Lance Allen

I competed in Parli and IE’s for 4 years at Mckendree University and have now coached for 7 years.

I think this means that I have a diverse background of knowledge for most types of debate. I am comfortable in quick K debates and also comfortable in more traditional rounds. I have experience in high level college LD rounds and I also have lots of experience with first year novice rounds. While am I am competent in a K debate, I am most comfortable in a case/DA/CP debate. This means the K needs to be well explained. I tend to weigh Magnitude and Probability before timeframe until you tell me otherwise.

You should feel comfortable running any position in front of me! The most important thing is that it is well explained and well defended.

My paradigm is based mainly on impact. I want to see what the Competors pull through at the end of the round, and most importantly that they apply good analysis of the topic in general. All that means that you need to clash with your opponent’s arguments and show me why yours are more important or relevant to the debate, and why they matter.

Debate isn’t about burying your opponents in contentions, it’s about good use of arguments and rhetoric. Of course, I also believe decorum is important, and that the competitors are respectful to each other.

Hello! I am a high school English teacher in Illinois and have coached speech & debate since 2015.

I love good organization - feel free to give an off-time roadmap and please signpost your speeches and arguments clearly.

Arguments should be concise but clear - lay out the warrants and the impacts for me and weigh the impacts as the debate continues. While I like to think I'm okay with spreading -- I know my limits, too. I am not someone who judges every weekend, so sometimes I'll have trouble following if you speak too quickly. I try, though!

In Congress specifically:

If we're more than a couple of speeches into the debate, you should be providing clash, not standing up to rehash arguments we've already heard. In that same vein, do not keep debate going on a bill when it's clearly dead. You should be prepared to speak on every. single. bill. and shouldn't have to rely on having the opportunity to speak early or often on a certain topic.

Make sure you provide impacts. Make it crystal clear what the benefits or harms of passing/not passing said bill/resolution will be on people.

Make the real arguments. I will absolutely listen to you explain to me why a bill or resolution is not the appropriate or most effective way to solve a problem, but only to a point.

Again, structure and organization are important. Be sure to signpost!

Keep questions and responses concise. Be respectful of the judges' time and the time of your competitors.

If you have a question for the PO on their procedure, precedence, or recency, just politely ask it. There's no need to be a jerk about it, or about anything, for that matter. Extend kindness to the person who has volunteered to run the chamber.

I love this activity and believe it should be fun, inclusive, and useful to everyone who chooses to participate. Rather than taking advantage of or judging someone who might be debating for the first time, let's show them what a great community this is to be a part of by answering questions, providing guidance, and setting good examples! Leave the judging to the judges. Instead, be a coach. You'll have more fun. :)

This is my third year coaching and judging debate. My background is in speech and Model UN. I feel that debate is a valuable learning experience and I enjoy hearing new contentions that make me view the world from a different perspective.

I am a flow judge so I appreciate teams that provide lots of evidence and include relevant impacts. In PF, I give a lot of weight to voting issues and mostly award speaking points based on that. I value truth over tech.

Respect your opponents; they help you become a better debater.

Please be mindful of the time limits. I stop flowing after your time is up.

Have fun! I'm looking forward to hearing your arguments :)

In my debate rounds I’m heavy on framework and facts because debate is about facts and not our personal opinion so let’s keep it real—stick to the facts, no made-up stuff. We’re here to learn and challenge each other, but that doesn’t mean being rude. Keep it chill. Remember a good debate is about respect and understanding. So, let’s keep it simple, stay cool, and make these debates a place where we all grow and learn together!

I have been involved in competitive speech and debate since 2005 as a competitor and a coach. While more of my time has been spent on the speech side of things, my primary events were Extemp and Impromptu. I have served as a debate coach for University High School in Normal, IL since the fall of 2015. I teach high school Oral Communication, Argumentation and Debate, Contemporary Rhetoric, and AP Language and Composition.

In terms of Public Forum Debate, I am looking for a combination of appeals to the average person as well as to a more nuanced audience. Progressive Debate strategies are OK, but the link to the resolution better be solid. I also am OK with some speed, but not full on spreading. If I can't hear/understand something, it doesn't make it on my flow. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF COMPLICATED ARGUMENTS, but you have to be able to explain them to a diverse audience. At the end of the day, links are everything! I need to see how your evidence actually links together and to your argument as a whole. I also want impact analysis. Explain to your judge(s) how and why your side will impact more lives, I won't do the work for you. If you are the second team to speak in a debate, I expect your Rebuttal to respond to the first team's Rebuttal as well as their case. Second summary is too late to bring in something new as your opponents will not have adequate time to respond. Please consider everyone impacted by a debate resolution. I do care if we are saving lives in the US or in another country. I am only a flow judge in the sense that if you do not mention something in your summary speech, I will not weigh it in my final decision, even if it is brought up in final focus. At the end of the day, I also want a professional debate. It is OK to get heated in the moment, but please refrain from crossing the line into completely unprofessional! Finally, in PF, please be ready to exchange evidence in a timely manner. (Oh, and I don't flow cross, so if something good is happening there, make sure you mention it in the next speech if you want me to weigh it).

