Last changed on
Thu March 14, 2024 at 9:22 AM CDT
My email for speech documents is: logycdocs@gmail.com. Personal email for all other correspondence: mikekloster@gmail.com.
HS debate from 1991 - 1995. CEDA/NDT debate at Pace University from 1995 - 2000. I assistant coached at St. Marks from 2001-2004.
Long break until 2020.
I am currently coaching a new program.
Clarity is the top priority above all else. When not on a panel, I'll pause your speech as many times as needed to reach a speed / diction combination so that I can hear every word. Lack of clarity is an epidemic only judges can fix.
"Out-tech" your opponents with depth, not breadth. If the strategy clearly hinges on trying to get your opponent to lose by not having time to respond to a large myriad of under-developed arguments, I'm willing to listen to new arguments in rebuttals so we get to have some clash.
My bias tends to be that the devil is in the details. So, the less your argument can be articulated in detail, with a lot of specifics and clarity, the weaker I find the argument. How specific should we be? As specific at the literature/research gets. Research which is more specific, generally carries more weight then research that is less specific.
Thus, plans that are vague, generic Ks or Ks with vague alternatives begin as weak arguments.
K-affs? These developed during my time away from the activity. The starting point for me will be making sure I understand why these are affirmative and not negative arguments.