Hi, I am a parent volunteer. This is my first time judging. Please consider me a lay judge.

I value creativity, delivery, and connection with the audience.

Best of luck!

PF: Pro should advocate for the resolution’s worthiness while the Con should show the disadvantages of the resolution and why it should not be adopted. In the 1st speech, both teams should have an introduction to frame the team’s case. The summary needs to be a line by line comparison between both worlds where the differences exist and are clear and the issues need to be prioritized. Final focus needs to be a big picture concept. I will evaluate your evidence and expect you to do the research accordingly but also understand how to analyze and synthesize it. Countering back with a card is not debating. I can't vote on what I don't hear or can't understand. So watch rate of delivery. PLEASE weigh your arguments and make it clear how I should evaluate this round and what really matters. Explain why those reasons are preferable to your opponent’s. I do not form part of the email chain.

IEs: I've judged all IEs for over 30 years for different circuits and at different levels (including state and nationals). On EXTEMPT/INF/OO, make sure to speak clearly avoiding excessive word crutches and cite your sources. Follow the standard speech outline for each event and approach topic creatively. Make sure to actually answer the question (topic chosen) clearly and that the points discussed in the body of the speech support the answer. Use time wisely/effectively to fully develop the speech. If you are using props (for speech events), make sure they go with the topic and are easily handled. They don't need to be complicated. The simpler the better. On INTERP, I look at who transported me into the story and kept me there. Make sure all movements (gestures, head, and other body movements) are done with purpose and should not distract from the selection being presented. Characterization is also very important to keep me in the story. Use the whole "stage" for your presentation if the event allows it. It's your performance. Entertain me! POI: You can incorporate the binder as a prop if you want making sure it isn't so distracting that it takes away from your program.

LD: I am a traditional LD judge. This means the debate should be a value debate. Framework of the debate is of the utmost importance because it will force me to evaluate your impacts before the other team’s impacts and nullifies most, if not all, of the other team’s offense. The contentions should be used to demonstrate a real-world example of the framework in action. For any claim made during the entire debate (constructive and rebuttal speeches), you should have evidential support. PLEASE weigh your arguments, make it clear how I should flow and evaluate what is said, and show me what really matters in the round. Explain clearly why those reasons are preferable to your opponent’s. There is no need for spreading. I can't vote on what I don't hear or can't understand. So watch rate of delivery. I do not form part of the email chain. If it's important, make sure to explain it clearly during your speeches.

Congress: When preparing a speech, make sure to follow standard speech outline and cite your sources. Approach legislation creatively. If you speak later in the session, do not rehash old arguments already brought up by previous representatives. Bring in new arguments to advance the debate. Also, you must clash with opponents. Don't just give your speech. It's a debate after all. Bring up points mentioned by opposing side, show your view point and not just say they are wrong or you don't agree. Give specific reasons why you don't agree and provide the evidence to prove your point. Have your speech so well prepared that you will be able to defend it during cross and not stumble during questioning. As Parliamentarian, I will make sure correct parliamentary procedure is followed.

WSD: Since arguments should be based in reality and each team is fighting on behalf of their respective worlds, the debate should show which world is more likely and/or better and how it will be actualized in the big picture rather than the individual arguments being made. Provide specific world (not just U.S.) examples to your claims. Burdens and mechanism/model should be clear. On the reply speeches, crystallize the round highlighting the main points of contention (2 or 3 key points) and tell me why your team won those points therefore winning the debate. Make sure there is clash on both sides and watch rate of delivery.

CX: As a stock issues judge, I expect the affirmative team’s plan to retain all stock issues and should label them clearly during the debate. The negative needs to prove that the affirmative fails to meet at least one issue in order to win. I require both sides to provide offense. Sufficient evidence is needed for any claim made during the entire debate. All debaters must speak clearly in order for me to hear all of their points and must watch rate of delivery. I can't vote on what I don't hear or can't understand. I do not intervene, so the debaters must tell me what is important, how I should flow and evaluate what is said, and why I should vote for them. I do not form part of an email chain since I don't want to read speeches. I want to hear them. If it's important, make sure to express it clearly. New on case arguments are ok in 2NC, but not off case.

INTERP: For me Interp it's all about a good story,

Does your performance drown me into the stage you've set?

Does the blocking you've set help with amplifying your performance?

I love to see good movement around the room, and make sure that your movements are purposeful and impactful overall.

I wanna be drawn to your story, STAND OUT !!!! Don't be afraid to be creative and use your voice !

SPEECH: I am looking for effective analysis of your speech and ultimately it comes down to the delivery and presentation.

Keep in mind I am a traditional judge!

• Judging experience at TFA State for Speech events: 2017 & 2024
• Not an experienced debate judge
• Have judged Speech off and on at various local tournaments throughout the years
• Prefer a clear and understandable speaking pace and delivery
• Will write notes during your speech/performance while still actively paying attention to your performance
• Will evaluate effectiveness of verbal and non-verbal elements and overall content presentation with equity and fairness
• Intentional to notice subtle details in gestures, expressions, and articulation
• Open to diverse perspectives and arguments
• Approach judging from an educational/coaching perspective
• Feedback provided will be detailed and include positive reinforcement and constructive criticism.
• Expect respectful, professional, attentive, in-round conduct from all competitors and judges

I love to see honest acting in interpretation events. If you have blocking, l'd like it to be clearly purposeful and clean. Most importantly, have fun.

In platform events I like you have unique analyses of your topics with clear implications. Again, above all else, just have fun.

Hello everyone!

A little bit about me: My name is Alek Zabel Araguz and I have been competing in speech and debate for about 7-8 years. In my time in High School, I was a 3x NSDA National Finalist, NIETOC Finalist, 3x TFA State Finalist, 2x UIL State Congress Finalist, and have dipped my toes in every event speech and debate has to offer. I now am a freshman at UT and compete on the UT Speech team. I love speech and debate with all my heart, and it makes me so happy to help grow this activity!

My rankings in round depends on a lot of factors, however, there are some overall sections that I look for when judging any type of round!

For I.E.'s, I look for:

• Characterization: Who is the person you are playing, what makes them unique? If you have multiple characters, what is distinct to each character that makes them distinguishable?

• Plot: Is the plot understandable? Is there a beginning, middle, and end? Does it highlight/show us change as the piece progresses? What about this story is different from others?

• Delivery: Is there variation in your delivery? Do we have uses of pauses, emphasis on words, silence, onomatopoeia, and how is it purposeful to your piece? If there are multiple characters, how are their voices different, what is their speed when talking, do they have any speech impediments?

• Blocking: Is the blocking you have PURPOSEFUL? These characters are people, so how do we make these characters multi-dimensional? How do you show us what you are doing when talking/not talking? Does the blocking you have help the message you are trying to convey?

• Confidence: When performing, do you exude confidence? Do you seem familiar with your piece? How connected are you to the message/piece you are doing? Are you confident in your abilities to tell your story? Why does this matter to you and especially to us listening?

• Professionalism: In a round, are you maintaining professionalism? How do you treat your judges and other competitors? Are you being distracting to other competitors? Are you respectful to those performing/ those watching? Do you keep composure when something goes wrong in a round?

For OO, Info, Extemp (and Congress), I look for:

• Structure: Does the structure of your speech enhance the topics you are discussing? Do you provide some sort of claim, evidence, and reasoning for each of your arguments? Does your speech flow make sense? Do your points work hand in hand with each other?

• Information: Is the info provided relevant to what you are saying? Is the article used out-dated? What makes this info different from most other statistics? How revolutionary is this article?

• Delivery: Is there variation in your delivery? Do we have uses of pauses, emphasis on words, silence, onomatopoeia, and how is it purposeful to your speech? Do you incorporate humor or any other devices to appeal to your audience/judge? If you use VAs, how are they purposefully used?

• Confidence: When performing, do you exude confidence? Do you seem familiar with your speech? How connected are you to the message/piece you are doing? Are you confident in your abilities to tell your story? Why does this matter to you and especially to us listening?

• Professionalism: In a round, are you maintaining professionalism? How do you treat your judges and other competitors? Are you being distracting to other competitors? Are you respectful to those performing/ those watching? Do you keep composure when something goes wrong in a round?

Things like these allow people to set themselves apart from their other fellow competitors and are super essential in any event you perform! If you have any questions, please don't be afraid to ask, I would be more than happy to clarify anything you all may need! Good luck and I hope y'all slay all your rounds!!

While I did not debate in college, I have a degree in communication and love having the opportunity to be a part of an organization with the most amazing students I have ever known!

• Make sure you are well prepared.

• Clear, logical structure is essential.

• Effective communication is key – clarity is paramount.

• Speaker presence and confidence matter.

• Be mindful of speaking speed – avoid being too fast or too slow.

• Be respectful.

• Have fun!

I am a parent judge. Please be enthusiastic and put passion into your speeches the entire time. Eye contact is key and be expressive with your face. Lastly, remember to have good usage of hand gestures.

Aqsa Babar | UT Austin '27

Speech:

Info and OO: Creative topics that have humor and personality shine through is my preference. Speeches should be well memorized. Enunciation, diction, and tone are of utmost importance. Intonation is key and tell me why this topic is important and why I should care.

POI, Prose, Poetry, DI, and DUO: I believe that each piece should have its unique personality, and I judge based on how well that personality is depicted. It's important to address the heart of each piece and the emotions it conveys.

Extemp: I expect organization, sources, and, most importantly, that the topic is thoroughly addressed.

I believe that every student has the potential to excel in speech and debate.

I look for Students that show hard work and understanding of their IE selections.

I like to see them polished/ no rough drafts

Students should show they have an understanding of the selection they are presenting.

Selection should be entertaining and also have merit.

I have no pref for oratory and info. I want a solid selection with evidence to support it.

virtual should be the same as in person style wise other wise I feel it isn't fair.

teasers should hook us and make us want to listen. intros are for information only and shouldn't be acted out. that is where you get to be you.

blocking and movement is as important a the verbal parts for the performance. they should augment each other

show me interesting characters. subtext and such.

I am not here to judge the author or the choice of selection. I am here to judge the performance.

Email:bakerzachary0@gmail.com

Truth over tech: I don't think abusing link chains makes you a good debater. I'm willing to buy more abstract arguments to an extent I have solid general knowledge of most things political. The more complicated your argument the more clear your link chain should be. That being said as long as your argument isn't based around a lie or fatal mistake on your part I still require the other team to do the work and refute it.

Congress: I love clash, funny AGD's, and good analysis. Please refute the other competitors asap ,and directly reference who you are refuting. Everyone has a piece of paper with their name on it, it shouldn't be difficult to remember the representative your refuting's name. Please be cordial with your fellow competitors, sportsmanship is big virtue in my opinion. I expect you to be active in the chamber and ask good questions. 3 minute speeches are short make good use of your time. A good sponsorship should really contextualize what the legislation does.

If your going to PO I expect you to be efficient, and quick. But if you are inexperienced in a prelims round and still doing a good enough job that its not an issue I will not rank you down.

Debate: I am a traditional judge. In every Debate event I like a more lay round. Feel free to run theory if something is actually super abusive, but I've yet to vote on a theory argument. I do not like fast speed, it's one of the things I write most on speech round ballots. However if I can understand you and a doc isn't needed you can still get 30 speaks. However if you spread you can expect at most a low-point win.I consider myself to mostly be a policy-maker style judge.

Also finally I will not intervene and down you if you go against my preferences. But please take it as a guideline for what I understand, and feel comfortable voting for. No hard feelings if your style is better suited to the 2 other judges in the room :)

In LD: Value criterion is extremely important to me. I need to understand how different contentions/cards tie into your value criterion and why your VC outweighs.

In PF: I value more of a big picture voters speech than a line by line, the speech is 2 minutes so if you drop unimportant parts of the debate here you can win. With that said in PF I really prefer slower speaking even more than LD

Extemp: Have strong analysis and strong speaking skills, your time should be around 6:30. I like a good AGD, trust me I want to laugh out loud sometimes but I can't.

Platform/Interp: Delivery is critical especially for jokes, practice practice practice. If your unsure of how you are saying a joke ask someone before giving it to me as a judge.Moreover in Interp please don't scream/yell super loud especially if you are standing right next to me.

Hi! I'm Srini, a parent of a speech and debate competitor. In the rounds that I judge, I expect respectful, engaging debate and prefer a slower pace when you present your arguments. For speech, I'm looking for unique ideas presented in a confident, engaging way (humor definitely helps). Overall, just have fun, and the more interested you are in your topic, so will the audience! Good luck!

Interp Events

I believe acting choices should be justified and driven by the text. The speaker should use their tools to tell a complete story with the traditional elements of plot and story arc.

I like to see honesty and authenticity in the movement and voice of the speaker. Animated and performative acting styles should be derived from a specific style of the piece.

Spontaneity and natural variety in a performance are essential. The piece should not feel over-rehearsed and on repeat.

If needed, speakers should always adapt their choices to their surroundings. For example, if performing in a small room, the speaker should modify volume to the room.

I am looking for insightful and new analyses of a topic in OO

I am hoping to be pleasantly surprised in INFO

I want honest and truthful storytelling in INTERP

Speech

In high school and college I've done almost exclusively speech, so that is what I am most knowledgable on. In all speech event, including interps, I care deeply about having a clear thesis.

Extemp and Congress

This is what I did the most of in my career. I care deeply about the technique of how extemps are done, so I want to see all the parts of the intro, clear substructure, etc.

Planned Speeches

Since these speeches are rehearsed, I do care a lot more about delivery here. However, in terms of content, the best OOs give me some sort of tangible policy or soultion. The more I feel like you actually solve, the better. For infos, I want to hear something novel, and I want it to be forward looking and have impact. I don't think a speech about something everything knows about is really informing.

Interps

These speeches are the ones I am least informed about. I still really value the argument that you're making, please give me a performance with a purpose!

Debate

In general, I am definitely a tabula rasa/game theory judge. I am willing to buy whatever argument you give, I just need you to prove it. Also, I am not taking your case in the email chain. If you need me to read the case for you to make your point, you're not debating at that point

In terms of specific events, my big takes are that Public Forum is supposed toPublic.That is to say, it needs to be accessible. So I don't really want to hear you spread. That goes for every debate event, but I think it's the most heinous for PF. For LD, I care a lot about framework. If you tell me that the team with most X should win... I will vote for the team with the most X.

I look for good sportsmanship, knowledge about the topic, communication, and enthusiasm. I want to see students enjoying what they are speaking or debating about. I am not a fan of allusions to degrade someone else’s debate. I appreciate projection and annunciation, as well as, diction.

I am a parent judge. I will be judging you based on your confidence level, strength of your argument, and clarity in speech. I will also be looking for logical reasoning in your arguments.

For extemp and public address, I prefer that students use a conversational style. I prefer that they use evidence as needed. I prefer they not try and name numerous sources, but be honest in what they are using. I like a roadmap they refer to for each point.

For interp, I like a meaningful teaser that sets the world they are creating and tries to introduce as many characters as possible. I think introductions should be short and sweet and be more personal. I think blocking and movement should be used to enhance the story, but is not necessary. I really look for fully developed characters that really listen and react to each other. For author's intent, I think it is okay to re-interpret a piece. I don't have a real issue with a curse word if it is used purposefully.

***FORMERLY THE ARTIST KNOWN AS ANGELA HO ***

Experience: 4 years policy in HS, former policy debater for UH, former PKD President of UH

FIRST, keep in mind that my husband and I do not talk excessively about theory, k’s, etc. in our daily lives. If you are preffing me because you hope I adjudicate with the knowledge depth of literature, you are in for a surprise.

Secondly, I'll tell you that being polite is the key because I don't think rudeness is necessary for debate and takes away from the actual education, being sassy is fine.

Third is that I judge based on logos. Make sure all arguments are logically thought out instead of just running them for the sake of running an argument and not being able to explain the argument. Make me want to vote for you. DO NOT scream over your opponent. I will also NOT vote for something I do not understand, you have failed to persuade my ballot.

*I CANNOT STAND excessive waste of time. As soon as the constructive is over, CX starts. As soon as there is silence, prep time needs to be used. Failure to be efficient will result in flashing counting as prep. No need to ask me if I am ready, I am ALWAYS ready once the debate begins.

Overall: There are no arguments that I won't vote on. I look at whatever you present to me. I am looking for a clear explanation of the function of the argument in the round, evidence comparison, and a clear impact calculus. I enjoy both K and traditional debates. I would like that both teams are clear on which side of the argument they are for. I have voted on plenty of arguments that I don't like so feel free to run whatever you are comfortable with but I will list what I tend to look at in my decision.

Do not get WILD if I cannot fully explain a theory/k background to you. I do not claim to be an expert in literature for different theories/k but if you fail to explain it to me or debate it, that will be how my decision is based. If I do not understand your theory/k then you have failed to explain it to me.

Flowing: I don't have a problem with spreading; however, I draw the line when you have to gasp and have become even incomprehensible to yourself. I personally think it's worthless to spread if you don't use up all of your speech time or not be able to explain your cards. Emphasize taglines. Make sure you pronounce words that will be repeated throughout the round correctly because it does get annoying hearing words incorrectly said over and over and over again. Do not "spread" if you are not able to cover more than regular reading, points deducted.

CX: I don't flow CX, but listen so you can bring it up in your speech for it to be included in my flow. I also don’t count flashing as prep as long as you aren’t abusing it. Include me if you are doing an email chain.

Things I like: Clash of evidence. Impact calc with proper weighing. I love a good statistic.

Topicality: Make sure you uphold standards and voters and give me a reason to prefer your definition.

Disadvantages: The uniqueness and link to the case are important to me. Push your impacts and weigh your impacts.

CP: Make sure you explain why it solves better than the Aff and why it is mutually exclusive.

Things I don’t like: Ks, Theory and Framework. It also doesn’t mean that I won’t vote for them. I just prefer concrete evidence as opposed to analytical.

K: I am okay if you run a K (In fact, I enjoy seeing which K is used for the round and how it is executed). I will only evaluate Kritiks if they are run properly otherwise I'm not the biggest fan of them. I will vote for them even if I personally do not agree with them. I do want a quick overview of the K being run, just because I am not fully read on all the different philosophies (but I have dabbled into them so I am not completely in the dark). If you run a K just make sure to explain the ideology of the author. Make sure the ALT is explained, carried throughout the round, and that it is a better outcome for the scenario. Once again, I do not claim this area to be my expertise so do not get wild if I cannot give you a long winded rfd because I do not know the literature.

Theory/Framework:It probably will bore me, not going to lie. I’ll listen but it’s not my number 1 voter. I will make an exception if you are able to prove to me that it should be weighed first. I will vote for it if one side drops the debate of theory being a prerequisite.

LD:

I think it's important to uphold your arg and carry them through the entire round. If you have a more modern approach then I still expect you to attack the value/crit if your opponent is more of a traditional debater. I will not vote for RVI, so do not waste time with that. I tend to enjoy the modern single policy debate style more. Please do not delay the debate round with preflow, if would like to do that then do it in advance.

PF:

My main voter is the outcome of the round and the weighing of points. I like to be explain what does the pro/con world look like. Read at whatever pace you would like. In order to win my ballot you will need to be big picture and line-by-line as well as explain why your side outweighs the opponent.

Speaks: For speaker points I don't pay attention to the quantity of the argumentation: I look for fluidity, demeanor, tone and courtesy. I will give a low point win if the winning team is being disrespectful, racist, and/or offensive with profanity or anything I deem as inappropriate. I do enjoy humor, sass, Disney and pop culture references so if you can incorporate that appropriately into your speech, then your points will reflect (+.1).

Speech:

Extemp/Info/OO: I am previously a national finalist for extemp. Again, I love a good statistic. Looking for proper analysis of sources and evidence. Usually the one in the room has told me a fact that I did not know.

HI/DI/DUO/DUET/POI/POETRY: Synchronization into character with fluid delivery is key. I am looking for the emotion(s) of the piece to be conveyed effectively. I often do not react visibly so please do not be discouraged. I do have a hard time ethically evaluating a physically abled bodied contestant that chooses to portray a physical disability or interprets a physical disability onto a character, strike me.

**I will provide a quick key recap of my paradigm before the round starts, please listen because I will be VERY annoyed if you continually ask me if I am ready or anything I make a point to readdress from this paradigm. If you have any specific questions, ask me before/after the round starts. If not then have fun and run whatever you feel that is best for the round. Good Luck!!

Name: Eric Beane

Affiliation: Langham Creek HS (2018-Present) | University of Houston (2012-2016) | Katy Taylor HS (2009-16)

GO COOOOOOGS!!! (♫Womp Womp♫) C-O-U-G-A-R-S (who we talkin' bout?) Talkin' bout them Cougars!!

*Current for the 2023-24 Season*

Policy Debate Paradigm

I debated for the University of Houston from 2012-2016. I've coached at Katy-Taylor HS from 2011 - 2016 and since 2018 I have been the Director of Debate at Langham Creek High School. I mostly went for the K. I judge a lot of clash of the civs & strange debates. Have fun

Specific Arguments

Critical Affirmatives – I think your aff should be related to the topic; we have one for a reason and I think there is value in doing research and debating on the terms that were set by the topic committee. Your aff doesn’t need to fiat the passage of a plan or have a text, but it should generally affirm the resolution. I think having a text that you will defend helps you out plenty. Framework is definitely a viable strategy in front of me.

Disadvantages – Specific turns case analysis that is contextualized to the affirmative (not blanket, heg solves for war, vote neg analysis) will always be rewarded with high speaker points. Comparative analysis between time frame, magnitude and probability makes my decisions all the easier. I am a believer in quality over quantity, especially when thinking about arguments like the politics and related disadvantages.

Counterplans – PICs bad etc. are not reasons to reject the team but just to reject the argument. I also generally err neg on these questions, but it isn’t impossible to win that argument in front of me. Condo debates are fair game – you’ll need to invest a substantial portion of the 1AR and 2AR on this question though. If your counterplan has several planks, ensure that you include each in your 2NC/1NR overview so that I have enough pen time to get it all down.

Kritik Section Overview - I enjoy a good K debate. When I competed in college I mostly debated critical disability studies and its intersections. I've also read variations of Nietzsche, Psychoanalysis and Marxism throughout my debate career. I would greatly appreciate a 2NC/1NR Overview for your K positions. Do not assume that I am familiar with your favorite flavor of critical theory and take time to explain your thesis (before the 2NR).

Kritik: "Method Debate" - Many debates are unnecessarily complicated because of this phrase. If you are reading an argument that necessitates a change in how a permutation works (or doesn't), then naturally you should set up and explain a new model of competition. Likewise, the affirmative ought to defend their model of competition.

Kritik: Alternative - We all need to be able to understand what the alternative is, what it does in relation to the affirmative and how it resolves the link+impact you have read. I have no shame in not voting for something that I can't explain back to you.This by far is the weakest point of any K debate and I am very skeptical of alternatives that are very vague (unless it is done that way on purpose). I would prefer over-explanation than under-explanation on this portion of the debate.

Vagueness - Strangely enough, we begin the debate with two very different positions, but as the debate goes on the explanation of these positions change, and it all becomes oddly amorphous - whether it be the aff or neg. I feel like "Vagueness" arguments can be tactfully deployed and make a lot of sense in those debates (in the absence of it).

Case Debate – I think that even when reading a 1-off K strategy, case debate can and should be perused. I think this is probably the most undervalued aspect of debate. I can be persuaded to vote on 0% risk of the aff or specific advantages. Likewise, I can be convinced there is 0 risk of a DA being triggered.

Topicality - I'm down to listen to a good T debate. Having a topical version of the aff with an explanation behind it goes a long way in painting the broader picture of debate that you want to create with your interpretation. Likewise being able to produce a reasonable case list is also a great addition to your strategy that I value. You MUST slow down when you are addressing the standards, as I will have a hard time keeping up with your top speed on this portion of the debate. In the block or the 2NR, it will be best if you have a clear overview, easily explaining the violation and why your interp resolves the impacts you have outlined in your standards.

New Affs are good. That's just it. One of the few predispositions I will bring into the debate.

"Strange" Arguments / Backfile Checks - I love it when debate becomes fun. Sometimes we need a break from the monotony of nuclear armageddon. The so-called classics like wipeout, the pic, etc. I think are a viable strategy. I've read guerrilla communication arguments in the past and think it provides some intrigue in policy debate. I also think it is asinine for judges or coaches to get on a moral high horse about "Death Good" arguments and refuse to vote for them. Debate is a game and if you can't beat the other side, regardless of what they are arguing, you should lose.

Other Information

Accessibility - My goal as an educator and judge is to provide the largest and most accessible space of deliberation possible. If there are any access issues that I can assist with, please let me know (privately or in public - whatever you are comfortable with). I struggle with anxiety and understand if you need to take a "time out" or breather before or after a big speech.

Evidence - When you mark cards I usually also write down where they are marked on my flow –also, before CX starts, you need to show your opponents where you marked the cards you read. If you are starting an email chain - prep ends as soon as you open your email to send the document. I would like to be on your email chain too - ericdebate@gmail.com

High Speaks? - The best way to get high speaks in front of me is in-depth comparative analysis. Whether this be on a theory debate or a disad/case debate, in depth comparative analysis between author qualification, warrants and impact comparison will always be rewarded with higher speaker points. The more you contextualize your arguments, the better. If you are negative, don't take prep for the 1NR unless you're cleaning up a 2NC disaster. I'm impressed with stand-up 1ARs, but don't rock the boat if you can't swim. If you have read this far in my ramblings on debate then good on you - If you say "wowzas" in the debate I will reward you with +0.1 speaker points.

Any other questions, please ask in person or email – ericdebate@gmail.com

Interp Events:

My rankings are usually based on who is able to create the most believable characters and moments. There should be multiple levels within your piece and in the portrayal of your characters ~ not everything should be intense, or fast/slow, or super loud or quiet.

Everything you do in your performance should have a purpose. If you give a character an accent, be consistent with that accent. Make sure that each movement, mannerism, or gesture makes sense within the scope of the story you are telling. Additionally, I should be able to easily differentiate between multiple characters. Facial expressions, moments, and character development are very important for the overall performance.

Speaking Events

A clear structure is important: your delivery should be cohesive, and flow logically from point to point. A natural delivery style that allows for your personality to shine is preferable to the “Platform Speaker”. Put simply: avoid speech patterns.

Extemp: The most important thing is that you answer the question! A polished speaking style is important, but I will often default to a speaker that has stronger analysis and evidence over a pretty speech with fluffy content. Do not rely on canned introductions - creativity is important when trying to engage me.

Oratory/Informative: Your attention getter, vehicle, and conclusion should be creative, but they also need to fit well with the topic. Again, I will default to stronger analysis/evidence over fluffy content.

Policy

I am a policy maker – an impact calc. is crucial to me. Really provide in-depth analysis for risks/scenarios/advantages. Whatever you run in the round just make sure you do it well. I like intelligent clash and not getting stuck in a time suck over less relevant arguments.

T – Please make sure to provide a quality definition and show why your interpretation is to be preferred. Do not use it was a way to wrap the entire debate up on a T argument and waste time.

DA – The more specific the link the better. I don’t really care for super generic canned disads. Show why the big bad is more likely to happen with what you read than in aff world.

K – I am open to a Kritik, but you need to really understand and explain it well. It really comes down to your explanation though if I buy it. Don’t run one in the 2NC – I find it to be unfair to aff.

