Marian Debate Tournament
2023 — Omaha, NE/US
Public Forum Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideAdd me to the email chain: atamovemily@gmail.com
I was a policy and congressional debater with a bit of speech experience.
I'm pretty open argument-wise (except disclosure theory). Go for anything and as long as you lay everything out for me, you should be fine. Don't make me do the work that you should be doing in the round.
Keep your own time please :)
I probably won’t know what the resolution is till the 1ac. Do with that what you will
TLDR: Go for anything. Weigh your args. Be nice. I hate disclosure theory do not read it in front of me
LD: I don’t prefer a specific style but know I am not well-versed in tricks and high-level theory. I see this type of theory more during online tournaments so it shouldn't be that big of an issue during local tourneys. I'm fine with phil and trad rounds. I tend to be a bit more engaged during non-trad rounds.
PF: I never did PF nor do I judge PF that often. I don’t care about performance in pf. You could spread and I wouldn’t dock your speaks (as long as your opponents are cool with this and have the case etc). Just give me clear, concise overviews and thoroughly explain why you won my ballot. I enjoy it when teams make it easy for me, especially in PF. Strike me if you disagree with this
Congress: Kinesics and presentation are important to a certain extent, but if your content is subpar then it won’t matter as much to me. I love good clash in congress and hate rehash with a burning passion. I don’t want to hear three aff speeches back to back about xyz issue because then, instead of being a debate event, it becomes a speech event. I encourage you to be aggressive (yet respectful) during cx!
Flow: I will flow everything in the round and base my ballot on what I see on my flow. I don't flow cx unless you tell me to. Tag team cx is cool with me.
Quality > Quantity
Tech > Truth
Give a bit of explanation on your extensions
Kritiks: I have some experience with k's (biopolitics, necropolitics, set col, cap). I would prefer you to treat me as a lay judge with your kritik, though. Meaning, you flesh out every link. Also, if you have any sort of narrative or poem or something along those lines, please don't spread that. It makes me feel icky !
DA: Explain your disad thoroughly. Fully explain how your opponents link and why it matters. If there's no impact then what's the point?
Speed: I'm fine with spreading. Slow down on analytics or I won’t catch everything. If I yell clear once or twice and you don’t comply, I’ll stop flowing.
Theory: If your opponent doesn't answer this then you win the round just give your voters and I'll flow it. I will not vote on disclosure theory because my jurisdiction begins with the 1AC and ends once I’ve submitted my ballot.
Speaks: Speaks are incredibly arbitrary; I have no set measurement for speaks. I tend to usually give the highest speaks to individuals that I felt were genuinely respectful throughout the round. If you’re rude, you may win the flow but you and your opponent's speaks will prob be like .1 away from each other. Aside from being a decent person, if you give me organized rebuttals that make it easy to write my ballot, you’ll get high speaks. Just make it easy for me and you’ll do well
Basically, just be precise, do all the work for me when explaining your argument, weigh your arguments, and be nice!!
Have fun :)
Happy 2024 everyone!
Email: miranda.cannon@gmail.com
Background:
- From Lincoln, NE ; competed in the NE circuit
- Have coached and judged various circuits
- Debated in college
- I graduated from law school in 2023 and am a licensed attorney
Public Forum
Some judges are tech and some are truth - I would say I'm about 60% truth, 40% tech, but ultimately will judge you based on what happened in the round.
Regarding speed: it's fine? I guess? I don't PREFER it obviously, but as long as there is clear signposting we should be good. I'll let you know if it's a problem.
It's PF so if you do some wild K or framework argument I am probably going to be heavily side eyeing you the entire time lol. That's not to say you are barred from doing this in front of me, but I just don't know if it's ever going to really work out that well in a PF round? Idk! Prove me wrong!
I judge novices a majority of the time, and my goal is to HELP you - I don't want anyone to feel bad about a loss, but I will try to educate you on the reasons that it happened! My ultimate goal is for you to walk away with more knowledge than you were coming into the round.
