Eastlake Falcon Fest TFA Qualifier
2021 — Online, TX/US
Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideI have been out of the game a while, but I still love and know how debate works.
Policy
I graduated from high school back in 2017. I did policy debate for the strong majority of my high school career. On the neg, I'll vote on anything, but the T debate has to be solid. I go back and forth on K affs; I love them when they are well done and I hate them when they are not.
As far as spreading, speed is great even awesome, but you go to be clear and go slow on the tags and extra slow on the plan text. I am not as fast of a writer as I used to be, so take it notch back.
I honestly don't know a lot about the topic this year, so be careful with relevant terminology. Ex: define OTEC as ocean thermal energy conversion.
See tips below Especially number 2. Please, come on guys. All of you should do this.
LD
I haven't judged very many LD rounds, but I know debate. Keep a good flow. I value argumentation over how you say it, but don't be rude. From my policy perspective, I'll see the value as the framework for evaluating the land. The criteria should uphold your value. You can go ahead and go a little faster, but don't do something you aren't comfortable with.
Tips: 1. Keep a neat flow or you'll probably lose and it makes judging harder.
2. Voters, voters, voters, impact calc. You have to explain why your args have greater value whether they be education or nuclear war. Who knows maybe education outweighs nuclear war. Crystallization
3. Don't run something you don't know anything about. Don't run a K to impress me please.
4. Road map and sign post please!!!!
Experience: took second in the state of Idaho and qualified to nationals in policy in 2017
Speech TL;DR
- in Impromptu: be original and interesting! I love unusual takes on the various prompts. Be sure to have an interpretation of the prompt!
- in Extemp: prioritize content (i.e. decent number of sources and one or two well thought out arguments) and clarity (i.e. don't cram in a bunch of sources to support one point and neglect a point explaining the background of a complicated topic)
- in platforms (OA, OO, Inform, Expository): y'all know what you're doing I trust :) I love platforms! I mainly compete in these in college.
- in Interp: TBH, I only ever did OI while in high school, but I love judging these events! My one request: be careful to have a trigger warning if your speech has heavy like a graphic suicide scene. I think that it's just the courteous thing to do for your competitors as we can't ever know where others are coming from. That being said, I'm not asking for a TW for something like a person being killed when part of your piece relies on that shock value that comes from that. Just be sure you're saying something important via your performance and making some kind of significant point, not just including graphic or violent content since those things are dramatic.
Public Forum TL;DR
-treat me like I'm lay [truth > tech]. I did PF for three years and I have always thought that the expectation for all PF rounds should be to treat your judge like any ordinary citizen off the street that you called in to listen to you talk.
-for the love all of debate PLEASE don't spread in PF
-evidence in PF is important, but it isn't everything. use it wisely to support your argument without making it your argument. do work with it- use it to link stuff out, but warrant independently of the card (if you don't warrant, i won't even consider the "argument" you present in the card)
-WEIGH WEIGH WEIGH IN FINAL FOCUS
-pet peeves: saying your opponents dropped something when they didn't, being overly aggressive in cross, abusing the ever living hell out of the fact that somebody's card wasn't perfect, and speaking at 100% volume for the entirety of your speech
-if you are a jerk to your opponents, your speaks will suffer. heavily. I don't care how good of a debater you are; you can be convincing without being rude
-try your hardest to have fun
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Long Paradigm:
Hiya! I'm Annaclare and I love love love speech and debate! This sport gave me a place to cultivate public speaking, learn better communication, and meet some of the coolest people in the world.
That being said, please don't be the reason I leave the tournament sad at the state of debate.
I have had lots of experience with Public Forum debate, and I have some very specific beliefs about it:
#1: Spreading
If you begin to spread at any point in a PF round, or even to talk much faster than what the average human can understand, I will say "speed" or "clear" once, and that will be your only warning. At that point, your speaks will suffer very, very heavily. Public Forum is a style of debate meant to be just that: a public forum. If you are speaking at a such a speed that the average U.S. citizen could not follow what you are saying, your speaks drop below a 27 instantly. I think that there are other forms of debate that you can participate in if you want to spread, and I will give you one grace pass when it comes to speed. However, I will start docking speaks from speakers spreading in any PF round.
That being said- if the res is too broad thanks to a bad call by the folks at the NSDA in charge of the wording, check with me before the round and I will consider letting you speak faster.
#2: Counterplans:
don't.
#3: Framework:
I assume Util/Net Benefit unless you argue differently. if you choose to argue a different framework, do not make the entire round about it. spend about 30 seconds in each speech (and maybe some crossfires) but focus on the arguments
#4: K's
If you think I can understand it (I never ran Ks when I did debate), I might allow it if you argue its pertinence to the round. But you have to go all in on it.
#5: Fiat
The resolution allows the AFF to assume implementation of the resolution. I'm open to "implementation of this resolution causes this other thing 'X'" if it's argued well, but what frustrated me a lot when I did PF was when I would be AFF and the other team would get up in Rebuttal Cross and go "Well, but who's to say that Trump would allow this??" *thud* [that's my head hitting the desk in frustration] and then we waste an entire 3 minutes arguing about Fiat and whether or not the NEG was allowed to say that Trump would immediately overturn the res.
#6: Theory
Idk. I've never seen it run in PF... so probably not? I guess if you're gonna do it, persuade me
#7: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
I believe that the true value of debate comes from its ability to educate students and build community. Competition is fun, and we all love winning, but what excites me at tournaments far more than winning is having a good round (just ask my coach).
If you're a very accomplished NatCircuit team, don't "destroy" your opponents with every fiber of your vigorous, extremely talented debater being; be kind and charitable to those less experienced than you, treating them with dignity and not disdain.
And for all: be respectful. be kind. Recognize the privilege that you have to hang out with other people who love to nerd out about politics and economics just as much as you and get psyched about delivering passionate speeches. Or, alternatively, applaud and encourage those who enter into debate as a means to improve confidence, research, etc.
Lastly,
#8: Speaks
if you're a jerk to your opponents, your speaks will be poor. I don't care how good of a debater you are if you can't show decency and respect to your opponent(s)
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Now go have fun and give me a great round :DDD