CNDI PF Camp Tournament
2023 — CA/US
PF Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideA little about me:
I competed on the regional GA circuit and national circuit for 5 years in PF, and graduated in '19. I'm now a senior at Brown. This is my second year as the PF coach at Park City HS.
As a judge, I'm pretty chill:
- I'm fine with speed but, wouldmuch preferyou to not spread. If you do, you must email a speech doc.
- I don't flow cross- if something important happens, tell me in a speech or it will not be on my flow.
- Tech>truth. Obv exception is evidence ethics - if you claim that a source says something and it doesn't, I will not look kindly at that argument.
- I won't evaluate OFFENSE that is extended through ink from rebuttal to final focus- if you want me to vote for you on it, extend it through summary.
- Also- I expect the second rebuttal to respond to all of the offense in the round. Let me just add - given that y'all have four minutes, I also expect interaction with the defense read in the first rebuttal, but I'll be more lenient with accepting those responses in summary.
- On intervention - the only time I will intervene is if there is no comparative weighing, or quite honestly, weighing at all. I don't want to ever do this. So if you'd like to win or lose the debate based on the content of the round, weigh.
- additionally, meta-weighing. Especially if you and your opponents are going for different weighing mechanisms, please tell me why I should prefer your weighing mechanism !
- I understand the appeal of progressive debate, and won't automatically down-vote a team that runs it. However, I prefer judging rounds that don't involve frivolous theory. If there has been an egregious offense in the round and/or you feel very passionately about your theory shell, I will judge it. Otherwise, please don't run theory in front of me.
- Unfortunately, I am still not the best at evaluating K's and their place in PF. That's not to say you can't run a K in front of me, but I might not evaluate it in the way you'd like me to.
- For speaks - my range is normally between 27 - 29.7. I don't usually give perfect speaks, or below a 27. But if you are blatantly sexist, homophobic, or racist, that will change.
- On evidence : I'll be a part of email chains in rounds. Please share it with nylacrayton@gmail.com. I might not read every piece of evidence in full, but if you tell me to read something during, or after, the round I will.
- Speech times - I will continue to flow your speech up until ~10 seconds after your time is up. I will stop listening and stop flowing if you continue beyond that time.
- Prep - I keep track of prep in the round, and I am always a bit annoyed when you go over that time. If you prep for more than 30 seconds past your prep time, expect to lose speaks.
- Pre-flowing : please finish before the round starts.
Anyways... if you have any more questions, either ask me before the round or shoot an email to nylacrayton@gmail.com !
umich '27, debated 4 years for thomas s. wootton '23 on nat circuit, 2x toc
tldr:
speed ok, theory eh (see below if planning on running), tech > truth
start an email chain before round starts & add me: ruthdai077@gmail.com
please label said chain "tournament name, year, round, flight, team 1 code vs team 2 code"
in round:
preflow before round
no offtime roadmaps needed, just tell me where you're starting & signpost
i heavily prefer fw be extended in every speech but i won't hold it against u if you dont
spend more time explaining wonky args
if u spread: send speech docs (put in chain--don't put a locked doc). however, even w/ a doc u need to be clear for me to flow--i wont flow off the doc and/or double-check my flow with the doc for you
if u plan to go ultra fast(but not spreading) just give me a warning right before u start
anything not frontlined in 2nd rebuttal is conceded
turns must be impacted out and implicated in rebuttal to be voted for. id also strongly strongly strongly prefer them to be weighed when introduced
i have a pretty low threshold for what i consider turns--but 10 word blips labeled as one wont be voted on
if you aren't using your opponents uniqueness for your turn, you have to introduce your own
defense is not sticky and must be implicated in every speech--i wont do it for you
*do not try to blow something up in the next speech when it wasn't implicated in the prior one--i will not evaluate it
i don't believe in uniqueness + probability + clarity of link/impact weighing but if its the only weighing i get ill evaluate it (the only time probability weighing exists is on the link level when the link chain is conceded. otherwise, it exclusively operates as defense)
comparative + meta weighing makes me happy
i default util framing in general & the squo in policy topics, otherwise, i default first (i am open to any alt presumption if this becomes a debate)
