguments that you understand. By that I mean, you should be able to answer questions extemporaneously in CX or provide analysis of your argument in rebuttals. Telling me to extend a card means nothing if you can't explain why it matters.
Signpost and speak clearly. I participated in and coached debate so I know how to flow at reasonable speeds but I believe firmly that debate ought to be a communication activity and spreading is counterproductive to that end.
I will do my best to evaluate the debate as fairly as possible despite any of my biases. Debate is a persuasive game and read the arguments that you feel most comfortable reading.
Have fun, enjoy the debate, and respect one another! Respect people’s pronouns
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at katiecarithers@gmail.com
Policy:
Debated policy for 4 years in high school as a 2N and 1 year in college as a 2A
Impact calc is extremely important and often under-utilized—it can decide which team wins or loses a debate.
Topicality: I think really any aff can lose to a t violation if argued well and not utterly ridiculous. Debaters should explain their impacts beyond nebulous ideas like “fairness” and “education” and clearly identify and articulate offense. What the topic would look like under each interpretation should be explained including affs allowed and affs excluded.
Topicality vs. Plan-less Affs: I think fairness arguments are persuasive, especially reasons why fairness should precede education or is a pre-requisite to advocacy/engagement/critical thinking skills. I also coach students who read plan-less or advocacy-based affirmatives and think the neg probably needs to win that a state heuristic is a good model of debate.
Ks: I have gone for Ks and am familiar with general K literature. Leverage your links and make the K as specific to the aff as possible. Explain the alt and why it solves for its impacts and why it solves for or accesses the impacts of the aff.
The aff impacts are powerful tool to leverage vs the K, especially when most alts are nebulous or unexplained
K tricks should always still be answered in the 2AR even if the 1AR drops them with an explanation that they were not articulated in that same argumentative form in the block as in the 2NC – example: “fiat is illusory” said in the 2NC and then blown up in the 2NR.
Theory: Well-debated theory debates can be great – I ran a lot of Process/Agent CPs my senior year.
LD:
I taught at the San Jose Debate Institute this past summer and have judged upwards of 40 LD debates. I have also been coaching LD for the past year.
Tricks: I am less familiar with this style of debate
Theory: I am probably less lenient on theory violations without well-explained and rigorously defendable arguments of reasons to reject the team
Debate
I'm pretty open minded to all argumets as long as they make sense and relate to the topic. I prefer policy affs just because I have more experience with them. Tag teaming in CX is discouraged and I will dock speaks from the person who is supposed to be answering the questions, but if you don't care then by all means. Go as fast as you want as long as I can understand your tags and authors. If you don't signpost and you make it difficult for me to follow where you're going, I will give you no more than 27 speaker points. I do this for the betterment of your debating skills and for my own sanity. No judge likes having to scramble for another flow when they realize that you've changed. Anything that goes unanswered, I will consider to be true. I don't care if they say that dogs solve for global warming. If you don't answer it, I will weigh it. Finally, if you take longer than 90 seconds to flash, I'll start taking additional time out of your remaining prep.
As A Person
Don't be rude, especially not to your partner. This means don't cut them off frequently in CX and don't shake your head in dismay when they do something wrong. In most rounds, it's pretty obvious who has the most experience, so if I notice that person being too hard on his/her partner, I've been known to dock speaker points. Also, have fun and by all means crack a few jokes. We're all here for fun after after all.
TL;DR:
Coached at The Galloway School (2013-2021); Limitedly debated for Emory (2004-2008)
She/Her
Please add me to the email chain: cdespathy@gallowayschool.org
Slow down a bit, do lots of signposting, write my ballot with explicit impact calc.
Debate has brought a lot of joy to my life and I love the intellectual playground it creates. Please be respectful of debate and of debaters. Hold yourself to a high degree of integrity. Like I tell my own squad: Have fun and LEARN.
More info:
Debate is not my full-time job and I don't dedicate any time to it anymore. I have had limited to no judging on this topic and don't participate in camps, but I will try really hard to be attentive and to follow the speech. It might help to watch my face/body language to make sure I'm following along with you. You may need to slow down a bit and do extra signposting with me. Limit using acronyms; I don't research the topic and am unfamiliar with a lot of topic-specific stuff especially at the start of the season. Even if you are right or win the debate, if I couldn't follow along you didn't do your burden to adapt to your judge then you might lose. I'm old and slow :)
I enjoy a straight forward case, CP, and/or DA debate, I understand T enough to hear it in the 2NR, and I will listen to Kritiks in the 2NR if that's your best strategy. I'm not very well versed in Kritik literature since I was a policy-oriented/traditional debater. I have a hard time knowing how to manage identity-rooted and/or performative arguments in the policy framework I operate in. I like to hear comparative impact calculus at the end of the round with specifics and explanations. I need 2NR/2AR arguments to have been presented earlier in the round to give them weight. Be strategic; run only as many arguments as it takes to build your case and win the round. Run smart, strategic arguments. Don't cheat.
