I am a parent judge, who has been judging for 2 years. I flow while judging.

I flow the rounds and appreciate reasonably-paced speaking, good evidence and knowledge of your sources.

I would suggest kids to not rush. Make eye contact with me and your opponent and convince me with good evidence and a carefully made argument.

I have been judging LD debates for over four years, with occasional experience in Parli and PF formats. I prioritize clarity, substance, and respect in rounds. If any technical terms are used, please provide clear definitions. I value substantive contentions and points over intimidation or mockery. I flow during the round to track the arguments.

While I remain open-minded and impartial, I expect debaters to uphold the principles of sportsmanship and respect throughout the round. Mockery and intimidation have no place in constructive debate.

Impact calculus is highly appreciated as it helps in evaluating the significance of arguments.

Please include me (karthikakrishnna@gmail.com) in any email chains for reference. Best of luck to all debaters!"

If you need any further adjustments or clarifications, feel free to let me know!

It’s not a race. I’m not looking for the fastest speaker, but the best debater. Be clear on your position, and make sure to address the opponents points in rebuttal. Challenge the opponent in cross. Don’t just ask clarification questions and let them control the clock. Have fun!

I am Zixia Jiang, a parent judge.

• I will try to avoid personal biases or pre-existing knowledge to influence my decisions.
• Please use signposting to state your points.
• Please speak slowly and clearly. Avoid rapid speech (spreading) and minimize the use of debate jargon. Explain any specific terms in plain English.
• I will be taking notes during each speech to keep track of the key arguments and rebuttals.
• In your final speeches, provide a concise summary of the main points you want me to consider when making my decision.
• Be courteous and respectful to each other. Remember, you're here to help each other improve.

Background: 2x North Dakota State Champion (Speech to Entertain, Novice Extemporaneous Speaking)

Assistant Coach -- North Dakota, California

IE/PD/LD Judge -- North Dakota, Minnesota, California

How do I judge Speech?

The round begins before it begins. First impressions last. Be courteous. Conduct yourselves as young adults throughout. Please do not get up in front of the room until you are called. Judges are often still writing on the previous speaker and do not wish to be rushed. When we're ready, we will indicate. It is disrespectful to enter or leave a round while someone else is speaking. If a competitor AND/OR her/his spectators break decorum, this will be reflected in scores/rankings. Understand your selection. How is the character's voice different from your own? Be highly specific. Take risks, but justified. It's never a gesture for a gesture's sake, or atypical movement to be atypical. Incredible things never happen when you play it safe.

How do I judge Debate? Your presentation (PATHOS) must be on par with your arguments (ETHOS, LOGOS). Persuade us. Debate is NOT about overwhelming us with information. Rapid-fire speaking, fact bombs and excessive spreading are exhausting. This is not debate. If I can't understand you, how do you expect me to ascertain the unintelligible? If I don't believe your conviction, how do you expect to convince me? Say less = say more. Choose facts carefully. Flow clearly. Articulate. Always show respect for your opponents. Lack of civility damages credibility.

DEBATERS, PLEASE READ -- Feel free to time yourselves. But if you choose to time your opponents, 1) turn off your alarms, 2) NEVER tell your opponents "time" and 3) respect that the judge's time is the official time.

• I am a parent judge.
• I will be flowing so I can track your arguments and rebuttals.
• Provide supportive evidence of your core arguments.
• Please speak clearly with signposting at a reasonable pace. I do not prefer spreading.
• Define anything technical so I can understand it.
• Please respect your opponent(s) and be courteous.
• Good luck on your rounds and all the best!

I am a first year parent judge. I did Oxford debate in high school. I would prefer moderately paced taking and no spreading. I will not be able to keep up with you if you start spreading. Since I am a first year judge, I will need you to clearly spell out your arguments, rebutals, and points during the round. Make sure you tell me why you or your team should win the round and why your arguments outweigh your opponents'. Thank you and good luck on your rounds!

Here's my approach to judging. First and foremost I assess each debater on the merit of their core arguments as well as their use of supportive evidence. I also look for how the debater rebuts their opponent arguments. Finally I am looking for each debater's overall organization, clarity and presentations style. I suggest to keep the arguments simple so they can be explained without involving too much theory like spreading.

I've debated for 7 years and have judged on/off for 4 years.

I will be flowing.

Good luck !