Interp

CLASH

Make sure you signpost arguments

Overall, I would rather you do you and I will flow it.

I am a coach of all forms of speech and debate events. I competed at the high school and collegiate level in interp, speech and debate.

Debate:

I would consider myself tab with a default to policymaker. I would prefer debaters establish what I should vote on and how to weigh the round. I believe it is important for the debaters to tell me why arguments are important and why they are winning it. I will vote on anything and I will not vote on anything all at the same time. It's important for you to tell me where to vote. I do not like hearing arguments that are completely squirrel of the topic at hand (ie: scream K). Feel me to ask questions if you have concerns or questions. I would prefer speakers be slow down and be very clear on the tag lines, dates and theory arguments. Speed is fine and I can flow it. I will yell "clear" if you are not.

Speech:

Organization & Clarity with supporting documentation is key. When I am judging these events, I am looking for clear justification for the topic you chose. I am looking for you to be clear in your overall organization, but the internal thesis of your ideas need to be developed and organized also. I believe ethos, logos and pathos need to be developed and deployed each and every time you speak.

Interp:

I am looking for originality. I am looking at individuals to create clear and distinct characters. I need to see you develop strong, believable characters. Tell your story.

Clarity:

If you have questions, please feel free to ask.

Speed isn't a problem so long as you are clear. If you read the K make sure you explain the alt

I'm a policy maker judge. Whatever arguments you make in the round need to be guiding me toward the best policy option. I will vote on T/theory, if an aff/rule violation is especially egregious, but please don't waste my time - I'd prefer to weigh the positive/negative impacts of the policy.

Hello!

First and foremost I want to wish all competitors good luck and just know that it is an accomplishment to be competing no matter the outcome.

I am a Tab judge in all things. I judge based on the merits of your argument in the round so any team or person can win my ballot at a given time.

Congress:

I look for good argumentation within your speeches that includes facts and evidence that are pertinent to the content on the floor. Eye contact and professionalism are a must. I look for passion when you deliver your speech as you are working to convince your fellow delegates that your argument is correct. Better speeches are those that can interpret and use information from fellow members of the room to either turn in their favor or refute arguments. Make sure any claims you make in your speech are backed up by evidence and sound reason.

Extemp:

I look for you to use your time effectively and for you to have a structure to your speech. I want to see the evidence that you have for your topic applied to the points you are making. It is all about the application of your reasoning for me. Stylistically it's important to make eye contact and be engaging when you are speaking.

CX:

I am a tab judge who values direct clash in a round. I do not like spreading and if you are too speedy I will stop flowing your arguments thus even if it is a beautifully well-written and well-reasoned argument I won't count it for you. Clarity of spoken word is more important than massive amounts of information when you cannot actually apply it because you are speaking too fast by just reading a card. I do not like topicality attacks for the sake of a topicality argument. Let's assume we are all topical unless it is so egregious that it really is untopical. Impacts are important in CX as well as the application of your information.

LD:

Is a beautiful debate! I love a good philosophical/ethical argument that you support with sound reasoning. I am old school in the fact that I prefer less reading of evidence cards and more application of the information you present. Evidence is necessary for a good argument, but just spouting it without linking it to your value and criterion is useless to me in LD. Direct clash and attack of the AFF is necessary for the NEG! I want to see exactly why I should prefer one side over the other.

Interp:

For me, the key to a wonderful performance is a fully immersive experience. I want to see the emotions and character you are portraying not just in your words, tone, and inflection but in your body language. Make the selection come alive for the audience. If a selection changes characters or personas, I want to see distinct ways that you are bringing each one to life. Gestures and eye contact are important as well. I value a well-paced selection. Pacing can add intensity or emotion and it can often be a nuance that can cause someone to rank better than others.

I am a Tab judge meaning that if you can explain the argument well enough to me, I will vote for you. I'm not a fan of the Theory/K debate but if you present this make sure you have all the facts/parts you need to. I'm really big on technical and structure debate, so make sure you have all the parts of your arguments/case and be ready to explain/defend them.

Topicality- Topicality is a voting issue. I will vote for this but please make sure you have all the parts you need to run it! (Same for DAs)

CP- Make sure you tell me how it is competitive in the round; this is most important for CPs.