Email: mrzexion11@gmail.com
Insta: mrzexion11
General:
I am a flow-centric judge (but I'm not pointing out dropped args for you) but also equally like to be persuaded. \
About the flow: If you drop the other teams arg I'll flow it to them only if they point it out. But if you're slick you'll find a way to be like "well we kinda talked about it when we said (whatever)" and I'll take it because I do debate and so I know the pressure.
About Persuasion: Don't just tell me why you win but why I should prefer your evidence, interpretations, framework, arguments.
Added tip to help you: Just explain explain explain!!! It'll persuade me. Don't just say "but it won't" or whatever but go further and explain why. At least for the important things in the round... Wanna know what those are? Take a step back and look at the big picture.
I like clarity over speed, but go as fast as you think you're clear (or your coach thinks your clear) and if it's not working I'll just have you slow down.
Etiquette:
Yeah sure tag-team, I don't care BUT BUT BUT make sure you don't overtake your partner's CX. Everyone should be able to handle their own but a little help here and there can go a long way.
Be nice to your partner, like I won't dock speaker points but for your team's sake don't hate each other.
You can be sassy, but that's different than condescending (I am so the #sassmaster so....)
What you can run, how to deal with stuff
I start all rounds Tabla Rasa and judge solely on the evidence presented in the round (but during feedback I might give y'all added tips).
I'm policy/theory, whatever I don't care! JUST EXPLAIN....
K's: Yeah sure great run them, but make sure you know the literature of the K and are able to explain it in the round. Don't assume I know the K and thus you don't need to explain it to the other team and can BS your way through the round. IMPORTANT: Not a fan of non-blacks reading an anti-blackness K, and so on. Don't assume an identity K if you're not a part of that identity.
T's: T has been a voter 50/50% of the time... The key for me is the interpretation and violation... And you have to have decent grounds-education or limits-fairness arguments... I also do like a case-list, it'll help you. Aff: IF you don't wanna lose on it then just make sure you have a good counterinterp and explain why its better.
CP's: Good luck on winning an Executive CP with me..... I'm not a fan of CPS but if its competetive and has a legit net benefit then you good child!
K Affs: Sure! Yeah! I prefer a plan text/advocacy statement but hey you do you and explain to me.... #tablarasa, but that means the other team can as easily convince me!
Prep
So I keep prep time but I don't take time for flashing because that's evil.... But if it drags on then well... nyuh....
I sometimes do start CX right after the speech and Prep right after CX ends but that just depends on whether or not we're behind schedule...
For Policy Debate:
I started my debate career probably long before your parents met, much less before you were born. I was a Prosecuting Attorney under Janet Reno and still practice occasionally when I'm not teaching or at debate tournaments. I prefer and my expertise is in policy round argumentation but I can be convinced to vote for critical argumentation when done correctly. Barring tournament rules, Flash time is not prep. Email speech docs. Points are between 28-30, barring bizzarro argumentation, presentation or decorum (This does not include personal narratives or performance arguments with a purpose - they are fine). If you speak (debate) worse than the other debaters in a Round, you will get lower points. Quick and clear is OK. Unclear is not. I will let you know at least once - then it's up to you. I will read evidence in a close debate when I think it is at issue because cards exceedingly often don't prove what they are being offered to prove. You have to point it out unless I think the claim is outlandish.
For LD:
See the above. I was a policy debater. So LD theory which deviates from policy may be lost on me. You've been warned. Critiks and CPs are ok. So are theory args against them. Standard frameworks which stifle all critical debate won't fly. Tell me why your framework should be applied in this debate.
Leandra Lopez
Background:
Debated at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart (4 years), University of Miami (3 years) and University of Mary Washington (1 year)
Debate thoughts:
The affirmative should read and defend a topical plan that is an example of the current resolution. Advantages should stem from the theoretical passage of that plan. Certainly, it is the burden of the negative to make persuasive arguments for why this is true.
Topicality and conditionality are reasons to reject the team. Other theory arguments are typically reasons to reject the argument.
Critiques should link to the plan, as opposed to the advantages. Alternatives typically have serious competition problems and solvency deficits. The more the negative does to deal with these issues, the better.
If the 2NR goes for a CP or a critique, I assume the status quo is not an option unless the 2NR specifies otherwise.
Evidence quality over quantity.
Flow.
Arguments I do not want to hear:
-Death is good.
-Communism is good.
Please be respectful – of your opponents, your partner, the judge, the classroom.
