NEISD Spring Debate Festival
2022 — San Antonio, TX/US
Lincoln Douglas Debate Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideName every Kanye album and you'll win
My role as the judge is to listen with openness and mindfulness and evaluate arguments given the evidence presented. To win my ballot: listen to your opponent, always provide warrants, and know what you are talking about. I'm fine with any style of debate but just let your case make sense.
If you have any questions about your round specifically, call me at (210) 982-5921
Winston Churchill '23- UT '27
I want on the email chain! cpepperdavis@gmail.com
they/them
Top level
I'm down for anything! I love debate, I love judging and doing debate, and I will do my best for my argumentative biases not to influence my decision.
Don't over-adapt or change your strategy after you read this- it is merely to help you understand the way I understand debate!
I will look upset as I flow, I am not upset! I am thinking!
Affirmatives
Read whatever aff you want!
--policy affs
The better your internal link chain, the better chance you won't lose on case. Case debates are probably my favorite to judge when paired with an impact turn or some sort of offensive position. I love case debates.
--k affs
I think affs should be in the direction of the topic, but if you win a persuasive reason why that's not true I will vote on it. I read K affs and policy affs. Assume I don't know your lit base, I probably don't and therefore will not know what the aff is talking about.
when you are aff vs framework, I don't care what strategy you will go for. Make sure there is offense in the 2AR.
know what the aff says, it makes it easier to leverage your impacts as offense
Topicality
I think T debates are underrated and (when done well) are really persuasive. However, I'm more likely to vote aff if you recycle generic fairness blocks rather than explaining offense about THIS topic being good.
I default competing interps but can obviously be persuaded otherwise. I don't want to hear your generic reasonability blocks and move on, tell me why your aff is reasonable under their interpretation.
You are likely to win my ballot if you have a good defense of what a season of debates look like under your model, and offensive reasons why theirs is bad.
Yes, evidence quality does matter. Yes, intent to define matters.
---framework vs k affs:
I have been on both sides of these debates frequently, I don't particularly lean either way, I will vote for the winner.
aff teams: utilize your aff, you have a built in answer to their offense.
neg teams: TVAs and switch side debate are the most persuasive arguments and more convincing than fairness.
A good explanation of why their aff specifically can be read on the negative > a pre-typed fairness rant
both teams need a solid defense of what their model of debate looks like, but emphasis on aff teams defending what that world looks like under the counter interp.
Counterplans/Disads
Not much to say here. I'm a 2A, so I have some biases towards theory args (process cp's, condo) but it comes down to the debating!
Idk read a link and be competitive!
K
I love a good K debate!
The more specific the link, the better your offense! Pulling lines from the aff, indicting their authors, etc will help you a lot!
I don't really care what K you read or your defense of framework, debate better than the other team and you will win.
Misc.
Death good, suicide good, etc will be L and the lowest possible speaks the moment it is read.
Don't misgender people, don't shrug off misgendering people!
Be nice:)
Gmail: herfmann21@gmail.com
My name is Antares (He/Him, my long hair confuses most) and I've done Congress, Policy, Pf and predominantly LD. I did debate for 3 years and qualified to nats my senior year in LD. I was a semi traditional LD debater but I still ran Ks and Theory when I felt it was a good time to do so.
Policy
When it pertains to policy, I'm not the greatest at super meta debate so you'll just have to tell me the case and make it believable so I can vote on it, impacts should be highlighted and make sure to draw your link between said impacts. I can understand spreading slightly but if I think you're too fast or just don't make sense I'll yell clear with no penality to speaker points unless you're just mumbling.
LD
I think that LARP LD is awesome as well as traditional but both have to have some kind of framework, I don't think you can only win on framework usually but if you can turn your opponents framework under yours I'm more likely to vote. It is necessary to extend impacts and if someone concedes an argument, please explain why it matters. If you just say they dropped an argument and don't elaborate on how that's significant, I'll probably just forget it was even dropped.
Pf
I think public forum is speech heavy in the sense that if your arguments sounds appealing and makes sense, one is more likely to vote either pro or con.
Basically focus on how you sound and respond to opponents arguments well.
Overall
CLASH, MAKE SURE YOU CLASH. Theory is fine as long as it's not frivolous, Ks are fine as long as you make them make sense to someone who has no idea what the topic is. Any other questions just let me know before round.
Good luck y'all, debate is about the friends and the stuff you learn both in round and outside of it.
My name is pronounced Leeee - uhh Where - ta
I did policy in high school at Winston Churchill, 2019-2023
Currently at UT ’27
Add me to the email chain: huertadebate@gmail.com
Top Level things:
Do what you do best.