on that note, i will try my very hardest to never default; so, the less offense i see on both sides, the lower my standards for winning an argument will be (this applies exclusively to non varsity divisions)
flex prep is fine
cross:
cross goes to the flow if brought up in next speech
chill w skipping grand for a min of prep
open cross is fine
evidence:
carded warranted ev > uncarded warranted analysis > unwarranted carded ev
only will call if: you give me a reason + tell me to, for educational purposes, or just cause
i don't accept cards that aren't cut
miscut ev gets speaks dropped and is knocked off the flow
speaks:
based off strategy & speaking
start off every cross with a good knock-knock joke (bad jokes get bad speaks)
humor & a chill attitude will get u far
bring me a dunkin chai latte + hashbrowns and u will have my firstborn child
give me a 1 page mla format letter of rec for you from any of my old partners for 30 speaks
evidence challenges:
evidence challenges must be called once the card is introduced/called for
i believe ev challenges always incorporate a level of judge intervention so i prefer not adjudicating them but if it really is that egregious of a violation--you shouldn't have to worry about not picking up my ballot
prog:
in all honesty i started off on the traditional circuit and never fully adapted to new tech and am not great at evaluating progressive. that being said, its the judges obligation to adapt so read (so long as it is inclusive) what you want, just know my best attempt at an rfd will probably not make you super happy.
theory:
if i believe there's an actual violation that endangers people in the round, the shell doesn't matter to me atp, ill just down the team
all shells need to be read in the speech directly following the violation
if you read graphic material, you MUST read a trigger warning + google form opt-out option
on that note: i don’t require tws for non graphic material but that doesn’t mean i don’t evaluate tw theory for such args
running theory just because you know your opponents don't know how to respond is pretty trashy
don't read paraphrasing overviews, just run theory atp
things i wont evaluate:
- tricks
- tko's
- 30 speaks theory
- an identity k that does not apply to u but applies to ur opponents
out of round:
i will always disclose rfd (regardless of tourney rules) and im happy to disclose speaks, just ask
postrounding and being a sore loser are not mutually exclusive, im fine with the former not the latter
if you have any questions prior to the round or after feel free to email me(preferably ask me in the room, im a very lazy typer)
*side note: debate should be fun--run whatever makes you laugh (so long as your opponents are also okay with that type of round)
My email is lorileiml@gmail.com please add me to the email chain! Don't be a terrible person!! Thank you
Winner of the 2023 Harvard College Tournament Costume Contest
Debater at University of Wyoming
Meadows Assistant Coach
K affs - should have a tie to the topic in some way, well explained affs are important - how do you solve x issue?
K - I think block dependency is high in these debates too - i want nuance arguments tell me why the aff is bad, on the aff side i want reasons the aff is good idea, other than that these debates are enjoyable to watch!!
Fw- Could go either way, i find myself in a bit of these debates where both sides just read their blocks at each other and don’t engage with the other person - i’ll reward someone who engages with the nuance of the arguments being made -- you can win a counter interp or an impact turn -- justify why you get to read FW - i’d rather vote for clash than fairness
Case- I love a good case debate. I think this part of debate is under utilized and can get good wins if you have a good case neg.
Da- Disad’s can take out an aff and I love turns case stuff. If you don’t know who switches their votes on a politics da that’s a little sad. you should explain the story of the da.
Cp- Counterplans are cool! Adv cp’s are not being used enough - a lot of people write affs that can be beat by a simple counter plan. Explain the process of the counter plan please :)
T- Im not a big fan of broad t definitions but I know they have to be used sometimes. T debates are also super messy so keep it clean. Tell me why them being untopical is bad. I haven’t judged a lot of T debates on this topic so explain it well.
Tech over truth :)
Clipping - I want video or recording otherwise this can be hard to verify unless i already know it’s happening
Other events- I enjoy judging other events besides policy! Please don’t worry about me being your judge I love all events of speech and debate and would love to learn more about them.
Add me to the chain - Aidin123@berkeley.edu
ASU LD: Do what you do best. Though within progressive-based arguments, I have a better understanding of some arguments over others; below is a quick look for prefs:
1 - Policy/Traditional
2 - Theory, Common K's (Cap, Set-col, etc..)