If you have questions, feel free to ask. For questions or the email chain - leandrallopez@gmail.com
- Please go slower with me than you normally would
- I vote for anything as long as it's well explained. I am not super familiar with k's and framework, so make sure there's extra and coherent explanations on those.
- Please emphasize any voters or reasons to reject the team.
- Tag teaming is ok as long as you don't overpower the partner who is asking/ answering questions.
- Please be considerate and polite; if you are rude or condescending in crossex or blatantly insult the other team, I will dock your speaks.
- If you are a novice, please try and be quick with flashing/sending files. I don't take prep for either of those unless it's an excessive amount of time.
- If you do start an email chain, my email is lydiamoll625@gmail. Feel free to send me any questions there after the round as well.
- For spreading, I prefer clarity. If you are too fast and/or unclear, I might miss some arguments, and even if you said something crucial, you want to make sure it's on my flow or else I won't vote on it.
- Please be slower with theory arguments!
- Once prep time is over, stop talking to your partner/typing/writing/clicking. I'll warn you the first time, but after that, I will take your prep and probably dock your speaks.
- Time your own speeches and prep. I will also be timing it in case there's a mishap, but it's best to manage your own time accordingly instead of relying on me to do it for you.
- Signposting is very important! Please do that so I don't get lost in your speech.
Last edited on 5/27/23 to rewrite the sections on experience, Statement on Racism, and K Affirmatives.
Pronouns: she/they
Experience: I have spent my entire life in the debate community one way or another. That said, I spent five years debating middle school/high school, took a break from debating in undergrad, then came back to judge and coach for a variety of schools.
Statement on Racism (& other Prejudices) in Debate
Debate should encourage students to see themselves as agents capable of acting to create a better world. We will not achieve this vision for our activity so long as we pretend it is in a realm separate from reality. Judges have an ethical obligation to oppose prejudice in round including but by no means limited to: racism, queerphobia, antisemitism, sexism, Islamophobia, ableism, and classism, among others. Debate, as an activity, has its fair share of structural inequities. We, as coaches and judges, need to address these and be congnizant of them in our decisions.
General Philosophy
I see the role of the judge as that of an educator concerned primarily with what teams learn from the experience. Therefore, the most important aspect of being a judge, to me, is to provide good constructive criticism to teams about their arguments and performance, and to promote the educational qualities of debate. When teams are using prep time, I am usually writing speech by speech feedback for my ballots––which I very much hope teams and their judges will read. As a judge, I want you to come out of the round, win or lose, feeling like you learned something worthwhile.
As an educator concerned with what can be learned from the round, I think the quality of arguments are much more important than their quantity, and whenever possible prefer to reward well researched and articulated arguments more than arguments will few warrants that might be read in the hopes of their being dropped. I prefer to decide rounds based upon the meaning of the arguments presented and their clash rather than by concession.
I flow the round based on what I hear, preferring not to use speech documents. For this reason, clarity is more important than speed. For an argument to exist in the round, it needs to be spoken intelligibly. Rounds that are slower typically offer better quality arguments and fewer mistakes.
Argument Specific preferences:
Plan-less critical affirmatives: I am happy to judge and vote on them. K affs are a useful tool for contesting the norms of debate, including those which are the most problematic in the activity. Over time, I have changed my threshold on their topicality. These days, my position is that so long as they are clearly related to the topic, I am happy to consider them topical. When aff teams argue critical affirmatives, I strongly prefer there be a specific solvency mechanism for their interpretation of the role of the ballot. For negative teams arguing against K affs, I have a strong preference for specific case answers. Given that K affs are a fixture of debate and are generally available to find on open evidence and the caselist wiki, prepping to specifically answer them should be possible. While I am unlikely to vote in favor of arguments that would outright eliminate K affs in debate, counter kritiks are a strategy I am amenable to.
Kritiks: At its most fundamental level, a kritik is a critical argument that examines the consequences of the assumptions made in another argument. I love well run kritiks, but for me to decide in favor of a kritik it needs a specific link to the assumptions in the 1AC and a clearly articulated alternative that involves a specific action (as opposed to a vague alt). Experience informs me that K's with generic links and vague alternatives make for bad debate.
Framework: Lately this term seems to have become a synonym for a kind of impact calculus that instead of focusing on magnitude, risk, and time-frame attempts to convince me to discard all impacts but those of the team running this argument. Framework, as I understand it, is a synonym to theory and is about what the rules of debate should be. Why should it be a rule of debate that we should only consider one type of impact? It seems all impacts in debate have already boiled themselves down to extinction.