In Speech, I am looking for the best combination of speaker and content. In Extemp, I am going to vote up students that answer the question and provide compelling evidence as to why that answer is true. I will vote those students up over the cleanest speakers every time if the cleanest speakers do not answer the question. In Oratory and Info, I am looking for an easy to follow structure and compelling delivery. I am OK with older sources as long as they are justified by the topic. In interp, I want to feel something. I typically vote up students that have a clear connection to their piece that connect with the audience in the room.

Public Forum:

Name: Tyler Ross

School Affiliation: Normal West

Number of years judging the event you are registered in: 10+

Please share your opinions or beliefs about how the following play into a debate round:

Speed of delivery- No auctioneer speed. A point I can't understand is a point loat

Format of Summary Speeches (line by line? big picture?)- no preference

Extension of arguments into later speeches.

Keep the winning arguments/ voting issues

Do you value argument over style? Style over argument? Argument and style equally?

Argument over style

If a team plans to win the debate on an argument, in your opinion does that argument have to be extended in the rebuttal or summary speeches?

Yes

If a team is second speaking, do you require that the team cover the opponents’ case as well as answers to its opponents’ rebuttal in the rebuttal speech?

Yes

Do you vote for arguments that are first raised in the grand crossfire or

final focus?

No

Lincoln-Douglas: I am a traditional LD judge. When I'm deciding who won the round, I first evaluate framing issues like definitions, ground, and burdens. Then I evaluate the value/criterion level to determine what standard(s) I'm using to weigh the impacts. In many of the rounds I judge, I believe that there is unnecessary clash over values and criteria because both sides have the same standard but are using slightly different language. Once I understand the standard(s) level of the debate, I weigh the contention level arguments' impacts to see which side better upholds their standard. You debaters should be weighing impacts during your rebuttal speeches, and those impacts should carry weight because they connect to the standard.

I'm not great at flowing speed. Fast conversational is my limit.

I have a hard time following debates when the arguments are referred to by author names.

If you have a different approach to LD than the traditional model, I am open to it. I just need an explanation for why I should award you my ballot.

Congress: I generally follow the ICDA Congressional Debate rubric for scoring speeches.

Additionally, I ask myself "Is this the appropriate speech for the moment?" The first few speeches should construct the best arguments for and against the legislation, the speeches in the middle of the sequence should focus on refutation and extension, and the final speeches should have weighing and crystallization. For example, if the Con makes a great, impactful argument for why the legislation will have devastating unintended consequences, I expect the Pro side to engage with that argument right away.

For nominations and ranks, I'm rewarding the debaters who I believe would most persuade someone who is on the fence about the issues.

VARSITY Paradigms

Name: Adam Sherman (he/him)

School Affiliation:Rich Township High School

Were you previously affiliated with any other school?No

Number of years and/or tournaments judging the event you are registered in:1 year

Have you judged in other debate events? Yes. I have judged in two LD Debate Meets.

*Please share your opinions or beliefs about how the following play into a debate round:

Speed of delivery preference: Conversational and well-articulated.

How important is the value criterion in making your decision? Somewhat important.

Do you have any specific expectations for the format of the 2nd Affirmative Rebuttal and 2 Negative Rebuttal - Overall, it should be clear what you are specifically rebutting. Line by line and Big Picture are preferred.

Are voting issues necessary for your decision?No

How critical are "extensions" of arguments into later speeches- They are important as long as are not redundant.

Flowing / note-taking- No opinion or preference.

Do you value argument over style? Style over argument? Argument and style equally? Argument over style. Clarity of the argument is most important.

In order to win a debate round, does the debater need to win their framework or can they win using their opponent's framework? Either framework can work.

How necessary do you feel the use of evidence (analytical and/or empirical) is in the round? Somewhat necessary.

Paradigm 1: Clarity of Argument - Ideas are organized and easy to follow.

Paradigm 2: Delivery - Speaking at a steady rate, using clear pronunciation and projection so that you are easily heard and understood.