CP – Like everything else if you run it well, I am a fan. I think naturally it makes more since for it to be plan inclusive, but you can set it up anyway you’d like with the right evidence.

Theory – I strongly dislike theory arguments. You can run one if it is necessary but don’t wrap the whole debate up in a theory argument.

Speed – I think I can flow just about anything, but I will say “clear” if needed or stop flowing.

Hey! My name is Sneha Bhale (she/her) and I did 4 years of Speech and Debate at Westwood High School. I competed in extemp as my main event both locally and nationally and I did some congress. I currently attend UT Austin.

debate events- please add me to the email chain- snehabhale21@gmail.com

Extemp- I prioritize content over fluency. I give the 1 to whoever answers the question adequately and addresses every actor mentioned. The substructure needs to be easy to follow and your impacts need to be realistic and topical. For fluency, fluency errors should not impede my ability to understand you and humor can go a long way. As for sources, please do not make them up and try to diversify your sources (use think tanks and academic journals). As for time, I don't care a whole lot but make sure it's evenly spaced out for every point. Overall, your content should make sense and should have sources, and having humor incorporated and a conversational tone will go a long way with ranks.

PF- Treat me as a flay (maybe a little more flow) judge. I will flow the round and have some exposure to PF. I'm not too fond of spreading but if you speak fast, I would like a speech doc. My flow shouldn't be all over the place and easy to follow. I think weighing is extremely important as well as the continuation of arguments in the summary and final focus. I also would prefer to be added to the email chain and will call for evidence so make sure there is no paraphrasing or twisting of information. During cross-ex, please be patient and polite. Speaks will be assigned based on clarity and overall demeanor within a round. I'm not too familiar with progressive arguments but I will evaluate them. Overall, I like a clean flow, slow speaking, weighing, roadmaps, warrants, and proper evidence protocols.

Cong- The PO should know proper procedures and keep track of precedence and recency well. The PO should also ensure voting happens fairly and keep track of everything efficiently. I will keep my precedence and recency sharts and will double-check. As for the competitors, congress is a matter of participation so make sure you pay attention. Try to pay attention the whole round and ask questions. I'm not too fond of pre-prepared speeches. Speeches that follow the debate and clash go a long way. Rehash is also a no go and I will dock points for it- please bring in new evidence and new points. If you are speaking later in the round, please bring in new evidence and use Clash rather than rephrasing previous speeches. The questioning period should be respectful to all competitors. As a personal preference, I prefer precedence and recency to be tracked online. It gets very messy when it is on paper. Overall, I like clashes in speeches, effective questioning, proper use of sources, and clear speaking.

And most importantly, have fun with it! Please let me know if I can do anything to make the round a safe place or a better experience for you. Also, feel free to ask questions/clarification on my paradigm or for any feedback after the round.

Judging is more than looking for the best topic, speaker or performer. It is also being able to distinguish between debaters who have taken their time to study topics that mean something to them or the world. It’s not always about who is the most passionate or dramatic either though. I’ve was a competitor for 7+ years and I’ve judged for 3+, so I expect to see new and creative topics. Even if they are similar to things that have already been on the circuit, I look for how competitors dig deeper into arguments to provide a different perspective.

As a judge, I highly value the art of oration, emphasizing the demonstration of skill, poise, and the meticulous presentation of detailed evidence. I understand the challenges posed by virtual delivery and expect participants to approach the event with the same level of preparation as they would for an in-person competition. For virtual performances in, I request that the camera be positioned to capture the speaker's full body or at least knees and higher, if feasible.

While I acknowledge the importance of author's intent, I firmly believe that it should not be the sole determinant in ranking a round. Mature material, including the use of profanity or expletives, is acceptable to me as long as it is not excessive and serves a necessary purpose, such as contributing to the climax, character growth, and/or development.

For safety reasons, I refrain from handshakes. As the NCCFA NATIONALS champion for prose poetry and a consistent judge at TFA state 2022, and 2023. As well as the district qualifying competitions from 2018 to date, I have also judged a variety of debate events including Congress, CX, and Lincoln Douglas. My experience has honed my ability to provide students with valuable feedback to enhance their speaking abilities both within and outside the competitive rounds.

Content warnings are appreciated when appropriate.

Teasers should set the mood for the piece and not be too lengthy.

Intros need to continue to prepare the audience for the piece by setting the appropriate tone as well as to give important exposition. A sharp or clever intro that is well constructed can be the determining factor in scoring among two equally done pieces.

Blocking and movement should be clear, well defined, and motivated. Clever or creative staging is appreciated. Unclear or unspecific pantomime, upstaging, or weird angles that prevent seeing the actor's faces should be avoided.

Characterization should be consistent and easy to follow if performing multiple characters. Pops should be clean. Vocal characterization should be suggestive of the character and not an opportunity to showcase cartoon voices/cliche characters (the surfer, the New Yorker, the Brit, the Aussie, etc.) unless warranted by the script/story.

The binder is NOT a prop other than in POI. Movement below the waist (steps) should be clear and motivated as well as minimal.

Author's Intent and/or Appropriateness of Literature- How do I feel about an HI of Miracle Worker (author's intent) or a student performing mature material (appropriateness)? That's a big NO for me if it's offensive more than it is creative. (Miracle Worker as an HI, or The Lovely Bones, or anything like that is offensive to me. The topics in those pieces aren't meant to be funny and do go against the author's intent.) Mature content if it's handled well and suits the piece doesn't bother me- if it's excessive or for shock value, then I may not like it. It really depends on the piece and the performer; I'm not really conservative but I've seen some material that I definitely wouldn't coach or have ranked down because I felt like it was too much.

For Speech Events OO/INFO– I love that Orator’s Triangle! It helps me follow the structure of your speech. I weigh the written speech (construction/logic/novelty/grammar/humor) equally with the presentation of the speech. I personally don’t like laminated stuff on Info boards (because of the glare.) I loooove creative/inventive Info props!

Howdy! My name is Linnea Brashears, and I am a current student at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. I graduated from Veterans Memorial High School in Corpus Christi in May of 2020. I was very active in TFA Speech and Debate tournaments, and competed all four years in Interpretation and Speech events! As a judge, I recognize implicit bias, and it will never influence the result of a round.

For Interp Events (including PO, PR, POI, HI, DI, DUO, DUET) I request that:

The speakers utilize strong, memorized, and captivating intros, after a preview of their pieces. Binder work should be clean, and choreography/transitions should be crisp! I'll be looking for authentic presentations and realism in pantomime. I want to feel what your characters are telling me they are feeling!

For Speech Events (including INFO, OO, FX, NX, DX) I request that:

The speakers utilize strong, supported, and captivating intros that are well memorized and are relative to the speech being presented. As a judge preference, I like when speakers utilize the orator's triangle, however, it is not totally necessary. Transitions and intro sentences to each topic should be relevant, and the organization of the speech is very important! I also look for creativity and originality within topics. Remind the audience of the significance of your speech frequently. Visual aids should be neat, necessary, relevant, and should only aid the audience in understanding the speech.

For Debate Events (LD, CX, PF, BQ):

Speakers do not spread and I would always appreciate an off-time roadmap. I like to see good sportsmanship. It is debate, not an argument. Lay judge

I look forward to seeing your talents!

I am conflicted with Cypress Park Hs.

Individual events: I look for strong characterization, rhetorical appeals, vocal variety and inflection, expressive facial/ body movements, clear enunciation, confidence, and creative delivery.

Debate events: I look for conversational tone of voice, clear and average paced speaking (No spreading), Rhetorical appeals, strong reasoning and logic, current and credible evidence, and impactful connections.

What are your stylistic preferences for extemp? How much evidence do you prefer? Any preference for virtual delivery?

It's important that the extemp format is followed. I would prefer there be a min. of 2 sources per point. I prefer an AG that you can tie back to during each transition.

What are your stylistic preferences for Oratory/Info? How much evidence do you prefer?

Much like extemp at least 2-3 sources per point. I like the intro to be tied into the subject and your transitions link back to your AG.

Any unique thoughts on teasers/introductions for Interpretation events?

I love teasers! Make sure you intro truly introduce your piece and it isn't too long

Any preferences with respect to blocking, movement, etc.?

I prefer there to be lots of movement and blocking. Help me visualize where you are and who you are talking to.

How do you feel about author's intent and appropriateness of a piece? For example: an HI of Miracle Worker (author's intent) or a student performing mature material or using curse words (appropriateness)?

I'm not ok with vulgar pieces. I am ok with some profanity but not a lot.

WSD Judging

I'm looking for teams who can defend their case and attack their opponents. I expect you to use the proper terms (opp/prop/motions) You will lose points from me if you are rude in anyway. I'm looking for everyone to be good speakers and be able to explain their side in a way that makes sense and convinces me that you should win.

Hi Y'all!!!

Some stuff about me... My name is Jake Broyles and I have been competing in speech and debate for 7 years. In my time in High School, I was a 2x TFA State finalist (2023 POI State Champion), Harvard Finalist, NIETOC Finalist, TOC Finalist, and more. I am now a Freshman at University of Texas on the UT Speech Team. I'm so excited to judge y'all and I can't wait to see some great stuff!!

My rankings depends on many things but here are some main things I look for when deciding my rankings-

INTERP!

Script selection: Make sure the literature in your performance provides a unique and exciting perspective on your argument. If we have seen your script on the circuit many times, are you providing an original interpretation? Or are you just recycling someone else interpretation from past seasons? Performance plagiarism is a thing... and it becomes really easy to do when using a recycled script.

Characterization: commit to the bit- thats it. Don't be afraid to make strong character decisions, but if you do make sure you take that decision all the way there in the performance. Also, make sure the decisions you make are intentional and provide logical sense with your character.

Blocking: I loveeeee some good blocking! Just make sure it is intentional! Don't block a big moment just for the fun and gagginess of it- do it because it takes the audience even further into your performance.

Some questions to think about specifically for Programs, does your cutting make since? do you have a clear build into a climax? Can we follow your characters through the weaving of your literature? Does the literature you provide encapsulate your argument?

Overall confidence is key!! and just make sure you are having fun while doing it!

In Oratory, Info, and Impromptu: I value your originality, creativity, and persuasive presentation of ideas of personal importance. Cite your sources, explain their importance, and tell me why it matters.

In DI, HI, DUO: It is crucial that you tell a story in a meaningful and impactful manner. Characterization, gestures and facial expressions, and, vocal variation will all add to the overall decision.

My name is Robert Bunn. As a former TFA state qualified Humerous Interpretation competitor, I am looking for performers/competitors who display a professional demeanor when they enter a room. Regarding the material; There must be a clear beginning, middle, and end in the material, as well as a display of conviction in the competitors performance. I am looking for the fundamentals of the event to be shown and exceeded through the competitor's execution of the material. Humor, professionalism, and a healthy competitive nature are always welcome, as well as necessary to ensure a successful learning experience for all participants involved.

Speech Events:

I am looking for authentic characters and emotions. Clear understandable diction is important. I want to feel a part of your story. Clear character differentiation is important.

Debate:

I do not like spreading in LD or anything that is not CX. I want to be able to understand you and your arguments. There should be good supporting evidence and clear impacts. Clash should be strong and case related without abuse on either side through continuing to talk or avoiding answering a question.

Congress:

Bring in new evidence with your speeches. Speak clearly and respond to information in previous speeches. Do not be rude in your questioning or speeches. Treat everyone in the room with respect.

Overall, I aim to provide constructive feedback that helps participants grow and improve their skills in speech and debate. I encourage all participants to embrace the opportunity for learning and development, regardless of the outcome of any particular round or competition.

As a judge, I believe in fostering an environment that promotes critical thinking, effective communication, and respectful discourse. My role is to evaluate the performances and arguments presented by participants based on several criteria: 1. Clarity and Organization: I value speeches and arguments that are well-structured, coherent, and easy to follow. Clear organization enhances the effectiveness of the message and allows for better engagement with the audience. 2. Argumentation and Evidence: I expect debaters to present logical, well-supported arguments backed by credible evidence. I appreciate depth of analysis and the ability to anticipate and respond to counterarguments effectively. 3. Delivery and Style: Effective communication involves not only what is said but also how it is delivered. I look for speakers who demonstrate confidence, poise, and appropriate use of voice, gestures, and other rhetorical devices to enhance their message. 4. Adaptability and Responsiveness: In both speech and debate rounds, adaptability is key. I appreciate participants who can adjust their strategies and arguments based on the flow of the round and effectively address questions or challenges raised by opponents or judges. 5. Respect and Sportsmanship: Respectful behavior towards opponents, judges, and the activity itself is fundamental. I expect participants to engage in civil discourse, avoid personal attacks, and uphold the principles of fairness and sportsmanship throughout the competition. 6. Critical Thinking and Creativity: I value originality of thought and the ability to approach topics from different perspectives. Participants who demonstrate critical thinking skills and offer innovative solutions or arguments are likely to receive higher evaluations.

PF/LD Paradigms

I’m first and foremost an interp coach. Treat me like a lay judge who happens to know the rules (and yes- I know the rules). No spreading, clash is fine. If you really want to pick up my ballot, be sure to focus on cross-examination. I find that a strong, quality CX can illustrate your ability to communicate, prove your points, illustrate your knowledge and understanding of the debate and show your best engaged debate skills. Anyone can read a prepared card. Show me you know what to do with it.

On an aside, I do like debaters to keep it professional. I like it when people stand for cross-examination and are polite and supportive to their opponents before and after the round. I like it when I feel the teams are focused and paying attention not only to their opponents' speeches but also to their team member's speeches.

Congress Paradigms

I look for competitors who are prepared to speak on any topic - especially if they have prepared to speak on both sides of the topic. I look for quality speeches that add value to the debate; if we're four cycles in and you aren't bringing new information, crystallizing information we've heard, or providing a new rebuttal then it's easy for your speech to get lost amongst the masses. Activity in the chamber is good - I'm looking for you to be engaged in listening to other speeches, asking valuable questions, and working together to run a fair and efficient chamber.

Interp Paradigms

I was a high school competitor all four years - competing in all Interp events (DI, HI, OO, prose, poetry, Duo, Duet) and Congressional Debate. I competed on the Texas and National Circuits. Here's the big thing to know - you should never change your style, material, or story to try to get my 1. I will always respect the stories you choose to tell, the performance you're developing, and your courage to be you and share messages important to you. Just be you. My ballots may sound tough, but it comes out of a desire to help you improve. I've provided insight into what I'm looking for but none of it should force you to change your content.

For Interp Events, I'm looking for honest storytelling (talk to me like a person) and tech that helps enhance your story and not detract from it. I'm looking for clear, well-developed characters. I'm looking for an excellent intro that provides meaning and importance for your piece. I'm looking for excellent execution of pacing and incorporation of levels. Draw me into your story and leave me with something to take away. In addition, for all binder events, I'm a stickler for binder etiquette.

For Public Speaking Events (OO and INFO), I'm looking for topics that you are personally invested in. I'm looking for an engaging AGD, a clear vehicle, and well-defined points supported by a balance of ethos, pathos, and logos. Share your heart story and be honest with it. Most importantly, these are two events where you can really be yourself. Be your best self, sure. But don't feel like you have to put on a whole song and dance to get my one. I'm looking for an inspirational, conversational tone. INFO - I'm looking for creative visuals that are well-executed and add value to your speech without being a distraction.

For Extemp, I'm looking for a clear understanding of the question and a definitive answer with supporting analysis (cite those sources guys). Two points or three points are fine, depending on the question and your approach to answering the question. I just want your speech to have a clear sense of structure and organization. I'm also looking for strong presentation skills. Have vocal variety, adopt a conversational tone, know how to present in a way that is approachable for all audience types and not just those well-versed in current events and extemp. Don't be afraid to crack a joke, but don't rely purely on humor. Fluency breaks, circular speech (rehashing points and repeating yourself), and poor time management could affect your rank in round.

General note for everyone - I have a really bad thinking face and I'm going to look confused and upset. I'm not - don't take it personally! It's just my face and I don't really have a whole lot of control over that. Plenty of times I've had my own students tell me they were sure I hated what they were doing and then I was very complimentary of their work. So I promise you my face has nothing against you! It's just a grumpy face.

Hello,

I look for well-organized and developed presentations.

Project your voice and watch your pace.

If I cannot understand you, you are not communicating a message.

Have fun and be yourself.

Speech Events

Convey your energy; be expressive

Connect with your audience

Develop and differentiate your characters if you have them

Speaking Events

Be specific with the topic at hand

Connect your points

Use appropriate source material

Confident delivery

When it comes to interpretation events, I am drawn to performances that marry the synergy between literature, fully crafted performances, and effective blocking. I'll be looking for a well-crafted and engaging message that not only captivates the audience but also demonstrates a deep appreciation for the literary nuances in your chosen material. Ensure your content is not just spoken but embodied, utilizing effective blocking to enhance the visual dimension of your performance. Your delivery remains pivotal, so articulate your words with confidence, using your voice, body language, and strategic blocking to create a cohesive and immersive presentation. Pay attention to pacing and timing for a seamless and dynamic flow. Tell me a story, take me on a journey, and make me feel something!

For performance based events, I tend to judge based on the believability of either the character the performer is portraying, or the connection to the message they are delivering. I enjoy more natural acting styles as I believe subtle emotion is much more powerful than over the top, unrealistic emotion. With humorous I am pretty simple; did I laugh? Was it clean? Was the script appropriately cut/ did the plot make sense? If every performer in a round hits all of these, it becomes all about which ones made me laugh the most.

When it comes to PA I find it necessary that the topic be something most people aren't familiar with OR a topic we frequently talk about with nuance brought to it. Additionally, the structure of the speech and conversational tone of the delivery is important to me. I also look for confidence, preparation, and accessibility of the information being presented, especially if it is a complex topic.

Across every event, I value clarity above all else, and genuine, compelling presence right after that. An ideal speaker sound natural, communicates intelligently while using level-appropriate language for the subject at hand, and displays confidence.

In congress, I absolutely despise spreading. Congress is as much a speaking event as a debate event, and as I was never a CX person, I will not understand you if you speak 1000 miles a minute. Please seek to actually communicate with the others in the room, treat them politely and look them in the eye. You only have 3 minutes, so STAY ON TOPIC. Non-topical AGDs do nothing but take up valuable time. Clash is everything to me, also. This doesn't mean giving 1 af speech is a disadvantaged (Please always, always come prepared to give a first speech. There is nothing more embarrassing than having to pause and prep in round, wifi access or no.) but ideally you should present interesting ideas that the other speakers must address. it is QUESTIONING period, not a bickering period. I do not have your ballot open, so making interesting points by prefacing will not help you, but I will note down if you are rude or speaking over the other person in CX. I also take notice of engaged, frequent questioners, and if you reference your other reps answers in your speech that is the holy grail. Also, ask helping questions to help other reps support their point! Not every questioning period involves clash.

For interp and speeches, I want to see the illusion of the first time. Natural, polished, and fluid. Regardless of the nature of your event, I want to see that you are knowledgeable about your central argument, and that you are performing something that you are passionate about.

--Speech--

Hi y’all! My name is Fernando Cereceres. I’m a speech judge who specializes mostly in the interps.

Overall, within any speech, I like to see both physical control of your body within the space and verbal control over your speech. Facial expressions are EVERYTHING!!! Even within Extemp, oratory and info, showing us that you know/care about what you’re discussing is extremely important.

EXTEMP:

First and foremost, I judge based on who answered the question best through their 3 points. I then look at the content of each point and see how your sources/analysis tie back into your Q&A. Delivery/hand gestures in extemp are important as well. Make sure that your delivery matches the theme of the content you’re giving. For example, it’s probably a good idea to not have a super upbeat/happy vocal delivery when discussing international conflicts. Same goes for hand gestures, make sure they’re motivated and not just used for filler.

OO/INFO:

For both INFO and OO, I usually judge based off of topic, solutions/implications, and delivery. The topic should be something fresh and interesting, something that makes the audience go “what? I’ve never heard of that. That's so interesting.” This isn’t to say that if I’ve heard about your topic before then I’ll down you, but it’s all about how you present/perform the information as well. Solutions and implications should also be fresh and well thought out. They should be thought provoking for both the judge and the audience and should make us see your topic in a more nuanced way. Delivery should match the content of your speech. Whether it’s serious, funny, or impactful, your vocal delivery and gestures should match that.

INTERP:

I judge interps based on topic/argument, character work, and moments. The topic/argument of your piece should be fresh and intriguing. Why is your piece important for the audience and how does your argument introduce a new way of thinking for us? Character work is also extremely important within interp. Do you embody your character? Are the choices you make as the character authentic to who they are? Lastly, moments are extremely important within interp. What I mean by “moments” are the occurrences within the piece that you, the performer, decide to give special emotional significance to. For example, the climax of the piece should always be a “moment” where we get to sit with your character at the peak of their emotional journey. There are also moments outside of the climax where people layer the performance with emotion and subtext that contributes to character/plot development. Choose your moments wisely and commit to them 100%. I’m also a sucker for silence within a piece. Silence, if done right, can communicate much more effectively than words can.

Author's intent: I stand by the author's intent unless it’s part of the performer's argument to perform something outside of the literature's intended purpose. In that case, it must be explicitly stated within the intro as to how/why the performer decides to do something outside of the author's intent.

hi y’all,

my name is david. i’m a sophomore at ut austin and on texas speech.

most of my experience is in PA’s. loved info in high school, but still can judge the interps and extemp. every performance should have an argument/have a purpose.

be confident in your performance. you already up there, so might as well give us a show!

be kind to each other, yourselves and remember speech is supposed to be fun, so have it!!!

if you have a question about a comment on your ballot, email me at dmcervantes2003@icloud.com

Background: Coach/Sponsor of Cinco Ranch HS (Katy ISD in Texas). 2nd year as Coach/Sponsor, 9th year as an educator. Did not participate in Speech & Debate in school. Honors/AP level English teacher, so assume that I know how to structure an argument and can follow your rationales.

IE Paradigm

Your event should dictate how you're approaching it: be funny for Humorous, weepy for Dramatic, emotive for Poetry/Prose, factual for Extemp, informative for... Informative. Just make sure you stay within the rules of your event (eye/physical contact, movement, etc.).

PF/LD Paradigm

- My students say that I am more of a Trad judge than Prog. Take that for what you will.

- Please keep the spread to a minimum. Even though I'm a coach, please treat me like I am a lay judge when it comes to speed. Don't spread like peanut butter and jelly.

- I do not know about theories/kritiks nor do I wish to. Personally I find that their usage takes away from the actual debating itself. Please save these tactics for a Tech judge that understands them. They will go totally over my head.

- Impacts matter more than just stating facts. Link the effect of your information instead of giving me a bunch of data and statistics without context.

- Don't get lost in arguing over the definition of a specific word vs debating over the topic as a whole. Remember that you should have prepped cases on a topic, not on the wording of it.

- I do not need to be included on any email chain. That's for you and your teams to set up before we start the round. Please don't take up time in the round to set it up. Rounds are long enough as it is.

- Keep discussions focused on the topic. Deviation from the stated resolution will hurt your side, as will irrelevant arguments and thoughts. I will be flowing your case as you talk.

- Be civil and respectful of each other. Articulate thoughts and counterpoints without making it personal. Don't just browbeat each other for the sake of your argument. Let opponents actually finish a point or thought before responding.

- Bullying your opponents will not yield positive results on the ballot. I will not hesitate to stop you mid-round to address any potential instances of disrespect or negativity, dock your speaker points, and address egregious incidents with your coaches later. Your coaches would do the same for you (I hope).

- While not necessary, do your best to reiterate your team's position at the end of your time (aff/neg, pro/con). Nothing more embarrassing than laying out a brilliant argument for your own side... and then telling me to vote for your opponent.

- Novices, feel free to ask me what you can do to improve as a competitor after the round is over. I'll do my best to teach you something.

General:

If y'all have any specific questions about what I prefer feel free to ask prior to the round and I am more than willing to help out

I will absolutely kill your speaker points if you are a jerk to your competitors, you may still win the ballot but I will give you extremely low speaker points. This is a HIGH SCHOOL debate, while you shouldn't blow this off, it's not serious enough for you guys to act like jerks because you are losing the ballot. With that in mind remember to have fun, y'all are wayyyy too young to take this super seriously and forget to have fun.

Don't make offensive arguments (i.e. racism/sexism is good). In that same vein, don't fake offense to an inoffensive arg for the sole purpose of winning a ballot. Finally, don't lie about your evidence I will look and vote you down because of cheating.

Fine with Spreading just make sure that you slow down for taglines and explain your cards/args. I would prefer to not have to write my flows from a written version of your case due to speed, but I will if need be. If your opponents ask for a document/card, give it to them I truly couldn't care less how fast you are going, they may need it for personal reasons. As a general rule, I don't flow cross-examination periods, if you want an arg from CX to be flowed make it during a speech otherwise it's a drop.

I did two years of policy and two years of LD in a traditional circuit, (as well as four years in Congress and four years in Extemp) but I'm an open-minded judge about arguments just ensure that you aren't physically painful to hear (i.e. squirrely args)

Policy Debate:

Overall I am a mix between a stock issues and policy maker judge

I'm fine with progressive arguments just make sure that you understand your argument well enough to be able to explain it to me and your opponent. I don't sit around all day reading critical theory and you will not win if I don't understand your argument, so slow down and ensure that you can explain your argument to me and your opponent. It is cheap to try to win solely by confusing your opponent, if I feel like that is what you are doing you will likely not win the ballot.

I'm fine with new in the two (and will likely not buy an argument that it's abusive to the Aff because yall are wasting your time by running theory instead of actually answering the args)

Love Clash, Love unique args, love smart and creative argument, love impact cal, and I'm down for most args (except for offensive ones obvi).

LD:

Love a good Value/Criterion debate and would prefer if you didn't just agree to a single V/C at the beginning of the debate unless it's obviously the same. I truly love Clash in LD

I don't really want to listen to a one vs. one policy round but once again if that's what you have prepared go for it.

LD (in my opinion) focuses on speaking ability more than policy/PF so I would prefer less spreading in LD (once again I'm pretty open-minded as long as you have a good reason to spread)

In terms of progressive arguments please see Policy Paradigms

Public Forum:

Look to Policy Paradigms and feel free to ask specific questions

In Oratory, Info, and Impromptu: I value your originality, creativity, and persuasive presentation of ideas of personal importance. Cite your sources, explain their importance, and tell me why it matters.

In DI, HI, DUO: It is crucial that you tell a story in a meaningful and impactful manner. Characterization, gestures and facial expressions, and, vocal variation will all add to the overall decision.

Overall speaking skills or/and argumentation are critical to winning! But remember the most important thing is that you learn!

Priya Chaudhari:

Affiliation: Plano HS '18

Experience: Competed at Plano Senior HS 17-18. Judging since 2019.

Contact: priyachaudhari2018@gmail.com

A little about me:

She/He. I identify as a queer POC and transphobia, homophobia, and racism are not well received unless deemed narratively 'necessary.' I do not take these things lightly.

I recently graduated from UNT with a BA in Media Arts. I am a performer, and most of my experience is from years of theatre, films, and the IE sides of speech. I am, however, in no way a seasoned debater. That does not mean I will not judge debate, I will simply evaluate the manner in which the information was presented to me... but please do leave me out of congress and LD I will be lost.