Topicality: Please slow down so that I can hear all your arguments and flow all their warrants. The quality of your T arguments is much more important to me––especially if you argue about the precedent the round sets––than how many stock voters you can read. I may prefer teams that offer a clear argument on topicality to those that rely on spreading, however tactically advantages the quickly read arguments may be.
Counter plans: The burden of demonstrating solvency is on the negative, especially with PICs. PICs are probably bad for debate. Most of the time they are just a proposal to do the plan but in a more ridiculous way that would likely never happen. So if you are going to run a PIC, make sure to argue that changing whatever aspect of the plan your PIC hinges on is realistically feasible and reasonably advantageous. Otherwise, I will do everything I can to avoid deciding the round on them.
Conditionality: I have no problem with the negative making a couple conditional arguments. That said, I think relying on a large number of conditional arguments to skew the aff typically backfires with the neg being unable to devote enough time to create a strong argument. So, I typically decide conditionality debates with a large number of conditional arguments in favor of the aff, not because they make debate too hard for the aff, but because they make debating well hard for everyone in the round.
For rookie/novice debaters:
If you're reading this, then you're already a step ahead and thinking about the skills you will need to be building for JV and varsity debate. What I want to see most in rookie/novice debates is that teams are flowing and clearly responding to each other.
RAP Paradigm:
Clash. Most importantly, I value clash rather than distracters or debate "theory." For all forms of debate, clash is essential; beyond initial presentation of cases, "canned" or pre-prepared speeches are counterproductive. It's much more helpful to pay attention, and react, to your opponent's arguments than to be writing your next speech during the round.
Evidence. I prioritize proof. Therefore, I value evidence over unsubstantiated opinion or theory, and I especially value evidence from quality sources. Be sure that (i) your evidence is from a quality source, (ii) your evidence actually says what you claim it does, and (iii) you are not omitting conditions, limitations, or contrary conclusions within your evidence. Please do not present evidence from biased sources, e.g., don't quote from Osama bin Laden or Fox "News."
Delivery. I debated back in the day when delivery mattered. Persuasion is still key, so if you are monotone, turn your back, or never bother with eye contact, your speaker points will likely suffer accordingly. You may speak quickly, but you must be clear, particularly with contentions. Eye contact and a well-organized, well-documented case are much appreciated. Always bear in mind that you’re trying to persuade the judge(s), not your opponent(s) or your computer, and focus accordingly.
Weighing arguments. I don’t weigh all arguments equally. You can spread if you want, but the decision will go to the team that carries the majority of the most-substantive issues with greater impacts. I appreciate public-policy arguments (vs. theory), especially if they relate to law (e.g., the Constitution), economics, international trade (e.g., the WTO), international relations (e.g., the UN or international law), or government policy.
Organization. This is essential. Off-time roadmaps are okay. I try to flow carefully. Please structure your case with numbered/lettered points and sub-points because this is not only easier to follow but also better for you. When refuting arguments, please cross-refer to your opponent(s) case structure (preferably by number/letter) and be very organized for me to keep track. When refuting an argument, don't waste time by repeating it extensively and thereby reinforcing it.
Resolutions. Please debate the resolutions. Thought has gone into these and their specific wording. Regardless of the form of debate, I prefer that students debate the resolution, and I am not a fan of “Kritiks,” “Alts,” or the like. Whatever the rubric or euphemism, if they relate specifically to the topic, okay, but if they are generic or primarily distractive, I may disregard them. In any event, they are no excuse for failing to deal with the current resolution, for failing to clash with the other side’s specific arguments, or for failing to organize your own points with a clear structure.
Ridiculous rulemaking. Please spare me any “observation” or “framework” that attempts to narrow the resolution or to impose all of the burden on your opponent(s) (e.g., “Unless the other side carries every issue, I win the debate”).
Other pet peeves. These include: not standing during speeches, not using all of your time (particularly during speeches but also during questioning) answering for your partner, claiming that you proved something without reading evidence, claiming evidence says something it doesn’t, rudeness, speaking faster than you can organize thoughts, failing to clash, forgetting that debate is ultimately about persuasion, debating during prep time (or after the round has ended), or asserting without specificity that "We won everything" or "They dropped everything," etc. Also, avoid hyperbole: not every issue leads to “global thermonuclear war”.
Feedback. Some students find my feedback very helpful. Even if you don’t, it’s not a time for arguing against the decision or for being disrespectful, which is counterproductive with me.
Questioning. If you want to improve as a debater--at any level--the biggest bang for your buck is to prepare effective questions. Yes, that means having a list of sequential questions prepared in advance, based on anticipated arguments; you can clash by selecting from among these as well as developing additional questions in round.
