Hello! I am Christy Cruz from Travis Bryan High School.

I am a parent/Lay judge and I usually judge in the novice divisions, but in case I have to judge varsity, here are my Preferences.

1= I know and comfortable judging.

2= A little confusing, but I can understand.

3= Very confusing, but I will try to understand.

4= Way to confusing and likely won't understand. (Strike)

Traditional/UIL style- 1

LARP/Policy- 2

K- 3

K/Performance Affs- 4

Topicality-3

Theory- 4

Philosophy- 1

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!

Background: grand saline high school 21-23

2022 uil ld state champion

2023 uil ld state semifinalist.

I will vote for the better debater

Theory>framework if reasonable

Counterplan substance will be weighed greater than or equal to framework, that being said if you run a cp make sure to run it properly

Absent framework debate i will default tangibility of impacts

Ask further questions if you want!

I have judged debate on and off the past 22 years. I did CX debate for 4 years in high school.

I don’t mind spread, but it has to be done well. If it is not done well, I stop flowing.

LD is value debate. The debater should focus on supporting and weighing a value with a criterion instead of a second value. Both affirmative and negative debaters should have a value and criteria and explain how the case filters through those arguments. Both debaters should refute their opponents' arguments and extend their cases. I will vote for the debater who presents the most logical persuasive argument in support of the case and in refutation of the opposing case

CX is policy debate. The debater should focus on supporting/negating the resolution/policy. If the debaters in the round do not tell me why their argument is important, I will default to the stock issues, but I will vote on any issue if the team can clearly explain why I should care about their argument. Ultimately, I want to know what the problem is, what the Affirmative proposes to do about it, and why the Affirmative plan is a best to implement. I have no reason to vote for the Affirmative if they do not clear this burden first. The negative's responsibility is to tell me why we should not implement the Affirmative plan. I have no problems with counter-plans, but they must be done correctly.

I understand that this is a learning experience for most, so I try to make a comfortable room for most. I am good with most things in a round.

My paradigm is Tabula Rasa. I will accept any argument until the other debater contests it with logic, evidence, or theory. I like to flow with the debate lightly. The criterion and value criterion are major factors in my decision-making. I prefer a medium rate of delivery, but I would not vote against a student solely for exceeding my preferred speed. I find it very important to present all evidence in round 1. The most important part of the debate for me is the arguing, so I like to see good cross-examinations and rebuttals. Most of my decision is made by what arguments do or don't get contested, and how well they are contested.

Layzmozes22@gmail.com 

add me to the email chain: jennm.ochoa@gmail.com (please send as a word doc, thanks)

hi y’all! i’m jennifer | she/her

i did LD in the UIL/TFA circuit (qual) along with congress and extemp, now i consult for high schools.

paradigm is gonna be divided into sections, feel free to ask questions before round. take the time to read it.

SPEAKS

i have zero threshold for homophobic, racist, transphobic, xenophobic, and classist etc. comments, remarks, or evidence and I will tank speaks. i am NOT afraid to auto loss and have done in the past. do not make the debate space unsafe.

i give speaker points based on coherent speaking, organized speeches and effective signposting down the line by line. i do not tolerate excessive rudeness, demeaning others in round or offensive commentary. to me, speaks are also educational so there are also given based off of if i believe you belong in elims. i'll start at 28 and go up and down from there. (also don't ask for a 30 i'm not giving it to you)

speed is fine and spreading is fine just PLEASE send the doc. DO NOT SPREAD ANALYTICS and please please signpost. upload analytics if you feel like you’re going to spread through them. if I can’t understand you I’m going to miss things when flowing and I’m not gonna vote off of something that isn’t on my flow. also please just ask if your opponent is okay with it (don't spread out novices or be mean to them, i'll probably up your speaks if you're nicer in obvious power imbalance situations)

LD/CX

bold=tldr

1. construct the narrative for my ballot. don’t make me have to fill in internal links or assume what you’re trying to get at

2. i prefer evidence analysis as opposed to card dumps, i just don’t find them compelling and hate when it’s used in an abusive way. analytics can work just as good as cards. collapsing is okay.

3. j ust because you use a lot of policy lingo does not make you a better debater. dumping debate language on me is not an argument.

4. winning framework doesn’t win you the round. especially if you aren’t accessing your frame through offense, it isn't my job to weigh offense for you, so please show me how offense connects to frame.