I do not tolerate inappropriate room etiquette. Behavior such as being on your phone or laptop during a round (unless clarified to take notes of the performances), talking to other people in between performances or immediately after (where the judge is still present), eating or chewing gum, or just being disrespectful can greatly affect the performer as well as the judge. Failure to be a kind and respectful audience member will likely turn up on the ballot though I will never let it hinder the rank/score in the room unless there is a very specific circumstance. Treat other competitors the way you would like to be treated, please.

Pronouns: She/they. I don't tolerate transphobia, homophobia, xenophobia, and racism. If you have an issue with this, strike me.

Affiliation: Plano Senior High 19'

Graduated from Arizona State University Online, 2023

Contact: shreyachaudhari2001@gmail.com (please put me on the email chain)

I do IE Events only, I have no proper experience/knowledge to judge any debate events.

I have judged speech events for 3+ years and have no previous speech/debate experience. I am looking for clean delivery and clear arguments. If one team can successfully argue against their opponent with no rebuttals, I would give them the win. I am looking for those who will take their time to explain any points presented to further their argument without inadvertently or intentionally repeating their/other student's previous statements. I try not to read evidence. However, I will if I feel it is absolutely necessary to resolve the round. I will default to the speaker's interpretation of the evidence unless otherwise contested.

Meghan Clark (she/her)

Experience:

–competed in LD on the Texas UIL circuit

–coached LD for 7 years, policy for 5, also on the Texas UIL circuit

–currently coach extemp/platform events at Plano West

PF:

--I am a fairly typical flay judge.

--Truth over tech. I do not particularly like kritiks or other non-resolution based arguments (not a huge fan of progressive debate). Don’t run theory about dates, speaks, disclosure, etc. - I have zero interest in judging this. I strongly dislike frivolous theory arguments and tricks. Don’t run them.

--Make sure that you extend your arguments and signpost clearly. No sticky defense.

--I care a good deal about weighing impacts in the back half of the round. Make sure you do this. Don’t introduce new arguments in the second half of the round, and I don’t want arguments that consist of three blippy arguments with buzzwords. I would vastly prefer substantive weighing of impacts. I generally default to probability over magnitude.

--I care about quality rather than quantity of evidence. You must have clear taglines for your evidence. Don’t paraphrase.

--Make sure you are courteous to opponents and don’t speak over them during crossfire. I expect professionalism, respect and civility towards me and towards your opponents. If you are verbally or non-verbally showing disrespect towards your opponents or me, expect to lose speaker points. It goes without saying that you should not be racist/sexist/ableist/homophobic/etc. in any way during the round.

--I do not like spreading. PF should be accessible to a wide audience, and spreading makes that difficult. Speak at a normal rate of speed if you expect me to flow your argument. Extreme speed will most likely result in lower speaks. If I call “clear,” slow down.

--In final focus, make the case for why you deserve my vote - don’t demand my vote.

--Strike me if you’re reading a meme or social experiment case.

--Stick to the time structure - no skipping grand cross for PF.

--If a card is heavily disputed during round, I will call for it.

The first and foremost purpose of Speech & Debate is education, with the driving factor being the growth of the performer, debater, or speaker. All of my criticism and feedback will be constructed through that lens.

Before coaching and sponsoring Speech & Debate, I was a four-year competitor for my high school participating in a variety of both interp and debate events. Throughout the competitions, I regularly judge various rounds.

Interp & Speech

Prose, Poetry, HI, DI, Duo, and Duet- these are all events rooted in the interpretation of the piece being presented via the performance in the round. The student should have consistent and well-developed character(s) throughout the piece who are properly responding to and interpreting the piece. An exceptional competitor will consistently show advanced control of their voice, movement, volume, and characterization throughout the piece. An exceptional competitor will also ensure they have selected an appropriate piece that best showcases their skills and abilities.

Extemp- This unique is a careful balance of both speaking ability and the analysis of the question/topic that the speaker has been given. An exceptional speaker will fully answer the question with both high-level sources and their analysis while also presenting the information in a laid-out, easy-to-follow format.

Informative Speaking- The purpose of this event is to inform the audience and that is my highest value when voting. An exceptional speaker will create and deliver a speech that allows the audience to quickly grasp and follow their information and walk away with a new understanding of the topic. If the speaker opts to utilize props and visual aids during their speech, they should enhance and not hinder the speech.

Oratory- The purpose of oratory is to give a speech about an issue in our world today and provide a solution to that problem. An exceptional student in Oratory will select a topic that is relevant to the status quo, deliver and format their speech in a way that is easy to follow and allows the audience to fully understand and connect to the chosen issue, and finally offer a solution that is actuatable to the audience within the room.

Debate

Language and delivery- speaking and discussing ideas are a cornerstone of all academic forms of debate. That being said, no speaker should have a rate of delivery so fast that their information can not be reasonably understood and flowed.Furthermore, I expect all students to have a basic understanding of essential vocabulary specific to debate, however, someone who lacks this knowledge does not automatically award their competitor(s) the round. Any ambiguous terms within your case should be properly defined and upheld throughout the round.

Judge's Flow- throughout the round, I keep a "basic" flow tracking the major arguments and contentions within the debate; this allows me to spend more time listening to the actual debate and ensuring that I am leaving a high-quality, educational ballot for the round. As a courtesy, please do not ask to see my flow at the end of the round.

Value vs. Style- In my view, the purpose of academic debate is to uphold values. That being said, I do place the highest importance on a debate with value. Your use of style should support your communication of your value and should in no way hinder your value.

Remember that the point of all forms of academic debate is to continue to grow and learn; all competitor's behavior and actions throughout a round should reflect those values.

CX paradigm: When it comes to CX debate I find myself normally more of a traditionalist judge. I favor the quality of your arguments over the quantity. With that being said I would prefer that spreading be kept to a minimum, or if possible, not present in the debate at all. I classify myself as a policy maker judge, tell me why your plan, or status quo/ counterplan, is better than the proposition the opposite side is making. Additionally, I believe stock issues to be quintessential in arguing your side, although drop(s) on stock issues do not equate to a winning ballot. I also believe highly that this event is centered on the competitors ability to communicate, with that being said, roadmaps and signposting every argument and every stock issue is a very effective way of winning my ballot. Please do not read me a list of evidence and not tell me exactly where you want that piece of evidence. I’ll flow the evidence, but I will not assume where you want me to put that evidence on my flow, nor will I speculate how that evidence is supposed to be used in round. I am not particularly a fan of K debates, however if the competitor thinks they can be successful in properly communicating the K, I will listen to it. In terms of having an open cross examination during the debate, I will allow it, however, I expect the competitor who is supposed to be question/answering to do most of the talking.

LD paradigm: When it comes to LD debate I find myself normally more a traditionalist judge. I favor the quality of your arguments over the quantity. With that being said I would prefer that spreading be kept to a minimum, or if possible, not present in the debate at all. In addition to that, I believe that LD debate is centered around the value/criterion debate, as a result, I will not vote on any plan text presented by either side. I also appreciate debaters who treat their value/criterion as a fundamental to not only their case, but also on their arguments against their opponents case. I also believe highly that this event is centered on the competitors ability to communicate, with that being said, roadmaps and signposting every argument is a very effective way of winning my ballot. Please do not read me a list of evidence and don’t tell me exactly where you want that piece of evidence. I’ll flow the evidence, but I will not assume where you want me to put that evidence on my flow, nor will I speculate how that evidence is supposed to be used in round.

Tim Cook, Salado HS

tim.cook@saladoisd.org

I debated in high school and college. I have been coaching for over 40 years.

TFA State

I will not tolerate speed! I will say clear and then stop flowing. If I don't flow it, you don't get it. I will not be flowing from a doc.

Don't run theory unless there is real in round abuse (Not a fan of theory).

K and other progressive arguments (Not a fan). Don't assume I am familiar with the lit on your K.

I am very traditional! Establish a framework and link offense back to it.

No flex-prep

Flashing part of prep time.

Congress

Prefer clash or topical AGD. Have 2 developed arguments with good evidence. Think think tanks.

Clash and no rehash essential.

Make me laugh! DO NOT BE RUDE OR OVERLY AGGRESSIVE. Have fun.

PO's must run efficient and fair rounds. Don’t make parliamentary mistakes.

Ask me more specific questions.

Speech/Extemp

I have coached multiple UIL State champions, TFA state finalist and TOC finalist.

Answer the question! Have a clear thesis and three germane points. Prefer quality over quantity of evidence. Love AGD to be weaved throughout the speech.

Prefer controlled gestures, not repetitive. Movement should have meaning.

Ask me more specific questions.

LD

Establish a framework and link offensive back. I prefer substantive arguments over the resolution.

I will accept any argument as long as it is not offensive.

I will not tolerate speed. It will definitively result in low speaker points and could result in a loss if I don’t flow your argument.

Topicality needs to have a real abuse story.

Theory, CP and K are fine. If you are reading a K don’t assume I familiar with the argument and literature. The K needs to have a pragmatic alt. Theory needs a real abuse story.

Make sure speeches are organized and responsive to your opponent’s argument.

Don’t make do a lot of work for you because I won’t.

CX

My default paradigm is policy maker. I prefer substantive arguments over the resolution.

I will accept any argument as long as it is not offensive.

I will not tolerate speed. It will definitively result in low speaker points and could result in a loss if I don’t flow your argument.

Topicality needs to have a real abuse story.

Theory, CP and K are fine. If you are reading a K don’t assume I familiar with the argument and literature.

The K needs to have a pragmatic alt.

Make sure speeches are organized and responsive to your opponent’s argument.

Don’t make do a lot of work for you because I won’t.

Don't go too fast. Be clear and concise.

Be respectful to your opponents. It goes a long way! I do not tolerate homophobic, racist, or sexist comments.

Email Chain: traviscornett16@gmail.com

Remember to have fun!

I have been a judge in some capacity (coach, hired) since 1998. I've seen many trends come and go. I used to be a traditionalist when it came to interp and blocking, but understand how the events have evolved and adapted my judging to suit what the community has deemed appropriate. However, here are some event specific elements of my paradigm.

Extemp - I believe that fundamentally, an extemp speech must be founded on answering the question that is posed. I think the unified analysis is the best way to support your thesis, but am open to other organizational methods. Source citations should include the name of the source and the date for me to give them full weight. I know what's going on the in the world. Do not lie or embellish with me. It will not go well. I would rather have someone give their best try with a hard topic than to have someone make things up or misrepresent the facts of the matter. Especially with having access to the internet, there is no excuse for making things up in Extemp.

Informative - I have been around Informative speaking for a lot longer than it has been a TFA event. This event is one where you can do a speech about anything, but that doesn't mean you should do a speech about anything. It should be something where you are informing us about a topic with relevance to you (the speaker) and which you can "sell" to us as interesting and relevant to us. The quality of visual aides matter. Sloppy VAs speak volumes about the speech. Neat and clean VAs speak well and set a good impression. This should not be Infosuasion (meaning that it is a persuasive in tone, but using VAs). The best informatives have balance in them (pros and cons) and a lot of information that we wouldn't otherwise know but for this speech. Source citations should include the name of the source and the date for me to give them full weight.

Oratory - I think the best oratories are ones where they are relevant to everyone in the audience, as well as the speaker. Oratories that are overly-focused on the speaker tend to be exclusive and I think feed into the perception of this event as "bore-atory" I like advocacy focused on Problem - Cause - Solution or Problem - Cause - Impact or something similar. Source citations should include the name of the source and the date for me to give them full weight. Personal examples are ok, but should not be the main part of the support for your speech. Research is important for good persuasion for a Logos person (that'd be me).

DI/HI - I lump these together because I view good interp from the same lens. I think that the best interpers make you forget that they're a high school student performing at a speech and debate contest. If it is serious, I want to feel like you set me in that scene and that you are your character(s). If it is funny, I want to see the scene play out with the humor being an integral part of the cutting and your performance. I think blocking is a compliment to the performance. It should not distract from it. The choice of literature matters. DIs should present a good exploration of the dramatic curve - in otherwords, don't stay at one level the whole time. Have some development from start to climax to conclusion. HIs should similarly utilize the dramatic curve to build to the climactic humorous scene or event. Audience appropriateness is also an element in my judging for these events. Both in the performance choices and in the literature selection.

POI - Notice I didn't lump POI with the other individual interps. While much of the same is true of the performance elements as those events, I fundamentally believe that POI must have a thematic argument that the program explores. It is not DI with a few poems thrown in. It is fundamentally different from the other interp events. The intro must establish what this argumentative framework is for me to really appreciate the thematic choice. I also believe that the best POIs are inclusive of the audience in terms of interest and relevance - similar to my thoughts on an OO. Book work should be complimentary and not distracting from the performance.

Duo/Duet - In addition to my thoughts on DI/HI, I think how the performers work together is essential to a great partnered interp event.

Impromptu - The speech must be based on the topic drawn. Please do not shoe-horn in a canned speech into whatever quote you drew. Use your knowledge. Distill a message from the quote/topic, take a position on the message, and back it up with examples. I think variety in example areas and mastery of what you're talking about are important. I think the best impromptu speakers used 1:00-1:30 of their prep time to leave 5:30-6:00 for the speech.

Prose - See my DI/HI and POI commentary.

Congress

I appreciate competitors who are knowledgeable enough to speak extemporaneously while addressing information and speakers that have already participated. Students should participate actively in the chamber's motions and show leadership even when not presiding. Questions should lead to potential arguments.

LD

I tend to be fairly progressive and will listen to any arguments you run. I am fine with condo and collapsing. Winning framing is important and will influence my decision in the round BUT will not be a skate to a ballot. I don't mind LARPING or any other strat you may make use of, provided you do it well and convince me of your positions. I am fine with speed and will want to be on the email chain. I prefer philosophical debates but don't mind whatever you want to throw at me.

Policy - see above

I am a tab judge and am open to hearing your positions. I will not advocate on the flow. I am open to collapse strats and prefer non-generic arguments that have a real link. I wish we would stop arguing end of world impacts but will vote on them

I am relatively new to judging.

PF: Please read slower than you would for a normal judge and prioritize weighing. I encourage you to drop arguments going into summary if you have one that is better than another. If you spread, I will give up trying to hear you. Running theory is ill-advised. I'm a parent judge.

Speech: I am a parent judge, so of course I am not going to be in the loop on all the technical aspects of your event. If you are the first speaker (or any speaker) in the room, you should probably tell me how timing will work as I do not know how you want it.

EXB (for Nats): Please slow down. Be realistic. Pick one or two points and don’t spread or I’ll down you. I’m not voting on extinction impacts unless it really makes sense. Time yourself. Evidence is good but cards don’t exist in Extemp Debate. Please be nice. I’m a parent judge.

I am a teacher at Elsik HS and have not judged much for the team. I am very excited to be judging at the TFA State meet for them this year.

I'm looking for performances that align with rules and regulation from TFA guidelines. furthermore, I will be evaluation the impact of introductions. lastly for competitors to respectful, professional and most importantly, have fun.

Debate Paradigm:

I am about as traditional as traditional can be. I typically won't disclose, please don't ask about it.

I am not a fan of:

-the k debate

-plans/counterplans in debates other than CX

-not standing when you are speaking or during CX

-disclosing before the debate starts

-talking fast unnecessarily

-being a part of email chains, I shouldn't have to read your evidence, I should be able to hear it and understand within the confines of your speech

I prefer:

-a slower more methodical debate

-actual discussion on the topic/resolution

-standing up when speaking

-understanding what the debater is saying

Tabula rasa within the limits established here. Speed as fine as long as (1) your volume is loud enough for me to hear you and (2) know that I usually give high speaks but will deduct points if you're talking into your laptop. No tricks.

Clash is good. I like creativity and will reward that in the round. A creative case is better than one I'm going to hear every round. Open to theory but I hate tricks.

I like an efficient round - please have speech doc sharing etc completed before the round begins. I will deduct speaker points if you delay the debate over a speech doc is not ready before the round.

Debate- I look for good clash. I don't mind spreading but I am getting older and if I miss something I feel that's on you. You should know what your cards are saying beyond just reading them. Yes, reference and use them, but also know them. Extensions are good. For Policy- K's, Topicality, Theory should be well framed and explained, when used well I will hold value to them.

IE's-

Speech Events- Organization and use of evidence is key. I look at movements and hand gestures matching the piece and being purposeful. You pacing should be understandable

Interp Events- Emotions should match the piece as well as movements. I also enjoy when they sound natural. It should flow smoothly and make sense. Time is important but not a deal breaker if the piece is more solid than the rest, but being too short in time could make it harder to advance you in later rounds when everyone is so solid. Your vocal variety and pacing should make sense with the piece.

Hello, I am a parent Judge with no prior experience

For Lincoln Douglas and similar events:

• I don’t mind spreading, as but as long as the contestant is articulan in their words then its okay
• Please be respectful to each other. I don't mind clashing, as long as its paramount to your point
• I like to hear where you got certain information to sound reputable. I don’t like ad hominid

For Single acting events:

• I look for a smooth flow of words and expression in bodily language
• Being able to transition from your skit to the title, along with different characters a voices is what I look for
• voice and dictation is important as well

For Duo and similar events:

• I pay attention to good chemistry and flow with partners to the skit
• Movements and acting should compliment one another and help the flow of the story
• I love to see uniqueness and individuality

For Exempt:

• Looking forward to interesting attention getters
• Smooth and thought out expositions along with fluid transitions
• citation of sources

For Oratory:

• Would like good attention getters
• unique topics along with creative ways of execution
• fluid transitions

Hi y'all! My name is Carlos Diaz and I competed for Spring Woods High School for four years and The University of Texas at Austin Speech Team for four years as well. I am currently the speech and debate director at Stratford High School.

My senior year of high school I was the 2016 TFA state champion in DUO as well as the 2016 TOC duo champion. My sophomore year of college I was a finalist in dramatic interpretation at the National Forensics Association tournament (top 6 out of 250 competitors). The following year I was a semi-finalist in persuasive speaking at the same tournament, (top 12 out of 250 competitors). Although I never competed in congress or extemp, my high school was state and nationally ranked in congressional debate, and I had the great fortune of having some of the best extempers in the nation as my teammates during my time in the UT speech team.

Extemp:

First- answer the question. Read the question carefully or you might give an entire speech that ultimately misses the mark.

Credible and great sources.

Strong format and structure. The speech should be able to flow easily and be coherent enough for non-speech judges.

Oratory/Info:

I want a solid structure of the speech. The audience (and I as a judge) must be able to follow along with ease. This means previewing in your intro.

Be sure to use your space, especially between transitions and with hand gestures. This adds another layer to the delivery of the speech and it makes an enormous difference.

For OO- solutions need to be tangible, meaning things that I as an audience member can take up and do. If the solutions are abstract, you are not fulfilling your role as an orator.

For Info- implications are the man thing that make the speech. They need to be out of the box, and make the audience think of something we would not have otherwise.

Congress:

Preview in your introduction.

You MUST have excellent sources and I will not look favorably upon a point that has no sources at all. How am I supposed to evaluate something that is purely opinion?

To PO's: I pay heavy attention to how you are conducting the round.

Be kind in questioning. Do not be abusive in any aspect of the speech.

Interp:

I will be the most picky in this event just because it's my favorite and I usually have a lot of feedback to provide.

The intro in interp should always have a strong argument, preferably backed up by sources or studies that support the theme of the performance (and yes, even in HI).

Dramatic/Prose: I am looking for a well developed character. Additionally, it's nice to have a set environment that the audience is able to observe.

Although this event tends to be more dramatic (haha), I also want to see levels throughout. A piece that only has one tone and mood is boring, give me more! Add the humor, the doubt, the regret, the hesitance, the anger, and so much more that makes your character a real person.

Programs: Having a clear argument is imperative. Your literature can be anything as long as it connects with your main theme.

Characters need to be unique. I should not be able to confuse characters, so make them stand out. Things like changes in tone, accents (if appropriate), mannerisms, etc.

Humorous: Although the main point of this event is to be funny, i'd rather see it be clean and easy to follow. HI can tend to focus too much on the humor and ignore the plot of the script. Make sure you don't.

Characters need to be unique but also BIG. The entire point of HI is to be exaggerated and to have no boundaries or limitations (as long as it makes sense and adds to the story rather than distracts from it).

Overall, I am looking for people that are having fun! The amazing thing about interp is that you are given a platform to completely personify a character, an argument, and a story.

Last but not least- CONFIDENCE. If there's something that I've learned from competing in speech for eight years is that confidence is key. As long as you think of yourself as a winner, you will perform as a winner, and the audience will see you as a winner.

Thanks y'all!

Coaching & Competitor History:

(2020-Present): Director of Debate & Speech, Melissa High School

(2019-2020): Assistant Director of Forensics & Head PF Coach, Delbarton School

(2019-2020): Policy Debate Coach, Princeton High School

(2017-2019): Policy Debate Coach, Melissa High School

(2017-2019): Graduate Parliamentary Debate Coach, University of North Texas

(2015-2017): Policy Debate Coach & PF Coach, Southlake High School

(2014-2016): Policy Debate Coach, Prosper High School

(2014-2015): Policy, LD, & PF Coach, Crandall High School

(2013-2014/15ish): Policy Debate competitor, University of North Texas

(2009-2013): Policy Debate competitor, Lampasas

Overview: I view the debate though an offense/defense paradigm. I think that this is the best way for me to grapple with the debate. Throughout my paradigm, I've tried to limit my regurgitation of knowledge or information about debate to you, and instead tell you how I view debate based on specific questions with the specific events. I think that there are some things that I will not change based on the nature of whatever event I'm judging. Theoretical disquisitions and procedural issues are ones in which I evaluate the same. Please see the theory section. If there's a question I do not have within here, please ask me. Finally, the questions that I am answering below are 1.) questions in which people have asked me before that I can remember and 2.) attempting to answer them as best as possible.

Reasons to Strike Me:

3NR's: After nationals in 2019, I have this to say. If you're going to be rude because you lost the debate, and attempt to get me to generate some sort of concession about why I messed up, I think that you're looking for the wrong judge. I make mistakes, but if I wanted to waste my time with some sort of asinine 3NR, I would have stayed home to waste my time doing nothing. If I feel it's going poorly, the 3NR, I'll shut my laptop and tell you the same thing I told the team at nationals in 2019. You should be ashamed of yourselves and your coach should be even more ashamed due to their inability to make you understand that that's not a healthy practice.

Clipping Cards: This is defined as "intentionally or unintentionally skipping over the parts of the evidence that is highlighted, bolded, and underlined." As Louie Petit says, do not be a Lance Armstrong (Petit, 2013).

Ideological Issues: Being racist, sexist, or a biggot is a great way to strike me.

Coaching: if I have coached you in the past 4 years, I will strike you. If I forget to, it is your obligation to strike me.

Cards: If you are paraphrasing and not cutting cards in PF, strike me.

Cards (PF): I'm so tired of people "calling for evidence" and it taking a majority of the round, while in the interim stealing prep. You should either 1.) send the case before you read or 2.) immediately after you're done before cross-fire or prep starts. I will start calling for prep when you call for evidence at a certain point, and if you do not like this, strike me please.

Dumb Theory Arguments: There's a national trend going on in LD indicating that we or judges should vote on frivolous argument (e.g. shoe theory, laptop theory, and so on). These are just absurdly, un-strategic, asinine arguments. Strike me please.

Email: Brendendimmig1995@gmail.com

***Policy Debate Paradigm

General Things

What does extrapolation mean for you? For me, I think that the 2AR and the 2NR get extrapolation based on previous claims made within the debate. I think that, if this is based off of evidence, and your evidence has some sort of glaring issue that prevents you from generating access to said extrapolation, then I probably won't vote for you.

What do we have to do to flag evidence? Just say look at the evidence or make some sort of evidence contestation that necessitates that I look at your evidence. It just takes a couple seconds.

Extending is important: I think that, if you do not extend the aff or example within the 1AR, I may have a hard time giving the 2AR credit. Even if it is just a shadow extension, I think that that is better than nothing.

Is evidence comparison important? Yeah. I would say that that's probably a good way for me to reevaluate why I should prefer a particular argument over another. I think that engaging in some sort of substantive level (i.e. the warrants, author, and so on) make for good case debate (for example).

Email me: I think that this will help in case I have to go back and re-read a piece of evidence. I try not to waste people's time, thus, I do not want to have to ask if you can send me a specific piece of evidence. If you're looking to get documents from a previous debate, please see the above email.

Do you prefer a specific kind of aff? no. Read a method, soft left, or big stick aff. It's up to you. I grew up going for the big stick aff and coached that the first 2-3 years out of high school, while also coaching big stick 1AC's in PF at Delbarton. I coached pre dominantly soft left aff's at Melissa and Princeton. I coach a kid now in LD reading a historical geneology that discusses why debate is bad. I think that you should do whatever you want. I've judged some great [Coppell DR and Wylie QR] teams going for the method. I've judged some great teams [Greenhill & Jesuit] going for Soft left affs. I've judged some great teams like Highland Park and Jesuit go for some big stick affs. I think that you should be able to read what you want.

Are you okay with speed? Yes. The fastest team I ever saw was the Georgetown team that won nationals twice. Unless you're going faster, I may need you to slow down. If I cannot hear you, I will say clear.

Speaker Points: I generally do not give below a 28.5. I do not know what else to say here.

Procedural Issues

Does Competing Interpretations come before reasonability or vise versa? I think that it depends on the arguments made within the debate. Absent this sort of debate, I will default to competing interpretations within the grande scheme of this or other competitive venues of debate.

What's the biggest thing people do poorly (in your opinion) on T or any procedural issue? I think that impacting your disads or standards is important to me. For example, on the ground disad, make sure that you're indicating 1.) HOW you're losing the argument (i.e. the link) and 2.) WHAT those arguments generally look like or what they specifically are and 3.) WHY those arguments are important for either topic education and/or competitive equity.

What's generated more ballots for you on T: The limits disad or Ground disad? I think that, while not having any sort of verifiable data via my ballots, I couldn't tell you. However, I have a gut feeling that it is the ground disad. I think that people, whenever making a limits claim, are not contextualizing why a particular limit based on the interpretation or rule set in debate is a better thing or idea.

Is Framework inherently argumentatively racist? I think that it depends on the debate.

Can we impact turn competitive equity and/or topic education? Absolutely.

Does or can a theoretical argument (e.g. Condo, or some other theory argument) come before T? Sure. I've seen these debates, but I've never judged them.

Do I get broad level extrapolation for my interp? No. What do I mean by this? Well, if you just say in the 2NC "conditionality is bad", but then precede in the 2NR or 1NR to clarify this statement by saying "conditionality is bad BECAUSE they can only get dispositional counterplans or advocacies", I am not likely to give you that level of extrapolation. I think that that is too late for me.

Have you ever rejected a Framework claim to a K aff (i.e. you did not vote on framework)? Yes.

Have you voted on a framework claim against a K aff? Yes.

What are things not to do or recommend not to do on Framework? I think that you should attempt to separate the procedural issues from the aff itself. I understand that making state good or bad claims and having research burdens on Framework may come as a result of some sort of argument made on framework. however, if you can separate those two things instead of them bleeding over on the same flow, I would appreciate that. If not, that's not an issue.

If I do not have either a predictability, ground, and/or limits claims within the 2NR for T, are you likely to vote for me? probably not.

Case:

Impact turning the aff? Great. I love these debates.