My background. I was a Policy debater who also competed in Congress, Extemp, and OO. I’ve coached PF primarily and judge L-D predominantly. I am an international business attorney and former law school professor, with a background in Economics and experience working on Capitol Hill. I also teach and tutor AP courses such as History and ELA as well as SAT (Reading/Writing); words matter.
The above thoughts apply to all forms of debate. I judge a fair amount, primarily PF and L-D. (I try not to judge Policy because I still value persuasive delivery; exchanging cases is no substitute for that.) Below are some thoughts specific to those types of debate:
PF—
--I prefer line-by-line refutation. I am not a fan of dropping or conceding arguments. I do not appreciate attempts to reduce the debate to “voters,” ignoring other arguments. This is particularly inappropriate when done during your side’s three-minute speech.
--No “scripted” speeches after the initial presentations of cases. Clash is key.
--Framework is optional, not essential. It may not be used to narrow the resolution.
--Even though you are not required to present a plan, that can’t be used as a knee-jerk response to all arguments or questions concerning Solvency or Topicality.
--Do not waste my time, and try to extend yours, by overindulging in asking for evidence.
--I'm not a fan of "frontloading," and it makes no sense whatsoever to do so in the 2AC when your side is the first to speak.
--Remember that “There is no presumption or burden of proof in Public Forum Debate”.
--I flow crossfire and highly value pointed, yes/no-type questions; if your opponent is giving a speech rather than asking a question, you may politely interrupt.
L-D—
--I am not a fan of abstract philosophy. Any philosophical presentation must be tied specifically to the resolution and not presented in a generic vacuum. The trite pain/pleasure quote is seldom on point and time better spent elsewhere.
--I don’t necessarily weigh framework over contentions. In fact, quite the contrary.
--Your value and criterion should work with your contentions. Ideally, in discussing the relative merits of each side’s framework, explain specifically why your choice is more relevant rather than relying on a circular “chicken and egg” analysis (e.g., “My value comes before her value”).
--Leave plenty of time (e.g., 2 1/2 minutes or more) in the Neg Constructive for refutation; not doing this is the biggest reason why Negs lose in L-D. Likewise, I'm not a fan of "frontloading" in the 1AR anyway, and do so at your peril unless you leave plenty of time (e.g., 2 1/2 minutes or more) in that speech for refutation.
--I flow crossfire and highly value pointed, yes/no-type questions; if your opponent is giving a speech rather than asking a question, you may politely interrupt.
--Even though you are not required to present a formal, detailed plan, that can’t be used as a knee-jerk response to all arguments or questions concerning Solvency or Topicality.
Congress--
--I worked on Capitol Hill for two summers, once for a Senator and once for a Congressman, when oratorical skills were valued. Please treat the event with respect.
--A good Congress speech is like a mini-Extemp speech: hook; organize and number your reasons; use qualified evidence (quotes, data) in support; circle back to hook.
--Clash is critical, as in any form of debate; unless yours is the sponsorship speech, refer to previous speakers.
--I keep track not only of speeches but also of questions, especially strong ones.
--Do not try to curtail debate prematurely; give others the opportunity to speak.
Updated 1/16/18
Affiliation:
Chattahoochee High School '15
Kennesaw State University '19
Some background:
I debated four years at Chattahoochee. I was a 2N my enitre career so I tend to lean negative on most theory questions and toward the Aff on late breaking debates because of the 1AR.
Debate:
I haven't done any judging on this topic so make sure to be informative, clear and understandable. IF you use jargon I don't know, don't expect me to google it for you. It is really quite simple; if you do the better debating you will win my ballot. I am a very technical debater so dropped arguments unless absurd are almost always treated as the truth. In front of me, try to advocate something if anything. At least make it clear what you believe I am and should vote on. I'm very laid back in round and really anything goes as long as you aren't rude or mean. Most importantly have fun. IF its apparent that you are enjoying yourself throughout the round, it will help your speaks and my willingness to give you my ballot.
I am a former policy debater who debated for USMA from 2016-2020.
Be kind, have fun, and make good arguments. I will flow the debate and judge from the flow. Make arguments that tell me how I should write my ballot and why I should write it that way. The more you contextualize your argument to the debate and leverage your warrants, the easier it is to weigh them.
Email: sarah.wingo@gmail.com Please include me on the email chain.
TL;DR: Choose your battles for the second rebuttals, don't just tell that you're winning everything. Tell me why the impacts that you're winning are more important than the impacts that they're winning. If going for theory args, you should spend at least 4 minutes on it. I flow by ear, not by speech doc so it behooves you to be clear.
General: I expect every debater to flow and to be nice to both opponents and partner. Cross-examinations should be civil and at a conversational volume.