On-Case Arguments- I will vote on all On-Case attacks, especially Funding, Inherency, and Solvency.

As far as New in the 2 I am okay with it as long as it isn't abusive to the round. I understand that you might spread for time's sake, but I give speaker points based on your ability to explain/analyze your own evidence and your opponents. Make sure that you give an off-time roadmap of your speech and that you signpost during the speech as well, this helps with the flow and organization.

Remember questioning is for clarification, not argumentation!

When it gets to the rebuttals, please do not just re-read old cards, give your analysis, weigh impacts, give impact calcs, etc. This is where you tell me why you win!

I believe Speech & Debate, in all forms, is primarily a communication sport. The two greatest takeaways from your time here into your future life will be having learned how to reason out an issue, and how to present your arguments in a clear and organized way.

Because of this, the most important part of my paradigm is how much I HATE speed/spread debate. If I can't understand what you're saying, it's as if you never said it so far as my ballot is concerned. Just talk to me like a normal person!! Tell me what you're thinking! Give me an argument to follow along with, and try not to sound like the end of a medicine commercial.

I also value professionalism a great deal. You don't have to be stiff and formal at all times, but I dislike the use of casual language in speeches ("Dude," "man," etc), and I HATE the use of swearing, personal attacks, and interruptions. Part of the value of Speech & Debate is fostering productive conversations between people who disagree -- and in these divisive times, the more we can listen to and respect each other, the better.

As far as my paradigm in CX/Policy Debate, I am an old-fashioned stock issues judge. In the absence of that, I will generally default to a policy-maker standpoint. I very much appreciate a good wrap-up at the end, in either of those formats.

As far as specific arguments/lines in CX/Policy Debate, I only have a few particulars.

I categorically reject the argument that no new arguments should be allowed in the 2NC. That is the negative's right under the format and rules, and has been for 50 years.

I tend to have a very high threshold for Topicality. Generally speaking, unless a 1AC is clearly unreasonable and outside of the topic area, I probably won't give a Neg ballot on that basis. If you're making the argument for strategic reasons I get that, but I probably won't vote on that basis unless the 1AC is pretty egregious.

Likewise, I tend not to buy most arguments that lead to "the end of the world." In all of recorded history, literally nothing has ever led to humanity's extinction. The matter at hand in the round probably won't either, and overstating your argument so massively is rhetorically blustery.

Finally, as a stock issues/policy judge, I HATE kritikal theory arguments of any type. You’re not gonna win trying to tell me your opinions on Marx or Foucault or Derrida or Kendi. This is Policy Debate, not LD or philosophy club

In debate, I value true debating. I look for clash and actual consideration of competitor's arguments, not just person after person reading their pre-written, un-customized cards or speeches. I also value communication. If you talk too speedily and I cannot hear distinct words, those arguments will not be accounted for in my judging. This is not to be mean, but if I can't understand you, I can't really judge you. Finally, you will be polite and respectful. Yes, I want clash, but nothing personal. Debate your opponent's points, not their personality or appearance or whatever else. Honestly, that would just make me more sympathetic to them, so don't do it. And PLEASE, no lingo. Say real people words. I do not care enough to learn every swanky fancy term for something you could just call by name, so if you use debater's slang around me, I just plain won't know what you mean, and that's not good communication.

IEs are a little different. Of course you will not be clashing, so those parts don't apply. Still, I expect you to speak clearly, and I expect to not. be. yelled. at. I don't mean I don't want to be lectured, because extemp speeches and oratories are literally lectures, but do not raise your voice at me. Get passionate, vary your tone, all that good stuff, but don't literally yell. It's kind of the same principle, if I can't hear you well and you're just being mean, I'm gonna have a harder time giving you first place.

And for POs in Congress, please, be chill. I'm not saying be lax on the rules, but in my opinion, an amicable (but not lazy!) chamber is the best kind. I don't like being yelled at. As long as everyone gets to speak and you run the room fairly, you'll be good in my book, and you'll be satisfied with your rank on my ballot.

