I did 1 year of PF and 3 years of Speech at duPont Manual (class of 2023)

I think debate is supposed to be a fun extracurricular activity so keep the round lighthearted. I am open to all styles of debate, just be respectful of your opponents and the rules of the game. In other words, "SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT." Also, make sure you enunciate and also have a logical argument that makes sense. At the end of the day, its the team with 1 or more of their contentions still standing.

If you have any other questions feel free to email me at gokulachath04@gmail.com or ask me before the round!

Good luck!

Debate Philosophy:

I approach debates with a focus on flowing arguments and evaluating them based on the flow. While I prioritize technical arguments over truth, I do expect clear and logical communication from debaters. Clarity of thought and logic is paramount, and I value well-warranted arguments over-reliance on evidence alone.

I weigh the claims by whether they are supported by two kinds of reasoning:

11. Truth: Why the claim is true.

22. Impact: Why this claim is important in the debate.

"Claims" apply to both constructive arguments and rebuttals, as I will weigh them side by side in clashes on my flow later. Providing examples or research findings doesn't necessarily mean your claim is true; you have to explain which part of the example/research can be applied to the argument, to explain why that example is important to the debate as a whole.

Weighing Arguments:

Debaters should focus on weighing their arguments and demonstrating why their impacts outweigh those of their opponents. This includes considering scope, magnitude, timeframe, probability, or employing metaweighing techniques. I appreciate clear roadmaps and signposting throughout the round to aid in organization.

Topic Relevance:

I prefer debates to stay on topic and avoid off-topic or theoretical arguments aimed at disqualifying the other team. Definitions by the government/affirmative team are allowed, but abuse of this privilege will be penalized.

Argument Evaluation:

Warranted arguments are crucial for winning my ballot. Unsubstantiated claims are difficult to vote on, especially when effectively rebutted by the opposing side. It's essential to be charitable to opponents' arguments and engage with the best version of their claims rather than strawmanning them.

Public Forum-Specific:

In Public Forum debates, I prioritize logical reasoning over reliance on evidence cards. Debaters should focus on identifying weaknesses in their opponents' link chains rather than reading from prepared blocks. Clash should be evident by the rebuttal speeches, and second rebuttals should address all offense or risk concessions.

Evidence and Email Chains:

I do not typically review evidence or participate in email chains. Debaters must convince me of their arguments without relying on my review of evidence. However, if requested, I may assess evidence for accuracy.

I did PF throughout high school

tl;dr:be organized, be clear, and speak well

super important stuff:

•collapse. I hate overcrowded flows, they make the round a pain for everyone involved. try to have just 1-3 major pieces of offense you're gonna try to go for by FF

•weigh. If you don't and your opponent does, you'll probably lose. tell me what arguments are important, why they're important, and why you're winning them. and don't just bring this up at the end of FF--your weighing can start as early as rebuttal.

•signpost and follow your roadmaps. messy rounds are bad rounds

•don't extend through ink. I'll know, you'll know, and your opponents will know. it's waste of time.

major points:

•don't run plans/advocacies unless you run them in a way that proves they're an inherent advantage of your side

•I prefer that second rebuttal is split, but I'm ok with new defense on the second team's case being done in second summary

•if you think an arg is squirrely, I probably agree. don't waste too much time on these but make sure you respond

•please date your cards (or at least have dates available), it makes the round more fair

Speaker points:

I won't drop points below a 25 unless you've really messed up (rudeness, remarkably poor speaking, etc). outright racism/sexism/homophobia/etc will result in very, very low speaker points. you'll also lose the round for those and I'll go to tab about it. otherwise, just be compelling. your humor and rhetoric are just as important as your evidence and logic

Evidence:

I'll check evidence if I need it to make my decision, if one team tells me to, or if I think it sounds sketchy. severely misrepresented evidence will lose you the round and will probably get you in trouble with tab

ask me any other questions you may have, I'm happy to answer anything!

Explain why your arguments matter. 

If competitors are doing an email chain for evidence; Sanchez-villa@trinityrocks.com

Competed in the Louisville, Kentucky Circuit in high school for three years. Graduated with a major in Political Science from the University of Louisville. I am an assistant coach of Trinity High School for the Speech & Debate team and have held that role for four years now. I say this to highlight that I have years of experience in this event and am familiar with many debate styles, philosophies, frameworks and am aware of changing trends in the debate world, that being said Debate is an educational tool and a time for students to practice analytical thinking and persuasive skills in a unique environment unlike school, so please do not spread at a rate that is so fast that it can never be repeated in a public environment, dont go so fast that the only way to flow is off a speech doc because I will ignore it. Evidence calling is a new thing with the advent of technology post-covid but do not make the evidence calling period so long that it delays the debate and ends up being wasted, call for cards that matter to the judge, not your team. Great debate, for me, is one where both sides are understanding of what the other person's case is stating and evaluating and clashing at that crucial point. There are a lot of debates where people run past each others points and do not actually attack the meat of what is being debated causing me to weigh two worlds that have very little to differentiate from. Competitors should be critical of evidence (yes please do stake the round on thats not what your evidence says, and I will read evidence of contention if I believe there is merit to it not claiming what it means, bad card cutting happens to everyone) and claims being made and any connection that they do not make for me as a judge I will not flow. Make my decision for me with your final speech.

Utilitarianism (Which team brings about the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people).