I value clarity over speed and have a tendency not to evaluate arguments that are not sign posted. The clearest speaker will receive the highest speaker points, and I will let you know if you’re not being clear. If I can’t understand you, I can’t flow your arguments, and they probably won’t factor highly in my decision. I don’t care if you sent me the whole speech doc and said it word for word. Debate is a competition of communication and reasoning, you need to be clear. That is usually at the expense of speed, which means you also need to manage your speech time effectively.
I will be more impressed by students that demonstrate topic knowledge, line-by-line organization skills (supported by careful flowing), and intelligent cross-examinations than by those that rely on superfast speaking, obfuscation, jargon, backfile recycling, and/or tricks. This means that instead of reading yet another card, you should take the time to explain why the context of the evidence means that your position is better than that of the other team. This is particularly true in close uniqueness and case debates.
Time and CX: You should keep track of your own prep, speech, and CX times, as well as your opponents', if you deem it necessary. CX is not a shouting match. It’s not a game of interruption
a. Conduct your own CX as much as possible. CX is an important time for judge impression formation, and if one partner does all asking and answering for the team, it is very difficult to evaluate both debaters. Certainly the partner not involved in CX can get involved in an emergency, but that should be brief and rare if both debaters want high speaker points.
b. Aim to ask the question that the debater couldn't answer if that person had the whole 3 minutes.
c. I absolutely loathe when questions are basically “you said this but what about our card that says the opposite?” That’s setting up the debater to then spend 3 minutes telling me why I should prefer their evidence.
d. As the questioner, do NOT let them run away with your time. Ideally they won't because you're not asking questions like the one above. The way to shut them up is saying, “ok that’s fine. Moving on, [separate question]?”
DA/CP: No preferences/opinions
K Aff: I think affirmative teams should have a plan text. On the aff you must win a reason why FW is violent/bad and a reason why this round in particular is key. The reason why either side tends to lose is because they don't interact with the other sides' arguments: that means that k teams should adapt their blocks to answer the specific way the neg team is going for framework and neg teams should engage with the substance of the aff.
Ks on the Neg: Links should be specific to the aff. Even if your evidence is generic, good analysis and spin can still win you the round. If your links are just state bad or based on fiat, I will probably vote aff. SLOW DOWN ON THE K. Assume your judge hasn’t ever heard the K before and is trying to understand the reasoning that it indicts. I am especially inclined to vote for an identified and impacted performative contradiction.
Topicality: I don’t particularly enjoy T debates, but I will vote on them. I generally think that if the neg has specific blocks to answer the case, it’s probably topical. I’d prefer a debate on limits and grounds rather than “abuse” and “fairness.” I’d like to hear a debate on the literature and competing interpretations.
Other Theory (condo, alt vagueness, etc.): I generally dislike theory arguments. Either go for them (whole 2NR/2AR) or just don’t read them. That being said, I will hear them and vote them up if explained and impacted. If you can explain why something such an issue, I will vote on it. However, I am more likely to reject the argument not the team. You must tell me how I should evaluate the debate, meaning in which order I should evaluate theory and policy. I am not inclined to judge kick an argument unless the 2R tells me to (and poor answers).
******Updated 11/14/2020
As a debater: 4 years HS debate in Missouri, 4 years NDT-CEDA debate at the University of Georgia
Since then: coached at the University of Southern California (NDT-CEDA), coached at the University of Wyoming (NDT-CEDA), worked full-time at the Chicago UDL, coached (and taught math) at Solorio HS in the Chicago UDL
Now: Math teacher and debate coach at Von Steuben in the Chicago UDL, lab leader at the Michigan Classic Camp over the summer
HS Email Chains, please use: vayonter@cps.edu
College Email Chains: victoriayonter@gmail.com
General Thoughts:
1. Clarity > speed: Clarity helps everyone. Please slow down for online debate. You should not speak as fast as you did in person. Much like video is transmitted through frames rather than continuous like in real life, sound is transmitted through tiny segments. These segments are not engineered for spreading.
2. Neg positions: I find myself voting more often on the "top part" of any neg position. Explain how the plan causes the DA, how the CP solves the case (and how it works!), and how the K links to the aff and how the world of the alt functions. Similarly, I prefer CPs with solvency advocates (and without a single card they are probably unpredictable). I love when the K or DA turns the case and solves X impact. If you don't explain the link to the case and how you get to the impact, it doesn't matter if you're winning impact calculus.
3. K affs: Despite my tendency to read plans as a debater, if you win the warrants of why it needs to be part of debate/debate topic, then I'll vote on it. As a coach and judge, I read far more critical literature now than I did as a debater. My extensive voting history is on here. Do with that what you will.
4. Warrants: Don't highlight to a point where your card has no warrants. Extend warrants, not just tags. If you keep referring to a specific piece of evidence or say "read this card," I will hold you to what it says, good or bad. Hopefully it makes the claims you tell me it does.
