Last changed on
Wed March 6, 2024 at 9:50 AM EDT
I’m Jack (he/him), a 4th year pfer at Durham Academy (class of '24)
General Stuff:
My email is 24vail@da.org for email chains or questions.
Don’t be racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-Semitic, misgender anyone, etc. It’s an L and minimum speaks for anyone who is discriminatory.
If we’re in round early feel free to talk/ask questions. Same with postrounding, I’ll always answer questions about my decision (time permitting) but the ballot won’t get changed.
Speed <250wpm is probably fine but if you plan to go that fast send a speech doc. I will not flow off a doc so I have to be able to understand you. The more I can clearly hear and process what you're saying the more likely I am to vote on it. I will clear you.
Time yourself and your opponents for prep and speeches, I usually do too but might forget.
Substance:
I'll vote on any topical argument, but that doesn’t mean you can’t warrant (the less true the argument, the lower my threshold for a response).
Extend the whole argument (with warranting) for me to vote on it in both backhalf speeches. This is non-negotiable. I don’t usually flow evidence names so explain what your evidence says in the extension.
You should collapse by summary, please don’t make all our lives difficult by going for all your case arguments and four turns, just pick a few things you’re winning and win them.
When I vote I look to weighing first and then whoever best links, so do good weighing and meta-weigh (tell me why your weighing is better than theirs). I will not vote for an argument with 0 risk just because you win weighing however.
I listen to cross but bring up important points in your next speech. Let your opponents speak and don’t lie.
Evidence:
I won't vote on misconstrued evidence that is either called out or that I read myself (note: misconstrued evidence is different from bad evidence).
If something violates NSDA evidence rules I’d rather you challenge it than read an IVI or shell about it.
Please be able to share evidence quickly, it's really annoying to sit around and wait for someone to find/send a single piece of evidence. Similarly, please only ask for evidence you need and don't call for excessive evidence to get extra prep or throw off your opponents. It makes it easier to just send docs before speeches but I don't require that.
If evidence is important to my decision I’ll call for it, otherwise I probably won’t unless you tell me to.
Theory/Ks:
I’m definitely not the best judge for these rounds, I have some experience with both but not a lot and am not particularly familiar with critical literature. I can flow these arguments but will make no guarantees about my ability to evaluate them correctly, so if you go for them make sure to explain everything really well and slow down. The more complex, the slower and more explained everything should be.
If you don't understand the argument/can't make me and your opponents understand it by final focus, I won't vote for it. If you're reading a K I expect you to understand your literature/arguments very well and you should be able to convey that understanding to myself and your opponents.
You should have really good norms if you read theory.
Interps should be read in the next speech after the violation.
For theory I have no strong preference for yes/no rvis or counterinterps/reasonability. I default text over spirit and that will be hard to change.
I don't have a strict rule about when to/not to read these arguments, but I don't think anyone gets anything out of a round where a newer team is just shelled with progressive arguments and will be receptive to arguments about that.
I won't vote for tricks or theory I think is frivolous.
Speaks:
My speaks will probably be higher than other judges. I reward good debating (strategy, partner cohesion, etc.) and don’t particularly care about presentation (sitting vs. standing, eye contact, fluency, etc).
I like humor and won’t tolerate rudeness towards your partner or your opponents.
Random Thoughts:
2nd rebuttal should at least frontline what you plan to collapse on and turns, anything not covered is conceded.
Defense isn't sticky, you have to extend everything you want in your final through summary.
There shouldn’t be anything new in final focus.
I will not evaluate any arguments made in round from AI.
I would rather start early.
If you use a beeping timer hold yourself to the same standard as your opponents and let it beep at the end of your speeches as well.