3 - Phil, Whacky K's (Need more explanation for me to evaluate fairly)
5/Strike - Non-T K Aff's, Tricks, Friv Theory (I do not have the background that I think I need to have to evaluate all arguments fairly and to the quality that you deserve, and friv theory is just an incredibly annoying nuisance)
- Scroll to the bottom for some additional specifics about things
- I haven't judged fast debate in like a year so please please start slow and build into it I need to adjust back.
LD at the bottom:
Just call me Aidin
UC Berkeley Chemistry 23' GO BEARS! BOO PINE TREES!
LD Coach Park City (2020 - Present)
TLDR;
I'm a very expressive person if my face says I hate it. It means I hate it. If I nod or smile, I like what you're saying. Follow the faces
I hate extinction level impacts! I think they create lazy debating where there is a convoluted link chain that will never remotely happen, BUT UTIL!!! So you can run extinction, but to your opponents say MAD.
Impact turns anything that isn't morally repugnant -- corruption, terrorism, oil prices -- because there are two sides to every story
I will say clear three times before I stop flowing altogether. Whatever is not on the flow is not going to be evaluated. PLEASE SIGNPOST!
Weigh, weigh, weigh, weigh a little more, and then after weighing, weigh again for good measure
Write the ballot for me in the last speech; the easier it is for me to vote for, the more likely you are to win
Utah Circuit: I debated a lot on the local circuit and now judge a lot. Have impacts and weigh.
- One rule: An extension is not an extension without an explanation and warranting behind it. I will not flow "Extend Contention 3," and that's it.
PF:
Follow my dearest friend Gavin Serr's paradigms for a more comprehensive look at how I would judge PF.
BIGGEST THINGS
- Don't steal prep - It's not hard to start and stop a timer.
- I default Neg. If there is no offense from either side, I'll stick with the status quo
- It's not an argument without a warrant
- A dropped argument is true, but that doesn't mean it matters. I need reasons why the extension matters. I'm not voting on something that I don't know the implications of it.
- Reading a card is part of the prep, without a doubt.
- If you want me to read a card indite, it's not my job as a judge to win you the round.
- If you will talk about marginalized people, framing and overviews are your friends.
- Please have link extensions in both the summary and FF
- Weighing requires a comparison and why the way you compare is better. Which is better, magnitude or timeframe? IDK, you tell me.
LD:
LARP
Solvency
DAs need to have solid internal links
Offense on the DA needs to be responded to even if kicked
Perms need to be contextualized
K's
A flushed-out link story is fabulous; do this every time you run a K.
line by line analysis is of the utmost importance
explanation and quality is better than quantity; I do not vote on things I do not understand, so take the safe route and spend a little more time explaining 5 arguments than dumping 15 that are all blippy
Use a framework and weighing case as your friend.
AFF - please extend and weigh case
Theory
I love the theory. Few caveats, however.
1) I hate frivolous theory. If you run condo bad on 1 or 2 off, I will likely drop your speaks because you're annoying. That being said, please respond to it, but the more frivolous it is, the lower my threshold for responses to it.
2) Disclosure is a MUST. Don't run disclosure theory if your opponent doesn't know what the wiki is. You don't need to disclose new aff's. 30 is enough time to prep.
3) Please WEIGH as much as possible I don't know the difference between an opponent winning time screw and another winning on the ground.
4) Competing interps - The less I intervene, the better for y'all, especially on the highest layer of debate where the round is won or lost. So I try to limit "gut checks" and reasonability unless otherwise told to in the round.
5) No RVI's default but can be changed with hearty effort
6) Please slow down on theory; it's hard to flow everything at top speed, especially if it's not carded and has 5 sub-points.
How I write my RFD's: “Sometimes I’ll start a sentence and I don’t even know where it’s going. I just hope I find it along the way.” - Michael Scott
How I give my RFDs: “I talk a lot, so I’ve learned to tune myself out.” - Kelly Kapoor
How I feel judging: “If I don’t have some cake soon, I might die.” - Stanley Hudson
What I want to do instead of judging: “I just want to lie on the beach and eat hot dogs. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.” - Kevin Malone
What happens when no one weighs: “And I knew exactly what to do. But in a much more real sense, I had no idea what to do.” - Michael Scott
Have questions about chemistry or Berkeley? Ask away
Debate is something to be proud of, win or lose, and have a smile on your face.
tom.jj.perret@gmail.com
Hey! I'm Tom - I debated PF at Park City on the national circuit for two years. Please respect your opponents, their pronouns, and the circumstances they might be debating in while online.
