EXPERIENCE: I competed at State all four years of high school in the 4 speaker category on the negative side. I went completely undefeated, winning the State Championship in 2017. I have also been judging semi-regularly since then.

PARADIGM: Tabula Rasa - this is your debate, argue it how you see fit. I will be flowing and keeping track of arguments. Below are some more defined opinions of mine on arguments, but I'm open to anything.

TOPICALITY: this is honestly my favorite stock issue when it's used correctly. If you are using it include standards AND voters, or it's not a complete argument. T is also AU PRIORI.

DISADVANTAGES: I will listen to any DA no matter how generic it is. That being said, generic links don't hold as well as specific links, especially when AFF knows what they're doing. I am fine with any impact, you know its always fun when things end in nuclear war.

COUNTER PLANS: if you run one of these, please know what you are doing. There is a right and a wrong way to run and argue against a counterplan, and if you don't argue it right, you will lose my vote.

KRITIKS: I will listen it to. If there's one type of argument I don't particularly like, its this one. But if you feel it necessary, go for it, but be able to justify why you are using a kritik.

OTHER THINGS: I will only vote on things brought up in the round, so if there is a glaring contradiction and its not pointed out, I will not be considering it. I don't really care how fast you talk, just make sure that everyone can understand you.

If you have any questions about my judging style, just ask before the round starts!

Hello my name is Shannon Catlin. I have judged debate for the last four years, while also participating as a debater in my high school career. When I sit down to a debate I prefer to hear evidence based proof with a footprint to back your sources. I also look for if a debater understands what they are presenting, explaining in your own terms.

I like to see what your policy is and how your plan of action will work with proof and funding. I watch for confident body language and being able to make eye contact with your peers.

I will allow spectators if the participants also agree, however they will not be allowed electronic devises.

Let's have s great debate.

SY23-24

This is my 8th year judging Debate and 9th judging Forensics

Debate: Mostly Policy

I judge as I would in a courtroom deciding whether or not someone should be innocent or guilty. I am going to listen to both sides, see how well you are able to ask & answer questions, & ultimately prove your case. I am going to wait for someone to CONVINCE me beyond a reasonable doubt that I should vote your side.

Sometimes my decision may come down to how comfortable you are in your knowledge of the topic, &how it's delivered. Do you have confidence? How prepared were you? Do you only talk about how wrong the other team is & why they shouldn't win? I want to know whyYOU should win. When you walk in, I will assume you know the rules, so I just want to hear a good, lively debate that stays on topic.

Forensics:

I received 1st at State every year I was in Forensics in high school, so it means a lot to me.

I look for confidence, proper enunciation, animation, voicing, originality &preparedness. I expect appropriate dress, as it is often distracting & interrupts decorum. You need to look professional while representing your school.

Your excitement & commitment will come through in your performance.

Melanie Davis

General Experience: Over 15 years of experience in the Debate & Forensics community (competing, judging, and coaching).

Policy Debate: Tabula rasa with policy roots. Negative conditionality good; love counter-plans. Open to K's and K Affs.

I mostly base my decisions on good policy. I do mix in stock issues of they are applicable which is mostly topicality.

I prefer real-world arguments.

Good speech organization is always a positive foot forward.

Respect for each other is key. I do not like shouting matches or putting down of others.

Counterplans are acceptable if they are sound.

I am not a fan of Kritiks or Resolution Justification.

My preference on the pace of speech is the pace at which the common man can understand. In short, if you're gasping for breath, you're too fast.

Tabula rasa (blank slate) and policy maker

Policy Maker Judge

- Weigh the advantages versus the disadvatanges. Impact calculus is a GREAT way to frame the round. Stock issue debate is still important, but my decision will likely be made on impacts (if it is solid and well defended).

- Strong communication and clearly articulated points will win the round. A winning team will adapt to the judges preferences and make it obvious as to why their position is superior.

- That being said, I will do my best to provide quality feedback for the rounds. Good luck, and I'm super excited to hear your ideas and speeches!

I vote on a stock-issue paradigm, in which stock issues that carry through constructives will probably determine the ballot.

I strongly recommend off-time road maps and frequent summary/recap. These skills are so important in life, especially the ability to summarize someone else's perspective to check one's understanding.

I have warmed to off-case in the past year, so let 'em rip. It's unlikely for me to vote on off-case or style alone. Stocks still count significantly. Here's a twist: if stocks aren't your thing on neg, consider a well-conceived and well-executed K. I appreciate calculated risk-taking when the only alternative is mediocrity on the stock issues.

I have grown to love debate and love the young people who invest their Saturdays. I coach some (beloved!) students who are perpetually excited, behave badly, and need to learn ... moderation. Some of you might need to learn it also, so that you have it as an option instead of fighting/flighting/freezing throughout life. I am a judge who might try to help your coach teach moderation to you. Truculent, surly, adversarial behavior by debaters bums me out and can cost the ballot. Shouting hurts my ears.

Debate is worthy of the time we all spend. A problem with debate is that it tends to reward disagreement. In life we must find places of agreement, especially when we are competing and it is hard to agree. I award ballot credit for the team that seeks a place of agreement with an opponent, and expresses it at some point in the round. And by "agreement" I mean: sincere agreement followed by "and," not superficial agreement followed by "but."

Thanks everyone!