I will judge you how I want to, you will play by my rules buster. Period. If you are in Congress, when passing a bill you need to say the line “Pass this legislation for two reasons” if you’re neg, say “Fail this bill, for 2 reasons”, if you say anything else I WILL DOWN YOU. Speak clearly and confidently, if you’re quiet and timid and submissive that does not bode well in my rounds. If you’re in OO you should be funny, if you have a bad joke I WILL down you. However, you need to also be able to convey how your topic is an issue

Hi! I’m a speech judge, this is my second year in Speech! Have Fun!

Hello!! My name is Haleema, and I am currently a junior at Jordan High School. My main events are Original Oratory and Program of Oral Interpretation, so I may know a thing or two about speech and interp ;)

I will judge based on speaker confidence/presentation, quality of content/story, and emotional appeal. Convince me the issue you are presenting is important!! Tug on my heartstrings, show me how much your message means to you and why others should care about it as well.

If I've learned anything in the 3 years I've done Speech and Debate, it's that the best speeches/performances are the ones that you are personally connected to and passionate about, as it will help you make others feel the same way. Speech is about more than just speaking, it's about using your words to change the world.

Hi, my name is Abhishek. I did congress all 4 years of high school. Now, I'm a freshman at UPenn Wharton studying Legal Studies and Business Ethics. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me atbhagatabhi221@gmail.com.

Congress:

I weigh arguments over speaking. HOWEVER, your speaking must be good enough to the point where I can coherently understand your argument. If you give good speaking but a really bad argument that's out of the scope of congress (ie. this is a resolution so it is vague and therefore fail) will get dropped. But if you give bad speaking but a good argument, you'll be in the middle 50-60% of the ranks. If you give GREAT SPEAKING and GREAT argumentation, that will be the top of my ranks.

Questioning: I want to see that you answer questions well. Also, ask a lot of questions as a competitor. This will be part of my ranks. I want to see you being engaged.

PO: You will start my rank at 5 and then move up or down based on how you do.

I have a FORMULA to ranking congress.

I'll rank your speaking on a scale from 0-3. I'll rank argumentation from 0-10. I'll rank questioning from 0-3. Creativeness of Speech: 0-2 (although if its not creative im likely to just not give you anything for this metric). Then I'll add it all up and rank you based on who has the highest score. This total adds up to 18 points. So then I base ranks on that. Notice that it is mostly based off argumentation – that's where you can collect the most points. That's because I think argumentation is the most important thing in CD. You can have great speaking, but if your argument is bad then it probably won't take you too far.

Extemp:

I value speaking a lot here but you should also answer the question. Honestly really similar to my congress paradigms; only difference is I value speaking and creativity more than content. But your content should still be good.

BE RESPECTFUL!!!!

Hey guys! Im Daniel, obviously, but Im a jr captain for extemp at Jordan highschool, currently a sophomore but last year in my freshman year I got 8 state points and competed at Nietoc so I know a little about extemp specifically, everything else im rather clueless in but I can still judge!

One thing to know about me is no matter the event I value speaking, and keeping me entertained with voice inflictions and emotions over pure content, however the perfect combination is good speaking AND good content, so create a healthy balance. Another thing is intros are truly the big opener to your speech and can kill it or praise it, so please, pay attention to them.

Have fun and be confident! :)))

Hi, my name is Vibhu Kanna and I am a pretty experienced debater around the circuit. I mainly compete in congressional debate and foreign extemp.

Congress:

There has been this weird trend where a lot of judges emphasize that congress as a debate event but never really care about the "debate." I ain't all about that. I personally believe Congress is equivalent to actual debate if you make good arguments and actually interact with the round, which is why I weigh arguments over speaking. HOWEVER, your speaking must be good enough to the point where I can coherently understand your argument. If you give good speaking but a really bad argument that's out of the scope of congress (ie. this is a resolution so it is vague and therefore fail) will get dropped. But if you give bad speaking but a good argument, you'll be in the middle 50-60% of the ranks. If you give GREAT SPEAKING and GREAT argumentation, that will be the top of my ranks.

Questioning: I want to see that you answer questions well. I don't really care about asking questions that much, but make sure you do ask some and make those questions unique. This will be part of my ranks. I want to see you being engaged.

PO: You will start my rank at 5 and then move up or down based on how you do.

I have a FORMULA to ranking congress.

I'll rank your speaking on a scale from 0-4. I'll rank argumentation from 0-7. I'll rank questioning from 0-2. Then I'll add it all up and rank you based on who has the highest score. So example that I might write in your ballot: "Speaking: 4; Arguments: 7; Questioning: 2." This total adds up to 13 points. So then I base ranks on that. Notice that it is mostly based off arguments, that's where you can collect the most points. That's because I think argumentation is the most important thing in CD.