Random Notes:
1. Don't be rude in cross-x. If your opponent is not answering your questions well in cross-x either they are trying to be obnoxious or you are not asking good questions. Too often, it's the latter.
2. Questions about what your opponent read belong in cross-x or prep time. You should be flowing.
3. While we are waiting for speech docs to appear in our inboxes, I will often fill this time with random conversation for 3 reasons:
i. To prevent prep stealing,
ii. To get a baseline of everyone's speaking voice to appropriately assign speaker points and to appropriately yell "clear" (if you have a speech impediment, accent, or other reason for a lack of clarity to my ears, understanding your baseline helps me give fair speaker points),
iii. To make debate rounds less hostile.
4. If your "troll" or "strat skew" involves blatant lying about out of round actions, don't. Strategies against arguments are great (condo bad, PICs bad, etc., these are theory arguments about arguments themselves). It's the "T" of your favorite answer CP acronym (PLOTS, STOP, POSTAL, etc.). Weaponizing blatant lies about your opponent's actions as a strategy to try to win debates make this space makes this space exclusionary and problematic.
High School LD Specific:
Values: I competed in a very traditional form of LD in high school (as well as nearly every speech and debate event that existed back then). I view values and value criterions similarly to framing arguments in policy debate. If you win how I should evaluate the debate and that you do the best job of winning under that interpretation, then I'll happily vote for you.
Ballot Writing: LD speeches are short, but doing a little bit of "ballot writing" (what you want me to say in my reason for decision) would go a long way.
Public Forum Specific:
I strongly believe that Public Forum should be a public forum. This is not the format for spreading or policy debate jargon. My policy background as a judge does not negate the purpose of public forum.
4 years of policy debate at MBA in Nashville, TN; Class of 2016
Current Junior at Vanderbilt University studying Political Science and Medicine, Health and Society
keeping old paradigm at the bottom b/c why not
add andrew.zhu@vanderbilt.edu please
Here's what's important:
I will communicate with you with head nods, eye contact, etc if I like what you're doing or not so pay attention during round
Evidence quality - especially for DAs and terrible counterplans
- I will assign 0 risk of a DA etc if evidence is bad, but team HAS TO SAY IT
- if you compare evidence I will like you
Debate is a speaking activity
- look me in the eye
- Speak clearly
- don't you dare double breathe
- have good posture, don't slouch
- be nice to teammate and opponent or else...
kritiks
- most of the time people have no idea what they're saying, if you do, you better explain it to me if you want to win
- focus on the links... please
- i'm not your judge for high theory because I hate it
k affs
- you probably can read a plan text and be topical....... do I need to say more? Topical version of aff is a winner for me if explained well
theory
- i'll absolutely vote on condo bad - I went for the argument a lot senior year, that being said I expect you to know what you're saying
- Impact work is extremely important
- you NEED a counterinterpretation for any good theory argument, if you use it and explain how your c/I takes care of their offense or at least mitigates it, you've gone a long way
immigration topic
- I know nothing about this topic so be clear with acronyms, stuff
- my parents are immigrants and I was born in the usa
- I dated internationally and know how hard it is to come here
/////////////////////////////////////////
old stuff
1. Is there prep for flashing?????!?!?!?
No, no there is not. I debated during paperless. And if there are problems, I understand. Please just don't abuse the time or take too long, because the tournament has to keep going.
2. Tagteam cross ex??
Of course.
3. Do you have any prefs!?!?!?!
Uhm.... yes...
If you read this philosophy, you will be rewarded in front of me. If you do things I do not like, then you will lose points in front of me.
Topic Disclaimer:
I have been out of debate for 2 years, and I do not know anything about the Education topic. Please, explain what your acronyms mean and help me out with complex education law. The more you help me out the more speaks you get.
Judging Profile:
I will start your speaks at an average of 29.0. This is higher than most judges? Why? Because I think people should be rewarded for what I consider to be good debate. This also means that I will take points away more liberally.
What I like:
Being nice!
- Did you know that helping your partner when they need it, being nice and greeting people around you, giving paper to your opponents when they don't have any (YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY KIDS DO THIS) is not only nice in terms of etiquette but also goes a long way to being a good human being? Be one.
Good posture and speaking clarity
- Debate is supposed to be persuasive. I want people to set good examples of what debate can look like. If you read any comments section of a debate video on youtube, policy debate looks like a joke. Don't make debate a joke.
- How?
- Stand up straight.
- Make eye contact.
- Speak up.
- Work on your voice tone (avoid too nasally, whiny, too much bass, graty, too loud etc.). You should ideally be a pleasure to listen to argumentatively and aesthetically. If you have a voice problem, let me know before the round.