Can I just go for defense, or what some people call the stock issues? No. The only time I have voted on defense was in 2015. The Role of the Ballot was quite literally to vote on defense or what I believe was solvency within that debate.

Disad:

Can we win the disad absent case in the 2NR? Maybe, but I hope that you either are making claims that 1.) the disad turns the case and/or (depending on the disad) 2.) That you're making disad solves the aff's offense in some manner.

Can we win a link turn absent a uniqueness contestation made? Probably not. Right, if you do not prove why a problem is high now and are concluding that you substantially reduce that problem, absent the first sort of argument, I presume that the problem is not likely happening now (i.e. the uniqueness argument of the disad is true).

Do you prefer to hear disads? Read what you want.

Biggest issue on the disad? Same issue on an advantage; there needs to be a good explanation of the internal link or impact module that describes how we get to the impact.

Absent a disad, can we still win the counterplan? Sure, but you'll need to make either 1.) why the counterplan is just inherently mutually exclusive or 2.) Win some sort of internal net benefit to the counterplan.

What if the disad links to the plan AND counterplan? Making link differential arguments here and explaining why (whichever side's) level of "linking" (so to speak) is not enough to trigger the disad. I also then think that this is a question of the evidence, and how good or bad the evidence is. I think that this also a question of spin, so making sure that you spin the argument is important here (for me at least).

Thoughts on the Politics Disad? Fantastic.

Counterplan

Is conditionality fine? yes.

Are two conditional counterplans fine? I mean sure, i don't care.

What about 3? Look, I'm not the arbiter that determines the number of conditional counterplans or unconditional counterplans that you get to read. I think that at a certain time, there needs to be a limit set within the debate. If the affirmative proves why their limit on the certain number is good or better, then I am more likely to vote for them. I think that this ALSO means having a NON-blanket statement interpretation. Just saying that conditionality is bad is probably not a good interpretation for the debate. I think that there's a whole slew of disads and turns that the interp is going to generate. I think that parametrasizing your interp (i.e. the negative teams gets 1 conditional counterplan and a dispositional counterplan) is probably a better interpretation.

Would you vote on internal net benefits? I would yes. If you have a specific question here that I can better answer, please let me know.

What kind of counterplan do you prefer? I like PICS's. They're really cool. Read a counterplan; i don't know what else to say. Debate is cool. Counterplans are fine.

What are some dumb counterplans? Delay is probably dumb, but I've voted on it (yeah, make fun of me. It's fair). I think that consult counterplans on the wrong topic are dumb, but I've still voted for them on the topic in which they do not make sense argumentatively to be read on.

When's the last time you voted on condo? Plano West Finals, 2020. Before that, I think that it was in 2015. People do not read conditionality in front of me a lot.

What about sufficiency framing? Yeah I guess presumption would err in your direction even if there is not a net benefit or internal net benefit. I'll err this manner if the permutation cannot solve, or if the permutation is not made, or if the permutation argument is not sufficiently explained.

What's a poor permutation? One that is not explained. I also think that good permutations are one's that are thought out and take the part of the counterplan that resolves the disad and combines it with the plan. I think that teams that are strategic with these better forms of permutations are more likely to win.

Issues on permutation debates? If you're going to make assertions that the other team's permutation is either severance or intrinsic, I need some sort of warrant or violation explaining why the other side's permutation is intrinsic or severance. Absent this theorietical or structural argument in your theory argument, I'm willing to note vote on it even if you told me all day why severance or intrinsic permutations are bad. Also, if you want to impact turn severance, go ahead. Finally, explaining to me what the world of the permutation looks like and why it avoids the internal or external net benefit is going to be important to me.

Kritiks/Kritikal Aff's:

Preferred strategy against a K aff? I don't have one. It depends on the aff.

Method vs. Method debate? Well yeah, I think that these are great debates to be had.

Do you have a preferred literature base of critical scholarship that you would like to see debated? No. I read a lot of gender studies scholarship, but I do not think that this should deter you from reading the arguments that you want to read within the debate. If you're looking to up someone based on the prerequisite knowledge of things like black feminism, islamic feminism, intersectional feminism, womanism, and various other derivatives, I guess I'm that person, but I would hesitate from deeming myself that person.

Is framework against a K aff fine? yeah, absolutely.

What's the biggest issue with the K or K Aff's? Explaining the alt and how it resolves the offense within the specific debate. I think that more tangible alternatives have a better time of operationalizing an explanation for this question. That's not to say that you can NOT read reject alts. I'm just letting you know based on things that I have been judging on the national and local circuits. I think that, like my friend Chris O'Brien, I start with the alternative, look there, and then go up.

Link argument issues? I think that you are better off with doing a couple things in front of me. First, I think that going for just one link (most likley the conceded link) within the 2NR is going to be helpful. I think that good K teams are doing this because it increases the time that they can spend on other things within the debate. Second, putting the evidence or having evidence in the context of the aff is going to get you much farther. I think that these generic state bad links are fine, but just be understanding that if the evidence after reading it is in the context of the status quo and not some new proposal, I think that I am likely to err aff on this question if said arguments are made. I think that kritikal affs to better win framework we/meet arguments should have a kritik that is in the direction (at the minimum) or at least about the topic in some sort of way. Debate bad affs for instance are nice, but if they have nothing to do with immigration, arms sales, or water, then I am more likely to vote on the argument.

Impact issues? I think that whenever judging a K vs. a Soft Left aff or a K vs. K aff, make sure that you are doing sequencing work if both teams have some sort of root cause argument. I think that this level of explanation is going to warrant higher speaker points while also generating a better ballot erred in your direction.

Would you be willing to vote on a K absent us winning the alt? I think that, like my friend Chris O'Brien, I start with the alternative, look there, and then go up. If you do not have some sort of tangible alt, then I am likley to not vote for you i if the other side then makes arguments about why these things are happening in the status quo and/or the offense is just a non-unique disad at this point.

***PF Paradigm

Calling for evidence: please see the strike section above.

Is defense sticky? No. Absolutely not.

Do you have a preference of offense (i.e. scalar offense, or threshold offense)? No? I don't care. If you're reading your scalar offense, I'm not entirely sure why you're reading these uniqueness arguments above your scalar offense. Right, in policy this is just linear (or that is the synonymous term). I think that you are waisting your time for this.

Can I read multiple ethical positions within the pro and con cases? Sure, why not. If LD gets pre and post fiat, I don't understand why you can't read structural violence arguments and util arguments, and then collapse to one within the final focus.

If I don't frontline arguments within the rebuttal, are they dropped? Yeah. The way that I view the rebuttal is that is it similar or analogous to the 2AC in policy debate. Absent some sort of answer to the rebuttal's arguments that they are making probably means that you do not get to respond to them within the summary speech.

Can I shadow extend arguments in the summary and extrapolate in the final focus? Sure. I think that that is a smart move.

Can I read disclosure theory or paraphrasing theory? I'll answer both of these separately. First, I think that paraphrasing theory is inherently not something that I think that is substantive to vote on. Go look up in the theory section of my policy debate paradigm and int he overview. I think that theory here is treated the same in policy. In other words, I think that you need to win some sort of predictability, ground (or predictable ground), and/or limits (or predictable limits) claim for me to vote on your theory argument. If I do not know why paraphrasing destroys or erode one of those standards, I'm not voting voting for you.You can have as many bright line standards, contextual definition standards because you've read some sort of great (not really great) piece of evidence by some camp staffer who published an article, or whatever. That will not get you far enough in my book. Second, sure, read disclosure theory. Again, I think that the above arguments related to this applies here as well (the criticism about offensive vs. defensive standards).

What's your threshold for a warrant or an explanation to an argument within the final focus? Pretty high. Absent a warrant for an argument mean that I am going to discount that argument. It's pretty simple; I evaluate arguments in a vaccum, and just because you explained it in the summary does not mean that you necessarily get to just shadow extend arguments with the same or full weight.

What if we did not highlight our cards? I'm noticing that more and more teams are not highlighting their cards. I'm not sure if you're doing this on purpose, but I think that I will look to the analysis of the card's tag within the final focus, and adjudicate my decision from there. This is not on you. This is on the PF community to establish a set of card norms. In other words, I will hold you to your analysis, not what is on the evidence.

Can I take prep before cross or the opponent's speech? Sure.

Do you prefer Util or Structural Violence Framing? I think that these impact framing debates and risks analysis disquisitions are fun to have. No, it's not abusive for a team to read an alternative util calculus. I think that I am more adverse to giving higher speaker points to the team that goes outside the boundaries, and pushes them, by reading some sort of alternative ethical framework or calculus.

What does collapsing mean for you? I think, collapsing for me, means that you're going for less arguments but in a manner in which you extrapolate and interact those arguments in a manner that does more for you. Whenever I hear this answer, I see some sort of upside down triangle, whereby there's 2 levels (i.e. the aff case and the negative case). Going for all the arguments that you made within rebuttal within the final focus on the opponents case, while also going for all of your contentions, seems like a strategy or easy way to lose.

Why did you say that you recommend I have uniqueness for my warrants? Yeah, you have 3 different warrants (i.e. impact modules or scenarios) about why something is bad. Just asserting that X, Y, and Z will happen does not make a lot of sense absent some sort of uniqueness argument made that postulates that that issue is not happening now.

If I win a pre-req does that mean that I win the debate? Maybe? I think that it depends on the debate. I think that I would need some more context to this question, but you may be giving away some strategy to your opponents by adding context.

Can I read definitions or observations? Sure. Be my guest.

Can I read a kritik? I mean, there's a small amount of time to get through the K within the debate. If you think that you can do it, be my guest. If you don't have certain things, and are just certain you won the debate because you only read a link argument, don't be surprised when I tell you that you lose. I think that a better strategy you be just to read the link and the impact as a case turn, and then contextualize how the aff specifically increases. I think you should see some of the link sections within the kritik section in the policy section of my paradigm.

Does the new 3 minute (or relatively new) summary change how you judge? Not really. It's like going from high school policy debate to college police debate insofar as the time is concerned (i.e. everything increases by a minute). it doesn't change strategy, or largely I should say.

Speaker Point notes: I find that there is this assimilated, similar way of speaking in PF. It sounds great, but you repeating your claims over and over, and getting to the point 10 or 15 seconds in will not necessitate me giving you higher speaker points in PF. I traditionally give higher speaker points to teams that are warranting their arguments, have good word economy, and are efficient.

3NR's: I've noticed that PF has become way worse about 3NR's than even policy debate. While this hasn't happened to me in PF, or really in any event absent the 1 time at nationals, I do want to say this. You berating a parent judge is just absurd. You berating a coach who evaluates the debate differently is not going to help you win the debate back. Tack a breath, because we're all in this together. If you're doing a 3NR because someone said something egregious, I'll be there with your coach and tab to explain the situation. Absent some sort of issue like this, just don't do it in front of me. Why? The next time I see you I'm just going to think back to the unsavory moment of you berating a judge for no reason. If you want to make judges better, have a conversation with them. Ask questions. If you want judges to get better and stick around, talk to them. Also, the other person on the panel who may or may not have voted for you will also remember. Lastly, Yes, parent judges or inexperienced judges or traditional judges are people that you may not like, or would even conclude are not the ideal situation that any competitor would like. I'm probably in the same boat as you, but that doesn't justify asinine discourse.

Evidence indicts: I think that this is great, and becoming even more popular. I think that if you just assert that their evidence errs in your favor, have a compelling reason and a piece of evidence. This is really simple.

Concessions not warranted isn't a ballot: If you go for all the concessions in the final focus, but you have not warranted a SINGLE one of those arguments, I think that I am less likely to vote for you. In fact, I probably won't. Please make sure that you are explaining your arguments.

Presumption: I think that this errs a bit differently than the way that it does compared to traditional PF judges or people that have been brought up into the PF community. If there is an absence of offense from both sides in the debate, I will err aff because I presume that voting aff does something different and changes things nominally better. If you're a coach reading this and think that I need to start erring on the negative insofar as presumption is concerned, that's fine. Please explain it to me.

Can you read arguments attacking the other side's case in the 2nd speech or for the 2nd team during the constructive speech? Absolutely. I see no reason why. This is the equivalent to reading everything within the 1NC in policy debate.

Can I read theory? Sure. I think that you should reference my theory section above.

Can I go fast? I don't care. Go as fast as you want. If I cannot hear you, then I will say clear.

Can I impact turn in PF? Sure. If you. want to read dedev, give it your best. I think that, if you don't have the proper structural components, I'm probably less willing to vote for you.

***LD Paradigm

Should I pref you because I am a Phil Debater? Probably not. I'm trying to get better at having a deeper understanding of phil, but this is not my strong suit. I'm learning more in the process and doing my due diligence to better understand different philosophy and philosophers arguments.

Will you vote on framework? Sure. I think that if you decide to go for framework, please make a mental note of several things. First, if you just want to weigh your framework above the opponent's, that is fine. I think that I need some sort of good reason about why your framework is better than your opponents. Second, I think that if you want to prove some sort of pre-condition argument or pre-req, then that is fine. Just make sure that you do this. However, if you are making these sorts of link turn arguments, and you are also impact turning their framework, just note that I am likely to not vote for you because you have functionally double turned yourself. Right, you are making an argument that your criterion better gets to their value, but that value is bad, well, that means that your framework leads to a bad thing. Just be mindful of this.

Can I go for a link turn on framework and an impact turn on the opposing value? Probably not because you have double turned yourself.

Is reading post fiat and pre fiat arguments in the 1AC Fine? For sure. I don't care or see a reason why you cannot. if the opposing team make theoretical dispositions to why you can't, then that is a different debate to be had.

Can I LARP in LD? For sure.

Can I read spikes and under-views? For sure. I think that these sort of blippy arguments or analytics made within the 1AC and the 1NC that then you extrapolate on latter within the debate, that is fine. However, be mindful that if you do not give me enough pen time to flow it and I miss it, that is not on me. That means that you should slow down.

Theory? In general? Cool. If you end up reading theory, that is fine. I want to make this as specific for LD as possible. I think that there is a difference of what offense looks like on Theory than it does for say in policy debate. If you go for a time skew argument or a bright line argument, that is not offensive. That is an internal link into some sort of offensive standard, which there's universally 3 (predictable, ground, and/or limits, or some sort of derivative [i.e. predictable ground and predictable limits---depending on who you talk to]). Moreover, if you are going to be reading a lot of frivolous theory, I think that’s you need to be discussing these arguments in one of those veins.

Judging Philosophy:I prefer a comparative worlds debate. When making my decisions, I rely heavily ongoodextensions and weighing. If you aren't telling me how arguments interact with each other, I have to decide how they do. If an argument is really important to you, make sure you're making solid extensions that link back to some standard in the round. I love counterplans, disads, plans, etc. I believe there needs to be some sort of standard in the round. Kritiks are fine, but I am not well-versed in dense K literature; please make sure you are explaining the links so it is easy for me to follow. I will not vote on a position that I don't understand, and I will not spend 30 minutes after the round re-reading your cards if you aren't explaining the information in round. I also feel there is very little argument interaction in a lot of circuit debates--please engage!

Theory/T:I think running theory is fine (and encouraged) if there is clear abuse. I will not be persuaded by silly theory arguments. If you are wanting a line by line theory debate, I'm probably not the best judge for you :)

Speaker Points:I give out speaker points based on a couple of things: clarity (both in speed and pronunciation), word economy, strategy and attitude. In saying attitude, I simply mean don't be rude. I think there's a fine line between being perceptually dominating in the round and being rude for the sake of being rude; so please, be polite to each other because that will make me happy. Being perceptually dominant is okay, but be respectful. If you give an overview in a round that is really fast with a lot of layers, I will want to give you better speaks. I will gauge my points based on what kind of tournament I'm at...getting a 30 at a Houston local is pretty easy, getting a 30 at a circuit tournament is much more difficult. If I think you should break, you'll get good speaks. Cussing in round will result in dropping your speaks.

Speed:I'd prefer a more moderate/slower debate that talks about substance than a round that is crazy fast/not about the topic. I can keep up with a moderate speed;slow down on tag lines/author names.I'll put my pen down if you're going too fast. If I can't flow it, I won't vote on it. Also, if you are going fast, an overview/big picture discussion before you go line by line in rebuttals is appreciated. Based on current speed on the circuit, you can consider me a 6 out of 10 on the speed scale. I will say "clear" "slow" "louder", etc a few times throughout the round. If you don't change anything I will stop saying it.

Miscellaneous:I don't prefer to see permissibility and skep. arguments in a round. I default to comparative worlds.

Other things...
1. I'm not likely to vote on tricks...If you decide to go for tricks, I will just be generally sad when making a decision and your speaks will be impacted. Also, don't mislabel arguments, give your opponent things out of order, or try to steal speech/prep time, etc. I am not going to vote on an extension of a one sentence argument that wasn't clear in the first speech that is extended to mean something very different.
2. Please don't run morally repugnant positions in front of me.
3. Have fun!

I have been a coach and consultant for the past 28 years and done every debate format available stateside and internationally. I also have taught at Stanford, ISD, Summit, UTD, UT, and Mean Green camps as a Curriculum Director and Senior Instructor. I think no matter what form of debate that you do, you must have a narrative that answers critical questions of who, what, when, where, why, how, and then what, and so what. Debaters do not need to be shy and need to be able to weigh and prioritize the issues of the day for me in what I ought to be evaluating. Tell me as a judge where I should flow things and how I ought to evaluate things. That's your job.

If you would like for me to look at a round through a policy lens, please justify to me why I ought to weigh that interpretation versus other alternatives. Conversely, if you want me to evaluate standards, those need to be clear in their reasoning why I ought to prioritize evaluation in that way.

In public forum, I need the summary to be a line by line comparison between both worlds where the stark differences exist and what issues need to be prioritized. Remember in the collapse, you cannot go for everything. Final focus needs to be a big pic concept for me. Feel free to use policy terms such as magnitude, scope, probability. I do evaluate evidence and expect you all to do the research accordingly but also understand how to analyze and synthesize it. Countering back with a card is not debating. The more complicated the link chain, the more probability you may lose your judge. Keep it tight and simple and very direct.

In LD, I still love my traditional Value and VC debate. I do really like a solid old school LD round. I am not big on K debate only because I think the K debate has changed so much that it becomes trendy and not a methodology that is truly educational and unique as it should be. Uniqueness is not the same as obscurity. Now, if you can provide a good solid link chain and evaluation method of the K, go for it. Don't assume my knowledge of the literature though because I don't have that amount of time in my life but I'm not above understanding a solidly good argument that is properly formatted. I think the quickest way to always get my vote is to write the ballot for me and also keep it simple. Trickery can make things messy. Messy debaters usually get Ls. So keep it simple, clean, solid debate with the basics of claim, warrant, impact, with some great cards and I'll be happy.

I don't think speed is ever necessary in any format so speak concisely, know how to master rhetoric, and be the master of persuasion that way. Please do not be rude to your opponent. Fight well and fight fair. First reason for me to down anyone is on burdens. Aff has burden of proof, neg has burden to clash unless it is WSD format where burdens exist on both sides to clash. If you have further questions, feel free to ask specifics.

In plat events, structure as well as uniqueness (not obscurity) is key to placing. Organization to a speech as well as a clear call to order is required in OO, Info, Persuasive. In LPs, answer the question if you want to place. Formatting and structure well an avoid giving me generic arguments and transitional phrases. Canned intros are not welcome in my world usually and will be frowned upon. Smart humor is always welcome however.

I want you all to learn, grow, have fun, and fight fair. Best of luck and love one another through this activity!!

General Experience:I am a retired coach (one diamond) who judges a few tournaments a year. I competed in extemp and LD as a student and went to nationals in LD.

Speech Paradigms:

Extemp: You must answer the question. I will weigh both content and delivery when making my decision. Academic integrity is paramount, so I may check your sources. An excellent speech will clearly answer the question, offer insight and analysis (in-depth look at the issue), back arguments up with relevant and timely sources, and do all of this with a conversational and professional delivery.

OO & Info: I am looking for a balance of content and delivery. Do you bring forth new ideas or perspectives with your topic? Do you offer insight and analysis? Do you make me care? I expect top speeches to have smooth and professional delivery that uses variation in rate, tone, and volume to keep listeners engaged. It is nice to hear ideas backed up with research. Informative speeches should have visuals that contribute to our understanding of the topic (not just something for us to look at and you to do.)

Interp Paradigms:

I love a great performance that showcases your talents while clearly presenting distinctive characters. BUT I equally want content and understanding of the material. Have you cut a selection from the source that conveys a story or point or theme? (And am I able to follow it with your interpretation?) Does your "cast of characters" use vocal variety, physical movement, and overall performance to aid (as opposed to hinder) my understanding? And I love to see classic works, so bonus for high quality content done well.

L-D Debate: I am a somewhat old-fashioned L-D judge. I want to see persuasive communication and a clash on values and value criteria.

Experience:

I am a retired coach (one diamond) who judges a few tournaments a year. I competed in LD as a student-- when dinosaurs roamed the earth and LD was value, not policy, debate.

What I want to see:

I like a mix of pragmatic and philosophical arguments. The winning debater will have a mix of persuasive speaking, logical arguments supported by either philosophy, empirical evidence or expert opinion, and the value which has been proven to be superior based on the criteria in the round. I don’t want to see evidence during or after the round. I don’t think I’ve ever voted for a kritik.

Delivery:

I will flow. I don’t have a problem with speed. Keep in mind, I value convincing delivery in making a decision, so don’t go for speed if you can’t do so clearly and persuasively. You should stand when you speak.

Deal Breakers:

Your chance of winning the round drops dramatically if you:

- don’t allow fair ground for debate

- are rude to your opponent

- show me the back of your laptop instead of your face

- mis-use or mis-quote evidence (academic integrity is paramount!)

Speech: Long history judging/coaching all events after competing in policy debate for both high school and college.

Extemporaneous speaking: 1. Avoid the generic attention getters and jump into content as quickly as possible. 2. Cite lots of sources (accurately and fluidly--I'd aim for about 10); 3. Delivery/style: word economy is crucial in this event...rate is conversational, but 7:00 is not a lot of time to answer a complex question; 4. I will keep close time and look closely at the extent to which the speech is balanced. 5. All this said, I appreciate a good joke and an effort to breath personality into the speech--be bold and don't be afraid to take chances.

Platform speech events (oratory, informative, etc.): 1. A lot of my thoughts on extemporaneous speaking are applicable, recognizing this is a different genre of speech--it's geared to reach a broader audience. Thus, I might temper my comments on word economy a little--probably makes sense to take your time a little more and utilize a pace that provides more time to let points sink in, etc. Still, I value a quantity of information over cheesy jokes, etc. 2. I really, really appreciate a speaker who digs deep and finds a unique topic that is meaningful to her. So often, especially in out rounds, speakers are very equal in a lot of ways (organization, delivery, etc.), and it's the topic that helps provide a degree of separation--generic topics are fairly easy to spot. This is your chance--you can pick any topic to talk about; make it worth your while--this will make it worth my while.

Oral Interpretation: I'm not the best oral interpretation coach in the world--just never did it myself or anything like it. But, I'm not the worst either and have seen/judged a lot of INCREDIBLE rounds at the highest levels of competition. The great oral interpers make me forget that I'm judging for a few minutes. I definitely recognize great interp when I see it and am more impressed by performers who move me through pace and facial expressions than I am through volume--though the great interpers will use all the vocal qualities and have a knack for what is needed in each exact moment. The material is key--I love seeing unique themes and performers choosing material that they personally identify with. The introduction is incredibly important--here you have the opportunity to take any topic and make it your own--a source or 2 in the intro can often be effective at contextualizing your message. Take risks. Have fun. Speak your truth.

Policy Debate:

Philosophy/Overview:

I began policy debate decades ago as a policymaker (1990's when a good counterplan/disadvantage strategy ruled the day). Critical arguments are fine but don't assume that's a beginning point for me--be sure and frame the debate by discussing its pre-fiat implications. As far as performative based arguments and other more progressive styles of debate, I'm not against them...just don't have a lot of experience with them--definitely not my starting point--be sure and invest time helping me get there. Generally speaking, I feel the Affirmative should Affirm the resolution and any arguments ought to have a pretty specific link/buy-in to it. While I don't consider my understanding of debate to be inflexible or permanent, a few very gifted and persuasive college NPDA/NPTE teams have tried to convince me that the topic doesn't matter and haven't been successful.

Delivery:

Once upon a time, I erroneously gave myself credit as being a speedster from both a delivery and flowing perspective. I've gotten older (OLD) and am not in that kind of shape any more. I haven't coached or judged national circuit style of debate in a LONG time. I value efficient, quick delivery with lots of arguments--but; word economy is more impressive to me than the rate of speaking. If you must talk as quickly as possible, I'll do my best to keep up but don't be surprised if I miss stuff and/or don't have enough time to process it in a way that does you a lot of good. Definitely go slow on tag lines, game-winning arguments, transitions between arguments, and anything that you'd like to have show up on the RFD. If you enjoy "rapid fire," I get it--it's fun and I want you to have fun--and I don't question the pedagogical value in any way; but if you want me to get most of everything on my flow, I recommend slowing it down to at least 75% of your norm.

e-mail: timothy.doty@lubbockisd.org

I am an English teacher who is volunteering my time. I will always listen with an open mind.

In Oratory, Info, and Impromptu: I value your originality, creativity, and persuasive presentation of ideas of personal importance. Cite your sources, explain their importance, and tell me why it matters.

In DI, HI, DUO: It is crucial that you tell a story in a meaningful and impactful manner. Characterization, gestures and facial expressions, and, vocal variation will all add to the overall decision.

Overall speaking skills or/and argumentation are critical to winning! But remember the most important thing is that you learn!

Hello all!

I was a middle school speech competitor, a TFA competitor all 4 years of high school, a NIETOC Champion and Top Speaker, as well as a member of the University of Texas at Austin Individual Events team. I did speech for 11 years of my life, so it is fair to say, I have seen my fair share of performances. I am now the coach of a program in San Antonio, Texas and I coach my students in the same way that I want to see other students perform their events: high quality content, thought-provoking ideas, and, most importantly, trauma-informed or better yet, trauma-free storytelling. My question to you: whatever happened to performing pieces about joy? Where are those pieces?

Things I like: new material, weird or interesting conceptual styles of performance, literature I have not seen 1000 times, clever arguments, care for the time given to you (only 10 minutes), attention to detail, new sources, unique literature, pieces about trauma that don’t actually depict graphic elements of that trauma, clear Oratory structure (whatever it is, make sure I can follow along), clean visual aid boards that make sense and are not just for the sake of the event, humorous pieces that are actually funny and can make me laugh (try your hardest).

Things I do not like: lack of trigger warnings for graphic content, violence for violence sake, homophobic violence enacted in pieces ie gaybashing, showing or portraying violence without any reasoning as to why that violence is being shown to an entire audience, pieces about school shootings that offer no solution or aid to end the crisis our country is facing, POI’s that I cannot follow along with that have zero clear characterization, speeches about speech, pieces about speech, and did I mention that I really don’t like to watch violence enacted in performance?

Thank you to all who are reading this. I appreciate the value that each of you brings to this activity. It is easy to think that speech is solely for the self, but since we are putting on performances for audiences and people, we must MUST think about the messages and impact that your audience is seeing and taking with them as soon as they leave the room. What do you want them to remember when your time is up? That you were violent for no reason, or that you stood up for something that was bigger than yourself and changed their mind?