Disclose to your opponents (good teams aren't scared of clash)
Do not be racist, homophobic, misogynistic, transphobic, etc. I have absolutely zero tolerance for this behavior. Be cordial with your opponents. “If I think you're being rude or condescending to me or your opponents, I will enthusiastically knock you back down to Earth.” - Yao Yao Chen
Do not say death is good in any context.
Please flow. It's a dying art. If you flow "on your computer"...stop. "A fairy dies every time you ask “Did you read x card”." - Natalie Stone
Tech> truth every time.
LD thoughts:
I'm fine with basically anything. The only things I do not like are tricks; RVIs and other fake arguments are annoying and bad for debate. Engage with your opponent and you'll be fine.
If you read more than 4 off (this is highly variable depending on the arguments you read) I will give you bad speaks. I believe to my core that you do not have enough time to develop these arguments and if you purely read them to throw off your opponent that is not a good strategy. Please engage with your opponent.
Please talk about the aff and not just the framing page. I need to know what I'm voting on rather than what lens to view nothing through.
If you have any specific questions it's probably answered in the policy section below.
Policy thoughts:
Case: I LOVE the case debate. Make it big if you can. Case turns, author indites, recuts/rehighlightings, responsive articles, any specific research makes the debate really fun and educational. I feel like everyone always forgets about the case page when it is supposed to be the “focus” of the debate.
Make it clean. Make it epic!!!!
Topicality: Really tough to sell sometimes but I applaud y’all who do it well. If it’s the 2nr you better have the goods. Please have real and contextual definitions from people in the field. I will default to that rather than a dictionary.
I default to competing interpretations rather than reasonability as there is no “reasonable” threshold or metric in deciding what is/isn’t “reasonable enough”.
Definitions that exclude specific actions rather than provide a caselist are more persuasive but obviously, both are great.
Disads: Severely under-utilized. Love em <3. I appreciate the in-depth research required for a good disad. Please have recent uniqueness.
Please have a specific link.
If you have an ultra-specific disad, I applaud you. Tiny debate is well-researched debate is good debate.
Counterplans: Love a really good creative counterplan. All are good with me, adv cp, actor cp, process cp, pics, etc. If you read a really generic one, I need you to have a really niche net benefit.
If you read a cp with a silly “internal” net benefit it better be real. Ie. “Do it this way because it will make x-thing better” is not persuasive. Please say something similar to “the aff causes x-bad-thing, and the cp avoids it.”
Kritiks: Preface: I am a K bro's worst nightmare. I have a VERY high standard for Ks. I was not a K debater and did not read much Kritikal literature. If you read a unique K I will need you to explain it to me very thoroughly or else I will have no idea what I am voting for. If you read something more mainstream ( Cap, Set Col, Fem adjacent args) I will have some prior knowledge but if you do not explain it well I will not spot you my understanding.
I need you to be ORGANIZED. Large stretches of text are boring and difficult to follow. Tell me where we are on the flow. Name links so everyone is on the same page. I am not a fan of big overviews with hidden arguments – I will not flow them. Put those arguments on the flow where appropriate.
For K affs - I need you to have a tie to the resolution and a thorough reason why the resolution requires the team to endorse/uphold/advocate for/etc what you are kritiking. I find really generic K affs quite boring but if you have something nuanced and in the direction of the topic, you’ve got my attention.
Framework – More often than not I will default to the negative in k aff debates. I need real explanations of your standards and actual responses. If your blocks don’t match up, I don’t care. Answer what is in the debate, do not rely on your preconceived answers. You actually have to think about what matters in the debate and most importantly WHY it matters to a “fair” model. Do not go for every standard in your final rebuttals. It only matters as much as you tell me it does.
ROJ/ROB: These arguments mean almost nothing at the end of the debate. I tend to default to the Role of the Judge is to decide who wins/loses and the Role of the Ballot is to indicate who won or lost. If you have a real reason why those should be different, you really need to sell it well.
For Ks on the negative – I need you to have specific links to the aff ie. Why does the aff action make your -ism worse or create a bad thing(s) for the world post-aff? It is far too easy for the aff to just say no link or win an easy perm if your link is just to the squo or a link of omission.
Floating PIKS – Do not lie to your opponents. If it’s a floating PIK tell them.
Theory: Generally, I need you to prove why the thing they did was actually bad or creates a really bad model of debate in the future. I’ll evaluate any theory arguments with some level of skepticism because you have to do an immense amount of work 90% of the time to prove violence.
