BEHAVIOR

I want you to be aggressive, but respectful of each other. Don't cut each other off because then no one's points will get across.

DEBATE SKILLS

Make sure there's clash and cover every point during the debate. Sign posting is helpful for me to follow and determine the winner easier.

IMPACTS

Weigh your impacts and make the link to your impacts clear to me so I can vote easily

• tech>truth
• frontline in 2nd rebuttal pls!!!
• always weigh in summary and final focus
• timestamp for better flow coverage
• I love kritiks and theory but not in middle school pls!
• defense isnt sticky
• I like offtime roadmaps - not particularly needed if the speech is really simple but if there is a lot of back and forth then pls do that

abt me: current pf debater @ the Potomac school, competes nationally and locally

good luck all!!!

add me to the email chain: sleifer@potomacschool.org

Hi! I'm currently a freshman at Northwestern University, but did speech and debate for 6 years previously. I started off in Public Forum in 7th grade but primarily focused on speech events (HI, POI, IMP, INFO) for the rest of my career. Notably, I finished my senior year ranked 1st in Virginia and 12th in the nation overall. Regarding PF, I was runner-up in the Silver Tournament of Champions my senior year and quarter-finaled at CATNATS.

How to Win (IMO):

1. Give an off-time roadmap if you like, but be sure to sign-post throughout so I know where to flow.
2. Speak at whatever speed you want, but please be clear.
3. I won’t really be flowing crossfire, so if there is something that is relevant, say it in a speech. Don't be rude, but it's okay to be assertive.
4. Collapse on specific arguments and make those voters clear. Extend important arguments through ALL speeches.
5. WEIGH
6. Tech > truth. Outrageous arguments are fine as long as the link is strong. Explain your logic clearly, and then prove why the impacts are so important. This is especially powerful when accompanied by quantifiable figures.
7. For sharing evidence, I'll leave it up to the teams to call out any abuse or mis-cutting. You can create an email chain if you like, but I'm also fine with just links in chat or whatever you all decide is easiest.
8. I know progressive debate very loosely, but am not the biggest fan and can't judge it super technically.
9. Confidence is key! Show me that you care and have emotions.

In conclusion, THANK YOU for participating in this fantastic activity. I hope you learn something new and, of course, have fun!

I am a parent judge but have experience in judging. I expect the debaters to be courteous of each other. I look for clear, organized arguments. Presentation should be in a civil and courteous manner, backed by validated data that is current and unbiased.

I do keep time for the speeches and adhere to time. I expect all of the team members to participate in grand cross fire.

Don't spread and speak clearly.

Hi, I’m a college student and I did speech and debate for six years. I competed in nearly all events, but most often in PF, WS, DI, Info, POI, and OI/Prose/Poetry.

All Events:

Be respectful of your opponents, judges, teammates, coaches, and anyone else who may be in the room. I will not tolerate talking or other out of place disruptions during speeches (in debate, whispering to your partner is fine, just keep your volume down).

Speech:

I will evaluate the round based on both speaking and content. If you are discussing sensitive topics, particularly in prepared events, I expect a brief off-time content warning. Your piece shouldn't rely fully on shock value, make sure that you do your best to dive into a specific aspect of the topic you're speaking on and make a statement about it (more so for interp events). I fully understand that certain topics will come up quite often in tournaments, and all I ask is that you show me some nuance if your topic is considered "popular" on the circuit. I am a huge fan of clever intros, titles, hooks, and moments of humor in serious speeches, but keep things appropriate and don't let jokes undermine the importance of your message. For humorous speeches, give me a real implication of your piece beyond just being funny, tell me why it matters.

Debate (PF/WS):

I will flow/keep track of the round, but I am not writing down every single thing you say. I’m generally tech over truth, meaning I’ll evaluate the round how you tell me to and I have no problem voting for an improbable argument (within reason) as long as you have both the evidence and analysis to back it up. Unless you attack the argument, it still stands, but you won't win on arguments that you don't bring through the round and continue to expand on. I am not a fan of theory, so if you decide to run it, do it for a good reason and explain to me why it is topical and needs to be addressed.

PF Speeches:

Definitions aren't necessary in constructive (case) unless providing your model such as the implementation of the resolution you're defending. Off-time roadmaps are good in speeches after case as long as they're short, but please signpost (let me know where you are) in speeches so I know where to flow the argument. Please frontline in second rebuttal. Frontlining and weighing are essential in summary. Everything brought up in Final Focus has to have been in Summary. If you don’t weigh, I don’t know how to evaluate the round, so I need you to tell me what the voters and impacts in the round are. If you don't, I'll decide on what I think is important, and that may not work in your favor.

PF Decorum:

Please stand during all speeches, first cross, and second cross, but you can sit for grand if you all want to. Please time yourselves for speeches, cross, and prep. I will also keep the time, but I am writing comments and flowing as well, so keep yourselves in check (you may time your opponents but do not interject while they are speaking, that is my job). I will give a few seconds of leeway for you to finish your sentence, but after that, please sit down. Calling for evidence is fine, but don't let it take over the round and when you are given a source, the time you use to look at it will come out of your team's prep.

WS Decorum:

Be mindful of protected time (no points of information/questions can be asked during the first and last minute of all 8-minute speeches and none at all during the 4-minute replies). Please stand when you have a point and briefly say "point" or another indication in a respectful manner to get their attention. If they accept your point, keep it brief. If you are not going to take the point while speaking, wave them down and/or pause briefly to tell them no. Holding up a hand or asking them to wait is also fine. Even if the round is prepared, I expect you to analyze and weigh your arguments rather than just dumping numbers and sources into your speech (use evidence, but use it to back up your points, not make them for you).

All Debate:

I don’t tolerate sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, or anything discriminatory. Be nice to your opponents in cross/questions/points and speeches; if you aren’t, I will tank your speaker points.

Above all, have fun while remaining respectful. Don’t run arguments or exhibit behaviors that are offensive or have no place in the debate space (attack their points, not them as a person, and stay on topic).