Heya folks--

My name is David Brodsky, I'm an English teacher at Silver Creek High School, and I'm a lay judge. I'm excited to learn more about debate and to move slowly towards flow judge status.

In my limited time in the debate world, however, I've learned that I am biased against utilitarian framework. Spreading makes the whole process of judging a debate painful, uninteresting, and slightly humorous. I appreciate original oration and cringe at cliches.

I value arguments that incorporate all of the stakeholders in a given issue, not just what's best for the most amount of people. I value arguments that are thoughtfully delivered and formulated and backed up with credible and contemporary sources. And finally I value arguments that seek to advance social justice issues.

I look forward to learning more about debate and to listening to your contentions. See you soon!

--David Brodsky

Welcome debaters! I'm excited to hear your arguments today. Here's what I look for when evaluating rounds:

1. Clearly communicate your points avoiding excessive speed or spreading.
2. Demonstrate strong presentation skills with effective use of rhetoric, tone, and gentle body language.
3. Arguments should be logical, coherent and supported by credible evidence. Provide data and examples to bolster your claims and refute opposing arguments.
4. Adhere to debate format including rules and conventions, time limits, and engaging in constructive dialogue with your opponents.
5. I expect Fairness and Respect by maintaining professional demeanor and avoiding personal attacks or derogatory language.

Have a great debate!

I view debate as a competitive, communication event/game. You should communicate your argument(s) clearly whether fast, slow or at a medium pace (MEDIUM preferred by me). I am merely a witness to the game/event that the participants in the round create for me, the audience, and themselves. Presumption is in effect. You must win your affirmative case.

If you are not in the out rounds, I expect you to be mindful of prep time. The round is a timed event, not just your speech. There is no such thing as "tech time." The fact that you have the use of a laptop in the round makes it incumbent upon you to be more efficient with your time. Stealing prep time by claiming that a roadmap does not or should not count as prep time or speaking time is a delusion. If you're in out rounds and there is an audience, then and ONLY then are untimed roadmaps permissible for the sake of the audience trying to keep track of the debate. Otherwise, part of the challenge of debate is being a maniacal time manager. Good time management makes you a better, more competitive debater and communicator.

Do not tag team cross-x!! If you're not doing cross-x, you should be prepping for your next speech. If you tag team cross-ex, I will tell you stop and ding your speaker points.

Help me, help you!!

Keep the flow organized for me. In rebuttals - tell me what the voting issues are and why you're winning those voting issues. If you can mix in appropriate humor bonus speaker points from me.

I am a lawyer and a professional philosopher by training. I was a competitive CEDA debater on a nationally ranked team way back before most of you were born. I've judged approximately 100 rounds of high school and college debate over the last several decades. I am here because I love the activity. I want you to have fun, be civil, kind and good sports with one another. Hopefully you make great, lifelong friends, and memories from debate.

Thank you for taking the time to read my judging philosophy.

Best of luck,

Michael Giove

Hi, I am a parent judge and I can follow presentations better when ideas and words come at a reasonable pace and there is less debate jargon.

This 2023-2024 is my first year judging debate and public forum. I have background experience in speech and judging speech.

For Public Forum the following are very important:

I will flow your speeches and arguments and will look for consistency.

I'm looking for clarity of references for making your case. You need to state the publication source, author and date clearly. Do not just state the author's last name and year. References from >5 years ago are not as relevant.

Address the opponents arguments clearly, and don't ignore them. Make your statements with logical arguments and address specifics. Avoid vocabulary of broad generalizations/categorizations, which do not go over well with me. You need to make the logic and connections clear. Acknowledge where the problems are complex, and it is not so clear cut. I expect you to actually address your opponents' arguments and their logic flow.

Make good use of your crossfire time and prep time. Do NOT go over in time, especially in pre-prepared opening sections. No excuse of going over time as the first speakers - you may be penalized for this. I'll provide ~5 sec grace period to finish your sentence. Anything said after the time limit will not be taken into consideration.

Do not speak too fast. I'm looking for evidence of thoroughly thinking through your arguments and case and that it makes logical sense.

Absolutely be respectful towards others. Keep a level head. No yelling or eye rolling or any other disrespectful behavior or body language.

Please introduce yourselves clearly so I know who is who (name, school, order of speaking) and which side.

Avoid using acronyms or special debate terms.

For Speech:

Pacing, speed, intonation, gestures, eye contact, walk, volume will all be taken into account and need to congruent with the actual content of your speech.

I am a parent judge.

Please be professional and respectful of everyone in the room. I will judge a topic based on your power of persuasion and not my personal beliefs.

For PF: Speed is not an issue, as long as you are clear and logical in your reasoning and arguments (ideally <225 wpm). State evidence to connect your arguments while offering practical solutions. I would like to see good team balance. I flow the round, and I will disregard any new arguments in your summaries or final focus. If something is conceded in cross, it must be brought up again in a speech for it to affect the ballot.