Conditionality: I tend to lean on the side of "condo is good" with the caveat that all arguments need to be real and viable arguments. If you are an older team debating younger kids do not dump on them “for fun”. There is no real bright line for “how many condo is too many condo” because I think it is highly subjective to the debate itself, where it is, who’s debating, etc.
Random details:
I do not follow docs while you speak. I will open them after your speech to read ev. Please do not wait for me to receive a doc to start your speech.
Please do not send card docs at the end of the debate. I will ask if I want one.
I will say “clear” but if I can’t understand you, I will not flow you.
You will be able to tell what I think of your arguments as I am a very expressive person. Please do not take it personally.
“I won't flow things being said by anyone besides the person giving the speech.” – Ian Dill
Number or say “and” in between arguments ESPECIALLY analytics – walls of text are boring and hard to flow. If you want me to flow your arguments, be organized.
If you “insert” a case list or rehighlighting I will not evaluate it. Read it.
- Be respectful to one another
- No outlandish arguments
- Style of speaking plays a role in how persuasive your arguments are
Winston Churchill ‘23
TU '27
they/she
Email chain: bking2@trinity.edu
Trinity University debate has plenty of scholarships! please don't hesitate to ask me about college debate!
T/L:
- promptness >> everything. disclosure when pairings are sent and sending the doc shouldn't take more than 10 seconds
- do what you do best, I have ideological biases but nothing good debate can't overcome
- please please please don't try to over adapt! I am perfectly capable and willing to listen to your best arguments
– Tech > truth
- I take judging very seriously to provide the most amount of education to everyone and to be respectful of the time and effort you put into this activity. As a result, I will not tolerate discrimination of any kind.
- Please feel free to email me with any questions you have after the round, I am more than happy to clarify, send cards, or listen to a redo! [please include the tournament name and round in emails]
LD------
if tricks or phil debate is essential to your strategy i am likely not the judge for you, that being said I still know how to evaluate these debates.
it would behoove you to do evidence comparison and impact calculus
many of my policy thoughts are applicable
from every RFD i've ever given -"do not think about cross ex as an argument with your opponent, think about it as a conversation with the judge to showcase holes in your opponents argument. you should be asking questions, not making statements. look at the judge, not your opponent."
Policy-----
Topicality:
-- yeah!! I am willing to vote for T against any aff
-- I default to competing interps
-- evidence > community consensus
-- im totally open to whatever impact you can give the best 2nr on
-- the team with the best articulation of a season of debates under their interpretation and why its uniquely good is probably going to win my ballot. TVAs/Caselists can be helpful here.
Kritikal Affs/ Framework:
-- my thoughts here are probably best summed up by natalie stone, "I’ll probably like your k aff if it has a reason why people should negate it."
-- always down for a non fwk strat but specificity is always key
-- yes I've read kritikal affs but do NOT assume I know your lit base
-- I tend to lean neg in fwk debates but I find that topic-specific aff offense is pretty compelling. I am terminally unpersuaded by debate bad args.
-- the team with the most contextual offense and thorough comparisons of a model of debate is more likely to get my ballot.
K V Policy Affs:
-- potentially my favorite debates
-- I am of the opinion that the best K debate requires great case debate.
-- im well versed in cap, set col, anti-blackness, security, realism. Anything more niche than this is cool but make sure to explain.
-- read an alt or don't, but I tend to auto-filter the link debate through the scope of alt solvency. More than happy to hear why I shouldn't though.
-- link specificity goes crazy but I will also listen to shady piks
side note for policy affs:
explain how the perm solves individual links!! it would be great if this started in the 2ac.
I adore case debates and would love to listen to 13 minutes of author indicts + case turn
Counterplans:
-- yes please!
-- CPs should be functionally and textually competitive but I have certainly been on the most abusive side of this and I've also given the 1ar on theory. I don't lean a particular way here but impact calc and comparison goes a very long way.
-- solvency advocates are a must
-- cps cut from aff solvency ev will earn you speaker points
-- we let affs get away with permutation murder and it is my moral belief that written perm texts are best policy. i would probably find myself nodding along with the 2nr telling why the 1ars bizzare extrapolation of “perm do both” is illegitimate.
Disads:
-- yeah of course
-- not much to say here but link uniqueness and uq controls the link args are quite persuasive to me
-- a dramatic reading of the link wall and a substantial amount of time spent on impact calculus will make me oh so very happy. otherwise, I will be sad sifting through this "goes nuclear" mess
Theory:
SLOW DOWN SLOW DOWN SLOW DOWN SLOW DOWN
-- condo is good but i will vote on it
-- i will judge kick the cp but the threshold for the aff convincing me not to is quite low
misc:
- I am quite expressive, you will probably know how I feel about your argument
- I am flowing cx, why you would use this as prep is beyond me.
