Policy Debate Judge Paradigm

What school(s) are you affiliated with? Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH)

Were you a competitor when in school? No.

How often do you judge policy debate? Just started this year.

Speaking

How fast can students speak during speeches? Fast is fine

If a student is speaking too fast or unclear, will you give any cues to them? Yes, I will get their attention and press both hands downward towards the floor.

List stylistic items you like debaters to do. For example, do you like debaters that do line-by-line (e.g. respond to arguments in the order they were presented)?

1. I appreciate speakers giving a roadmap.

2. I appreciate line-by-line, but ultimately that is the speaker’s choice.

List stylistic items you do not like debaters to do. For example, do you dislike it when debaters answer their partner’s cross ex questions or hand their partner papers?

1. I do not like excessive volume, nor insufficient volume. I need to be able to hear you clearly.

Arguments

List types of arguments you prefer to listen to/evaluate. For example, do you like disadvantages? Kritiks? Topicality?

1. These are tactical considerations for the speakers and their coach, not my preferences.

List types of arguments that you prefer not to listen to. For example, are you less familiar with politics DA’s? Do you dislike philosophical arguments?

1. These are tactical considerations for the speakers and their coach, not my preferences.

Other Notes

In a few sentences, describe the type of debate you would like most to hear or any other things debaters/coaches should know about your judging style.

I prefer when references are clear and precise so that all participants know exactly where we are in the evidence and what is being claimed. Following that, I feel it is important to remember to attack the evidence, not the speaker.