Hello! I'm one of the head coaches of the Bloomington HS Speech & Debate Team! My expertise is in congressional debate, public address, limited prep, and poetry. As such, I'm a sucker for ethos, pathos and logos. Please include your sources when making claims. Above all, I'm looking to BELIEVE the words you're saying, and that you're fully engaging in the debate. If you're furthering debate, you've got my attention. This isn't about what I think is right; it's about what you do with the docket in front of you. I will judge YOUR arguments (and who best communicates significance/impact), not what I think is the right argument based on my experiences. Lastly, please avoid personal attacks during cross examination and/or direct questioning.

Name: Jayden Touchette (she/her)

School Affiliation: Belleville West High School

Were you previously affiliated with any other school?No.

Number of years and/or tournaments judging the event you are registered in: I've been judging for four years, and I competed for 7.

Have you judged in other debate events? Please describe if so.I've judged a mix of LD and PF over the years, and I have also judged speech. At this point, I've also competed in most styles of debate, so I am very familiar with structure.

Please share your opinions or beliefs about how the following play into a debate round:

Speed of delivery preference (slow, conversational, brisk conversational, etc.)I am completely fine with speed as long as you are clear; however, do not go fast just for the sake of talking fast. There is nothing wrong with conversational speed, and I would much rather have that than not being able to understand a word you say.

How important is the value criterion in making your decision?It depends on the round. You (the competitor) need to tell me why the V and VC are important for your arguments as well as your opponents. If you don't do that weighing, I have a hard time being able to make a decision on that portion of the debate without having to intervene too much. That being said, you should be weighing V and VC in the round!

Do you have any specific expectations for the format of the 2nd Affirmative Rebuttal and 2 Negative Rebuttal (i.e. line by line/ direct refutation and/or big picture?) The 2NR can have a bit of line by line, but it should not be the focus. By the time we reach second rebuttals, I prefer big picture elements of the round. Give me the voting issues. Tell me why I should vote for you to win the round.

Are voting issues necessary for your decision?I prefer voting issues in the final rebuttal. I think it helps me make my decision cleaner and clearer. Please give me voting issues to consider in my decision!

How critical are ”extensions” of arguments into later speeches?extend, extend, extend! If there is an argument that helps your case, EXTEND IT! Especially if the argument is dropped. I won't do extensions for you. You need to tell me to bring it across the flow.

Flowing/note-taking-I flow the rounds just as you should. I try to take as many notes as possible on the arguments so I can keep up with the debate. I often reference my flow in decisions.

Do you value argument over style? Style over argument? Argument and style equally?Truthfully, I love a nice style in a debate round, but arguments are always going to influence my decision way more than style.

In order to win a debate round, does the debater need to win their framework or can they win using their opponent’s framework?You can win using whoever's framework you would like as long as you explain to me why. I love watching good framework debates, so please feel free to have one of those in front of me.

How necessary do you feel the use of evidence (analytical and/or empirical) is in the round?Evidence is SO IMPORTANT! If you don't have evidence, I have a hard time buying any claim you want to make. Give me some kind of evidence for every claim you make because without evidence, it is really easy for me to just overlook the argument.

Any other relevant information (optional)?I'll attach my old paradigm below. I think it has a few more details about me and my perspective as a judge.

I wholeheartedly believe that this is your activity and your round, so my thoughts shouldn't dictate what happens in the round. My goal as a judge and coach is to allow the debaters to have the debate they want to have, and I have spent a lot of time learning and growing so I can best facilitate that and judge any debate, which I believe I can.

So I can be of better service to you, I have created a list with specific thoughts I have about debate. Do with this what you will.

-A claim is not an argument. Please give warrants and thorough explanation to any claim you make. That is the only way I will vote on that argument.

-When you read a Value and Value Criterion, please carry that through the flow throughout the round unless you kick out of it. Values and Value Criterions are something special about this style of my debate, and, when done well, VC debates are some of my favorites.

-When giving voting issues on specific arguments, please provide impact weighing. Don’t tell me to extend an argument and move on. Explain to me why that matters more than what your opponent is saying.

-Always give your opponents arguments close and careful thought. I promise you that someone has spent time thinking about the things they are saying, so in order for you to keep afloat in the round, don't just dismiss arguments without thorough explanation.

-HAVE FUN! You should do this activity because you enjoy it, and I enjoy judging rounds where the competitors are having fun with what they are doing.

I look forward to judging you in a round. If you have questions about anything on this paradigm or a more specific thought I have on debate, feel free to ask before the round starts. I will be more than happy to answer :)