- Evidence quality is very important to me: peer-reviewed, written by people with relevant quals, from reputable sites, etc. Well-done evidence comparison will be advantageous to you. I will not evaluate evidence that lacks citation.
- Insertions = thumbs down. If you didn't say it, I didn't flow it. Inserting egregious rehighlighting may be my only exception.
- I prefer to listen to complete arguments. I will not decide a debate based on a six word perm answer
What's up y'all! Excited to be judging you today!
FOR UTNIF - Please extend the aff in the 1AR and the 2AR - I can help with what this means. Just ask me before the round if you don't understand.
Email for chain - rmlddebate@gmail.com
About me - I debated for Claudia Taylor Johnson for 2 years in LD and CX. I received 1 bid to the TOC, won UIL State 6-A LD my senior year and got multiple top-3 speaker awards at various nat circuit tournaments. I also qualified to TFA State for CX and LD, and made it to elims at NSDA Nationals.
Positions read - I read a mix of every type of K, various theory shells, Phil and some tricks, some policy DAs and trad when I had to. I should be able to understand whatever, but if it's confusing and not very common, err on overexplaining.
TLDR -
- I will vote on anything, literally anything, as long as it has a claim, warrant and impact and is coherent. I believe anything else is judge intervention and that is horrible, so y'all can read whatever you want. But I do draw the line at anything that's blatantly racist, sexist, homophobic, etc.
- Spreading - I can understand it obviously but please SLOW DOWN on the taglines and citations, and keep at an 8/10 of your regular speed ideally. I will slow and clear you if I must.
- Quick prefs - I will vote on anything, but this is based on what I actually understand, from 1-5
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K, Phil, Theory, Trad - 1
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Policy, Tricks - 2. I understand this, but please make it clear where I vote on high level CP competition debates and confusing tricks rounds.
- Tech over truth
- I will vote on whatever’s conceded as long as ithas warranting. Ex - i won’t vote on ‘eval after the 1AC since the sky is blue’ since that isn’t coherent. New warrants require new responses.
- Solid advice - please weigh and collapse for everything
Specifics - opinions/facts that may help
K -
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Debated this the most so comfortable with most sides of this debate
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K’s must have a ROTB to be K’s. Otherwise it’s just a DA + CP.
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No new ROTBs or arguments in the 2NR
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I find weighing on the ROTB flow pretty strategic
Policy
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Didn’t do this as much as other forms of debate but should be comfortable judging it
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Weigh, weigh, weigh, weigh! If both cause extinction, then idk what to do lol, neg on presumption!
-
Case debate and impact turns are smart!
Theory
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If you do not read a DTD implication on a shell or at least X is a voter, it is not a theory shell. I will not read voters/paradigm issues for you
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Weighing a shell to its voters and collapsing on a shell is smart!
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If you read theory, have proper extensions. Too many times i hear ‘they dropped this, we win’ and that’s it. Extend your arguments and explain them
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Fine with friv theory as long as it’s explained well. If the shell is really 'frivolous' opponents should have no problem answering it. Default to CI so offense over all
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Default - Competing interps, no RVIs
Phil
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Phil debate is dying - thus if you read phil i’ll give you 30 speaks!
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I have no inherent attachment to util/consequenitalism, good with whatever
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If it’s complex philosophy, overexplain
Tricks
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Fine w tricks but so many debaters have no warrant. Make sure you have a warrant and an impact
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I default to comparative worlds, but am totally fine with truth testing. For a lot of tricks, you must win TT first.
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Please have warrants. I won’t vote for stuff i don’t understand
Trad
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I won UIL State, was the trad GOAT so run whatever
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I am tech over truth. I care less about your ability to speak and more about WHAT you are speaking and what your arguments are
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Many trad debaters forget the criterion debate. This matters more than the value. Please please weigh under your criterion
Speaks
- I have lost so many random rounds because of speaker points. Therefore, I will give speaks between a 29-30 unless the tournament is mad at me :(
- Will vote on speaks theory!
- If you read disclosure against a trad opponent or novice, you won't like your speaks. Reading another shell is fine.
Gordie O'Rorke (he/him)
- University of Texas '26 -- not debating
- Winston Churchill '22
- Put me on the email chain -- gordieororke03@gmail.com
TLDR:
- I do not know this topic. Please explain acronyms accordingly. I am willing to listen to any arguments that aren't racist, homophobic, sexist, etc.
- I am tech>truth. You still however need to extend arguments completely even if they're dropped.