5. please signpost. please. especially if you’re spreading. if you’re jumping from flow to flow I need indication of it, even if it’s just “next off”, i’ll get so lost if you don’t signpost. i’ll flow off the doc for constructive but i’m not gonna flow anything that i don’t understand as you speak.

6. i’m a stickler for warrants. i won’t do the work for you in extending your warrants across the flow, also no warrant arguments are VERY persuasive to me- i'll reread the card.

FRAMEWORK:

i honestly love framework debate if there is one, but i also don’t care if y’all collapse. please make sure you’re accessing at least some level of the framework debate tho.

DA/CP

love DA’s. just please make sure you can win all parts of the disad and please weigh impacts vs. aff. i personally prefer case-specific and UQ DA’s above the generics just explain to me why you’re running it. don’t just dump generic DA’s to waste opp’s time, it’s annoying and i buy aff time skew args.

cp’s are cool. please have a net benefit to the CP, if you don’t and i can’t figure it out you probablyy aren’t going to win the cp. i won’t judge kick, do it for me. condo as default works.

KRITIKS:

love!! i personally love love identity K’s, i think they provide really great discourse into the world of debate. PLEASE do NOT read an identity-based argument if you are NOT that identify, i’m gonna feel really skeptical and i’ll probably feel a little icky. when responding to identity K’s please be careful of how it comes out, if it isn’t a logical warranted argument it’ll probably sound racist, misogynistic, homophobic, ableist etc, if it makes me uncomfortable i will not evaluate it. edit: just because I'm a fan of identity k's doesn't mean you can just weigh the k and not engage with offense/shells, you have to actually win framework

K debate tends to have really high academic literature, please use it in an educational manner instead of an abusive one, especially as a tool to confuse your opponent. if you’re running a less familiar k or a new k, you should make sure you understand it, and also please make sure i understand it. i'm not the biggest fan of completely non-topical k's but go ahead

i’m pretty good with understanding most k lit!! if it’s something really niche just have great explanations pls. if I look lost, i promise it’ll show on my face lol

T

i'm pretty lenient when it comes to t. tbh, as long as aff has a decent enough link to the resolution, it isn’t that important of a voter for me unless you prove the link is just like non-existent. if aff is entirely non-topical it's a different story. usually i default to weighing in these debates. this doesn't mean i won't ever vote off t though lol

reasonability ---x------ competing interps

PHIL:

i like phil!! but i’d appreciate good explanations. i’m comfortable in pre-flat worlds. most familiar with authors/theory butler, ahmed, rawls, locke, maslow, kant, etc. spikes are fine.

THEORY:

shells are okay when warranted. i am the WRONG judge if you run frivolous theory. i’m probably not the best judge for hardcore shell debates. also please have clash if its shell v shell, just reading pre-scripted overview a2’s doesn’t really have specific and true clash. disclosure/contact theory, i don’t feel comfortable voting a particular way inside of a round based on something that happened outside of it, i never vote off of it, and it hurts small schools/programs. i'm not a fan of "new affs bad" or "must include round reports" and (friv) stuff like that either, especially if it's your idea of a round-winning strategy.

i try to give leeway for the 4 min 1ar, but i expect the 2ar to layer voters for me. i think that assuming theory is layered before the impacts of the debate is intervening.

CONGRESS

please have sources and actual evidence. please just clash. please. i don’t find it aggressive to directly attack another representative in the chamber with clash regarding their speech, i actually find it extremely entertaining and it will get you good comments. aggressive cross is fine until your behavior gets annoying.

your presentation is a key part in your ranking.

ok. personally calling a recess to ask for splits will make me eye roll. just give your speeches, if you aren’t prepped, it’ll probably reflect on your ranking anyways. i would rather you call for previous question than hear rehash on a bill or three neg speeches in a row. yes i do agree people should get to give as many speeches as they can, but precedence is still a thing and at the end of the day it’s a competition. take the opportunity to give your speech. yes i rank you based off of your individual speeches but i also rank you off of how you interact in the chamber. i do not rank you based off of how nice you are in round (unless you’re being disrespectful).

i judge every event!! so if you have questions that aren't addressed on here, just ask :)

My paradigm stands somewhere between tabula rasa and games player depending on the format. I've been judging on the circuit for 10 years, now. And have judged every event at least once, but judge LD / CX most often - usually 3-6 rounds / month of each, depending on the tournament schedules.