Hello,

My name is Justin Dwyer and this is my judge paradigm. A little bit about myself before I get into the specific things i look for when judging each event. I competed in speech and debate all 4 years of high school and also competed for 3 years in college in NPDA and IPDA debate. I at one point or another have competed in every debate type and most speech events. The main outcome that I think debate rounds should have is some educational aspect where each competitor leaves the round better than when they walked in. The other key component to every debate is clash. Clash is important when evaluating debaters and their cases. But now for the line by line of what i look for in each event.

LD:

In LD I was a very traditional debater. The philosophy aspect is huge when it come to deciding the round. That being said, you can win or lose a round with me strictly on the value debate. If you cannot uphold your own value or show me why yours is what should be looked at first it is very had to win. After that it is up to you as a debater to steer me to what you want me to vote for. If the value and framework debate is a wash I will look towards the voting issues brought up by both debaters. That being said, the more flushed out your argumentation is the better. I will not do the work on the flow for you.

CX:

When it comes to CX I am a judge that is very persuaded by the flow. If you do the work on the flow and give me reasons why that is important to the round I will be more inclined to vote for that side. I feel that K's and off case hold a lot of weight if used effectively to combat the AFF. I am willing to listen to any and all argumentations but, if it is more of a out of the box argument then you need to do the work to guide me on how it is relevant and how it adds to the debate. For the Affirmative the best defense is a good offence. If you can prove to me that voting for the AFF would in any way lead to a 1% net positive increase from the status que the round is almost decided for me. At the end of the day just make sure there is clash and all information presented is relevant and realistic to what the topic is asking for.

PF:

When it comes to PF I am a very lay judge. If you can persuade me to vote for you in a realistic way you win my ballot. In PF there is many ways to do that but for me the easiest is the flow.

When it comes to speaker points I feel like I might stray from some judges. I enjoy a nice pleasant voice as a lot of judges do but, the content of your speech also effects your points. Be effective and on topic along with that and you will garner more speaker points from me.

I've been around for some time now and have seen how many things have changed. If I were to sum up my overall philopshy, I'm very much a traditionalist but reward originality and creativity. I competed in policy debate in hight school and Individual Events/CEDA in college. I am also a rules generated judge. If I feel you are on the wire or have leaped over it, I make mention of it.

On the IE side:

Interp - I belive in maintaining the authors intent. Of all the events, interp has changed the most over the years and in my opion in a good way. Today's interpers are unique, creative, and original. I have one steadfast rule in interp; I want to be drawn into the world the interper is giving me. If they can grab me from the beginning and keep in in that world throughout ther performance then they have succeeded. Anything that distracts or pulls me out of their world minimizes thier overall performance (crying, etc.).

Limited Prep: I judge on a 50/50 ratio. The first 50 is organization, content, and delivery. Firm beliver in the "walk-n-talk" philopshy that you walk only on transitions. The other 50 is content. If you make a statement, be able to support it. Make sure the question / topic is answered correctly.

Prep: Much like the limited prep but I reward originality on topics and their develoment.

On the Debate side:

Again, very much a traditionalist and don't particualy care for some "anitics" I have seen over the years. The affirmative must maintain burden of proof, counterplans are non-topical. negative wins one stock, they win the round. Rapid fire is okay as long as I can flow. If I can't flow it, I can't judge it. Depending upon the type of debate is how I judge it. Polcy debate must be fully supported with evidence. Public Forum is more on the philosphical (What the student knows and how they are able to communicate it), with LD being a combination of both support and philospical. Additionally, over the years some new "terms" have been develped. Basically, I don't care what you call it, all I want you to do is support it. If called for, I will give orals at the end but will not disclose my decision. The reason, I am not opening the the opportunity for the loosing team to debate me, that has happened a couple of times, I don't like the atmosphere when that happens so I have made it a rule never to disclose. I am also a firm believer in speakers roles and duties (don't accept open cross-x, etc.) . Each speaker has been give a role with duties and they are accountable for them.

I have a more detailed paradigm and once I locate it, I will attach.

Howdy!

My name is Tierra Edmonds. I've competed on both the high school and collegiate level 2016-2021. I've participated in events such as Duo, DI, Duet,Prose, Poetry, OO & POI. Judging became the closest way to maintain a connection to my passion. and I've been judging (both speech events and debate) and occasionally coaching for a few years now. So thank you for keeping it alive. Now time for the good stuff:

For speech events. I'm very liberal and open minded as far as the subject matter for the pieces(s). My critiques usually address being polished, having appropriate time (when necessary), originality and overall connection to the pieces performed.

As for debate. I ask for a respectful debate with clear flows and equal understanding of what is allowed in your debate.

Aslong as opposing sides are aligned, all is allowed!

Creative debates and/or performance debates are encouraged with proper relevancy!

Speed is never a problem as long as I can understand you.

I am open to discussing any feedback provided!

I am a retired coach and teacher, I coached for 31 years, I coached all events successfully, my philosophy for speech events rewards students who are knowledgeable, informed, and prepared, I focus on speaking style, organization, and creativity, For Interp events, I look for creativity and style, I do not like extreme profanity or sexual material, in all debate, no speed, any arguments are acceptable, I lean towards organized, factual arguments, I do not like debates that “kick” arguments

Hello,

I am a parent judge, so please be mindful of this when it comes to debate events like LD, PF, and Policy. I am very knowledgeable of certain events and I do enjoy a well thought out argument. Please do not spread as I will be unable to understand. My child has been fairly competitive in debate, so I do understand the way events are to be judged. In congress, treat me as a judge and explain the argument thoroughly. I don’t want to have to piece together the link. For IE’s and Interpretation Events, just be yourself! Show me you have passion in your topic and perform like it’s your last performance. For extemporaneous speaking, have your points down in a clear structure that I can follow. For all competitors, have fun!!! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to help judge you. I will enjoy it.

Hello! I am very anti-spreading.I cannot process an argument that comes at me lightning fast--my brain simply doesn't work that way. The quality of your argument matters much more than the quantity of your argument. I want to be able to understand you!

Lincoln-Douglas: I vastly prefer traditional-style LD that focuses on clash between the Value and Criterion of each opponent's case. Please, don't make this a one-person CX debate. That isn't the point of LD; the Value and Criterion are the point! There should be lots of clash and good use of the time you have.

Congress: A well structured speech goes a long way towards making an excellent speech. If I can tell what your points are from the intro, that's great. Evidence goes a long way as well! Even citing just one source makes you sound much more believable. I don't care how extravagant the argument is as long as you have evidence and can connect it to your point. If you're not the first affirmation speech, I expect to hear at least some clash with other speakers. It shows you've been paying attention and that your speech is strong enough to withstand other representative's arguments. Furthermore, try to get through more pieces of legislation rather than having everyone speak on each bill.

Speech: Confidence is key! I want your performance to be left lingering in my mind, and the best way to do that is to be able to feel that you're passionate about what you're speaking about. If you're doing a form of Extemporaneous Speaking, make sure that you have some evidence and that your speech is structured well.

For all forms of debate: Evidence, confidence, and eye contact are all very important and will help you stand out as a competitor to me. I enjoy a debate where it seems like the competitors have passion for what they're doing.

Most importantly, be respectful of your opponent. It should be a competition, not a personal attack battle.

Head coach at San Angelo Central High School

Extemp:

The most important thing is that you answer the question as clearly as possible. This includes previewing your points, signposting throughout, and reviewing your points at the end that links into the conclusion. Adding a clear structure adds to the impact and value of your overall speech. It is to also help you not ramble on. It is also important to be creative with your attention getter, vehicle, and your conclusion. It will set your self apart in my eyes with creativity done well. Sources are very important, but answering the question your way is the most important, then use sources to back those up. Not the other way around. I look for all of those together and a good flow for my overall ranks.

Interp:

Everything you do in your performance must have purpose. I love creative movements, stories, and really anything as long as there is a purpose. I am ok with any theme or story being told as long as there is impact behind it. Facials, moments, and character development are all very important for the overall performance. DO everything you can to truly become your characters and be in the story you are telling. In close rooms, I always look at who does all of these things together the best.

Congress:

The most important thing in a congress room is to have a presence. Do what you need to do to stand out without personally attacking your fellow representatives. Always attack their points, speeches, and questioning to further strengthen your points, but not them personally. I look for how well you understand the legislation, how well you know the info, the impact your points have for fellow constituents, and the creativity of your speaking. You need to have passion and use points made in the round to help your own side out. I really like crystalization of points and not just continuing to repeat other people's points. Do these things and make me HAVE to put you at the top of the room.

LD:

I’m primarily an interp and speaking coach, so with that said, presentation of arguments is imperative. I still expect exceptional analysis on a substantive level, just know I judge debate as a speaking event first. The debater with the strongest link chain to access their impacts will win my ballot. The easiest way to win my ballot is in your voters section in your final speech, present your RFD for me. The less work I have to do at the end of the round the more likely it is you’ll win my ballot. Good luck and I'm excited to hear what you have to say.

I debated for 4 years in Texas in LD and PF and also competed in OO, INFO, IMP, and EXT. I currently compete for the Texas Speech team in Extemp, Impromptu, and public address events.

In terms of my preferences for LD/PF, I heavily value the framework debate and would rather you emphasize that than simply reading off numerous cards with no real clash.

As a judge, clear signposting is also very important.

I will make sure to extend arguments across the flow, but you need to explain what the argument entails, not just the card.

Speed is not necessarily a problem (if used well and appropriately), but I would prefer you avoid spreading and make sure to enunciate, especially tags and impacts.

On that note, aside from the framework, I weigh impact heavily.

Most importantly, please be civil. I know that CX and GCF have the tendency to get heated, but I don't think there is any place for disrespectful behavior or actions in a round that make anyone feel unsafe, unheard, or discounted.

For extemp, unified analysis is my preferred speech structure. I think it enables the speaker to showcase their existing background knowledge of a topic (something I would like to see demonstrated) as well as the new argument they're constructing during prep. Have your tags and sources memorized when you come into the round. Make sure, especially in FX, that your analyses and impacts are not from an ethnocentric view and take into account a broader perspective than just your own.

Hi All,

My name is Grace, I use she/her pronouns. I have been active in the speech & debate community for over 8 years and I have so much love and respect for the sport.

I have participated in speech events such as Duo, Duet, Poetry, Prose, and Extemp. As well as Debate events such as Congress, Parli, and PF.

Most of my growth in Debate can be credited to my alma mater, Whitman College, where I competed in Parli for over 3 years with FANTASTIC coaches.

As for judging speech events, I stick to the expectations of the event: usually, informative, organized, clear, and entertaining pieces are what I look for. I give extensive feedback and am open to discussing any feedback I provide.

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For debate: As long as it is allowed in your form of Debate, I will allow it!

I am open to hearing theory, procedurals, critics, whatever! As long as they are not openly and obviously advocating for something like mass slavery or genocide.

Other than that, I prefer a good clean debate with lots of signposting, extensions, and big-picture/small-picture analysis.

It is always easy for me to understand anOur world vs their world analysis and clear articulations as to why you are winning and the other is losing.

I am pretty much a flow-oriented judge, I love my flows and it helps me keep track of the debate so please make sure you are clear about whatever argument you are addressing/ extending.

I love creative/ performance debates but make sure they are relevant to the debate and leveraged in the debate.

I am okay with speed as long as your opponent is as well.

If everyone is okay with speed, please be sure that you are clear, you sign post, and are respectful if the other "clears" or "slows" you. If you do not, I do take that into consideration.

I don't flow cross x but just be sure to be respectful to each other. I don't believe in being "nice" per se, but don't be intentionally or overtly rude for no reason.

Like my coaches always said, Debate is a game. Have fun, and do Good debate.

Cheers.

For WSD I like clear argument engagement that includes thoughtful weighing and impact analysis. I prefer debates that have colonial and imperial powers reckon with their history (if its germane to the topic). When it comes down to relevancy and impacts/harms, I prefer debates that show how their resolution (whether we're going for opp or prop) will benefit or improve black and brown communities, or the global south.

Interp overall: I pay real close attention to the introduction of each piece, I look for the lens of analysis and the central thesis that will be advanced during the interpretation of literature. When the performance is happening, I'm checking to see if they have dug down deep enough into an understanding of their literature through that intro and have given me a way to contextualize the events that are happening during the performance

POI: I look for clean transitions and characterization (if doing multiple voices)

DI: I look for the small human elements that come from acting. Big and loud gestures are not always the way to convey the point, sometimes something smaller gets the point more powerfully.

HI: I'm not a good HI judge, please do not let me judge you in HI. I don't like the event and I do my best to avoid judging it. If that fails, I look for clean character transitions, distinct voices, and strong energy in the movements. Please don't be racist/homophobic in your humor.

INFO: I'm looking for a well research speech that has a strong message to deliver. Regardless of the genre of info you're presenting, I think that showing you've been exhaustive with your understanding is a good way to win my ballot. I'm not wow'd by flashy visuals that add little substance, and I'm put off by speeches that misrepresent intellectual concepts, even unintentionally. I like speeches that have a conclusion, and if the end of your speech is "and we still don't know" then I think you might want to reassess the overall direction you are taking, with obvious exceptions being that we might literally not know something, because its still being researched (but that is a different we don't know than say, "and we don't know why people act this way :( ")

FX/DX: When I'm evaluating an extemp speech, I'm continually thinking "did they answer the question? or did they answer something that sounded similar?" So keep that in your mind. Are you directly answering the question? When you present information that could be removed without affecting the overall quality of the speech, that is a sign that there wasn't enough research done by the speaker. What I vote up in terms of content are speeches that show a depth of understanding of the topic by evaluating the wider implications that a topic has for the area/region/politics/etc.

I'm an old Theater hound, so I'm predisposed to judging Interp, I even did prose and poetry in high school. While I may not agree with all the fancier bells and whistles that interp has done to acting, I still accept that at the core of everything in this event, acting/reacting and honesty shines through it all.

To that effect, I always look for emotion cores/honesty and for meaningful blocking (not just blocking for the sake of blocking).

She/her

Coach at Plano East Senior High (2018 - current)

I like reading, quilting, and hockey (go Stars!) Also, I am learning Finnish (Minulla on oranssi kissa ja yksi poika ja pidän velhoista. Onnea!)

I enjoy judging IEs most.
In Extemp: I judge and coach extemp more than any other event. It is my favorite event. If speech 1 has amazing content but bad fluency, and speech 2 is beautifully fluent but all the content is made up, outdated, or wrong, I would rank Speech 1 higher. If you don't answer the ACTUAL question, you will not be ranked high, no matter what. I will be randomly source/fact checking 1 source per speech, plz don't make up your sources.

In Interp: you should be making an argument with your chosen piece. Explain that argument in the intro!! I do not like giving time signals in Interp, I will give them if you ask for them but I will be grumpy about it. The piece should be exactly the same every round, so the time should be about the same. Also giving time signals distracts me from fully evaluating and taking in your performance.

In OO/Info: be unique. Think outside the box. If you are using a traditional topic, put a spin on it. If I don't learn something new during your speech, I probably won't rank you high. Same as above about time signals.

Everything you do in round is judge-able!!! Be a good steward of this activity. Be quiet while judges are writing feedback between speakers. You should NOT be on your phone during round. Your commentary on or critiques of other competitors/performances are what we call "inside thoughts" and should not be uttered into existence.

In LD, I’ve gotten much more progressive, but I tend to still favor traditional.

-I generally do not like Kritiks in LD. If you can run the same K all year on all the topics, that's a problem - lazy debating. If you choose to run a K in an LD round I am judging, slow down and explain your arguments in your own words.

-On case attacks are important!

-Theory*** & CPs good.

-Do not read at me while giving voters.

-2AR does not necessarily have to be line-by-line.

-I understand spreading, but if you become unclear I will say "clear" once, and after that, if you do not clear your speaking, I will stop flowing, more than likely hurting your chances. 7/10 speed please. Slow down on tags please.

In PF, I’m traditional. I don’t like spreading in PF and there should definitely not be CPs, Theory, Kritiks, or anything like that.

In Policy, pretty much the same as LD above, except I have more tolerance for Ks in Policy because it is a year long topic and you have more time to read lit - you still should slow down probably and explain your args really really well. I have less experience in Policy than the other debate events, but I have some competitive UIL CX history and can cross apply progressive LD knowledge. My favorite thing about policy debate is when we have fun - read an unexpected case or a crazy off.

***Theory is fine, except for disclosure theory. Not a fan. For almost a century, competitive high school debate has existed successfully and educationally without needing to read your opponent's case ahead of time.

In all debates: I do not tolerate rudeness - especially in cx/crossfire. I love seeing passion in rounds, but being passionate about your topic does not mean you get to be rude. Excessive rudeness/terrible attitude results in lowest speaks possible. Especially don't be rude or go ham when you have an obvious experience advantage (4yr debater vs 1yr).

FOR ALL EVENTS IN BOTH SPEECH AND DEBATE

Things you shouldn't say in a round in front of me (or really at all tbh): r*tarded (it's a slur), anything demeaning to or derogatory about teen moms (I was one)

When rounds finish, don't say how bad you did or how you "definitely lost" while your judges are sitting right there literally still making a decision. You never know, maybe we thought you won.

If you must have an email chain, include me: madison.gackenbach@pisd.edu (see above note about how I think you should be able to debate without reading your opponent's case)

I look forward to hearing you speak!

Debate Events: When judging debate events, I look for the following criteria. Did the contenders:

• Communicate ideas with clarity, organization, and fluency?• Display solid logic, reasoning, and analysis? • Stay away from overcomplicated/hard to follow argumentation? • Present a clash of ideas? • Counter the arguments of the opponents? • Create content that was organized and focused on the topic? • Deliver in a professional manner and implement an appropriate professional tone? • Stay within time limits?

The winning contenders are those who, though they may be passionate about a topic, are driven by logic-based arguments and stay away from being emotionally fueled while speaking/interacting with their competitors. Respect is important. The winning contenders are those who present the best key arguments and most effectively persuade me in the end.

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Speech Events: When judging speech events, I look for the following criteria. Did the contenders:

• Communicate with clarity, organization, and fluency? • Avoid rushing and provide for clear diction? • Create a unique, engaging, and creative speech? • Utilize appropriate vocabulary? • Present ideas in an organized and cohesive manner? • Create a cohesive, flowing performance? • Maintain appropriate volume, presence, and energy throughout the entire performance? • Seem believable as their character(s) and/or in telling their stories? • Develop an entertaining and enjoyable presentation? • Fall within the allotted timing per event?

The winning contenders are those who are aware of all that goes into creating a character and/or passionate speech. In the context of "performance", specific choices are made as to how and when to move based on the character's needs and style of the piece/speech. They utilize tempo and rhythm that are appropriate for the piece (there is a logical build present). The winning contenders are those who create a display of emotion that is believable and appropriate for the piece, whether it be informative, humorous, or dramatic.

Interp - Storytelling, Do I feel like you care about the message behind the piece? Is there passion and purpose? Volume - projection without feeling like you're screaming. Enunciation. Natural delivery. Compelling characters. But most importantly, have fun with it! If you're not having fun, I'm not having fun.

Platforms - Organized and easy to follow. Confidence in what you're saying. Enunciation and projection - hard to judge what you've written if I can't hear or understand it. Is it impactful? Do I feel like what you're saying is important? Does it have purpose?

My goal as a judge is to provide critiques that benefit the performer by acknowledging areas that are effective and areas that could benefit from improvement. Performing is a art have fun with it. I know it can be stressful.

What I am looking for in Oral interpretation/Speech :

* Clear projection, articulation, tone, diction, eye contact, appropriate gestures and movement.

* Believability and authenticity of character portrayal and characterization.

* I enjoy engaging teasers or an attention grabber in the beginning of the performance.

* The delivery during the performance should be clear and have clear intentions.

Regarding Debate I expect:

*A clear understanding of the topic and the solutions.

*The outline of the speech clearly mapped out to follow.

*Credible evidence and sources that support the argument clearly.

*Confident Tone, diction, gestures and use of vocabulary.

*Respect towards the judge and fellow debaters.

Hey! My name is Zoey Garcia-Rigole! I did Congressional Debate throughout high school (with extemp sprinkled in here and there), and I am now an undergraduate student at Rice University in Houston, TX!

In congressional debate, I encourage qualified candidates to run for PO as this role enhances the session's flow and efficiency. Don't shy away from this role as your ability to speak and contribute to the chamber will still be evident if you maintain control of the room. Regarding note usage, while notes are important for organization, over-reliance can detract from your presentation. As a congressional debater, you should be able to adapt to the events taking place in the chamber and include content in your speeches that is outside of what you already prepared (CLASH).

As for clash, constructive clash is ESSENTIAL, but it must not be a redundant repitition of points. Speakers should refrain from providing pure crystillization speeches unless they have a fresh perspective and dialogue to add that would further debate. Additionally, I recommend shifting to a new legislation once the same point has been reiterated several times to keep the debate running and to prevent boredom on behalf of the people scoring you!

And as for questioning periods, don't be afraid to ask questions to speakers on both the same and opposite sides as you. Speakers who actively participate throughout the questioning period are the ones furthering debate.

Depending on the event, I like content to, obviously, be relevant to theme/topic.

Clear/clean delivery with good use of volume, rate, pitch.

In debate, I like to be able to understand with clarity.

LD Debate: I am a judge that leans toward the classic style. I don't mind K-debate, but you'd better make it apply to the resolution! I am not a fan Topicality arguments. If you run more than one off, I'm not going to apply the rest. Don't be a whiny debater. Debate the round! Speed is fine as long as you are articulate. Don't be rude to your opponent, and if you are a male debater...DON'T BE SEXIST OR CONDESCENDING to a female opponent. I want to hear framework, value, criterion, impacts, and links. Give me that and I will be happy.

PF Debate: Framework and Impacts! I don't like rudeness in Cross Examination. I like a mix of claims, warrants, and narrative. Tell me a story. I am not looking for solvency. I'm not sure why people think they have to solve in PF. I just want to understand why you support or oppose the status quo, how that fits into the framework provided, and where/how it impacts. Don't make it too difficult.

Speech and Interp: I enjoy being in speech and interp rounds, where I get to see student's personalities take flight! I love stories, and I feel like the journey's students choose to take us on are important ones!

In interp, I look for HONESTY and connection in each performance. Don't force emotion. We see that! It takes us out of the context of the piece! Also, please don't stare directly at me. I can't get lost in your piece if you are including me in the scene. I want to be a fly on the wall. And I'm a big believer in the FOURTH WALL. Also, I'm not a fan of those who exploit special needs characters, or make fun of them. If you use the "R" word in my round, or show disrespect to special needs characters, you will hear about it on my ballot. Please reconsider doing this in any piece you choose. It is exclusive and disturbing...don't resort to such things for the purpose of a trophy. This community encourages you to find growth in your humanity as well as your talents!

In speech, I like it when I learn something I didn't already know. Teach me! I love coming out of rounds and telling people, "I was in this OO/Informative/Extemp round and I just learned that..." And I don't mind controversial subjects either! As long as you aren't excluding anyone, or being offensive to a particular group of people (race, ability, religion, sexual preference...etc), then I'm okay with controversy. And whatever your topic...have conviction!

In both speech AND interp, I like it when students make CHOICES and take CHANCES. I'm a tough judge, but only because I want you to improve and have the best critique you can get to do that! I love the community that speech and debate provides for students. I also know that the experience I get from every single performer is invaluable! So thank you!

OMG IM SO EXCITED!

Quincy Gentry here, and I've competed in speech and debate for many years, and I can't wait to come back and judge TFA state again. During my time competing in high and college I've competed in DUO, Duet, Di, Poetry, Prose, and POI. Judging these events and seeing the same joy y'all have makes my heart flutter.

When it comes to speech events, I'm looking for only a few things:

• clear story line
• intentional blocking
• appropriate timing on performance
• clear speaking voice (Diction is Key)
• subject matter isn't a problem with me. (Be confident in your story and spread a message)
• EVER VOICE MATTERS
• Finally ORIGINALITY

Out of respect for other competitors, the tournament schedule, and the tabroom, I will not disclose.

As an experienced judge in speech and debate, a former competitor in LD and speech events, and a current coach who values the history and tradition of the event, I want to emphasize that I do not believe that speed and volume are the sole indicators of a skilled debater. In fact, I appreciate the qualities of persuasion, clear communication, and depth of argumentation over speed. Here are some key points to consider if you want to convince me of your argument:

1. Speak clearly and enunciate your words. Ensure that your arguments are easy to follow, and don't rush through your points. Take your time to explain your ideas thoroughly.

2. Support your arguments with relevant evidence and examples. Cite credible sources and use data when appropriate. Avoid cherry-picking data or misrepresenting facts.

3. Show that you have a deep understanding of the topic. Go beyond surface-level arguments and provide nuanced analysis.

4. Engage with your opponent's arguments thoughtfully and respectfully. Refute their points with evidence and logic rather than resorting to aggressive tactics.

5. Use cross-examination as an opportunity to clarify your opponent's arguments and highlight any weaknesses in their position. Maintain a respectful and professional demeanor during cross-examination.

6. Maintain good eye contact with me and the audience. Use gestures and body language to enhance your communication, but avoid excessive or distracting movements.

7. Maintain a respectful and professional tone throughout the debate. Avoid personal attacks or disrespectful language towards your opponents.

8. Be mindful of your allotted time and manage it effectively. Don't rush through your speech to fit in more content. It's better to deliver a well-structured and persuasive argument within the time limit.

Remember that the art of debate is not just about winning arguments but also about fostering a respectful and constructive discourse. I value debaters who uphold these principles and contribute to the tradition of civil and persuasive discourse in speech and debate.

As far as speech events go, I am here to be informed and entertained.I do not tolerate cultural appropriation - be mindful of your accents, gestures, and intent.

I coached and judged all speech and debate events for 16 years before becoming an administrator. I coached several state champions and students successful in UIL, TFA and NSDA. As an admin, I have remained active judging and running local, regional and state tournaments.

I believe that this is an educational activity. I am accustomed to spreading though my ear isn't especially adept to it not having judged debate much recently. Watch for NV cues that you are going too fast. I will not call out at you. Since leaving coaching I have mostly judged IEs. I Adm a policymaker policy judge. For LD I prefer more LD traditional value/ criteria style debate though ultimately the round direction is up to the debates. I DO NOT like to intervene in round because the debate is messy.

I coach beginning CX at summer camps in Texas and serve as an advisor for new coaches to the activity.

I work at the UIL Region 3-5A Director and the Judge Coordinator at the CX and Academic State Tournaments as well as running several invitationals and district meets.

Most importantly.... BE NICE! BE PROFESSIONAL! Your life will not be negatively impacted because of the outcome of a round so don't let emotions push you to behave inappropriately That won't bode well for you.

Hi everyone, my name is Hayley and I'm so excited to be judging y'all. Here are a few things to have in mind and what I like to see when doing speech/debate.. I want you to be one with you topic or speech. I can always tell when your just going about with your topic/speech and when you are actually performing your speech, there is always a big noticeable difference. Also make sure your topic/speech makes sense, it kind of confuses me when I'm listening to a speech/topic and it doesn't make any sense. I'm not too big on volume and how loud you speak just do whatever feels comfortable for you and what will make you stand out. Lastly just be respectful to the people you are competing with and to your Judges..