Thus, things that will lose you points:
Essentially, the opposite of a lot of the things I mentioned.
- DOUBLE BREATHING - this is a plague, and I would like it to stop. You can get the same amount of air required if you single breathe. Please look up breathing tutorials on youtube to fix this. If you usually double breathe, and you tell me before the round that you will try to work on it but are not perfect, then you get a pass. Triple breathing is insta 28 or less.
- The debate "hunch over with timer or mouse held between my two hands as I move it vigorously back and forth as I gasp for air."
- Being a jerk. There's a difference between being assertive and being mean. I know; there were people on my team that crossed the line. You'll probably get a 26, and you can say goodbye to speaker awards.
- If you are racist or sexist in any intentional way, I will make sure your coach knows and you know.
Kritiks:
I have lots of experience with "normal" ks, capitalism, neolib, colonialism, etc.
When you get to high theory (Bathai, Deloser, etc.), the best way to win in front of me is to not read it! If you have to read it, then be self-aware enough that your stuff is bulls****. If you communicate this self-awareness to me then I will actually give you a shot.
I debated always a policy aff, but I definitely will vote on kritiks and critical arguments.
I really like alt explanation. What does the world of the alt look like? Do the aff's impacts get solved? Is it a movement or in round? Why does that matter? That's the most important part of the kritik for me.
This tells you how to beat the K too. Weigh your aff vs. the alt. Tell me what advantages you have that the alt can't possibly solve or solve fast enough for your timeframe. This is always the k's weakest part, but if it is strong it usually gives the neg a big advantage in my book.
The framework is important, and I have won my fair share of round on epistemology comes first or kappeler 95 meaning that alt doesn't even matter, but please please focus on the alt.
Also - more links! Specific links are ALWAYS good.
K affs:
Also, I like plans. Newsflash, no one outside of debate really cares about what goes on inside a debate. Realize that your "influence over the debate community" is a very small amount over an extremely small, insulated group of people. I am very persuaded by arguments saying that other forums are much more effective for spreading news about something. I've participated in a partial BLM march and the Womens' March. If you care, do something in real life. Debate is not real life. Debate can be your home, and that's great. But so can your local political party, if you want public speaking. So can your counselor's office, if you need someone to listen to. The only thing unique about debate is that you get to "win" something. Life isn't about winning; it's about doing good in the world. Do good the right way, and don't let anyone or yourself delude you into thinking that you couldn't do it better somewhere else.
- That said, if you are so woke and so persuasive that I cannot help but vote for you, then you probably get 30s and win.
- Otherwise, I WILL vote for K affs, I just want to let you know that smart framework debaters will probably win. If you can crush FW as the aff in front of me, then you deserve the win.
Theory:
#1, slow down on theory and you will win more rounds. Slowing it down shows the judge that you're not afraid of the other team hearing your arguments and believe it or not also lets me write them down.
As a senior, I went for Condo bad 25-50% of my aff rounds. This means I am more likely to vote for condo if you do it well, but if you do it badly then you don't stand a chance.
In general, if you provide solid counter interpretation debate on condo, that's where your starting point should be. If you read a 3 second "condo is bad strat skew time skew impact is education" blurb in the 2AC, you will lose speaker points because you are wasting my time. Neg, if you are in front of me ,and they do this, and you say "THEIR CONDO BAD ARG SUCKS," that's insta 29.5. But if they do it right and you mess up, don't blame me when your speaks drop.
If you want to go for other theory arguments, I will be much more likely persuaded if you give a counter interpretation. IE, if you say 50-state fiat bad, then your c/i could be Neg gets only federal ground with regards to government action. That's not a perfect c/i, but if you can stand your ground, defend it, and the opponent doesn't give one, your point of reference will be the only place to debate from and you're more likely to win in front of me.
General tech:
Don't give me the "they didn't touch this in the X speech give them 0 arguments ever and for ever against this!" I will allow "new" args as long as they are in the spirit of what has already been said. Obviously, there is a limit, and don't abuse this or I won't consider an arg at all.
Death good and extinction good are nonstarters. Don't go there. That includes racism good, genocide good....
Saying "you guys" is not a reason to vote down a team. If they apologize, leave it alone.
Evidence! Some judges almost don't care to read your evidence at all. If one of your opponent's cards doesn't say something, or is contradictory, FLAG IT! Say - LOOK AT BROWN 15, IT CONTRADICTS...... I will vote down entire disads purely based off of evidence.** I lost too many debates on stupid links that literally say nothing and are just tagged to say something. That said, you have to call it out. I will still read ev, but I won't weigh it as high as if the debater points out a flaw.