Please clearly weigh to make my judging easier.

If you plan to spread, I would like to have a copy of the speech so I can follow along more easily.

Please manage the length of your speech, I will allow a maximum of 15 second grace period before it starts to detrimentally impact your points.

For Speech: I will be looking for cutting, delivery and context. Manage your vocal variety, volume and diction while also trying to portray the mood of the speech well.

Most importantly, I am just as excited to be here. So don’t forget to breathe and have fun!

I am a lay, parent judge.

For Debate - Please speak with confidence, clarity, and do not spread your speeches. I love ballot directive language so make sure to use it whenever you can. Stay courteous and respectful to your opponents at all times during the round. I will not evaluate any new arguments brought up during summary or final focus speeches. I want to see how you and your partner develop your arguments with each other and work together as a team, a debate should not be carried by just 1 speaker. Please avoid using jargon in round, but if you do, explain it well.

For Speech - Speak clearly and engage the audience well. Control your pace and avoid monotony during your speech. Experiment with pitch and volume and control the room well.

Lastly, stay confident, respect everyone in the room, and make sure to have fun!

Please do not say anything inappropriate, racist, homophobic, or anything offensive to your opponent. Please be kind & respectful to your opponent, and do not interrupt your opponent during cross-examination. No offensive terms or personal attacks

I consider evidence, and argument interaction very important. Evidence must be quantitive with clear and credible references. Supporting evidence is critical. I also pay attention whether opponents questions and contentions are addressed or not.

Please speak clearly. Also please define any acronyms you will be using throughout at the beginning. Make sure your key points and values are clear.

I do not have any experience participating in debate tournaments or coaching the students. I have been judging the tournaments for the past one year as a parent volunteer. I have a masters degree, work for a technology company and living in USA for past 20 years. I regularly track various topics such as politics, business, international relations etc., so I have high level idea about the vast majority of debate topics. I have gone through judge training videos, so I have decent understanding on the judging criteria. I try to keep track of the 'flow' of the debate to understand arguments in perspective. I also pay attention to the rules like not bringing in new arguments in the closing/final speeches. Clear, audible, well modulated arguments help me understand and judge better, than trying to pack too much information in the given time. I would encourage the debate arguments to be done in a respectful and polite manner. I pay attention to the level of preparation, depth of the arguments and methodical way presentation. I judge solely based on the material presented in the debate and do not bring in any bias from my personal side. I look at team contribution as a whole than individual performances.

Hello, since I am a parent judge please speak at a clear and reasonable pace in oder to make it easy for me to follow along.

Thank you.

Greetings, debaters!

Since my entry into middle/high school debate in 2018, I've cultivated a profound appreciation for the art of argumentation. Here's a brief overview of my judging paradigm:

1. Debate Style:

• I am comfortable with various debate styles, including Parliamentary, Lincoln-Douglas, and Public Forum. I hold a particular regard for well-structured and organized arguments.

2. Speed and Clarity:

• I can navigate a debate at a brisk pace, but clarity is paramount. Fast speech is acceptable, provided it doesn't compromise the clarity of your arguments.

3. Framework and Resolution:

• A robust framework is crucial to guide the debate. In Parliamentary debates, I value a clear plan with well-supported advantages. In Public Forum, a sturdy value criterion and well-linked contentions are essential.

4. Evidence Quality:

• I prioritize well-researched and credible evidence. Clear citations and the ability to explain the significance of evidence are of utmost importance.

5. Creativity and Innovation:

• I actively encourage creative arguments and unique approaches to cases. Thinking outside the box can be a valuable asset in securing my ballot.

6. Cross-Examination:

• I value effective cross-examination that seeks to clarify and challenge key points. Be respectful and focused during the crossfire.

7. Adjudication Approach:

• Debates are approached with an open mind. Convince me with the strength of your arguments, clarity, and strategic thinking.

8. Topicality and Fairness:

• I expect debaters to engage with the topic and uphold fairness. Avoid strategies that compromise the integrity of the debate.

9. Speaker Points:

• Speaker points are awarded based on clarity, persuasiveness, and strategic acumen. Being well-prepared and engaging is pivotal.

10. Flexibility:

• I am open to different debate styles and arguments. Adaptability is key, and I appreciate debaters who can adjust their strategies based on the flow of the round.

Remember, my goal is to fairly evaluate the round, and I look forward to witnessing your skills in action. Best of luck!

I am a lay parent judge but not entirely new as I have judged at a couple of tournaments thus far. I am looking for clarity of thought. Be precise with your arguments and rebuttals, and be respectful to your opponents. I would prefer that you talk slowly, but you may speak fast if needed. Good Luck!!