Please email me any cards you specifically want me to see, or physically bring them over to me.
Some general things to keep in mind when debating PF in front of me:
- Make sure you know what the resolution is asking you to do. I often will enter a judgment in default if one side is not adequately fulfilling their burden.
- Make sure your speeches are structured correctly - if they are, it's less likely you will drop arguments! Often the tide turns for me in summary just because a lot of debaters don't do this speech correctly.
I have a passion for debate and will help you with anything, please don't hesitate to reach out to me between or after rounds, even if I haven't judged you.
He/Him
E-Mail: quinncarlo024@gmail.com
MSHS Asst. Coach 2y, (Policy 3y, PF 1y)
ASL Interpreting major @UNO (1st language: English)
Debate is about the people and the experience, so be kind.
In my days I used to run trad left affs, and Cap Ks. I trust you'll help me understand whatever you run.
LD: LAST EDITED 2/23/2024 LD is about philosophy for me. I suppose that makes me trad now... I feel old.
FW: Winning FW means I will evaluate the round through that lens. FW is not an independent voter.
SPREADING: If you spread use SpeechDrop, AND DON'T SPREAD ANALYTICS.
Ks: I've found that it is more difficult for me to buy a K AFF than anything else. That being said, I would love to engage in a discussion on K subject matters outside of the round.
- ROB: Vote for the better debater- to me means I’m looking at who cross-applied evidence well, who didn’t drop anything, who carried cards through their speeches, and other techy stuff.
THEORY: DON'T use theory as a means to win a ballot. Run theory if there is a genuine equity issue within the round.
- Disclosure Theory: If there is no in-round abuse (de-linking out of args), and/or your opponent gives you their case via SpeechDrop, I'm unlikely to vote for you.
- Spreading Theory: If your opponent asks before the round if they can spread and/or invites you to tell them to slow down, I'm unlikely to vote for you.
T: I am less likely to buy that the AFF needs to defend a specific plan as opposed to the general Value/Ethics of the Topic. Because LD is different from Policy.
→ Don't use other people's disadvantages to win you a ballot. Advocating for the rights of minorities as a majority can be fine if it is done in good faith, and you understand your case. If you are cishet advocating for the rights of queer people without knowing what it means, that's sketch.
Current Position -- I have been the head debate coach at Lincoln Southwest High School for the past 23 years. In that time I have coached and judged PF, LD and congressional debate.
Background -- I have been coaching speech and debate for the last 32 years. I have been coaching pubic forum since its inception 20 years ago. I was a high school and college competitor in speech and competed in LD in high school.
Email Chain -- theimes@lps.org
PF Paradigm --
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I believe that PF is a communication event with special emphasis on the narrative quality of the arguments. The story is important to me. Blippy argumentation or incessant reading of cards with no analysis or link back to the resolution does not hold much weight in my decision. Do the work in round -- do not make me intervene.
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Weighing mechanisms should be fully explained -- if you want me to vote using your weighing mechanism, it is your duty to actually tell me why it is a good mechanism for the round and how your side/case/argument does a better job achieving the mechanism.
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Presentation of arguments should be clear. I am not a fan of unbridled speed in this event. You need to speak clearly with a persuasive tone.
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Reading cards > paraphrasing cards
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If you must ask for cards or if you are asked for cards, you need to be prepared to ask for and present these cards in an efficient manner.
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Don’t be rude.
Debated PF for 4 years at Millard North
Speech docs are wonderful (ikamilp@gmail.com).
Flay judge. Appreciate clear weighing. It's really that simple weigh if you want a ballot.
I am really nice with speaks unless you do something problematic.
She/her
Assistant Coach at Lincoln Southwest
Debated for 3 years on NE circuit
I don’t like speed so please slow down
I don't like theory and progressive arguments but I will evaluate it as best as I can
I especially don't like theory in PF :)
As a Black judge please do not have any kumbaya (easy solvency) racism arguments. If you run racism, you need have clear links & warrants
Assume that I am not well versed in the topic so explain everything.