I am a parent volunteer. I have judged a few times, all in Speech rounds/events. Please treat me like a lay judge. I have watched videos and read training material, but due to the time lapses between tournaments, I find it difficult to remember all the rules and time frames for each event, so I won't be offended if a reminder is offered at the start of the round.

When judging speech events, I consider volume, rate, and clarity of the performance. I like adjustments in volume when appropriate, but be sure I can hear the quieter portions of the piece. If you have to talk too fast, your piece is too long. Be sure to enunciate your words when speaking. Your piece will lose its meaning/effectiveness if I can't hear or understand it.

If your piece has multiple characters, I should be able to clearly identify which character is speaking, vocally and/or physically.

Your introduction should be well thought out and grab my interest.

Pieces should be well memorized and presented smoothly. If you make a mistake, don't make it obvious...I won't know if you don't make it a bigger deal than it is.

While I have personal opinions on some topics, I will not allow these opinions to interfere with my ability to judge your piece on your ability to perform and deliver it effectively.

I was a long-time high school coach of CX, LD, PF and Congress and was a college policy debater MANY years ago.

If you want to put a title on my debate philosophy, I’d call myself a policymaker.

When I judge a round, I pay attention to my flow. I care about dropped arguments, and I don’t like the neg to run time suck arguments and then kick out. That said, be sure I can take a good flow by speaking at a reasonable rate of speed. If you feel you must speak quickly, at least give me a chance to catch your tag lines and source citations, or, better yet, provide a link to your case.

I have no issues with theoretical debate or critical arguments, so long as you make me understand them. That said, I still prefer to judge a round about the resolution instead of a round about whether or not someone was abusive.

LD should remain value based. Although some recent LD resolutions cry out for the debaters to present a plan, please don't neglect the value framework tradition.

In CX debate, I consider T to be an important argument in the round but will not vote on it unless I judge there has been actual in-round abuse.

LD debate should have a strong value component and avoid overt policy-making.

I judge Congress on content and delivery. This type of debate demands a strong and passionate public speaking style. Questioning is crucial to final score. I strongly dislike rehashed arguments. Clash is important, but it needs to have actual refutation and not just mentioning the names of previous speakers. I object to the recent trend toward doing all prep work in-round and the abuse of in-house recesses to allow this.

In all types of debate, don’t be rude to your opponent. Respect the activity with professional demeanor.

I am a retired coach. I have judged LOTS of rounds in all formats. I consider myself traditional in my approach to all events. I have provided my paradigm for speech and debate events here.

Public Speaking Events

All speeches should have well structured introductions, fully developed body, and satisfaction for your audience thru your conclusion. Sources are key to your speech, you should use a variety of appropriate sources. I expect that your speech will include the "why do I care" - What draws your audience to want to learn more from what you have to say. In extemp, I expect you to answer the specific question you were given. I evaluate all non-verbal communication in your presentation. I accept all perspectives on all topics; however, I expect that your are aware of your audience and avoid language or statements that may be offensive.

Interp Events

First and foremost, pieces should be appropriate for the venue. While I understand that some pieces may contain some sexual innuendo, I will reject innuendo that is not a part of the original script or that is added for the "shock value" rather than the development of the performance. Your introduction should be more than telling me the storyline that you are presenting. There is a reason you chose this piece, a topic you want to discuss. Share that in your intro. Give me believable characters that I can empathize with. Be sure there is an identifiable difference in your characters.

In all debate rounds

Don’t depend on email chains or flashing briefs to include an argument in the round. If it is not spoken during your speeches, it is not in the round. I prefer a more communicative speed of delivery, especially when using online competition. I can keep up but, I think the idea of trying to spread your opponent out of the round is not in the realm of what debate should be. I would rather hear a good clash on the arguments presented.

In PF

I believe PF should be a debate with class. Interactions between opponents should be cordial. Crossfire should be used to obtain information NOT to belittle your opponent. You can not ignore your opponent's arguments and expect to win. Evidence and common sense are key.

In LD

I feel that LD should be philosophy based. Even if the topic is policy-oriented, the selection of a policy is always based on values. Therefore, you should be prepared to debate your value and criterion to support your view on the topic. If you can't support your view, how can I accept your position?

A Kritik on the topic is not an acceptable position. You have been given a topic to debate and that is what I expect to hear. If all you offer is the Kritik, you have not upheld your burden and will lose the round. Running a Kritik on the topic in addition to case arguments is a huge contradiction in your case.

If you want me to view the round from your viewpoint, you must provide voters in your final speech.

In Congress

This is a congressional debate. I expect that you do more than read a prepared speech. There should be responses to previous speeches. You need to be active in the chamber. Questions are an essential part of the process. With that being said, don't ask questions that do not seek to expand information. That is a waste of the chamber's time and takes time away from those with solid questions. Provide sources to the house to substantiate your points.

In CX

I encourage traditional debate in terms of format. That means I do not like open cx. With that being said, I accept progressive style arguments. I will listen to your arguments, but I expect you to provide warrants and logical analysis. If you are the opponent, don’t assume I will reject an argument on face, you must respond if you want to win the argument.

I DO vote on STOCK ISSUES. So Affirmative teams should be prepared to meet those standards.

Negative teams, please don’t throw out a dozen arguments only to drop the ones that don’t stick. If you bring the argument into the round plan to carry it thru to the end.

Label your arguments before you start reading your briefs!

I believe it is essential that you weigh the impacts of your argument in the round.

I'm a parent judge with 3 years of experience

Please be clear and go slow, please explain exactly WHY I should vote for you and clearly explain your impacts.

I will vote for whoever's arguments I can best understand and are clearly explained.

I prefer people with confidence in their answers

Good Luck

LD -

• Traditional judge - do not mix LD with Policy debate
• Framework - make sure that your v and vc are upheld throughout the entire case
• Moderate speed is fine; remember that if I cannot flow your case then you will more than likely won't do well in the round
• I want to hear impact not an overwhelming amount of cards - how do you interpret your cards for them to uphold your case's stance on the resolution?

PF -

• Absolutely no spreading
• This is a people's debate, please make sure that your case displays a cohesive development of your critical thinking skills
• In this debate, you are speaking to an average person, do not treat like I am an expert
• Second rebuttal must respond to the first rebuttal

Speech -

• I value a clear and organized speech that contains strong and profound analysis.
• Creativity is another important aspect as well. Let yourself shine by delivering your speech in the most memorable way to make yourself stand out.
• Citations!! Please do not give me a speech about a topic that is not cited. How do I know your analysis is credible if it is not supported by a source?
• Your critical thinking skills should stand out when performing; meaning that the topic chosen should be developed progressively rather than having points that sound repetitive or do not correlate to the topic at hand.
• Remember that the time of the speech does not matter when the content of the speech has given nothing.

A few general points -

• I do not want to be on the email chain
• I will not disclose during prelims
• Do not ask me about speaks
• Please treat your opponents and judge with respect and integrity; this is supposed to resemble a professional environment meant to develop your communication skills
• If you bring spectators to round, please make sure that YOUR spectators respect the flow of the round. Once you enter room, they are there from start to finish. I will not tolerate an interruption of the concentration and flow of the participants and the judge. I will leave a note on your ballot for your coach to review or speak directly to your coach.

I have over 20 years of experience. pronouns: she/her

Individual Events:

• I love well-rounded characterization. My biggest note is that if you are doing a popular piece I would love to see your version of this character, not an exact copy of the original character ( this is INTERPRETATION after all…). Be sure to have fun with your characterization, especially in HI. If you have multiple characters be sure there is distinction in vocal quality and physicality and that they're adding to the story, not distracting from it.

• When listening to the cutting of the piece I’d like it to flow well. I love a clear, catchy teaser, a brief intro that doesn’t give too much away, a well told and understandable story that leads the characters path, whatever that way be. .

• I am NIT PICKY when it comes to delivery (you’ve been warned). I love clean crisp diction, purposeful emphasis and pauses all while ensuring that they guide the emotions of your piece. When it comes to blocking, be sure you're not moving just to move. Every move you make needs to be justified and should add to the story. Remember, this is blocking not choreo.

• Authenticity is a big topic i look for. I know you've rehearsed your piece a bunch, but I don't want to see that, I want to see it with authenticity and as thought you're in the moment and reacting in real time. With all that being said, we perform because we want to elicit emotions out of our audience. We are looking to inspire, teach, interact and to let the audience get lost in our pieces. The only way to do that, is to be sure you’re having fun with it.

OO/INFO:

• I prefer when I can easily tell what the goal and persuasive points of your speech are.
• I love learning so for me, be sure the research lines up and gives me reason to really that your stance into consideration.

Extemp:

• Most importantly, be sure to state AND answer your question. It's one of the big things that I look for when judging.

• Your 3 points should support your decision and explain why you made that choice, 7-10 sources is a great spot to be for the whole performance and within those sources should be a solid foundation.

Sometimes tabroom doesn’t save ballots, Ialways leave ballots no matter what. if you are not seeing a ballot tell your coach to email me and I will forward it to them. I pre-write and save all of my ballots on google docs.

For any events: Communication should be Articulate, Clear, Sincere, Authentic, and Expressive! 

For debate events: NO SPREADING (that is not good communication!) Content should be Pertinent to the case, Evidence supportive of valid points, Quality over quantity; Use Persuasion and Logic to convince me who has the best case (policy or value debate), supported by the most appropriate and valid arguments.

Enjoy!

Personal Background

As of Feb. 2023, I have competed/judged speech for 5 years and judged debate for around 3.5 years. I also participated in theatre/musical theatre and MUN in high school.

Speech

I can always give time signals and will usually ask if you would like any if I forget to, please feel free to ask for them

Generally anything goes, I never really expect you to make any significant change in speech based on a judge’s preferences.

That being said for interp my ballots often end up being highly technical(Pantomime inconsistencies, vocal inflection at key moments, etc.) as I want to give you as much actionable feedback in my comments as possible, however the ranks may not seem to match as often the more non actionable reasons of the RFD supersedes in importance for my decision.

For platform/limited prep I generally want to see some physical organization that mirrors your speech organization(walks to separate points, etc.).

Debate

• I keep time and I expect you to keep time for both yourselves and your opponents, keep everyone honest

• for speeches I generally give ~2-3 seconds of grace to finish a sentence unless in a panel, do not abuse this privilege

• Spreading is fine as long as articulation is good, although scale back some for PF such that a lay judge can fully comprehend your arguments(whatever that looks like for you)

• If a format has Cross, I generally want to see you do something more than just clarifying questions, ex. Like probing for weaknesses that will be expanded on in your next speech

• Fully realizing your impacts is very important especially in the final 1-2 speeches even if some repetition is required

• Unless instructed otherwise, feel free to run almost anything at your discretion Ks, Aff-Ks, Plans, Theory, etc.

• That being said your links need to be strong for me to vote for it

• Specifically for Ks, I often want to see a R.O.B argument to give me a reason to vote for you in the round even if I do buy the K

• Specifically for Theory, the communication of what the theory argues/shows needs to be clear

• Unless you can explain one of the above to a Lay judge with ease I would advise against running the above in PF

• At the end of the debate I will often give verbal feedback (exceptions being if a tournament runs on a tight schedule with flights, I have been double booked in the speech and debate pool and need to make it to a round, the tournament is running far behind, or I am instructed not to do so), after this verbal feedback I may if I have a clear winner(unless instructed otherwise), otherwise I will not

I would consider myself a traditional speech judge. I am very comfortable judging all interp, public address/platform, and limited prep events. I have competed, judged, and coached at all levels (middle school, high school, and collegiate) and am open to the many styles of interp/performance.

As a judge, the thing that matters most to me is that your performance choices are intentional/purposeful. I want to feel like the choices you make are driven by the text. While I appreciate super cool tech/transitions and visually interesting blocking BIG TIME, I also don't like blocking for blocking's sake. If you are incorporating sound effects, etc. in your HIs and DUO/Duet transitions, they need to make sense and have artistic purpose.

Intros matter.

In all speech events, I am looking for the performer to truly CONNECT with their audience. This is just as true (perhaps even more so) for virtual performances. I like polished/clean performances that also feel conversational and authentic. I should always feel as if this is the first time you've spoken these words.

I am pretty picky about clean binder technique in binder events. Your binder tech (sloppy pages turn, etc.) should never pull my focus. This does not mean I don't LOVE cool binder tricks/additions to enhance POI/PR/POE performances. As long as they are clean/polished/purposeful, bring it on! :)

For Platform/Limited Prep Events, I am looking for solid structure (intro, preview/roadmap, conclusion, etc.), good variety of current sources, depth of analysis, and clean/fluent delivery. While delivery is certainly important, a few small fluency issues in limited prep won't bother me - I would ultimately prefer a speech with a strong analysis of the topic that isn't canned.

Overall, just try to have fun, take pride in sharing your stories, and I will have fun with you! :)

Mostly an IE judge so be sure to speak confidently because I will be taking note of that, even though it won't be a huge factor in my decision it will be a factor. I am somewhat familiar with debate but not an expert. I have competed a few times in college Parliamentary tournaments, and this is my only debate experience. I am not familiar enough with Ks to feel comfortable judging them, so try to avoid those as much as possible. No spreading and no running disclosure theory, we’re trying to make this as fair and accessible as possible. Stand up while speaking, unless obviously you have a disability that prevents that. Overall, be nice because if you're especially rude to your opponents I will down you just on that.

Yes, add me to the email chain. My email is Bixba@eanesisd.net.

CX - I'm a Policy Maker, so I want to vote for something rather than against something. I like a NON-TOPICAL Counter Plans or a Kritik with a good Alternative. I will vote on Topicality if the Aff is proven not to be Topical. I do not vote for Disclosure Theory, Contact Theory, Dress Code Theory, etc. Please debate the topic; that is where I will vote. Clash is key, so be sure to directly attack and answer arguments. If you spread, you must be intelligible; if I cannot understand you, I cannot vote for you. I will give one verbal request for you to be "clear", and if you are still incomprehensible I will close my laptop or drop my pen to nonverbally indicate to you that I have stopped flowing. Have all evidence you plan to read up on your computer. If you take your time sharing evidence when requested, that is free prep time for your opponent, and I do not expect them to stop prepping while you find the card(s) to send. While I prefer closed CX, I will entertain open CX, but be careful not to dominate your partner as that could cost them speaker points. Of course remember to be a good competitor and treat your opponents with respect. Disrespect toward your opponent will cost you speaker points.

LD - I guess I'm an old school LD judge. I expect to be able to identify your Value and Criterion and that is the lens by which I weigh the round. I do not vote for Disclosure Theory, Contact Theory, Dress Code Theory, etc. Please debate the topic; that is where I will vote. Therefore, I will vote on Topicality if the Aff is proven not to be Topical. Clash is key, so be sure to directly attack and answer arguments. If you spread, you must be intelligible; if I cannot understand you, I cannot vote for you. I will give one verbal request for you to be "clear", and if you are still incomprehensible I will close my laptop or drop my pen to nonverbally indicate to you that I have stopped flowing. Evidence sharing is not "off the clock" and will count toward prep and/or speaking time. Of course remember to be a good competitor and treat your opponents with respect. Disrespect toward your opponent will cost you speaker points.

PF - I see PF as a watered down CX debate minus the Plan Text, if I'm being honest. So, see the paradigm for CX above please.

Congress - Clash is key, so be sure to directly attack and answer arguments. Remember to be a good competitor and treat your opponents with respect. Disrespect toward your opponent may cost you the ballot. Depth of analysis is most important to me although I expect a solid speech structure with scholarly sources. As far as delivery, I want to feel that you are talking TO me not AT me. As such, be conversational yet persuasive.

World Schools - Clash is key, so be sure to directly attack and answer arguments. Remember to be a good competitor and treat your opponents with respect. Disrespect toward your opponent may cost you the ballot. Depth of analysis is most important to me although I expect a solid speech structure with scholarly sources. As far as delivery, I want to feel that you are talking TO me not AT me. As such, be conversational yet persuasive.

Interp - The most important thing to me in an Interp performance is to portray genuine emotion. If you really feel it, the audience will too. Be a good audience member by avoiding distractions and giving your complete attention to the competitor performing at the moment. Being a good audience member also means staying the entire time unless you are cross entered as well as providing appropriate nonverbal feedback to the performance. Please don't "mean mug" or attempt to nonverbally intimidate another competitor. I appreciate a good binder trick and a creative approach while maintaining author's intent. In the Intro, I would ideally like a conversational tone that allows me to meet you, displays your understanding and connection to the subject matter, and sets up the performance well. Literature that contains profanity does not bother me as long as the profanity adds something to the message and is not superfluous.

Extemp - Depth of analysis is most important to me although I expect a solid speech structure with an introduction, 2-3 main points, and a conclusion. I encourage 7-10 scholarly source citations throughout and would like to see that the sources add substance to the speech. Using a variety of types of sources such as state, national, and international as well as think tanks, periodicals, and books adds to the overall credibility of the presentation. As far as delivery, I want to feel that you are talking TO me not AT me. As such, be conversational yet informative or persuasive.

For Congress, I care most about content of a speech. Too many debaters have unclear or missing links. If you don’t follow a link chain through, it will be very hard for me to see your argument as good or thoughtful. I don’t care about a base system- if you want to try for a third speech when everyone else is getting two, I will not penalize you, but an extra speech will only place you above someone if I’m struggling to decide who did better. For speaking style, I don’t judge off of how you sound, but detest rudeness and like professionalism. The real US Congress doesn’t start a speech with a joke or trite phrase, so neither should you. IF YOU USE A CANNED INTRO OR PHRASE I WILL NOTICE AND BE UPSET. Also, I don’t think any news site is good evidence and prefer you use actual research- not just reporting. 9 time out of 10, a news source will cite something else, and it's lazy citationing on your part to not cite the original source.

When you clash- you cannot just tell someone that they're wrong. You have to either weigh your impacts against theirs and tell the chamber why your impact is preferable, or prove their link chain is incorrect. The latter your speech is, the more clash I expect to see. If you're giving constructive speeches late into a round, I will not rank you well, if at all.

For POs- I want to interject as little as possible (someone asking for tournament rules, like about hard stops, does not hurt you). How smoothly the round runs is your main job and will reflect on your rank. If there are a lot of recesses for people to write because they are not prepared, then you will do worse. You should manage the round and that includes making sure people will have future speeches.

Former Hendrickson CX Debater '18-'20 (2A/1N)
TXST LD and NPDA/IPDA Debater, Class of '24

Yes Email Chain - theo.januski@gmail.com

TLDR: I'm up for pretty much any type of argument, as long as it's legit and not just a meme case. I don't really have a default way I vote, but still - if there's a specific impact you think I need to prioritize, explain it!
Tech > Truth - but that does NOT mean I'll vote on anything.

As far as speed goes, I can handle it as long as you're clear, but I can't flow what I can't hear. If you're going too fast or losing me I will stop flowing - this is your warning in advance.

I also have experience in pretty much all IEs - in interpretation events, I do prioritize the quality of the acting and interp itself, but if two performances are equal in quality I default to the one with the better argument. As far as LPs, I value eloquence and quality of argumentation equally.
Full disclosure, I have not been keeping as close of an eye on arguments or jargon from each specific high school topics as the years go on, so keep that in mind as you are in both your constructives and rebuttals.

T/Framework -
I'm down for a good T debate. Topicality isn't just a one-round thing, it's a matter of how debate should operate, and that's something you need to explain - it's about the precedent the aff sets.

Kritiks -
I'm familiar with pretty much all generic kritiks. Every part of the K is equally important, which is why if you either can't explain your alt or just straight up don't have one, I'm significantly less likely to vote for you. Links of omission are a no-go.
Additionally, the perm debate is usually going to be pretty important in my eyes, on both sides. Don't give a really vague answer to the perm and be surprised when I vote you down.

Counterplans -
I'm typically a hard policy debater so I'm definitely down to hear a good CP debate. Specificity in solvency advocates and just in the CP itself is important, and in the line-by-line, because if you can't add specificity it shows you don't know much about either how your CP or the plan functions. Feel free to run condo or any other theory.

DAs -
Updated/decent ev and a cohesive story are all I really need. Specific disads are always better. Not much else to it really.

Overall speaking -
Don't be a jerk in round, and don't get aggressive or snarky, or that'll affect your speaker points.
I will call out anything shady, like stealing prep or if I think you're cheating. Debate is also about education, not just winning.

If you have any questions about my RFD or anything else, hit me up!

I started judging this year, and I am still learning the details of each event. I participated in official NSDA tournaments in high school, so I have a good understanding of most speech events.

For both speech and debate events, any type of spreading is not recommended, I can't guarantee I will be able to take in all of the content. I am open to judging any subject matter, as long as it is presented in an appropriate and professional way.

For speech events, I tend to focus on diction, levels, blocking, believability, and creativity of the presentation. A technically sound and believable performance will receive high marks. Excessive screaming, lack of enunciation, and movement without reason will result in a lower score.

For Debate:

Looking for clear, well-organized, and concise argumentation. Looking for well reasoned and researched cases (within given time constraints). Not a fan of doomsday or slippery slope arguments. Not a fan of abusive tactics that take away the purpose of an educational debate (like just galloping or affirmative/proposition, setting the scope in their favor). I like voters in debate. Why should I vote for your side? Also, while I do expect each side to fulfill their burden and know debate fundamentals, if you are the affirmative or the negative, I still want the substance of the debate to be on the topic/resolution at hand. Only if there is an egregious lack of burden fulfillment, will I give the round based on debate technicalities.

Not a fan of spreading. It doesn’t happen in the real world, don’t do it here.

I am a 17year science teacher, and entrepreneur, I value facts and logic. This is my first year judging and am very excited to be able to be a part of this.

I am primarily an interp coach. If I am judging you in debate, please do not assume I know anything about the resolution or any of your cases. I will judge based on who makes the best argument, with warrants and supporting evidence. Be clear about what you are arguing and why you are winning the debate. Speak clearly and confidently, do not be rude or condescending.

Good Luck!

I am Parent Judge with few months of experience in Judging. I am open to various styles and approaches.

Speech Specific:

· I value speeches that are easily understandable, Focused, Structured, Strong evidence with logical reasoning and Engaging.

· Supported with relevant examples, facts, etc.

Additional Notes:

§ I will maintain professionalism and impartiality throughout the round.

Speech-

I am a parent judge. I judge based on who is sounding the best and who’s speech I find most interesting.

Debate-

I am a parent judge.

Personally, I am not picky.

Please just follow the rules and try to convince me as though I am a nobody who knows nothing.

In any debate event, try not to spread too much. Some speed is fine, but I can't vote based on arguments I can't understand.

For interp events, I pay close attention to the flow of the cut, unique characterizations (including voice and body language), and transitions. Make sure those pantomimes are clean!

For speaking events, fluency is important. Make sure your ideas flow well from one point to the next. In extemp, be sure to actually answer the question, and try to connect each point back your answer as a whole.

In policy debate, I am a HEAVY stock issues judge with the exception of topicality. I usually feel people call T when they do not have anything else to call. Obviously sometimes there are topicality issues. Make it convincing if you call topicality.

I am definitely not a tabula rosa or kritiks judge. I am also not easily convinced by impact calculus. I am looking for who just has the best overall convincing arguments.

Spreading - not a fan. I am 50 years old and just cannot listen that fast. If I did not hear you say it, it did not happen. If you spread, I put my pen down and I will not listen.

I am not a fan of nukes.

Counterplans are okay.

Do NOT spread. If you choose to read quickly, you MUST be clear. Debate is about public speaking and developing skills that go beyond the debate round. Please do not yell, be mindful of the space in the room, you need to find the balance between being heard and yelling.

General: Signpost and Voters. I will diligently flow the round but, you must tell me where to put it. I debated in high school and college. Now I have been coaching and judging for over ten years.

CX: I am a policymaker who loves a good Topicality. You must demonstrate clear and concise links to accessing your impacts and provide an analysis of magnitude, timeline, and probability. I will flow, you just need to tell me where you want me to flow the arguments, so make sure you sign post. I will avoid judge intervention at all costs, so if you drop down to a single argument, that is what I am weighing regardless of my flow.

Don't run a K or theory argument unless you are out of other options. I will not buy any sort of disclosure theory.

LD: Value and Criteria. I am an old-school LD judge, I prefer to hear a traditional debate, not one person policy.

Congress: Speak often and early. I will score a P.O. well if they run an efficient round. I would rather hear multiple bills and good debate. If you are giving the 11th Aff on a bill, you probably won't score as well unless you can actually advance the debate.

Individual Events:

Judging will be based on the overall performance of your piece, not the topic of your piece. Concerning performance, a clear speaking voice and distinct characterizations through body language and/or voice changes are essential. Concerning original works, a well-written piece is essential in addition to performance techniques. At a minimum I look for an introduction with a good, relevant hook, a clearly formed body with distinct points of discussion that uniquely support your introduction, and a conclusion that loops back to your introduction. I also llok for limited repetition and audience engagement.

Hello, I’m a former debater that has competed in UIL, TFA at both the state and national levels. I’m ok with any arguments as long as they make sense and are warranted.

Participated in Congress and IX all 4 years at Obra D. Tompkins

General Paradigm: Honestly as long as you explain your arguments well and tell me why they matter (I'm big on impact calc. This means clear warrants and links. I like to have my job be easier so tell me right from the start what I need to vote on and what stuff is important in the context of the round. If you don't do that I'll be forced to become a policymaker which means I may default to impacts that you may not have focused on. Summary and final focus speeches should be mirrored. This means the arguments that you flesh out and extend are the same ones you should be speaking about in the FF. Don't bother bringing up dropped/dead arguments near the end of the round. You are just gonna be wasting my time. When extending args, include the (warrants, links, and impacts). Make sure you give me voters on why your args matter, and why you win. I weigh presentation and content equally!

Keep your own time. I will be keeping time as well.

Feel free to ask me about anything I may not have covered.

I'm a flay judge leaning more towards flow. You can spread but please for the love of god and all things holy, remain coherent please, if I can't hear what you are saying I cannot evaluate it. K's are fine but i don't evaluate theory. Start email chains for every round and give all evidence and rhetoric before your speech. I don't want google docs - only pdf and word docs. I won't evaluate evidence sent to me as a part of my decision making unless you tell me to. Smart weighing, good arguments, and evidence ethics are your path to the ballot. I think grand cross is dumb but we gotta do it.

I qualled for TFA, TOC, and Nationals in PF. Have fun and live 365.

lawal.a.hanif@gmail.com

In Public Forum and Extemp: I value delivery & analysis supported by evidence from credible sources. I want to know the significance of your topic and what are the impacts of your arguments, tell me why it matters. I can't vote for points and impacts I can't hear or understand, so slow up for key points and explain them clearly. Understand that you are Debating not Arguing, this is an important distinction that must be known by each debater!

In Congressional Debate: I value the natural delivery of points and impacts and reasonable positions. I look for acknowledgment of prior speakers' points and clash leading to good argumentation and refutation, and for purposeful questioning leading to clarity, understanding, or insight. A lack of clash is frowned upon. Knowledge of and adherence to Parliamentary Procedure is expected in the chamber. Skillful Presiding Officers make sessions a positive experience for all and will be ranked accordingly.

In Oratory, Info, and Impromptu: I value your originality, creativity, and persuasive presentation of ideas of personal importance. Cite your sources, explain their importance, and tell me why it matters.