Overall, I'm a pretty standard tech judge: If Team A is winning a link to an impact and Team B is not, Team A is going to win. If both teams are winning a link to an impact, I look to the weighing.
General:
I'm flowing what you say, not what I read off of your doc; if I don't understand what you're saying and I flow it incorrectly, that is your fault. That being said, I can handle speed as long as it's clear.
I used to think that this goes with without saying, but recent debates force me to remind you that you need full link extensions in summary and final focus.
I struggle to understand probability weighing; if you've won a link to an impact, it is probable. Impacts that are actually improbable definitionally have tenuous links that are easy to answer analytically. As a result, please don't use your probability "weighing" as a chance to read defense in final focus when it should have just been formulated as a link response in rebuttal.
Weighing is not weighing unless it's comparative.
Frontline in second rebuttal.
I'm not going to call for evidence unless you tell me to.
Theory:
Read theory in the speech after the violation occurs.
You need to extend the interp and drop the debater.
I think that paraphrasing is bad and that disclosure is good, but I'm not going to hack for you if you've lost that debate on the flow.
I default to competing interps, but I'm open to well-warranted explanations of the benefits of reasonability.
Critical Arguments:
I am unfamiliar with the technicalities of k debate, but I am familiar with some critical theory and am open to hearing well-warranted arguments.
I read a good amount of post-fiat structural violence framing in high school.
I will cap your speaks at 27 if you read tricks.
Please just have a nice little case debate :(
Signpost or it didn't happen;
Arguments have to be in summary and final focus;
Consider slowing down a little for my tired old ears;
Err silly and down to earth over perceptually dominant;
Weighing is very important and shouldbe evidence-based;
It's okay to answer a theory shell then go for substance. Encouraged, even;
And meet NSDA rules for evidence or strike me. You have to have a cut card at a minimum.
Put me on the email chain and title it something logical: gavinslittledebatesidehustle@gmail.com.
Top Level:
Head-Royce '22, WFU '26
Topics I debated: Immigration, Arms Sales, Criminal Justice Reform, Water Resources, Legal Rights, Nukes
Add me to the chain, ask me before round
I debate on the college circuit and have been both a 2A and 2N at various times throughout my years of debate. I've read both policy affs and kritikal affs. On the neg, in high school, my partner and I primarily went for T or some other theory/the K vs policy affs and Cap/some theory argument vs K affs. In college, my partner and I primarily read a plan on the aff and k's on the neg.
Debate should be a safe activity for everyone. If you say or do anything offensive, I'll stop the round and give you a loss and zeros.
Short Version:
Do what you do best. I would much rather see teams who know what they are reading and talking about than teams who are trying to adapt to me but lack nuance. My knowledge is pretty flex, but more centered around kritiks. I will still vote for your CP/DA strategies though. I love a good T/Theory debate so if thats your jam, go for it. Writing my ballot for me at the top of the 2NR/2AR is key to get my vote.
Argument Specific:
FW: Can go either way, but I probably err aff. I have a much higher standard for fairness as an impact compared to clash. This doesn't mean I won't vote on it, it just means I prefer clash. The aff team has to clearly explain their interp and the world of the interp. Redefining words of the resolution is key for teams that want to go for the w/m. Implicating the framework DA's to the TVA and SSD is important and I will unlikely do that work for you.
K's: I am versed and experienced in most k lit, but that doesn't mean I'll hack for you. I love specific links to the aff and I like pushes on framework as well. In high school, the K was our go to, so take that info how you will. For aff teams, making sure that your 2AC blocks are responsive to the correct theory of K is a must. I don't have a preference between a case o/w strat and perm/link turn strat, just make sure you articulate and flag the args you want me to vote on in the 2AR.
K Aff's: I love kritikal affs and think they are really interesting and a great part of debate. I read a K aff my junior and senior year. Please clearly explain what your method/solvency does. I should be able to explain it back to you at the end of the debate, and if I can't, you probably don't have my ballot. K aff's get perms.