USE MUST TAKE PREP TIME TO READ EVIDENCE!
If you don't have a clear link, you don't get access to your impacts
I prefer if second speaker rebuilds in their rebuttal, but if you have good coverage/ cross analysis/ rebuild in summary you won't be penalized
I am not huge on card dumps and numbers being thrown around; if you want me to buy into your card/argument, I expect you to explain what the number or card means. Tell me why I should be voting for you based on your evidence (you need to do more than cite the name). Please do not misconstrue your evidence
(!!!) IMPACT- some of the best rounds are lost because teams do not impact (weighing is equally as important, make the decision for me). I absolutely hate lazy impacts such as extinction, climate change, & recession (having big numbers doesn't mean you'll win the round). Be creative!
I am here to make sure everyone has a fun, safe and exciting experience with debate. Any hateful or blatantly racist, transphobic/homophobic, sexist, etc arguments will not be weighed in the round.
If you have any questions at all, just ask! I am open to helping anyone with their debate skills and ideas, no matter your success or failure. You can reach out any time, regardless if I have judged you or not :)
Good luck!
-run theory on me and see what happens. actually idk what would happen
-Medical Student at University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Lincoln 2020 graduate with bachelor's in Biochemistry
-Debated 4 years in Nebraska circuit PF, competed at NSDA nationals, 7th year judging PF
-Speak as fast as you want to but I can only type so fast
-Run whatever i don't care but I am not knowledgable on progressive debate
-I usually browse the internet/shut my brain off during crossfires
-Second rebuttal does not have to rebuild if they don't want to but obviously respond to arguments at some point
-I don't write down card names
-Any evidence/analysis that wants to be extended must be mentioned in all speeches post rebuttal. So extend defense from rebuttal to summary
-I don't want to see your cards after the round
-Asking for evidence in round is fine but the bane of my existence is when teams take 5 minutes to find one card
-Links, impacts, and weighing please and not just card dumps
-I reserve 30s for genuinely amazing performances, but I will probably give most solid debaters 29.5
-You can ask me before round if there's anything else you should know about my judging style that was not written in my paradigm - the answer is no. You can ask me specific questions about my judging style but I have no substantive answers for broad questions
tonyleaiy1997@gmail.com for any questions
I debated for three years in LD at Norfolk.
If you’re cool with speed then i’m cool with it. I’m okay with just about any argument, if it has a warrant and you are winning the argument I will vote on it. Run what you are comfortable arguing. I’m okay with theory, but if you are running it unnecessarily I’m probably going to be annoyed. don’t be rude or hostile.
Name
Jacob Moore
Where I'm from
Papillion, Nebraska
What I judge
LD
Paradigm
Your standards debate is the first thing I view as it is my lens within the round. I am a traditional judge. Be able to clearly explain your standards and don't make me connect the dots on what you are trying to say.
I don't care how fast you read, but realize if you spread so fast it hurts your pace, I will take off from your speaking points
25-26 Poor
26-27 Below Average
27-28 Average
29-30 Above Average
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-Impacts are a must in Varsity. Probability and magnitude are major weights for this.
-I allow Flex Prep, but I don't expect the opponent to answer the questions.
-Any argument you run, I roll with it. As long as you can defend your argument.
-As always, Signpost/Roadmap! Too many debaters forget this!
-Don't expect me to be an expert, even on the topic! Your job is to easily explain your philosophy to anyone, especially a judge. I cannot become an expert in Kantian Ethics from one speech after all!
-Don't be afraid to ask questions before or after the round!
Hello! My name is Tessa (she/they), and I’m a former PF debater and now a college student enrolled in legal studies.
I don’t know much about this season’s topic, so, while you should be doing this anyways, be sure to clearly explain your arguments and why they should matter to me.