In DI, HI, DUO, Poetry, and Prose: It is crucial that you tell a story in a meaningful and impactful manner. Characterization, gestures and facial expressions, and, vocal variation will all add to the overall decision. Along, with the dramatic structure of the piece and mindful storytelling!

Overall speaking skills or/and argumentation are critical to winning! But remember the most important thing is that you learn!

Spoken Word: It is crucial that you tell a story in a meaningful and impactful manner. Characterization, gestures and facial expressions, and, vocal variation will all add to the overall decision. Along, with the dramatic structure, organization, clear theme, and mindful storytelling!

Hello, my name is Jam Lopez. If you need to refer to me at all in the round, please just call me "judge" or if you must, refer to me by name, call me Ms. Lopez.

My background is in medicine and education so if there are any debates/topics about medicine and your arguments are inaccurate, I will know.

I am a lay judge and the only experience I have in debate is listening to my daughter read her speeches to me and judging in one tournament

Speak loud, clear, and at a casual talking pace. It is ultimately your decision if you decide to speak fast or slow, but note that I will be less likely to understand your arguments if you choose to speak fast.

Use layman's terms on me. I don't know any debate terms so explain to me what certain terms mean if it is necessary that you use specific debate terms.

I want debaters to be respectful during their round and to speak clearly.

Sarah Lyngholm

Affiliation: Plano Senior High 2019

Experience: Competed at haggard middle school, Judged middle school events in high school, and I have been judging High school tournaments since 2021.

Contact: selyngholm@gmail.com

A little about me:

She/Her.

Transphobia, Homophobia, and Racism are not received well unless necessary to the piece.

I will always appreciate a warning about any sensitive content in a piece.

I will not stand for inappropriate etiquette within the tournaments. I encourage students to stay off of their phones (unless taking notes), stay quiet between speakers, and refrain from eating/chewing gum during rounds. Being disrespectful during rounds will end up on ballots, but will not affect the competitor's rank (unless absolutely necessary).

I am typically an I/E judge, so keep that in mind if putting me in a debate pool. I do not favor spreading during debate rounds, and I will judge based on how you present your piece or argument.

TREAT PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS AND RESPECT.

Hi there!

My name is Luke Lyster and I'm a student at the University of Arkansas. I have several years of speech experience (predominantly HI and DI). I have competed on the local, state and national level, as well as TOC. Most of my experience is in HI as a state finalist.

Things I look for:

Interp -

Good control of your emotions, unnecessary shouting/crying/emotion that is out of place in your piece wont serve you well.

Facial expressions and precise intentional movements are critical to a great piece.

Speech - Expression and strong public speaking ability are critical, as well as passion for what you're speaking about.

Good luck competitors!

Experience: 3 years of judging IEs/Debate and 3 years coaching high school debate teams, with experience at local, state, and national tournaments.

Philosophy: As a tabula rasa judge, I remain neutral and judge based on the arguments presented. I value well-structured, logical arguments supported by credible evidence, with ethical and value-based arguments welcome if well-articulated. Evidence is crucial.

Preferences:

Argumentation: Appreciate direct refutation and clash; offensive arguments are more persuasive than purely defensive ones.
Speaking Style: Clarity and persuasion over speed; no spreading.
Framework: Establish a clear framework and weigh impacts accordingly.

Round Conduct:

Points of Contention: Summarize and crystallize key points in summary and final focus speeches.
Crossfire: Viewed as an opportunity to clarify and challenge arguments; not the primary basis of decision but can enhance presentation.
Other Considerations: Maintain respectful behavior; be clear, concise, and structured in speeches. Be open to different approaches if justified well within the round.

I competed in Congress and FX at Seven Lakes for four years. Pretty flay judge- don't run absurd arguments in PF/LD, don't spread to the point where I can't comprehend you.

For speech, I'm mainly just looking at presentation.

Parent judge. Don't run any crazy arguments in debate unless you know how to back them up. For speech, I go mainly off of speaking ability, but I will be listening to your content too.

I am a speech judge who has been doing this for several years and is experienced in judging various interp events, platform events, as well as extemp. I look for clean and creative blocking for interp events and hope to see authenticity in the piece. Topics should be original with a fresh perspective and should have a cohesive argument. I appreciate preparedness including a fully memorized piece. Overall I look for performances that are fluid, easy to follow along while being captivating, and if you’ve invested time and passion into the performance!

Everyone’s paradigm is too long and this one is also too long sorry abt that y'all

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-Vista Ridge ‘23 + TXST ‘27

-Congress 4 years, PF 3 years, oratory 3 years, extemp 2 years and LD a handful of times.

-Ask me about joining the TXST speech and debate team

PF / LD

See Jonathan Daugherty‘s paradigm it sums up how I vote in a round perfectly.

Only difference is I’ll vote off theory or a K (topical or not) if it’s well-warranted.

Keep your impacts realistic and educational.

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WSD:

Please weigh. If you don’t weigh I have to intervene. I do not want to intervene. Simplify the round and I will be happy to vote for whatever the path of least resistance to the ballot is.

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Congress:

Will rank someone who gave a mediocre speech but heavily participated in chamber higher than someone who gave one amazing speech but then didn’t participate in chamber. Congress is not just about speeches, it's about how you present yourself.

"I can't think of anything I hate more than everybody giving a speech on a bill. My points for speeches tend down the more an argument goes on. Forget equity, move the round forward and you'll be my favorite"

If you need time to call a recess to prep a speech that is not good. You should come prepared or develop your impromptu skills. Volunteers that can speak on the spot rather than need in-round time to prep will rank higher, regardless of the quality of the speech.

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Speech :

I don’t think this needs a paradigm but this is what I mainly judge so if you’re curious just do your event as you would normally.

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email - smcstabs@gmail.com

reach out if you have questions

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sometimes tabroom doesn’t save ballots, I always leave ballots no matter what. if you are not seeing a ballot tell your coach to email me and I will forward it to them. I pre-write and save all of my ballots in word.

I am a parent judge, I would prefer traditional form of the debate.

Please don't spread, if I don't understand it I will not weigh it.

I would appreciate if your arguments are structured and rather than being chaotic.

I would prefer that your arguments are not solely evidence based and make sure there is some form of explaining.

Weighing your arguments and proving why they matter is a clear voter to my ballot.

BQ: Good delivery is essential to making you a great debater. Don't speak so fast that I miss what you say and cannot flow. Clash is very important during the entire debate. If roadmaps are used, please make them short. In your constructive speech, main points should have claim, warrant and impact. If definitions are used, show me why yours is better than your opponents counter definitions. There should be a clear link to the framework. Make sure to signpost throughout the debate. Be civil during cross fires. Do not speak over each other as nothing will be understood. Make sure to include information found in cross fire in next speech as I don't flow during that time. Extend arguments in rebuttal speech. Bring up drops and explain why they matter in the debate. Consolidation speech should solidify your framework and extend arguments against opponent. At the end, give me voters and tell me why you won.

IEs: I've judged all IEs for 13 years for different circuits and different levels. On interpretation events, I look at who transported me into the story and kept me there. Make sure all movements (gestures, head, and other body movements) are done with purpose and should not distract from the selection being presented. Characterization is also very important to keep me in the story. Use the whole "stage" for your presentation if the event allows it. POI: You can incorporate the binder as a prop if you want. For all INTERP events: It's your performance. Entertain me! For informative, if you are using props, make sure they go with the topic and are easily handled. They don't need to be complicated. The simpler the better. On EXTEMPT/INF/OO, make sure to speak clearly avoiding excessive word crutches and cite your sources. Follow standard speech outline (including hook, intro in which the topic stated, a clear answer is given, and a preview of pts to be discussed is presented; body with pts supporting your answer to the question; and a conclusion in which the topic is restated, a clear answer is given, a review of the pts discussed is provided to tie speech together, and refer back to the hook to give a note of finality) and approach topic creatively. Make sure to actually answer the question (topic chosen) clearly and that the points discussed in the body of the speech support the answer. Use time wisely/effectively to fully develop the speech.

Congress: When preparing a speech, make sure to follow standard speech outline and cite your sources. Approach legislation creatively. If you speak later on in round, do not rehash old arguments already brought up by previous representatives. Bring in new arguments to advance the debate. Also, you must clash with opponents. Don't just give your speech. It's a debate after all. Bring up points mentioned by opposing side, show your view point and not just say they are wrong or you don't agree. Give specific reasons why you don't agree and provide the evidence to prove your point. Have your speech so well prepared that you will be able to defend it during cross and not stumble during questioning.

Hello everyone! My name is KJ (he/him), I competed all 4 years of high school and now go to Texas State University.

I am primarily an IE person. I competed in every IE event including OO, Info, and Extemp. I as well competed in World Schools a bit too. I was a 4x state qualifier, state finalist, 5x state semi finalist, 2x NIETOC semifinalist, and a 3x NSDA qualifier. I was as well an All-State and All-American competitor with over 2200 NSDA points. What I am looking for is understanding of the piece. How well thought out it is and how much effort you have noticeably put into it goes a LONG way.

IE's

- Needs to be clean, concise, and have a deeper meaning as to why you're telling the story, interp is acting with a purpose

- Be proud of what you're performing! and have fun with it!

- Characterization is key, I want to see real peoples stories that I am actually able to connect to

- I want to know what's going on! Don't just throw us into the middle of everything, give us some exposition, who are you? Where are you? What is going on?

OO, Info, Extemp, WS

- Are you just telling me the facts? Or are you engaging with the information and the topic you've chosen and presenting it in an effective way?

- Charisma is KEY, you wrote this speech, be proud of it!

- How well thought out is your argument or topic?

- Are you speaking fluidly and confidently or are you using filler words and swaying nervously?

- Make sure that you're applying the facts that you give to the grand scheme of things, what are the implications?

Like I said earlier, I was always more of an interp person. However, I do know all of the rules and the ins and outs of debate! I may not be as adept as I am with speech but I know my way around. Essentially just treat me as a lay judge who knows a lot about the subject.

Debate

• Well thought out arguments will go a long way, the more you put into a speech the more you will get out of it, and trust me when I say that we as judges notice how much effort you put into it
• How well do you structure your speech? How well does it flow?
• How do you respond to questions and how do you interact in the round?
• Don't just tell me what you are going to do but also HOW you are going to accomplish it and WHY
• Add me to the email chain plz - kjamarino@gmail.com
• As far as flowing goes, I'm not a stickler for it during cross so don't worry about it
• I can follow spreading but if you'd like to have mercy on my soul and not that would be awesome
• I'm not a huge theory argument person, so if I feel you're twisting the resolution in a way that it most likely wasn't intended as may not work if its too far out there

All of these are just my personal opinions regarding judging, please do not change your speech or performance based on trying to get my 1. So long as you have fun, enjoy what you're doing, and you are proud of the work you've presented, that is all I ask.

Email: kjamarino@gmail.com

I am the Director of Speech and Debate at Alief Elsik High School in Houston, TX. As such, I currently coach and/or oversee students competing in a wide variety of events including all speech/interp events as well as Congress and World Schools debate. My debate paradigm is better explained if you know my history in competitive debate. I was an LD debater in high school in the early 90's. I then competed in CEDA/policy debate just before the CEDA/NDT merger. I started coaching speech and debate in 2004. In terms of debate, I have coached more LD than anything else but have also had a good deal of experience with Public Forum debate. Now that I am at Elsik, we really only have WSD and Congressional Debate in terms of debate events.

When adjudicating rounds, I do my very best to intervene as little as possible. I try to base decisions solely off of the flow and want to do as little work as possible for debaters. I hate when LD debaters, in particular, attempt to run policy positions in a round and don't have a clue about how the positions function. If you run policy stuff, then you should know policy stuff. I am open to the use of policy type arguments/positions in an LD round but I want debaters to do so knowing that I expect them to know how to debate such positions. I am also open to critical arguments as long as there is a clear story being told which offers the rationale for running such arguments and how the argument is to be evaluated in round. I am not a huge fan of a microdebate on theory and I strongly encourage you to only run theoretical arguments if there is clearly some in round abuse taking place. I will obviously listen to it and even vote there if the flow dictates it but know that I will not be happy about it. In terms of speed/jargon/etc, I do have a mixed debate background and I can flow speed when it's clear. I don't judge a ton of rounds any more as I find myself usually trapped in tab rooms at tournaments so I cannot keep up the way I used to. With that said, my body language is a clear indicator of whether or not I am flowing and keeping up. I do see debate as a game in many ways, however I also take language very seriously and will never vote in favor of a position I find to be morally repugnant. Please understand that to run genocide good type arguments in front of me will almost certainly cost you the round. Other than those things, I feel that I am pretty open to allowing debaters to determine the path the rounds take. Be clear, know your stuff and justify your arguments.

The last thing I think debaters should know about me is that I deplore rude debate. There is just no room in debate for nasty, condescending behavior. I loathe snarky cross ex. There is a way to disagree, get your point across and win debate rounds without being a jerk so figure that out before you get in front of me. Perceptual dominance does not mean you have to be completely obnoxious. I will seriously dock speaker points for behavior I find rude. As a former coach of an all women's debate team, I find sexist, misogynist behavior both unacceptable and reason enough to drop a team/debater.

I feel compelled to add a section for speech/interp since I am judging way more of these events lately. I HATE HATE HATE the use of gratuitous, vulgar language in high school speech/debate rounds. In speech events in particular, I find that it is almost NEVER NECESSARY to use foul language. I am also not a huge fan of silly tech and sound fx in interp events. Not every door needs WD40...lose the squeaky doors please. I think the intro is the space where you should be in your authentic voice telling us about your piece and/or your argument - STOP OVER-INTERPING intro's. Sometimes folks think loud volume = more drama. It doesn't. Learn to play to your space. Also recognize that sometimes silence and subtlety can be your best friends. With regard to OO and INFO...I think these are public speaking events. Interpatories generally don't sit well with me. I don't mind personality and some energy but I am finding that there are some folks out here doing full on DI's in these events and that doesn't work for me very often. I am not one that requires content/trigger warnings but do understand the value of them for some folks. I am really VERY DISTURBED by able-bodied interpers playing differently-abled characters in ways that only serve as caricatures of these human beings and it's just offensive to me so be careful if you choose to do this kind of piece in front of me. Also know that although I have very strong feelings about things, I understand that there are always exceptions to the rule. Brilliant performances can certainly overcome any shortcomings I see in piece selection or interpretation choices. So best of luck.

I am a parent judge.

For Interp- I look for a believable piece that doesn't feel rushed. If I believe you and can get lost in your story, then that's what will stand out to me the most. The way the piece itself is structured is important.

For OO, Extemp and Info- I look for well rounded research that is organized and easy to digest. It doesn't hurt to be as creative as you can, but all in all if the research and examples match up nicely, then that will work.

Hi y’all!

My name is Claire, I did speech and debate for four years of hs and have been judging since I graduated. I competed some in PF and WSD, but my main focus was in Extemp. Here are a few things that I look for/think about when judging.

Speech:

Outside of standard fluency, I tend to evaluate content over performance for speech events. That being said, I do enjoy when speakers incorporate jokes and have good flow and appreciate when this is done well. Overall though, what’s most important to me is that a speech gives a cohesive and well formulated argument/narrative and that it is delivered with clarity with support from examples and sources.

Interp:

I love when people have energy and really commit to their performances to tell a story. I also really, really enjoy when the pieces are well cut together and the story has a good flow and retains a clear message. I don’t really appreciate when a piece seems like it is just reenacting trauma for shock-value. I prefer when these stories are handled with sensitivity and when performers make an effort to make the narrative more than just the trauma itself.

Debate:

Although I’ve had some experience with debate in the past, I would not at all consider myself a flow judge. To get my ballot, you have to maintain a clear narrative throughout the round and keep clean extensions. You need to explain to me with clear weighing why I should vote for you. If a debate is messy and I have to do all of the work and weighing by myself, you may not like the work that I do, so you should aim to be really clear about your comparatives. I would like to emphasize that I am not good with speed and if I cannot understand you I will not write it down, and I don’t really know how to use a speech doc tbh. I don’t understand anything theory.

This should go without saying but I do not tolerate racism, sexism, bigotry etc. in rounds. I will call you out and dock speaks/ranks.

email: claireemartinez27@gmail.com

Hey, my name is Emma Maughan and my first goal for you as a judge is for you to provide your best effort and have fun while you’re doing it. Something is wrong if you’re not having fun.recall, to communicate effectively, and with respect towards your peers,

In speech and interpretation:

1. In general, I search for appropriate gestures, deliberate movement, eye contact, tone, diction, and effective use of voice.

2.I love when you are able to capture the personalities and make them believable.

3.I enjoy attention-grabbing or compelling teasers that get me to sit up and take notice!

4.You should speak clearly and concisely.

Interp Events:

My rankings are usually based on who is able to create the most believable characters and moments. There should be multiple levels within your piece and in the portrayal of your characters ~ not everything should be intense, or fast/slow, or super loud or quiet.

Everything you do in your performance should have a purpose. If you give a character an accent, be consistent with that accent. Make sure that each movement, mannerism, or gesture makes sense within the scope of the story you are telling. Additionally, I should be able to easily differentiate between multiple characters. Facial expressions, moments, and character development are very important for the overall performance.

Speaking Events

A clear structure is important: your delivery should be cohesive, and flow logically from point to point. A natural delivery style that allows for your personality to shine is preferable to the “Platform Speaker”. Put simply: avoid speech patterns.

Extemp: The most important thing is that you answer the question. A polished speaking style is important, but I will often default to a speaker that has stronger analysis and evidence over a pretty speech with fluffy content. Do not rely on canned introductions - creativity is important when trying to engage me. Be sure you have several cited sources and have at least 5 quoted pieces of evidence to support your claims.

Oratory/Informative: Your attention getter, vehicle, and conclusion should be creative, but they also need to fit well with the topic. Again, I will default to stronger analysis/evidence over fluffy content. Again, use several cited sources and have quoted evidence for claims you are making in your speech.

INTERP: I have competed in multiple national out-rounds as well as coached many national out-rounders in interpretation events and seek to provide extremely specific and educational ballots when judging these events. In single voice pieces (non-program such as DI, Prose, Duo), I prefer honest and genuine performances over performances that are forced/on auto-pilot. I like seeing real moments of growth and reflection in your character development as we move through the piece. Characters do not just move from the beginning of the piece to the end of the piece without motivation. Take us on a journey. Show us how your character got there. I am also big on utilizing your performance space. Own your space at the front of the room, and more importantly, immerse us into the performance. As far as programs go, I want to see clean clean and purposeful tech. If I see blocking in your piece that looks like it is there just for the sake of having blocking, I will note it on the ballot. I'm also big on motivated flow of the piece. If there are piece transitions that make no sense, I will note it on the ballot. At the end of the day, I make my decisions in the round based on the performance as a whole, but I seek to provide as educational of a ballot as possible to help improve your specific skills as a performer.

LIMITED PREP: For LP speaking events, I look for overall analysis of the question, a clear thesis/argument that is evident throughout the speech, and clean structure. Make sure all of your claims are supported with evidence/sources. Make sure sources are diverse and credible, and that you are not using the same source over and over again throughout the speech. Make sure that your arguments flow into each other throughout the speech and that you are making clear links as you move through each point. Time management is also huge for me. Make sure that you are creating balanced points and that you leave yourself enough time for a complete conclusion.

PUBLIC ADDRESS: In PA events, you need to be sure that you establish relevance of the topic/urgency early on. I need to understand why this topic is important and why we need to talk about it RIGHT NOW. I am also big on topic impact. If I don't understand the target and scope of this topic, your analysis is incomplete. Please make sure overall structure as well as internal point structure is clear and easy to follow. When citing sources, it is important to establish credibility as well. I prefer to know who wrote the information, and why I should listen to what they have to say rather than you just saying "according to The Verge..." I also look for an overall clean and confident performance. If you are including humor, make sure comedic timing is good. Just like with interp events, I make my decision in the round based on the speech as a whole, but I seek to provide as educational of a ballot as possible to help improve your specific skills as a public speaker.

As a whole, I believe the primary focus of forensics should be to educate, advocate, and most importantly HAVE FUN! So that is what I look for most as a judge! If you have any questions on my specific paradigms or ballots, please do not hesitate to email me at dhm31@txstate.edu

Education
Niceville High School - Class of 2001
University of West Florida - Class of 2005

Coaching Experience
Head Coach at Channelview High School 2009-Present

Competitive Experience
3 years of middle school (Prose, Poetry, Duo)
4 years of high school (Policy Debate, Prose, Poetry, Duo, Duet, Group Interp Florida State Champion 1999, Original Oratory Florida Blue Key Grand Champion 1998), Declamation)
4 year of college (Prose 6th Place NFA Nationals, Poetry, Duo 2nd Place NFA Nationals, After Dinner Speaking Nationals Semi-finalist, Oratory Speaking)

I coach all NSDA events - all debates and individual events.
My team competes on all circuits including TFA, NSDA, UIL, and NCFL.

10X UIL CX State qualifier
9X TFA State Qualifier
1 NSDA Nationals Appearance

Paradigms - Debate
I am mostly fine with everything a team can throw at me. Speed is fine if I can understand you, but it doesn't make you "look like a better debater." If anything, I prefer speed AFTER the 1AC and show me you know how to argue a lot of points and can give a solid line by line. If I have to depend on your SpeechDrop docs to flow then you will not get top speaks and could, ultimately, lose the round. I don't like T and I won't vote on it. I love a good K but it needs to be connected really well to the aff. I'm a numbers person and impact calc is one of my main voters. Don't be cocky during CX. During the last 2 rebuttals I need both teams to clearly display to me that they know why "they won." Do not make me figure it out - you tell me. I prefer a world view analysis but a line-by-line is fine if you know you can win based off arguments.

Paradigms - Speech
I look for mechanics. I typically don't pay much attention to the actual story line of your selection so be prepared to have poise, quality hand gestures, eye contact, focal points, facial expressions, vocal inflection, and body position to the audience. Please enunciate well. If you are in a book required category I will pay special attention to your book technique, page turns, and usage of it as a prop and/or extension of your piece. Show me you know how to compete from the time you walk in to the time you leave. If you are on your phone during a round I will NOT place you first no matter how well you do.

• I believe content is the heart of any speech, and its potency lies in its ability to inform, inspire, and engage. From captivating anecdotes to thought-provoking statistics, every element should serve a purpose in driving the narrative forward. As an Extemporaneous Speaker, competitors should be able to enforce their content with valid and timely sources. These sources must be part of the presentation.

• Delivery is the vessel through which content is conveyed, and its impact cannot be overstated. From vocal modulation to body language, mastering delivery techniques is essential for commanding attention and conveying confidence. By practicing articulation, pacing, and posture, we elevate our presence in the room we leave a mark on listeners.

• Authenticity is the cornerstone of effective communication. Audiences can sense sincerity from a mile away, and it is our genuine passion and conviction that truly connect us with them. By embracing vulnerability, sharing personal insights, and speaking from the heart, we forge authentic connections that transcend the boundaries of rhetoric.

I believe that every student has the potential to excel in speech and debate. I believe that constructive criticism is how we get better, and after reflecting it, it helps to push us to our next best performance.

IE:

I look for Students to show the hard work into their selection. (are you memorized, is the character fleshed out?)

I like to see polished pieces (not rough drafts)

Students should show they have an understanding of the selection they are presenting, by delivering a thoughtful introduction for their piece.

Selection should be entertaining and also have merit.

I want to be able to sit back and watch you tell your story.

Author's intent is important, we should use our selections to tell the story the author has intended.

Exempt:

Please provide an roadmap that organizes your speech in your intro, tell us where we are going and then support it in the subparagraphs, be sure to use scholarly sources

When judging speech and debate, the following are questions that I am considering while scoring and ranking.

1. Does your speech tell a story?
2. Can I hear you clearly?
3. Are you making eye contact?
4. Is your stance assertive without being aggressive?
5. Is the information and detail that you are referencing relevant to the topic?
6. How is your personality revealing itself through your performance?

Best of luck to you all! I continue to be impressed with your willingness to put yourself out there!

I am a parent judge with experience in judging PF, LD, and Speech events.

I am interested in looking for a well-structured argument with clear evidence, data points and analytics to support the evidence.

The most important aspects that I look for when judging is clarity with clear emphasis stated for the contentions, enunciation of words for clarity.

My decisions are made based on overall performance and content.

Connect your case and contentions deeply with your framework and impacts. State the impacts clearly ,please.

I believe the best debaters are respectful to each other. Do not forget to have fun. Good luck!

I am a parent/lay judge so please don't speak too fast!

I have judged DI, HI, Info, OO and extemp. DI and HI are the most fun for me to judge because they are so passionate, but as long as you keep me engaged, I enjoy watching the others just as well!

Be respectful and please be clear if you need specific time signals. Good luck to everyone!

Hello everyone!

In Debate, I look for:

-tone variation (only congress)

-refutation/ arguing with other side or other debaters (addressing their concerns, explaining why your side is the better option and wins the debate, especially later in round)

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

-participation when possible

-strong arguments and enthusiasm

-credible and non-biased sources (no wikipedia or false information)

-fluency

In Speech events, I look for:

-tone variation

-emotion

-consistency during the duration of performance

-passion

-fluency

-enunciation

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

-please be professional and courteous

Good luck!

Overall (Speech):Speech is a game of engagement with the audience, and your efforts should be towards engaging the audience with the message of your piece. My ranks are always based primarily on this. Of course, there are many tools to engage an audience, and your choice to use them and your effectiveness with them will vary.

Oral Interpretation: In interpretation events (HI, DI, DA, DUO, POI, PR, PO), I am looking for a performance that creates a significant personal or social meaning from the literature chosen. I am also looking for a performance that shows emotional and tonal complexity and a range that is both suitable for the piece and is demonstrative of the skills of the interper.

There should also be intentionality in the decisions made in the interpretation of the piece. For example, all the blocking employed in the piece should have a purpose and should not seem haphazardly included in the performance. This also goes for what is included in the cutting of the piece, for the words spoken, the emotions, sound effects, etc. conveyed should all contribute to the message you are trying to convey in your interpretation.

Public Address: In Public Address or Platform events (IX/FX, USX/DX, OO, INFO), I am looking for speeches that add novelty and insight to the topic of the speech. Making the topic relevant and understandable to a general audience is necessary for success in these speeches.

Speeches in these categories are more effective and engaging when they employ a variety of pacing and tone that convey to the audience the significance and emotional stakes of the points you make. On top of clear speaking and style, one needs to create the engagement for the audience with their voice through these tools. In general a conversation

Speeches should be well organized and easy to follow for the audience. They should have clear but original signposting to help the audience keep track of where they are in the speech.

Lincoln-Douglas:

I'm a speech coach, and this is not my preferred event. That being said, I am rather traditional when it comes to judging LD with heavy emphasis on the battle of values and achievement of the value criterion through your use of your evidence.

I have some debate experience through high school, but consider me more of a lay/UIL circuit judge.

Speed is okay if you are understandable, but I should not have to read along to understand you, if I can't flow it, it didn't happen. Elements of progressive debate such as theory and K are fine but have to be well justified within the context of the debate, otherwise, I'm not sure it'll make it to my flow.

Speaks are awarded on quality of debate based on speaking and presentation with 28 being the average debate performance, lower being, well, lower, and being among the best I've seen will be awarded a 29-29.5. If you are somewhere in between you will be awarded somewhere in between.