DA's: You have to have a clear link to the aff, and there has to be impact comparison. A good turns case analysis versus aff impact will make my ballot a lot easier to get.
CP's: I like a good counterplan debate, but I think that advantage cps with a ton of planks can be abusive. I am not the best in a competition debate. There has to be a net benefit to the permutation.
T/Theory: I love T and theory, so please read it. There needs to be a specific violation and impacts explained and warranted through the 2NR for me to vote for you. Plans should be clear and explain what the aff does, I will not be happy with vague plan texts and opens the door for potential theory arguments.
Case: This is the most underutilized part of debate. A good case debate can dismantle an aff, so please spend time on it.
Other things:
Disclosure: It should be 100% correct, and I am not afraid to drop a team for bad disclosure. This includes disclosing the wrong plan text or changing something without alerting the other team.
If you bring an ethics challenge, the round stops.
Please, please, please be nice to each other.
You have to read the card/rehighlight, not insert it.
Email chain: yads139@gmail.com
I have 4 years of pf debate experience. My pronouns are he/him.
Please send a speech doc (with cut evidence, not just rhetoric) if possible.
General:
in round:
- I'll listen to cross; I don't understand why most tech judges don't; it's part of the activity for a reason. With that being said, I'll listen, but only vote off of what is said if you implicate it in a speech.
- defenseis sticky
- offense is not sticky
- extensions should have at minimum uniqueness, link and impacts; internal link extensions are nice too
- all args that you want me to vote on must be extended properly
- I won't evaluate args that are not extended through every speech (except first rebuttal)
- no new offense past rebuttals
- don't be abusive with new responses
- I understand the desire to do a bunch of prep and be a doc bot, but please interact with your opps case on a ev/warrant basis. It makes the debates more fun, makes weighing easier, and makes it so that I don't have to intervene.
weighing:
- Please don't say "we outweigh on magnitude, scope, probability." you need a comparative warrant for each mechanism.
- Weighing should start latest in summary; first rebuttal should be weighing.
- There should be no new weighing in final focus.
- Do not use probability weighing as a trojan horse to sneak in a new response.
- Prereqs/link-ins are a great way to make a debate fun.
Progressive arguments:
Run at your own risk! I'll vote off of theory/T, and I can understand some k's, but if yours is convoluted and/or spread I cannot guarantee I will. If you have a well constructed (and well-meaning) k or theory shell read it :)
Public Forum specifics:
- First speakers should ideally start weighing out of first rebuttal. Second speakers should weigh in second rebuttal (even if minimally).
- Please collapse on 1-2 args in summary. I have a high threshold for blippy arguments.
- Do not read the claim of a turn in rebuttal and expect to attach a warrant later on. I will only evaluate turns that are warranted, implicated and weighed out of rebuttal.
- You must go for the same arguments in summary/final focus.
LD specifics:
- Do not LD spread. I will not be able to understand what you are saying.
- Please talk slowly and clearly. Quality of arguments matters more than the quantity.
- I understand minimal circuit ld concepts. Be aware that reading a type of argument that is present in LD and PF may not translate to me.
polahs & lamdl '22
liberty '25
i debated for 4 years in an urban debate league (yes we know how to debate)
top level:
TURN YOUR CAMERA ON I am not listening to a debate podcast
give roadmap, signpost, have clash, make me laugh
S L O W D O W N on analytics my hand is slow
if you run more than 5 off I will dock your speaks
I cannot hear that well so if youre mumbling im not flowing that arg
dont spread blocks at me I need round contextualization
I vote on theory I think it's important
I make lots of facial expressions... they're a good indicator of how well you're doing
I need judge instruction tbh im lazy (you should do this for every judge anyways)
if you make someone uncomfortable im docking your speaks and giving that person higher speaks (being in a round where that has happened to be several times I am very sympathetic)
please make cx funny
don't steal prep bruh it's not that serious
ngl I can barely keep up with my own time in round so im def not gonna keep it as the judge. but if you seem sus with the time imma call you out
policy (cx):
~ depth over breadth so if you run a bunch of offs please explain them thoroughly bc I get annoyed having to flow a bunch of offs that get kicked in the block as a "strategy" but it really just makes the debate messy and no one knows what they're talking about
~ long overviews are a waste of time
~ saying kritiks are bad for debate will never be a good "arg" in front of me. get with the times. your model of debate is bad.