Focus on carrying your impacts and warrants through your speech; I will judge based on magnitude and probability more than timeframe, but it’s still an important point! If an argument is not responded to, I will drop it on the side that didn’t respond.
Try not to spread too much, though if it’s necessary to fit your speech into your allotted time, I’ll do my best to keep up with you. :)
BE POLITE! During cross make sure you aren’t acting condescending, belittling your opponent, or just being rude in general. Focus on asking questions about your opponents’ points, just don’t be smug about it.
Have fun!!! It’s been a while since I’ve been in the debate scene (something to keep in mind), but I am still so excited to judge for you! Debate is about learning and having a good time, so have compassion for your opponents, and keep your head up if something doesn’t go your way.
Thank you for reading my paradigm! Feel free to ask me any questions you have in person, too. :)
Debated at LaPorte High School on the Indiana Circuit
Debated primarily Congress in the past
I value civil and clear clash in both cross examination and speeches.
I appreciate short, clear, and concise link chains with real data.
Evidence outweighs analysis.
I do not like multipart questions as it takes away from the ability of other debaters to ask questions
**I have judged this NFA topic once (1). Please go slow and explain. If youre fast on tags, or fast on theory, it is entirely your fault if you drop because there was an argument I didn’t hear or understand.
They/Them
Email: addissonLstugart@gmail.com
TBH you can probably avoid the rest if you're familiar with Nadia Steck's or Justin Kirks paradigms.
TL/DR:
Content warnings: If you are running something sensitive, you need to have a trigger warning. This means things such as suicide, human trafficking, domestic violence, etc. NEED to have a disclaimer before you say them. Furthermore, you NEED to have a back-up plan if reading it puts the safety of someone in the room in jeopardy. And, for both of our sakes, please don't use something sensitive solely as a means to win a round. Commodification of trauma isn't something that I will listen to.
I will vote on content warning procedurals.
Tech > Truth (what does that mean?)
I will always disclose first and will always give a detailed rfd. Not doing so is bad for education
Speed is a wonderful thing in all events unless it's used as an exclusionary tactic. If either opponent doesn't want speed, neither do I.
You can probably tell if I’m buying an argument based on my facial expressions.
Judge intervention will only ever happen if the safety (physical/mental) of a student in the round is at jeopardy.
Presume/default neg in all circumstances UNLESS the alt/cp does more than the aff. Then presumption flips aff.
Flex prep is a-okay in all events.
Evidence
I will call for evidence after round in 3 circumstances:
1. I have read the evidence beforehand in some context and believe that how you are construing it is wrong and unethical
2. The opposing team has asked me to
3. The round is decided on this evidence
Speaks:
Should be primarily based off of skill of debate, not eloquence of speaking.
While I believe speaks are arbitrary, I will generally determine speaks through this loose model:
28-29: You debated incredibly well. Strategic choices were made, and I have very little feedback for improvements.
27.5-28: Most frequently awarded speaks from me, baseline for my evaluation.
27: Arguments were poorly explained and require much more development throughout the round.
If you owe someone an apology at the end of the round, I may drop your speaks down to <26.
For public forum debate:
Observations: I will listen to anything. I LOVE strategic observations. I LOVE observations that narrow the topic based on grammar/interpretations of the resolution.
On the flow: Don't drop turns. Extend terminal offense. Ghost extensions of terminal defense from rebuttal--> final focus are the only extensions I allow to not be in summary. Other than that, if you want it weighed in final focus, have it in summary.
Rebuttal: It is preferred, but not required, for the second rebuttal to cover both sides. I used to card dump in my rebuttals, so I understand how it can get you ahead on the flow, though. I'm not strategically against it, but pedagogically I am.
Summaries: This is the MOST important speech in the round. This should set up the framing for the final focus, and should have all of the offense you want to go for in it. All previous opposing offense needs to be addressed in this speech (for example, if team a drops team b's turns in summary, strategic strat is for team b to sit on them in final focus. It's too late for team a to come back on that part of the flow.)