What that means: You know best how you debate, and while you should try to cater to your audience, as long as you stay in the format of the round you're in, I will judge based on individual merit, level of mastery of the topic at hand, and how well formulated / defended your arguments are in the round itself. I'm not going to be surprised by just about any argument, and would like to see a new debate played out instead of hearing the same camp files with the same rebuttals, every round. But, I also understand: New isn't always better, stick to your strategy you walked in with and give me your best round of the day.

For both CX & LD I am comfortable with spreading, as long as you slow down for the source / warrant / tagline - just signpost efficiently and clearly, as well as telling me where you want your arguments / rebuttals cross applied.

In LD, I expect analytical arguments, and want to see a philosophical debate, not a CX round with a Value / Criterion framework. This, in my opinion, isn't the place for DAs and counter-plans, generally speaking, sometimes the topic caters to this strategy, and if it's a strong strategy, I'm not going to fault you for it. In that same vein, your arguments do not necessarily need to be evidence based, as long as you can convince me that what you are saying is morally superior, as that is the spirit of this debate format. That said, I'm not going to count out evidence-based arguments, as your strategy might depend on it.

In CX, give me any argument you think is best, I'll flow it, as long as you signpost where you're going & where you want arguments cross-applied. Don't expect me to do your work for you. DAs, Ks, Counter Plans, analytical, empirical evidence, they all have their place in this format, run it well and I will be receptive; run it poorly, you'll lose speaker points, but the round will ultimately go to the best team, not individual arguments.

UIL LD: Direct clash is the most important thing. If I cannot flow your attacks and rebuttals, I will not be able to judge the round efficiently. Tell me what you want me to vote on. Tell me when your opponent drops your case. Do not assume I will "get it" or "figure it out." Do not ignore the criterion. Know what framework is, how to use it, and when to debate over it. If I cannot vote on framework, I will resort to on case argument (Contention) so make sure you know your case and not just how to read it. USE ALL YOUR PREP TIME.

CX: I'm a policy maker judge. I don't mind spreading. Yes, I want to be included in the email chain (Anna.rhea@kempisd.org), but I prefer Speechdrop. I am biased on impact but have been known to vote on timeframe and significance. I am not a fan of Topicality arguments as time suck. I'm probably not going to prefer your definition unless you can show in the shell there is a serious problem that skews the debate. Uses rebuttal to crystalize the round and avoid unnecessary summary - VOTERS are a must. I DO NOT vote on CX. That is for you to get an advantage on your opponent through inquiry.

amrod2027@gmail.com

POLICY/LD

I understand both tech and trad arguments. I promise I can understand most spreading but if you think you are one of the fastest speakers in the world just start a chain. I have 5+ years of LD experience. I have 2+ years of policy experience. If no voters/role of ballot/ whatever framework is not given on how I should weigh the round I default util. Shadow extensions make me sad however I will allow it. I do collegiate debate. Tech over truth.

K's- I am pretty good with western political literature, some cap literature, some afropess literature, psycho, and that is about it. Not to say I will not vote on a K of another topic but just explain the story to me better if it does not fall under that better.

Aff K's- It is what I primarily run now.

Counter-plans- It is what I primarily run on the neg (specifically the DA + PIC double whammy).

Disads/advantages- The bread and butter of the basics of argumentation. Just keep in mind on the impact calc I will default mag > probability > timeframe unless giving clear reasons otherwise. I am pretty easily convinced in framing that probability should come first.

Theory/T - I am also okay with "meme" theory with something very outlandish as long as you argue it well. Y'all policy kids though gotta get less lazy with that standard/voter debate. Condo is good but I will vote on condo theory if it is compelling. Default competing interps.

Side note: The RVI time skew on a T debate is silly. The RVI good/bad debate is a time skew (so how are you gonna run an RVI and claim time skew) so like idk that's my take on it. I am basically less inclined to vote on it especially if the T sheet preempts it however I also run it all the time so meh.

I do not flow CX but do not abuse that it is binding. Also CX is a speech just like a rebuttal or constructive so use and abuse it.

Basically do what you want I can hang.

NSDA Congress

Only thing you need to know is I judge congress as a speech/performance until given a reason to otherwise. I am all for being the judge that allows the K to make a Segway into congress debate although it probably will not happen lol (that does not mean try something wacky just for the sake of something wacky).

