Southern States Middle School Speech and Debate Championship
2022 — NSDA Campus, US
World Schools Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideHey! Add me to the email chain at alexismchilds@gmail.com
Congress - updated for Last Chance :)
I believe that Congress focuses on speaking clearly and well more than any other type of debate. Because of this, the better you speak, the better I will rank you. In addition, we all know that Congress is long and, yes, sometimes boring. Don't be afraid to spice things up (in a polite, respectful, appropriate manner). Make a joke, be sassy, slip a Taylor Swift reference in there - have fun!!
Have sources in your speech! You saying something does not make it credible/true. Please be polite during questioning but that doesn't mean you have to be timid.
LD
I was traditional/mid-level progressive debater. That being said, I'm not the judge to run your super progressive case in front of.
1. Speed - I'm not a huge fan of spreading so please take your speed down a few levels in front of me. If you must spread, do so at your own risk and read the room before you do - if it's late at night, don't yell/spread at me. Send me the speech doc
2. Ks - I don't understand/I'm not a fan of most of these. I run cap K and that's about it. If you have a question about an argument, feel free to ask before the round!
3. Theory - I don't understand most theory and think the majority of the time people read unnecessary/frivolous theory. Unless there is clear abuse happening in the round, don't read theory. Topicality is good and if argued well and when necessary, I'll vote on it. I'll vote for disclosure but probably not disclosure by itself.
4. CPs/Disads - I enjoy these and think they're a good strategy. If you're going to run them, defend them.
5. Framework - this is what makes LD different from other types of debate and I expect you to use it. In your last speech, give me voters/weighing/framework and make it clear why I should vote for you.
6. CX - I really enjoy cross and definitely pay attention. That being said, I don't flow it so bring it up in your speeches if you want me to flow. I will hold you to what you said in cross. Please be courteous to your opponent but as long as you're not being offensive, I'm pretty lenient on cross. Don't be afraid to push them to explain their case/get the answer your looking for.
Read my facial expression - I'm a pretty expressive person. If I look confused, please clear up your point. Nodding/smiling means I like/am following your point.
PF
Evidence is important, don't make baseless claims. I appreciate organized, line by line rebuttals with signposting. If nothing else, this will get you good speaks. Weighing is super important, particularly in your last speeches. I should know exactly why I'm voting for you in order to get my ballot.
Final Focus should have impact weighing! Please be respectful of your opponents during cross. Cross is for asking questions, not personally attacking opponents or making statements.
Overall, I enjoy good clash, speaking, and cross. Please be kind to your opponents!
IPDA
I evaluate this like LD, have good offense and defense, speak well, and you'll be fine :)
hi i realized i should update this!
i go to ut now but i was on the Seven Lakes Speech & Debate team for 4 years. i regularly competed in WSD, FX, OO, and DI. WSD and OO were my favorites but i think i'm definitely experienced enough to judge all 4 of those. i'm familiar with judging PF and LD but remember that i'm a lay judge (pls speak at an understandable speed)
obviously be respectful in and out of rounds. i appreciate silliness in speeches ????
fake it till you win it!
I debated in WSD in high school for Greenhill ('22). I don't debate much anymore (Harvard '26)
Paradigm:
- Assume I am reasonable but relatively uninformed. Explain what you want me to understand.
- Comparative arguments are almost always the most compelling.
- Both impacts and links should be weighed.
- Extreme burdens and frameworks are generally uncompelling.
- The prop 4 should not attempt to go for everything in the opp block, but they must respond. I have a high bar for what counts as new material.
- I like principle arguments but they should be weighed and ideally be intuitive.
- Regrets motions: prop must both define what the counterfactual is and defend why that is the likely case. Opp defends squo.
- Speed: you can be quick but please do not spread.
- Please be respectful to your opponents and to the topic you are debating. Also feel free to post-round me to your satisfaction.
PF specifics:
- I do not consider an argument responded to because you said you responded. I consider the contents of your response, and consider an argument true until explained otherwise. However, I do NOT consider an argument important until explained why.
Hopefully you debate because you enjoy it. In that vain, have fun :)
I have been judging for 3 years now. I judge pretty traditionally, meaning I judge based off quality of evidence, ones ability to precisely analyze that evidence, as well as persuasion and overall speaker quality. At the end of debate, I like to take into consideration how both speakers responded to one another, as well as the quality of questions asked and how they used those answers to strengthen their own case. Similarly, I judge cross fire based on quality and relevance of questions, as well as ability to answer given questions. As a judge I take a decent amount of notes during debate, but most of my notes will come from after I have heard all of the debate.
Hi! I’m Natalie Stachowiak, and I attend the University of Chicago. I debated for Greenhill School in the World Schools Debate division starting in middle school and throughout high school. I was also a member of the USA development team for two years and was ranked first nationally for WSD. Regardless of all that, though, I firmly believe that WSD should be accessible to watch or engage with, so please thoroughly explain everything.