I just want y'all to be nice to each other. You're all overachievers who choose to put on a suit and debate politics on the weekends for fun, there's no need to get nasty or cutthroat or anything l like that. You're a lot more similar than you are different, which is a good thing! Just be cool, and I'll be cool too.

Good luck, all!

I am a pretty basic judge. I like good arguments and good speaking. I prefer stock issues, but I know that I'm old fashioned and most students don't really do that anymore. Don't talk too fast, to the point where I can't understand you or am concerned about your health and safety. If you do so, I will put my pen down, and anything I don't write down didn't happen. Seriously, don't spread. As far as arguments go, I'm pretty good with anything. Don't just read a bunch of numbers or words and expect me to make the connections to your case or your opponent's. Explain why your statistics matter and why your arguments outweigh your opponent's. I also like the structure. Tell me you're on advantage 1, or you're covering inherency, etc. It really helps. Otherwise, I'm just here to listen to what you have to tell me.

Traditional LD judge. Rate and tone are important. No drops. It is value debate so debate the value. Use of philosophy is a must.

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 

Tab, I will go with what you give me. I do not flow CX(questioning) periods.

I have experience in the UIL and NSDA circuit. Just don't give up!

Don't be afraid to ask me questions and any more information about my paradigm. ☺️

For CX and LD:

I am primarily Stock and Policy. I.e. Framework, evidence, why this outweighs, clash, etc. I'm not a big fan of Kritics, but it's a case-by-case basis, and I'll still flow it. Give Voters!!

Seating isn't too important, but I prefer Aff on my Left, Neg on my Right. (Your Right and Left respectively as you're facing me.)

Speed-reading is okay as long as it isn't 1000wpm. If you do spread, at least slow down for taglines.

You can keep your own time if you'd like, but I will be timing as well, and my timer is final. My timer begins on your first word. For Prep Time, I will give 30 second intervals unless told otherwise. Be sure to tell me to "Cease prep time," otherwise it will continue to run.

Please ask "Judge/floor ready?" before you start, I may still be writing or getting my timer ready.

Framework/going down the flow is important, and sign-posting is much appreciated. If you jump back and forth from On/Off case, I may get lost and mistake your attacks for your defense and vice versa.

Off-time roadmaps are preferred, but not necessary.

I personally will not join your Speech Drops or take a copy, what I hear is what I write. This is so I'm not reading ahead of what you say, or adding in any cut portions. You can still share your speeches with your opponents if you'd like.

I'm not great at disclosures, but everything will be on the ballot and hopefully helpful to your learning experience.

For Extempt:

One person in the room at a time. Hand me your topic when you're ready.

The timer begins at your first word. Starting from 7m, I will start hand-signing at 5m-1m, give 30s (horizontal, extended index finger), 15s (half, horizontal, index finger), then hand-sign again from 5s-1s. For practice tournaments, a 10 second grace period past 7 minutes will be given, but you will not be in first place. I apologize ahead of time if I'm too engrossed in writing that I forget to hand-sign.

My scoring criteria is as follows, in order of importance:

Speech. Introduction (Attention grabber, topic, answer, preview of key points), Body (Key points with sources to back them), Conclusion (Restate topic, answer, closing statements.)

Body language and voice. Any or lack of: swaying, stepping into points, hand gestures, eye contact, stutters, changes in pitch, rate, pauses. Essentially, confidence. If a notecard is being used, are you reading it word for word, or are you just glancing at it?

Time. This isn't as important, because if the rest is done properly, a 2 minute speech could be better than a 7 minute jumble of words. Was each point given an adequate amount of time? Was it over the time limit?

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.

Stock Issues

– Topicality

– Significance of Harm

– Inherency

– Solvency

– Advantage Over Disadvantage

LD: I would consider myself a traditional style LD judge. I enjoy listening to argumentation on Value, Criterion, and other Framework arguments. If I feel like the Framework debate is a wash I look to the impacts of the Affirmative and Negative worlds. The team that shows me the strongest impact arguments using Time Frame, Magnitude, and Probability will get my vote.

CX: I weigh stock issues and T arguments first. If the Aff loses on any stock issues or T they lose the round. After that I look to the impact calculus at the end of the round. I will flow DA, T, CP, and Ks from the Negative.