~ case debate is fun tbh
~ I like case turns
~ dont tell me to judge kick- you're the one debating
~ ballot pik/k/turn: if youre gonna sit here and tell the other team that asking for the ballot from a non white person is bad - u need to check urself this is the one arg im definitely not tabula rasa on... everybody wants the ballot - just debate that's how u get the ballot youre wasting ur time debating about the ballot cuz im gonna give it to someone whether they specifically ask for it or not it's an inevitable portion of debate
~ I dont have any hs hierarchical awareness so dont think imma vote for u bc ur that school or that team stop being pretentious this is a niche activity worry abt school more
2023-24 szn
~ tbh work K is so good like ugh ik that's not the most popular take but still
~ im not an economist so don’t assume ik what youre saying
policy v policy
~ do not pref me plz (im not incompetent or whatever but ur style of debate is just very bland)
~ i.e. "our ___ card is really good on this" LOL what does the card say???
policy v k
~ I love a good soft left aff v a critique
~ impact weighing is good but it ultimately comes down to a util debate anyways
~ I will vote on cap or fw btw so don’t be scared to run that
~ K teams don’t just be like fwk is racist u have to justify it use YOUR impacts
k v k
~ these are my fav debates to be in esp method debates
~ reject the alt – bruh u gotta tell me what mechanisms youre rejecting
~ I feel like yall be scared of each other – be confident!!!
other formats:
I don't know a thing about ld, speech, congress,pf, or parli so please explain things to me very simply
im still learning pf slowly but surely
be interesting
tech vs truth is not real
reading cap ≠ k debater
being a k hack is not a thing
being a policy hack is a thing
good luck
i debated pf for 4 years in high school and am now a senior at villanova university.
how to win my ballot:
- weigh.
- i'm fine with speed. if you're losing clarity because of it, i'll call "clear".
- collapse!
here is how i think i’m like every other pf judge:
- don't just say that things are true, i want to hear some warrants. i won't vote on an argument i don't understand.
- if your offense is in ff, it should be in summary.
- hit the line-by-line hard.
- i know as close to nothing as possible about kritiks and theory. nonetheless, i'm not ideologically opposed to their use in public forum, so go for it if you can explain it in a way that a person who knows nothing can understand.
- a dropped argument is a true argument, but that doesn't mean it matters. you've still gotta weigh it to win the round on it.
- impact calculus is a waste of time if it isn't comparative and contextualized to your opponents' offense.
here is how i differ from community norms:
- in my rfds, great analytics beat a poorly-cut card 9/10 times. evidence quality matters, but quality argumentation matters a lot more.
- impact turn anything that isn't morally repugnant -- corruption, terrorism, oil prices -- because there are two sides to every story and it can pay off to advance an uncommon perspective.
- if the off-time roadmap is more than five seconds, i will be very sad
- please don't steal prep!
- there's an over-reliance on stats in pf. tell me a story and explain why it matters.
- i will not drop a team for misconstruing evidence. the most i'll do is choose not to evaluate the evidence as part of the argument *if* it's indicted. if you realize that your opponent is misconstruing evidence, ask me to call for the card and i gladly will before making my decision.
speaker points: this is about what you say, not only how you say it. if you deserve to win rounds, you'll get high speaks.
the best piece of advice i ever heard during my 4 years debating came from my coach, gavin serr (our paradigm preferences are practically identical, so take a look if you'd like to learn more about my judging style):
debate in a way that you can be proud of, and always remember that your integrity is the most valuable thing that can be won or lost in a round.
questions? you can contact me at ngwilliams19@gmail.com.
add sevenlakespf@googlegroups.com to the email chain
debated 4 years for Seven Lakes, 3x TOC, 3x nats
tech > truth, do whatever you want as long as its not offensive, have fun
in my career, I SPECIALIZEDIN C PESS ARGUMENTS.
I love a good extensions, i am a stickler!!!!!!!!!!! happy face