Final focus: The same framing should be given as was given in summary. But overviews or underviews are the best. I flow summaries and final focuses in columns next to each other. The final focus' main job is impact analysis. Explain to me why your impacts o/w because, as an owner of four dogs, if left to my own fruition, I could vote for 10 dog lives over nuclear war.
For Lincoln Douglas/CX Debate:
Inherency: I THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY A VERY VALID ARGUMENT TO GO FOR. Ya got me, I am a stock issues judge
"status quo acts as a delay counterplan" = *chefs kiss*
Value/criterion: I will typically default util~ especially in muddied v/c debates.
PLEASE, for the love of all that is good and holy, COLLAPSE V/C DEBATES IF IT DOESN'T MATTER (if I have to see another util vs consequentialism debate ???? I might SCREAM)
Also, please explain how the substance of the ac or nc actually relates to your v/c, or better yet, how it could *also* relate to your opponents.
Theory: After being in the activity for a while I have come to the conclusion that proven abuse is a silly metric to win theory debate. I do not believe that in order to win theory you should have to skew yourself out of your own time.
I am unlikely to vote for RVI's on theory in regards to things like "the theory is just a time suck".
I find “Drop the argument, not the team” to be fairly persuasive for general theory arguments (excluding t).
I probably won't vote for condo bad when there's one conditional advocacy.
Topicality: (I will never vote on "they have to prove abuse") I default competing interpretations on t but will listen to reasonability arguments. I believe effects t/extra t can be independent voters with independent standards. I think a dropped violation will *almost* always win a t debate. But because t is try or die, consider the following:
1. If you win the "we meet", reasonability explanations are easier.
2. T is something the neg has to win, not that the aff has to prove opposite. What does that mean? I am not doing the work for the neg to find the aff untopical. Extend and EXPLAIN your standards. (utilize clash, don't just rely on blocks) Tell me why the neg's definition is better than the aff's. Tell me why things like competitive reciprocity is key to eduaction, etc. I know all of these things but will judge *only* based on your explanations.
3. T is just like any other debate. The interp is the claim. The violation is the warrant, the standards are the internal link to>>> the voters being the impacts. So, just like any other debate, I expect you to win on all parts of the flow *especially because topicality is try or die for the aff*.
5. HOWEVER, I will always prioritize being tech over truth. That means that *even if* I don't agree with one's sides strats, or find that they are bad at performing the t strat (or responding) if the opposite side drops something of importance (a violation, concedes a voter, or even a standard that is sat on as the key internal link) I am probably voting there. Concessions are the easiest way for me to pick a winner on T debates.
Tricks: Take like 15 seconds to crystallize it after you do it to make sure I got it, and if you don't do this, don't be mad at me if I don't catch on.
Kritiks: I am open to all kritiks, but I am not familiar with all of the literature. Don't expect me to know the argument off the top of my head, but expect me to flow it and (hopefully) understand it the way that you communicate it to me. Debate is inherently a communication activity, and k debaters can lose sight of this. If it helps you to understand my experience with k's better, when I compete, I always go for framework.
I say K aff's have a higher burden of proof for solvency/explanations than standard policy affs.
Disclosure: Well first off, everyone should disclose. Debate is for education, not just the wins. IDK how I feel about voting on this theory. I have, but I don't like it.
Da's: disads with specific links are probably for the best. I am all about the net bens to counterplans. I am open to any type of argument here.
Counterplans: "Yes. The more strategic, the better. Should be textually and functionally competitive. Texts should be written out fully and provided to the other team before cross examination begins. The negative should have a solvency card or net benefit to generate competition. PICs, conditional, topical counterplans, international fiat, states counterplans are all acceptable forms of counterplans." -Dr. Justin Kirk; the man, the myth, the legend.
I use she/her/hers pronouns.