Other Relevent Things:
- I prefer word docs over google docs and pdfs.
- Don't say "see-pee".
- Disclosure is good -- send your ev.
Topicality
- Ok for it. I lean towards competing interps. Have an impact.
Counterplans
- Wildly arbitrary process cp's aren't my fav but I guess if you're good at it. Not good for intricate cp theory debates.
Disads
- No unique thoughts here. Love turns case args.
Kritiks
- Not familiar with niche lit bases and args. I prefer if you have an alt, but not necessary. I default to weighing the aff.
K Affs/FW
- Be in the direction of the topic. Love SSD and TVAs. I might get lost in deeply theoretical K v K debates.
LD/PF
- I am unfamiliar with the intricacies of these events. RVIs are a non-starter. I don't know what tricks are and I am not voting on them. I will regrettably vote on disclosure theory, but if you use it as a cheap shot against debaters who obviously are unfamiliar with the argument or national circuit norms, you will not like your speaks.
Tristan Rios (they/them)
BTW looking for teams to coach, feel free to reach out via email
Email - Trisrios6955@gmail.com - plz put me on the email chain
for organizational reasons please make the subject of the email chain "Tournament - Round # - Aff team v Neg team" or something similar
who on hell is Tristan?
I am currently debating at UT Dallas (2022-Present), I have been debating for 6 years prior - 2 years at Lopez Middle school (2016-2018) , and 4 years at Ronald Reagan High school (2018-2022)
last year i was an assistant coach at Coppell as well as a coach for a few individual cx and ld teams
I have done it all, from occult horror storytelling to trans theory to baudrillard, to the all foreboding framework makes the gamework, the kids i coach also go for a very wide variety of arguments from exclusive k teams to policy fascists. Both me and the kids I coach have gotten bids and been to the toc. I state this not as a flex but more so to state that even though I may seem very k leaning (and I admit it is the literature i read the most in my freetime) but I have successfully coached and am aware of a wide variety of argumentative styles which means you will do best if you do you, dont try to adapt. if I think an argument is bad that doesn't mean i dont evaluate it, it just means i have a higher expectation for the other team to answer it well.
Non-negotiables
- misgendering
- trigger warnings
- anysort of interpersonal "-isms" that is done from debater to debater
General Thoughts/Preferences
- generic links are fine as long as they are contextualized to the aff
- I want to be on the email chain, but I am not going to “read-along” during constructives. I may reference particular cards during cross-ex if they are being discussed, and I will probably read cards that are important or being contested in the final rebuttals. But it’s the job of the debaters to explain, contextualize, and impact the warrants in any piece of evidence. I will always try to frame my decision based on the explanations on the flow (or lack thereof).
- I default to viewing every speech in the debate as a rhetorical artifact IF not told otherwise. Teams can generate clash over questions of an argument’s substance, its theoretical legitimacy, or its intrinsic philosophical or ideological commitments.
- I think spin control is extremely important in debate rounds and compelling explanations will certainly be rewarded. And while quantity and quality are also not exclusive I would definitely prefer less cards and more story in any given debate as the round progresses. I also like seeing the major issues in the debate compartmentalized and key arguments flagged.
Speaks
if u send blocks during the debate +0.3 speaks
if u open source + 0.1 speaks
Note for LD:
i know alot of tech judges have a strange amount of distaste for evaluating traditional debate, but dont worry about that with me, i will happily judge the round regardless of your stylistic preferences
Email: tigiy98@gmail.com
Top Level: So basically im monkey
Top-Level:
---Put me on the email chain:ryan.debate.rr@gmail.com
---Call me whatever during round, whatever is most familiar/comfortable
---Please organize the subject---"[Tournament Name] [Round #]---[Aff Team vs. Neg Team]---J: Whalen, Ryan"---close is close enough
Affiliations:
Reagan High School ['20 - '24]
University of Texas, Austin ['24 - '28]
Thoughts:
[Influenced by Philip DiPiazza and Tristan Rios]
---Treat me as a "tabula-rosa" judge - I'm fine with anything and everything as long as you give me explicit judge instructions and argument interactions [or WHY your arguments are right/matter]
---Now, that excludes racist, sexist, homophobic/transphobic, xenophobic arguments which will render the lowest speaks possible and insta-L [not the same as impact turns]
---Spread as fast you can, but do so clearly. I will only evaluate arguments that I can take down/properly hear. If you're going to spread through blocks, either send them out... or just don't.
---Don't be rude, respect your opponents/judges, have fun, and if you can, be fun [which will get you +0.5 speaker points].