Content:
First thing’s first, I will always value content over presentation. I believe that style is incredibly important, but style without substance is just a waste of time.
Always be explicit. Even if your opponent says something very obviously false, I will evaluate it in the round as if it were true. I’m not going to tie any loose threads for you. If your opponent says the sky is green, tell me it’s blue. If your opponent brought up a ton of new information in the opp block, point it out.
In terms of arguments, I enjoy principled arguments, as I find they bring a different lens on the round. I also think third substantives are vastly underutilized. I believe that they have the opportunity to shift a debate, but second speakers tend to only give it a minute or less. I understand that some motions make it difficult to have a third sub, but if you can include them, that argument could be the reason you win the round.
I also think weighing is incredibly important. Both sides of the debate are bound to have arguments that are true, so you have to tell me why yours matters more. I also think highest ground arguments and “even if” statements are incredibly persuasive.
Style:
In my opinion, the trend in WSD is to speak fast and to speak loud. While in some situations it may be necessary, I think that variation in speeches is always preferable. Slowing down and speaking quieter to emphasize certain aspects of your speech is very persuasive. Additionally, I think WSD uniquely allows for different styles among teams. For example, your second speaker can be speedy, and then your third speaker can slow it down. If everyone is speaking loud and fast, it’s harder to pay attention.
I also believe that debate is supposed to be fun. Of course, some motions require gravity, but if they don’t, feel free to make some jokes. Including some jokes in the round is a good way to make your experience more enjoyable but it also makes the round more interesting. Debate rounds are long, and being funny can bring some energy back. However, jokes should never be at the expense of your opponents. I will not tolerate any sort of discrimination or hate speech towards opponents.
Also, please signpost clearly. If you’re unclear about what you’re doing, it’s possible that I’ll miss an argument or response that you think is very important.
Lastly, I understand that debate rounds tend to talk about some hot-button issues, so please make sure that you are using inclusive language and respect the differing opinions of others.
If you have any questions for me, please feel free to ask me before the round. Thank you for reading, good luck with your rounds, and have fun!
Hey y'all! My name is Mehak and I am currently a freshman at UT Austin. I graduated from Seven Lakes High School, and was on the team for 4 years. My experience and expectations are below but overall, just try be confident when you yap, confidence is key!
General Rules:
- Don't be disrespectful. Anything such as sexism, racism, homophobia, etc will NOT be tolerated.
- Have fun with it! Even though you want to succeed, make sure you enjoy what you are doing, and don't stress. I promise you, it's never that deep!
- Feel free to reach out to me at mhktumpa@gmail.com if you have any questions, want advice, or just want to chat!
Experience:
- Public speaking co-captain for 2 years, Platform Speaking(OO and Info)
- Extemporaneous Speaking(Domestic) for 4 years
- WSD for about 3 years
Events:
- Public Speaking(Info/OO): I have done both of these events so I know the layout and format. For time signals, ask another competitor because I would rather pay attention to your speech. Humor is always great. Make sure you have your speech memorized, but if you forget it keep on going! Try to pay attention to your speaker's triangle and be intentional with hand movements. For Info, having cool or fancier boards will not automatically give you a higher rank, and try to explain the significance of WHY learning about this topic is important. For OO, there should be a clear problem, impact, and solution, and try to explain WHY this topic matters, bonus points if it's about why it matters to YOU.
- Extemp/Impromptu: Just be confident. Of course, your content should make sense but even if you forget the analysis, just keep on talking like you know what you're talking about. When it comes to content, PLEASE make every point under your umbrella answer as distinct as possible. Use evidence and logic to walk me through why your speech answers the question.
- WSD: my fav event(if done properly)! please stick to the topic. don't forget about POIs. don't knock every 2 seconds, only when the speaker says something life-changing or at the end of a speech. WSD can get VERY muddy at times and it is very frustrating when you divert from the topic we are actually debating and into something else, the team that wins will most likely be the one with the most clean and clear flow. If the debate is getting stuck at a point that is useless and doesn't add to the debate, the best speaker will be the one who moves it forward. for each speaker role, first speakers: lay out the debate and set the tone for your side, second speaker: refute and then rebuild if there is time, third speaker: rebuild and then weigh both worlds, fourth speaker: summarize the debate and pretty much explain what points you won and what is the path to the ballot on your side. another good way to be clear is to signpost, walk me through where you are. remember the key principle your side is defending as well as how it affects the stakeholders. USE EXAMPLES AND LOGIC, i need evidence and/or reasoning to believe your side. Models need to be laid out VERY clearly and concisely, but more importantly explain WHY the model/counter-model is needed.
- Congress: Be clear and concise. Don't have a full rhetoric speech, it should still have logic. Answer questions with confidence, and make sure to move the debate forward with your speech.
- LD/PF: treat me as a lay, and don't spread too much or too fast