For how I treat the POs for rankings:

I believe the PO can either do a bad job or just their job. No such thing as an exceptional PO only an average (one that does everything right) or bad one. So with this if anyone gives an astounding speech they will be ranked higher than the PO however if this does not exist in the room assuming the PO did their job they (the PO) will be ranked the highest. If everyone (including the PO) does a bad job then the PO will be ranked the lowest.

ie:

1st - Great speaker, 2nd - PO, 3rd - Okay speaker, 4th- bad speaker.

Or

1st- Po, 2nd - okay speaker, 3rd - bad speaker

Or

1st- Great/ok speaker, 2nd- bad speaker, 3rd- bad PO

You get it.

Ask questions if you need them as this is the only thing I find relevant for understanding my rankings that I thought to include. I did not main congress in school but I did it occasionally as a hobby to fight debate burnout. Trust me though when I say I am qualified to judge y'all I am not some parent judge.

Stock Issues

– Topicality

– Significance of Harm

– Inherency

– Solvency

– Advantage Over Disadvantage

armadaverae@gmail.com

Hi, my name is Armada (she/they). I debated a few years ago at Centennial in LD. Please use a loud voice. Slow down on analytics(or just send them), I won't flow what I don't catch. I'll say clear three times before I stop flowing.

Please make sure Ks are clear- especially links, alts, and ROB. I'm not the best judge for performance, tricks, or phil; I am not familiar with them. DAs and Ts are fine. CPs and theory need good links. Framework debates are good. I'll vote on 2 condo but more than that, and probably I'll err aff. I'll vote on theory but there needs to be clear abuse and spec DTD/DTA.

Tell me what argument you won, how, and why it matters. Do the weighing and impact calculus for me. I like good links and evidence- especially when collapsing. Connect it back to the framework. I won't evaluate arguments without extensions.

Have your cases ready!!

If there is any discrimination, racism, sexism, or homophobia in round, I will tank speaks and hand the L. Be nice to each other and do not create a hostile environment, we want a fun debate :)

Overall Notes- I don't really like speed or spreading. If you choose to spread then you will need to make your taglines clear. If I cannot understand your tags then I cannot flow the argument. Also do not expect me to be able to understand all the analysis from your arguments if you do not slow down for it.

LD- I tend to consider myself to be more of a traditionalist when it comes to LD. I enjoy a solid framework debate. I tend to vote for the debater that impacts out their arguments the best. I tend to judge based off the quality of arguments not the quantity of arguments. I think that one good argument can win the round for either side. I am not as comfortable with policy arguments in LD, but I was a CXer, so if you are in a panel situation I won't automatically vote you down for running them.

CX- I am a policymaker judge. I tend to judge based from a util mindset unless you give me another framework to work through. I really like to hear debate that focuses on the balance between terminal and real-world impacts. I tend to like cohesive negative strategies that work together. Personally I am okay with conditionality, but if you want to get into the theory debate and impact it out in the round go for it. I am fine with any sort of theory debate. On T I default to reasonability. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

I am a parent judge. While I've never participated in the high school debate, I bring over 15 years of experience in cancer research and a career as a seasoned biology professor at a premier college. My familiarity with presenting and evaluating complex arguments has given me a keen sense of logic and reason. What I am looking for in your debate are 1. Methodical Approach: Your piece should be a well-drafted "story". Present your arguments in a well-thought-out manner. I prefer a structured layout with layers of evidence that build upon each other. 2. Clear Thought Process: It’s not just about the conclusion you reach, but the journey you take to get there. Ensure your line of reasoning is clear, concise, and easy to follow - "less is more". 3. Organization: The way you structure your arguments matters. A cohesive flow will always score higher in my book.

In terms of style, I value the following: 1. Calmness Over Aggressiveness: An argument’s strength isn’t in its volume. I find that a loud and aggressive style detracts from the content. Instead, a calm, composed delivery with instances of passion is what catches my attention. 2. Evidence-driven: A loud voice without strong evidence will only weaken your argument in my eyes. Back your points with solid evidence.

Debate is a form of art of communication. You are communicating not only with your opponents but more importantly with your audience. In my view, the debate is not about being right (because there is no right or wrong answer for any debate topic), but about persuading effectively. Your ability to articulate your argument, communicate clear logic, and substantiate it with evidence is the key. I look forward to evaluating your performance and connecting with you based on the principles of clarity, organization, and logical reasoning.