Oh and also if you use humor you get brownie pts. I hate that sappy congress rhetoric everyone gives

Extemp:

I value speaking a lot here but you should also answer the question.

I want to see you have an in-depth understanding of the topic you are speaking about. Make sure you aren't flow heavy though, I want to see that creative element shine in your speaking.

Debate events:

Whatever argument I believe the most will win, make them believable. Make sure you have good responses and backups as needed to defend your argument.

BE RESPECTFUL!!!!

junior at 7L || INFO & Extemp || sahara.k2025@gmail.com

extemp/impromptu - make sure to have 3 (2-3 is alright for impromptu) distinct points with evidence, dont rush through your words, emphasize effects/whats important! give a catchy AGD and vehicle that can be tied back to throughout/at the end of your speech.

OO/INFO - have evidence spread throughout your speech, putting your personality/humor into the speech is nice, varying tone of voice rather than droning, if a part of your speech needs emotion, put emotion! get my attention! hoping this is a topic youre interested in, so absolute formality (like some academic paper) in your speaking isnt a must. be passionate but respectful.

Varsity Interp and Platform Speaking

• Be respectful of everyone!
• Delivery is important! Make sure to be confident (fake it till you make it)!
• PUBLIC SPEAKING: Well structured, shows personality, humors also always a great bonus!
• INTERP: Varied vocal deliver, emotion in both both voice and face, purposeful blocking (I should be able to a have a good idea of what you’re trying to convey), and reacting to your environment and the people your character(s) interact with— not just acting.
• Feel free to ask questions before or after round :)
• AND MOST IMPORTANTLY: Have fun, and make sure to enjoy yourself!

speak good

i’m hannah leem

try your best!

confidence is key

brownie points for humor

content 60% delivery 40%

speak good do good

CONFIDENCE is KEY!!!

Tips and advice:

• Make things interesting!
• Be loud and clear.
• Manage your time.
• If you forget something make it up and say it with CONFIDENCE!
• BE NICE and RESPECTFUL of others' opinions.

YOU GOT THIS!!

I have competed in congress my self, but I am familiar with what is classified as a strong argument in other events as well.

In Debate, I look for:

-tone variation (only congress)

-refutation/clashing with other side or other debators (addressing their concerns, explaining why your side is the better world and wins the debate especially if you give a late round)

-I like unique arguments if you are able to stand your ground and explain how that argument applies well to the debate

-confidence even if you are dealt a bad set of cards or have to argue for a hard to argue for side

-participation when possible (if you’re in congress, I expect you to ask a good amount of questions when possible unless you are forced to write a late round)

-strong arguments or strong enthusiasm in your argument

-credible and non biased sources (no Wikipedia or made up sources of course)

-fluency in speaking (speech breaks/stuttering doesn’t matter much to me if you recover your fluency)

In Speech events, I look for:

-tone variation/emotion

-consistency in your performance

-passion

-fluency in speaking (speech breaks/stuttering doesn’t matter much to me if you recover your fluency)

-for duo/duet, a strong cooperation and synchronization between both actors

Please don't spread. I won't be able to keep up

I will judge you on how well you speak

I won't judge based on theories, K's, etc.

Congress:

Congress isn't entirely one genre of speech and debate it's a culmination of just about every style. I don't lean toward favoring a lay debater or a flow debater. In this event, you're just trying to convince the judge to rank you whatever means you go about doing that is 100% up to you. However, if you're able to balance both the flow and lay appeal you're going to rank higher in my ballots than someone who's just good at one or the other.

For PO's: Run the round as smoothly and quickly as possible. I'll grade you on how well you can keep the round on track and avoid disruptions. The more the parli has to intervene(within reason, I won't fault you for asking for the specific rules of the tournament) the lower I'll rank you.

Local/TX Circuit: Please Clash

LD: I don’t have a preference on which style of LD you choose to do. Whether it’s modern or classic is fully up to you I will grade each style equally.

PF: I find PF strategy really interesting I’m more of a flow judge but I can ealso be influenced by the lay although not as strongly.

PA- Have your speakers triangle, make sure all your points are clear and have relevance to the topic, and enunciate.

Interp- Don't be afraid to go all out, make sure your message gets across, and for binder events make sure to incorporate your binder into your blocking.

Extemp- Have your speakers triangle, state and answer the question, make sure your 3 points of analysis are different and clear, and cite all your sources.

All- enunciate, be confident, make friends, and have fun. Good luck!!

Varsity public speaking and interp, he/him

• be respectful of everyone, no transphobic, homophobic, or racist comments will be tolerated, respect pronouns
• project when you speak and have vocal intonation
• have at least 6 sources in your speeches (for platform speaking)
• avoid fidgeting and rocking back and forth, try and make some hand gestures, but if too confusing, leave your hands at your side
• have fun giving your speech! Let who you are shine through what you talk about!

"olivia"

student from SLHS