Walter Cotter Classic
2024
—
Marietta,
GA/US
Speech Paradigm List
All Paradigms:
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Shambhu Bhatt
Lambert High School
None
Michelle Bishop
Heritage Preparatory High School
None
Jack Choate
Lassiter High School
None
Lanette Copeland
Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology
None
Amy Cormier
Lassiter High School
None
Hasan Dawood
Lassiter High School
None
Raymond Epps
Grovetown High School
Last changed on
Fri January 12, 2024 at 9:40 AM EDT
Below is my paradigm framework.
1. Demonstrate respect for your colleagues – this is a debate, not an argument.
2. Questions must be relevant, not superfluous. If you ask a question, give the opposing team member(s) time to reply and complete the response before asking another question or continuing with a statement.
3. Speak in a tone and at a rate that are clearly understandable to the judge.
4. Deliver evidence in a logical, cohesive, and distinguishable manner.
5. For PF participants, crossfire and cross-analysis of the opposing team member(s) need to uphold, strengthen, and/or advance your position.
Shital Gaitonde
Lassiter High School
None
David Gay
Dunwoody High
None
Jessica Gibson
Wheeler High School
Last changed on
Mon January 8, 2024 at 7:46 AM EDT
This is my second year judging at a Speech & Debate tournament. I am a second year coach of the Wheeler High School Speech and Debate team.
Speak slowly enough that I can understand. You must use evidence to support your claims. Make sure to clearly emphasize impact. Be certain to listen to the opposing argument and respond directly to that argument. Don't forget to tell me which arguments you have refuted and why you have won the argument.
Dawn Glass
Northview High School
None
Brenda Glidewell
Lassiter High School
None
Eric Glidewell
Lassiter High School
4 rounds
None
Carolyn Gray
Lassiter High School
None
Kelli Hutchinson
Wheeler High School
None
Sirish Kandi
Denmark High School
None
Vlad Kulchitsky
Lassiter High School
Last changed on
Sat January 13, 2024 at 3:35 AM EDT
Lay judge. This is also my first tournament.
I am going to try to be the most normal judge with no particular unusual paradigm.
Sean Kurkjian
Wheeler High School
None
Tracy Land
Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology
None
Michael Liscano
Columbus HS
None
Last changed on
Thu January 4, 2024 at 11:44 AM EDT
Congressional Debate -
Presiding Officer: Presiding Officers should be an individual who can show mastery levels of understanding of the role of Presiding Officers in the chamber. It's understood this would be a presiding officer who, once elected, can show leadership of the chamber by beginning with a phrase similar to “this chamber will come to order.” I expect the Presiding Officer will use their best effort to recognize speakers around the chamber in a fair and balanced manner. Describe gavel time signals. Explain procedures clearly: i.e., how they will recognize speakers, etc., that the Presiding Officer will not call for motions at any time (speakers should seek their attention when they wish to rise to move something), and that when it is clear that debate has exhausted on a bill/resolution, The Presiding Officer will ask the chamber if they are ready for the question, rather than waiting for the previous question (which should be reserved for forcing end to debate that has become one-sided or repetitive in arguments). The Presiding Officer should have confidence and authority when addressing the chamber. The Presiding Officer should use a calm, controlled and caring voice to show a genuine interest in the chamber’s business at all times.
Speakers: My expectations for speakers are competitors who have their speeches made beforehand on bills that they really have a passion about. Speakers should be ready to speak and ask questions that are going to challenge their opponents to think candidly and without much preparation. I expect speakers to think critically on the bill in question and be able to show expertise on the subject at hand. These topics take some time to truly research. I will be able to distinguish a speaker who has really taken the time on the topic beforehand or a speaker who clearly is looking for "cheap" speaking points. Although this is simply competition to some, this is a great practice and really good insight for folks to understand how our Congress works in the real world. I want them to understand the Difficulties of passing legislation that may be viewed as "one-sided" or not. I expect good back and forth discussion amongst speakers when it comes to various bills that may one day, affect them in real life if we are to see these bills appear in a real State or United States House of Representatives or Senate. These folks are the people of tomorrow. WE need our folks more involved than ever before; so to my speakers; act as if you have genuine care and passion for what you are debating for as if your FUTURE depends on it and is hanging by the rafters.
Justin Meredith
Woodstock High School
None
Lucy Pierre
North Cobb High School
None
Arthur Rasco
Lassiter High School
None
Rhea Ratcliff
Valdosta High School
While I understand that there are certain areas of a performance that require yelling or screaming, screaming or yelling for an entire performance is unnecessary. Please don’t confuse yelling as being passionate in your performances. Good luck and I look forward to seeing all of the great talent this season.