Debate Background: I did four years of PF debate at Lincoln North Star from 2016-2020 in the NE circuit, I also did a brief stint of LD and some Congress. I now assistant coach PF at Lincoln Southeast High School. This is my first year consistently judging.
Disclaimer: I won't tolerate any exclusionary or hateful rhetoric. Debate is a fun and educational experience, and should be a safe and accessible space for all students.
Debate Substance/Content: Whatever arguments you read, clearly show me how your impacts outweigh compared to your opponents. If all your args are warranted, have clear links, and are extended, that's how you'll win my ballot. I'll only weigh the topic substance that is in your case and rebuttal, so don't waste your time by bringing up a new argument halfway through the round. I don't flow extremely specific numbers/card names, just what it all means, so don't waste too much time doing this either. The better use of your time is focusing on the impact, rather than the actual numbers themselves.
***Substance Exceptions: I don't care much for disclosure/debate theory. I don't really think it has a place in PF so I wouldn't suggest running these arguments with me because I'm not going to weigh it. I won't consider disclosure theory unless it's absolutely necessary. I'm not all too familiar with progressive arguments so I wouldn't entirely suggest this either. If you run a progressive/LD-type argument, make them extremely clear.
Debate Etiquette: I can handle any speed, just make sure you enunciate. If you choose to spread though, keep in mind I can only write so fast. Clearly state your impact at the very end of your response so it's the last thing I hear/it secures its spot on my flow. I like simple off-time roadmaps, such as "aff, neg, impacts" etc. This is generally how I think the debate should go.
-Case
-Rebuttal: All your responses/blocks and rebuilding your case if time. Basically, new stuff then old stuff.
-Summary: Extending all your new and old args/impacts of the round and why you outweigh.
-Final Focus: REALLY telling me why you outweigh, with the same args/impacts from summary.
***I don't care for any rudeness, sarcasm, or dominating time during cross. I think it's really distasteful and I'll dock you speaking points. Please have your stuff organized, I get a bit annoyed when anyone takes longer than usual to find a card to exchange during prep.
RFDs: I typically only include a brief RFD when I submit my ballot, but I try my best to give extensive feedback by the end of the tournament. I'm always open to questions at the end of the round if you'd like more explanation on anything.
Good luck and have fun!
Win the flow. As simple as that.
In terms of your constructive arguments or "original case":
I don't mind "creative" contentions so long as they are properly supported. This means that your primary contentions only need to be tangentially related, so long as you provide a cognizable link to the resolution. It is your opponent's job to raise a valid defense, call irrelevance, or reframe the more important arguments.
This gives you a lot of freedom to implement "more interesting" arguments. However, this is not a pass to present truly abusive or wholly non-topical arguments.
In terms of responding to your opponent's case:
I will vote for whoever wins the flow. Therefore, I like when debater's roadmap clearly and give explicit voters. I don't count roadmaps against a debater's time so long as they are less than 30 seconds.
I will not flow an argument in your favor unless you tell me why I should. Conversely, if your opponent drops a contention completely, I won't flow it in your favor unless you tell me to. I firmly believe that it is the judge's job to flow all arguments, but it is not the judge's job to debate/argue in their mind for you.
Speed:
I personally cannot handle that much speed. I can listen to you when you talk a little fast but, keep in mind a judge can't flow what I can't understand. If you choose to talk fast you have to enunciate your words. If you are talking too fast I will say clear. If you choose to continue at that speed I will say clear again. If I still am unable to flow and understand you then I will drop my pen and stop flowing until I am able to understand you.
Logistics:
Pre-flow before you come into the room. Keep your own time. If you don't already have the time constraints and speech order memorized, make sure to write it down before we start.
Cross-examination/Crossfire:
I don't care if you sit during these. In PF, I prefer teams to alternate asking and answering questions (unless it's a very brief follow-up). If not, a lot of unnecessary time gets taken up by asking/negotiating who is going to take the next question.
Have fun and be civil.