Shannon Ross
Northview High School
None
Joe Ruvo
Dunwoody High
None
Sonja Ryberg
Woodstock High School
None
Suzanne Salak
Lassiter High School
None
MEGNA SARMA
Lassiter High School
None
Lisa Schiappa
Lassiter High School
None
Rachel Smirnov
Lambert High School
None
Ryan Stewart
Dunwoody High
None
Bob Strickland
Lassiter High School
None
Annie Strothmann
Northview High School
None
Jill Strothmann
Northview High School
None
Courtney Turner
Landmark Christian School
I am an interior designer by trade and parent judge of two speech and debate students. I have judged for many years but in a different league. I am a HUGE speech and debate advocate! Having spent many years watching and judging speech and debate rounds, I firmly believe that the skills that students learn as they hone their craft are skills that will serve them later in whatever vocation they choose. Learning to communicate effectively, present yourself in a professional manner AND argue from many different perspectives (seeing an issue from an opposing side) prepare the students for real life challenges.
That being said, I am opposed to spreading of any kind because it is not how the real world works. No on wins because they said more words than their opponent. If you cannot be understood, you will not be productive in winning others to your side. Arguments win. Persuasion wins. Effective communication wins. Credible sources win. Please know I judge all debate rounds on the quality of the arguments, whether or not you effectively persuaded me and gave me enough credible evidence to affirm your side.
So work hard, come prepared, present your arguments, wow me with your speech and enjoy the adventure that is Speech & Debate!
Cherie Ullo
Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology
None
Mary Kay Waterman
The Lovett School
Last changed on
Wed January 3, 2024 at 10:15 AM EDT
I coach PF Debate and have judged LD for 15+ years. I love to see professionalism, real logic in cases and rebuttals, impeccable speaking skills, and good time management. Please avoid barraging me with questions about my expertise before the round starts.
“Off-time road maps” serve no purpose. Framework and observations are not just for show; I weigh them throughout the round. Spreading does not belong in PF or LD, and I will not flow arguments that I cannot hear.
Good argumentation matters the most to me. I should hear incisive warrants to support all claims. Your impacts should be specific and resonate throughout your contentions. Good debaters achieve turns and can group arguments well.
In regard to PF:
Summary speeches should, above all, situate the round and extend the rebuttal.
Try not to turn the round into just an “evidence-off”. Know when to move on from a dispute over one piece of evidence.
In the Final Focus, you must weigh arguments with specificity and effective persuasion, but the focus should be on the holistic argument and impacts, not line-by-line analysis at that point.
I don't give long-winded verbal feedback at the end of rounds, but I try to give an abundance of ballot comments for your benefit.
Diana Waters
Lassiter High School
4 rounds
Last changed on
Fri January 19, 2024 at 10:09 AM EDT
I am best described as a parent judge. I listen to your arguments and take notes. I will vote on the team that makes the most convincing arguments in the rounds.
Be nice to each other and be respectful.
Krista Wilson
North Cobb High School
None
Ann Yu
Lambert High School
Last changed on
Sat January 13, 2024 at 2:53 AM EDT
I will be keeping it simple and will intend on looking in-depth in the rounds and to provide the information needed to explain why I gave a specific rank to each competitors.
Here's what I'm looking for:
Delivery: I wish to see you provide emotion and vocal variation in your speeches, after all these rounds can take up to 3 HOURS meaning as the round progresses it will be difficult to be heavily interested when someone is speaking in a monotone voice compared to someone who brings sadness, anger, and strength/impact to their speeches.
Fluency: I will be looking out for the competitors with the best fluency.
Interpret: This will be by far THE MOST IMPORTANT aspect I will be looking for. As a judge I inherently will not be researching the bills everyone is prepping for, so speakers who come up and provide an argument for a certain side of a bill on why their side is right without being confusing and overreaching and hard to catch up will get a big boost in how I rank. Essentially I wish to see speakers be clear and concise with their speeches because again, I will not have huge prior knowledge on the legislations at hand.
Legal Pad Dependence: Although it can be difficult to give speeches without a pad, I am looking for people who are not overtly dependent on their legal pad.
Uniqueness: If you make a common argument that is fine but if you go ahead and bring a whole new argument and make it unique and add new perspective, that will most definitely boost you in the ranks.
Late Round Speeches: As the round goes on and many arguments are used and it will obviously be difficult to make new argument that has not been overused. So for late round speeches I will not criticize you heavily if you cannot be special about it and instead focused more on refutation and delivery.