Be a storyteller in your IE. Captivate me with your words, your use of body language and gestures, and pull me in to your story or speech. Make me want to hear more. I also want a very organized speech. Make sure that I can follow you and know where you are going and what you want me to take away. You should use all of the voice, emotion, and emphasis you need to help me believe in you and what you are saying.

Hello! My name is Logan Morris, and I use they/them pronouns. I’ve been a part of the Speech and Debate community for almost 9 years. I’ve done every Speech and Debate event at least once in my career, aside from Public Forum debate. Not to worry, I do know how to judge it :)

My paradigms are as follows:

Speech Events:

• Show interest in your topic, or at the very least, be knowledgeable about it.

• Know what you’re speaking about, who you’re speaking to, and why you’re sharing this story/information.

• Don’t stray from the topic you’ve presented me with.

• Speak well and show emotion, really bring me into your story.

• Make sure your piece/speech flows well. All IE performances, if woven, should still flow miraculously, as if it were all written by the same person.

• Keep your speed in mind. Make your moments meaningful.

• That being said, keep your time in mind. Pay attention to the time signals I’m giving you.

• I’m looking for information and statistics in your introductions. It shows that you’ve done research and know your topic.

• Be polite when you are not performing. If I catch you speaking while someone else is presenting their piece, or if you are in any way rude or snide towards another competitor, it WILL be taken into account.

TLDR; Know what you’re speaking about, and be respectful.

Debate Events:

• Stay on topic. Topicality is a MUST in my book. Going off topic with no reference back will count against you.

• I like seeing clash. Value/criterion clash is an essential part of debate, showing that you understand the stance of your opponent.

• Structural arguments aren’t real arguments, and I won’t listen to them.

• Speak, defend, and attack well.

• Keep the speed of your speech in mind. I am not able to understand you if you speed-read, so don’t spread. It will hurt your case more than help it.

• Stick to the facts. Moral arguments should also have factual backup.

• Be mindful of the people in the room with you.

• Be respectful of your judge and opponent.

TLDR; Don’t spread, stay on topic, and be polite.

That being said, I wish every one of you good luck in your rounds! Congratulations on making it this far!

(Also, I do shake hands if you prefer that to a verbal thank you.)

Assistant Coach at Spring Woods High School Speech & Debate for Victoria Beard.

Interp: Source of the majority of my experience in Speech & Debate. I look for multiple levels to a performance; character portrayals by students with an understanding of the emotions and stakes of their piece; a concise plot to the cut, coherent from beginning to end; the greater the attention to minor details (mannerisms, gestures, inflection, etc.), the better.

Public Speaking: I enjoy interp-flair, but it cannot supersede the content, argument, or sources of your speaking. I will call you out on inaccuracies.

Debate: Rank your Spread from 1 (slowest) to 10 (fastest), then keep at 5 maximum -- quantity will never match quality. I appreciate excellent enunciation and clarity, and support debaters providing roadmaps for judges. Dropped contentions are watched for. No disclosures after round end.

INTERP: Introductions should be immersive, but please do not drag them out. Utilize your thesis paragraph, not only to tie-in your performance, but to interject where your story is headed. Performances should either well-outlined or have a logical sequence of events. Different characters should be distinguished by clearly distinct mannerisms and speech, while movements should be large, deliberate, and energized—feel free to implicate your judges in your speech and use lots of room. Movements should do more than mimic the character’s emotions and dialogue, they should illustrate the larger scene at hand, add nuance/insight. Unique ideas and bog contrasts in dynamic are highly valued.

INFO/OO: Topics benefit from having a strong field of relevance, and being original. Transitions with visuals should be clean and show practice, although grace will be given to smaller components such as magnetic props. Hand gestures and pacing should be intentional, rather than instinctive. Blips and pauses are crucial against speaker points. Be dynamic with your inflections at the sentence level, and have a strong emphasis on loud, enunciated speaking. Humor is well-received.

EXTEMP: Enunciate clearly, there is no rush to speak fast. Nail points with strong thesis sentences, and offer a roadmap if possible. Use voice, movement, and expression to punctuate the argumentation--be dynamic. Be louder than softer. Show a detailed, nuanced understanding of the topic will carry the furthest. Feel free to use humor to break up your points.

I am a lay parent judge, speak clearly and slowly.

in general:

presentation > content

(once the minimum threshold of sound logic, evidence, & argumentation are met)

congress:

• make your speech engaging with humor, pathos, or powerful rhetoric (depending on the bill obviously - e.g. don't run a joke agd for saudi arms). polished presentation is paramount for anyone listening to and caring about the content of your speech (especially in the real world)
• the best way to stand out argumentatively is to have clear, insightful, novel, and unique analysis that both synthesizes your evidence and interacts with the best points of the other side in a compelling way
• please have a polished and original intro that has comedic, emotional, narrative or rhetorical appeal. bonus points if you extend the device throughout your speech. please please please please please have a good intro. pretty please. with a cherry on top.
• asking and answering CX questions well (i.e. asking succinct and direct questions and answering in a cool, concise, & collected manner) is extremely important for securing a high rank - you want to showcase that you are the most knowledgeable in the room
• with that in mind, here are WORST types of CX questions that will kill your ranks: "Here is some outside piece of data/evidence. How does your argument still stand?", "[not even asking a question, just arguing at them and asking them to respond]", questions that last for more than 10-12 seconds, and any same-side questioning that isn't explicitly critical and strategic (a.k.a. no softball questions)
• unless you are the sponsor, you must have substantive clash in your speech
• warrant your claims clearly. everyone has evidence for their arguments and a lot of the time it will directly conflict with each other - show me why yours is the best by explaining it cogently and intuitively
• canned/stolen rhetoric or agd = 9
• weigh!!! oftentimes, every argument made in a round is factually true, which is why you simply have to explain why yours are more important
• this should go without saying, but rehash will be marked down
• your goal is to prove a net harm or benefit of the legislation. speeches without offense will be marked down
• too much pad reliance (i.e. for anything other than evidence or a brief glance for ref) will negatively influence your performance quality, and thus your ranking
• simplify your arguments and humanize your impacts - this is an event about persuasion
• I generally dislike when students break character. leaning into the roleplay will usually get you upped.
• speeches should have a real conclusion (that will usually tie back to your intro). ending with pass or fail will be marked down
• you don't need your pad for cx. put it down after your speech.
• I will usually reward you for flipping but it's not a get out of jail free card
• round adaption is really cool and good and you should do it. bounce off of others' intros and rhetoric; make the round fun!

PO: minimum break unless you make mistakes in which case you will be dropped. can move up in ranks by being funny, efficient, charismatic, etc. please use a google sheet for transparency.

extemp:

• #1 priority is how entertaining / how good of a presenter you were
• #2 priority is how well and completely you answered the question
• source quality matters a lot - e.g. books, academic research, think tanks, primary sources, etc.
• on tops (mini intros you use as transitions to each point) are super cool and you should include them
• speeches should be between 6:50 and 7:10

overall:

• be creative
• be respectful
• have fun!

good luck :)

I enjoy well-sourced, traditional argumentation. Avoid spreading unless you provide sheets for others to follow--even then, if I still cannot follow you verbally, I will stop flowing.

Speech: OO/INFO

Speech structure

Delivery style

Sources

Tangible Solutions/applications

Analysis of topics

Speech: IX/USX

Answer to question well thought out response

Roadmap

speaking style/delivery

sources and deep analysis of points made

Speech: Interp DI/HI

Clear teaser to develop setting

Intro with clear argument and support

Delivery/style

overall literature and performance

Speech: Duo/Duet

Clear teaser to develop setting

Intro with clear argument and support

Delivery/style

overall literature and performance

Partner balance and dynamic

I have been teaching Theatre/ Speech and Debate for 34 years, and participated in High School. I am an IE Coach primarily. Although I have coached and judged debate rounds for LD, PF, and most recently Congress and CX.

Articulation is key for me. I need to understand you, the use of the voice and body is also pretty important. The emotional connection to the character needs to be very clear, and there should be motivational beats that I discover in your performance.

Simply put, I am looking for the total package for performers, someone who can immerse themselves in a character but also show me differentiation between characters.

Sources
For events that require sources, I prefer 2-3 sources per point/subpoint.

Structure
Clear roadmapping and signposting is very helpful for extemp/OO/Info.

Content/Material
I don't have any particular preferences regarding the material of interp/info/OO events. As long as whatever you are doing is appropriate to support your story telling, I don't care about content or language.

Speaking Style
I am big on having levels during any type of speaking event whether it's oratory/info/interp/etc. Anytime you give a speech, you should have appropriate volume, inflection, facial expressions, emotions, etc. in order to keep your audience engaged. Every speech is an opportunity to tell a story that means something to someone, even if it is oratory or info instead of interp. Make sure your storytelling is engaging so that you aren't just talking at the judge for ten minutes.

I have been involved in Forensics since 1997. Although, I competed in mainly Individual Events, I've competed in almost ALL events that Speech and Debate had to offer at the time while in grade school. I've judged middle, high and college Forensic for many years and believe I am a fair and qualified judge. By that, I set aside ALL premonitions coming into the round know how hard students have worked.

In debate, I focus on the arguments that were made on each side, and overall, who did the better debating. This is the most important rule in my opinion. I do not interject my own beliefs into any round, but make sure I keep a flow/note during every speech. I do not judge debate solely on speaking skills or fluency; however, I do evaluate arguments, speeches and rebuttal impacts. I like to separate how well a debater talks by how well a debater actually debates. While presentation is important, I look for substance. My only preference is speed while judging debate and if you must speak quickly, make sure it is clear and concise.

In individual events, I focus on the speaker, material, presentation. How well the speaker connected with the audience/judge. The speaker level of comfort with the material, was it natural? Did it seem forced? I look for connections and key moments that adds to the dept of the material/performance being presented. Does the material fit the speaker? Is the speaker passionate about the material/topic being presented? Be passionate! By the end of your presentation, I should know what you presented and why it matters! Remember to enunciate, tone, pitch, voice, intonation, clarity and rate of speech. Project your voice. Bring your presence and personality to the round!

Thank you for ALL your dedication, time and effort to Speech & Debate, this will definitely benefit you later in life, trust me! Best of luck, break-a-leg and have fun. It's an honor for me to provide you with constructive criticism. :)

I am looking for the students to show honesty in the piece but also what it mean to them. No matter what it is being perform there is a story and a message or a point of view that is being made. I am also looking for detail in a character because no two people look alike so what does this person look like to the competitor and how are they different from other characters they are performing. Finally I look at blocking and how sharp , clean , and creative your mind can go with it.

Hello! I’m very excited to be judging you today. I hope to do the best I can to understand and enjoy your message but I do have a few hang ups.

For Congress:

Please, do not feel compelled to hyper pack your speeches with too many sources, and too much analysis. I do not like overly fast performance

This is a debate event, and I never want to forget that; clash with your opponents

Be polite! Don’t speak over your opponents but nonetheless don’t let them speak over you. Cut them off nicely.

I don’t necessarily weigh cross, but I weigh your behavior in it. Be active enough and be nice.

Always cite the legislation in your speeches; specific lines to prove you really get what's going on. It gives you a big credibility boost as well!

For I.E.’s

Keep it calm, I don’t like overly fast speaking.

Hand gestures are nice, but I prefer you’d keep your hands at your side when they’re not needed

I’m a big fan of blocking.

Not much after that!

Cheers :)

Hi, I'm a parent judge and I'll primarily be doing speech events,

I mainly judge based on clarity, the ability to control delivery and to just be yourself. If you're doing an informative event, I judge 50/50 between information and how your delivery is. If you're doing a performance event, I care about entertainment/audience engagement and your ability to perform, content is important but the quality of the performance is worth more. This is around a 70/30 split where entertainment is the majority.

Thank You and Good Luck!!!

I am a parent judge. Please note that whenever speaking. I know very little about these events, and I suggest you help me when it comes to structures. However, I do have some knowledge, if you try to break the rules I will know, so don't do it.

Debate:

I want a clean debate, no spreading at all. English is my second language, so please make sure to speak clearly and slowly.
If a debater asks for evidence, show me the evidence as well so I can cross-verify.
No crazy arguments or defending clearly bad viewpoints, I will probably down you if you do so.

Speech:

Speak clearly, I must be able to understand you.
I do think that body language is also a key part of speaking, so keep that in mind when giving your speech.
Don't go too over the top with emphasis, but don't be dull and boring either. Use the right amount of inflection.

If I'm judging a limited-prep event (Extemp/Impromptu), please give me the topic that you have before speaking, and time yourselves please.

If I'm judging any other speech event, please give me the title of your speech before speaking.

These paradigms were not written by me, but I fully understand and agree with them.

I'm a parent judge who has never been in a round before. Please speak slowly and clearly, treat me like a lay. I look for very clear explanations and will vote off of things like that.

I firmly believe in every student's potential to excel in speech and debate. Constructive criticism is essential for growth, pushing us toward our best performances.

In Original Oratory , I value students' dedication evident in memorization and well-fleshed-out characters. Polished pieces, not rough drafts, are preferred. A thoughtful introduction demonstrating understanding of the selection is crucial. I seek entertaining yet meaningful selections, allowing me to immerse myself in the story. Honoring the author's intent is paramount. For Extemp, provide a clear roadmap in your intro, supported by scholarly sources in the body.

Mark D Perry

Policy Debater should use the most traditional approach to engage my attention. Inherency - Barrier to plan passage as well at their plan early in their presentation, then solvency, followed by evidence to benefits and finally impact links to fulfill there burden that they are meeting the dictates of the Topic. Significant, arguments to prove the plan and advantages that create ground are important. UIL does not spread and should reflect the intent to the creators.

Lincoln Douglas are tasked with proving the resolution and defining terms associated with the event. They should have a value, use cites to prove the credibility of their position and prove a clear criteria that is the best lens from which to judge their stated intention. Information should reflect the value they are advocating. The burden of the negative speaker is to clash with the affirmative. Kritik's are not acceptable in LD.

IE events are normally based upon the topic, information, current events and must reflect knowledge and they must use varied vocabulary, cite, eye contact and organization in the presentation and volume, rate, tone, inflection, stage movement and gestures appropriate to the topic should be evaluated.

I have no intention to let personal bias, personal opinion, language that is forbidden at anytime. I believe that the goal of UIL events is to help all students to improve their skills and enjoy the benefit associated with debate, improve the application of their skills and knowledge of the events.

I have been judging speech events for the past 10 years and competed as a high school student as well. As a theater teacher I am looking for engaging storytelling. Using your vocal variety, movement, diction and moments/beats to create an engaging piece. I am looking for students to really become a character in both body and vocal.

For Oratory/Info/Extemp I am looking for the same as above, convince me of your point by using solid presentation skills, and facts.

TFA/ NSDA IE Coach:

24 years / TFA Hall of Fame member

Coached 2 National DI Champions: 2000 and 2012

Coached 2 TFA DI Champions; 1 HI Champion; 1 Duet Champion

Numerous Rounds at Nationals; several TFA DI, HI, DUO Finalists

UIL One Act play winning director ; State / Region competitors , 1st Runner Up, Samuel French Award winner

Current UIL One Act Play Adjudicator/ judging Zone through Region

UIL Congress State Coach in LD, CX and Congress 2019, 2021

UIL State Coach Prose

Professional Actor (AEA) for 25 years; BFA in Acting University of Texas, MFA in Acting the American Conservatory Theater

Even though I am currently coaching LD debate my focus is on IE'S

Medium use of spreading

Squirrel cases that don't make any sense at all.

Extemp: Speaking 60% Supporting material ,Organization 40%

Oratory: Speaking 60% Content 40% ( less debate style more universal content with some IE touches)

IE'S : YES to teasers, open minded regarding pieces. School approval only thing that matters regarding material.

HI: don't go too far away from author's intent/ but still be creative!

Thank you!! Break Legs!!!

--Speech--

What are your stylistic preferences for extemp? I enjoy the traditional format of extemp speeches, but prefer them to be as conversational as possible. if you're going to have a standard opener that you use religiously, be sure it makes sense. also be sure it isn't the exact same as every other person on your team. Use what YOU know and lean into that so that conversation flows naturally.

How much evidence do you prefer? quality over quantity for me. cite your sources with the date included, and use varied sources. at least 3 different ones! and make sure if you're bluffing that i can't tell you're bluffing.

Any preference for virtual delivery? acknowledge the camera if we're competing virtually! make sure you are in a space where you can be seen and heard.

What are your stylistic preferences for Oratory/Info? CONVERSATIONAL. Do not make it seem like this is the umteenth time you've competed with this piece. The beauty of oratory/info is that this is, or should be, your passion piece! YOU wrote every word. and if you're going to speak on something for 10 minutes over and over again, you should love it. And no matter how many times you've run it, it should feel like the first time every time. Your topic is near and dear to you and it's your job to make it near and dear to us. Universality is key. Though I may not be a part of the community or group or conversation, I need to understand why i MUST become a part of it or aware of it. Your passion and excitement for your speech should be palpable. Make it feel like the first time every time because for most people in the room it is the very first time we've gotten to hear this speech. and you have ten minutes to use this room as your platform and speak on what's important to you. make sure we leave this room talking about YOU! Your goal should be for us to be at our family dinner table telling everyone who will listen about this moment we took away from your speech. your gestures need to make sense and be natural. do not simply fall into gestures that you see being done just for the sake of doing them. if you wouldn't normally use particular hand gestures or vocal variations DONT DO IT for the sake of a round.

How much evidence do you prefer? I need enough statistics to not feel like you're just giving me your own personal think tank. back up what you're saying with multiple different credible sources. offer viewpoints that challenge yours, and then back them up with your facts.

Any unique thoughts on teasers? Your teaser sets the tone for the entire piece. Think about how you want to introduce us to the next ten minutes that we are going to watch!

Any unique thoughts on introductions for Interpretation events? Make them personal to YOU! Tell me why this piece matters to you while also telling me about the piece. What qualifies you to speak on this? Why should we listen and care? If you don't know who/what you're speaking on don't waste your time. oftentimes we are lifting up and bringing awareness to a community or an issue that is very delicate. use your intro to tell us why you're doing this and why it matters. Even in HI!!! i LOOOOVE a good tie in to real life. leave us talking about what we learned regardless of whether we are laughing, crying, or everything in between. take me on a JOURNEY.

Any preferences with respect to blocking, movement, etc: Make every movement a moment. I should be able to snap a photo of you and tell what you're doing and where you are. make movements and pantomimes intentional and thoughtful. break the mold! take me somewhere I've never been.

What are your thoughts on character work? you absolutely must BECOME your character. you need to study people who have experienced what your character has experienced. embody them wholly. whether it's in a humorous or serious way. do not halfway commit to something and expect us to buy in.

How do you feel about author's intent and appropriateness of a piece? For example: an HI of Miracle Worker (author's intent) or a student performing mature material or using curse words (appropriateness)? Author’s intent- doesn’t bother me too much. Appropriateness is BIG for me. You’re in HIGH SCHOOL- crude sexual humor and excessive cusswords just aren’t necessary. It’s also cheap comedy IMO. If you’re that “mature” aim higher for your content. A few innuendos are okay, but don't get crazy. There are far more ways to get laughs then to take it literally below the belt.

I am a more traditional LD judge. I listen for solid framework, outweighed value/criterion packages, strongly linked contentions, and sound line-by-line rebuttals. Speed that does not interfere with my understanding of your case and why it better upholds your side won't bother me, but if it does, and I'm lost, you've lost.

I also prize good sportsmanship in a round. Don't simply dominate your opponent; add value to the round with sound reasoning and crystallization in the final speech in a way that we all know who won the round at the end of it.

Experienced speech and debate parent judge.

PF/LD:
I will take notes of arguments and extensions, but be sure to make these clear down the bench. I’ll be looking for strength of argument, knowledge of your sources, defense of contentions, and rebuttal of opposing contentions. Failing to respond to an opponent's argument will require me to flow that over to your opponent. Weighing contributes significantly to my decision. Prove to me that you win through your impacts.

Speaking:

I generally have no issue with speed, but more isn’t always better. If you are spreading, make sure your articulation is clear. Mumbling and speaking fast is never good. Throughout the duration of the round, especially in cross, please ensure you are professional and respectful of your opponents and those in attendance. Rudeness and arrogance is not appreciated, and will be reflected particularly in the speaker's points.

• Often, crossfire is the most interesting part of the debate and it can definitely have a large impact on the momentum of the round so I will be following along. Do be sure to still raise an important rebuttal or turn from cross in second following speeches.

• Make sure to extend offense and defense in all speeches to the end, this means case, turns, responses, etc-nothing is sticky. Evidence extensions should extend both the card tag and the warrant (eg. simply saying "extend Jones 20" is not a sufficient evidence extension)

Progressive Arguments:

I will not typically vote on progressive arguments. It would not be in your best interest to run kritiks or theory as I’m not very familiar with the style.

Win the ballot:

The teams who have routinely received my ballot have done a great job collapsing the debate down to a few key points. After this, they have compared specific warrants, evidence, and analytics and explained why their arguments are better, why their opponents arguments are worse, and why their arguments being better means they win the debate. This may sound easy, however, it is not. Trust your instincts, debate fearlessly, take chances, and do not worry about whatever facial expression I have. I promise you do not have any idea where my thoughts are.

WSD:

With World Schools, I prefer obvious teamwork, focused on the issue presented with in-depth, quality argumentation creating solves with real-world examples while challenging the opposing team on a principled level. Show the logic, weigh the impacts, think about effective delivery. I prefer arguments that are rooted in reality more so than hyperbole. Structure and logic matter a lot- stay organized, hold my hand, walk me down the flow. I like a good line by line debate, but make sure you're linking into the bigger story your team is trying to sell. For POI’s POI, make sure you're asking something that matters and answer the question you were asked. Quality over quantity rules the day in this regard.

Speech:

Speeches that flow well from point A to B, which means ensuring you transition well and organize your ideas well.

I value your ability to create a speech that's informative, flows well/is organized well, and has an abundance and variety of sources over your ability to speak - but good speech should be written and performed well. If I have a preference then it's: well-written speech > well-performed speech, because the first shows me depth and substance that the latter doesn't.

• In drama and humor, what I look for the most is a performance that makes me forget that you are performing the piece and that you have somehow become the characters that you have portrayed. The more I get into your peace the better your chances at winning in this event.

• In prose and poetry I'm looking for performance where I'm no longer seeing a person reading something and more like feeling like you are very much in character in telling a story.

• In duo interp, I always look at both performers. I'm not looking for a performance where it's just an exchange of lines but what feels like real dialogue. I'm also looking to see what happens when the other partner is not speaking and if they are performing their character while not being able to speak. You must be in character at all times during the performance.

As a IE judge I look for a clean and polished performance. Good Analysis and Interpretation of characters and a powerful performance.

For Speaking events - Structure and Sources are important as well as a polished performance.

For Debate - LD I prefer a traditional format and value debate. PF I want to see clash, evidence and a clear job going down the flow to show rebuttals of arguments.

I am conflicted with Cypress Park High School

For Lincoln-Douglas Debate, I focus on assessing the debaters' ability to present clear, logically sound arguments that support their chosen values and criteria. I am looking for engagement with opposing arguments, respectful conduct, and effective presentation skills.

Extemporaneous Speaking will be evaluated based on the speaker's ability to deliver well-researched, organized, and persuasive speeches within a limited timeframe. I will be looking for content depth, clear structure, engaging delivery, and adept handling of questions.

In Oratory, Informative Speaking, and Policy Debate, I prioritize evaluating the clarity of the message, strength of argumentation, and effectiveness of delivery. I always consider how well speakers engage the audience, convey complex information, and respond to challenges while maintaining coherence and impact throughout their presentations.

Greetings All,

Pieces that standout the most are those that the performer owns, in a sense that they connect to the piece and powerfully conveys its message. Three must haves are effective use of tone, clear enunciation, and appropriate volume level.

Characterization : Are you believable?

Blocking: Can I understand what you are trying to convey? Please minimize unnecessary movement.

Cutting: Does everything follow concisely?

I am a coach and teach my kids the traditional formats of speech and debate for all events.

Congress: I am looking for an AGD and proper sign posting in the introduction. I want to see evidence for each point and clash unless you are the first speaker. I don't want to see you bring up a laptop. You should use a paper tablet. Make sure you leave time for a short conclusion. Make sure your pacing and verbiage are in a conversational manner. Answering questions are just as important, make sure you know the topic thoroughly. Activity in the chamber is also important, especially when I'm trying to break ties in my mind. Make sure your questions are well thought out before asking.

Lincoln-Douglas: As stated above, I teach the traditional format for LD Debate. I expect value, value criterion, contentions, warrants, and impacts. If you were taught policy jargon, make sure and convert it to LD Debate format. I do not want spreading. Make good sound arguments. The person who upholds their framework will win the round.

Speaking Events: I am much better at judging Extemp, Original Oratory, and Informative speaking events over the interp events. However, I have judged all interp events at local, state, and national levels.

This is a debate event, where you speak. Your speech and rhetoric must be at the forefront of your competition.

"There are no new waves, only the sea" - Claude Chabrol

Your arguments must be concise and CLEAR. These are not practice rounds. Every round is a test that you face against yourself before you even begin responding to your opponents claims. Do you understand your arguments?

I will flow the round, but I will not flow for you, as in I will not make extensions unless stated, and I will not place arguments on the flow, you must tell me where to apply them.

SPEED: I can generally follow along as long as things are clear, but on a 1/10 scale, I'm at like a 5.

I am a policy maker at heart, I like to evaluate the arguments you make and then from there, I will look at your metrics. So please define your metrics for winning the round and tell me why your arguments are more substantial.Set a metric in the round, then tell me why you/y'all have won your metric, while your opponent(s) has lost their metric and/or you/y'all have absorbed their metric.

On the speech side: I want to see speeches that give a thesis and tell me what's happening in the larger topic area. Idc about sources as much as I care about logical arguments.

On the IE side: technique, efficiency of physical movements and blocking are important. Tone, volume, and timber are important things that your voice has to use to make me feel your performance.

As a judge, I prioritize several key aspects in evaluating competitive speeches:

1. Overall Structure: I look for speeches that are well-organized and coherent. A clear introduction, body, and conclusion are essential, with smooth transitions between ideas.

2. Choice and Cutting of Literature: I assess the selection and editing of literature for its relevance, depth, and impact. The chosen pieces should resonate with the audience and enhance the overall message of the speech.

3. Social Relevance: I value speeches that address pressing social issues and offer meaningful insights or solutions. The relevance of the topic to contemporary society and its potential to provoke thought and discussion are crucial factors in my evaluation.

4. Portrayal of Honest and Truthful Moments: Authenticity is paramount. I look for speakers who convey genuine emotion and vulnerability, as well as honesty in their delivery. Authenticity fosters connection with the audience and enhances the impact of the message.

These qualities contribute to a compelling and impactful performance that resonates with both the audience and myself as a judge.

CX Philosophy

As a judge, I look to you to tell me the rules of the round. I try to be as fluid as possible when it comes two framework and arguments. I only ask that you make sure you explain it and how it impacts the round. In regards to speed, I would say I am more comfortable with mid level speed, however it would be smart to speak slower on tag lines. Remember, if I am part of the email chain/Speechdrop then that makes speed much less of a factor in my decision. I am good with CPs, DAs, Ks, and pretty much any other style of argument as long as it is run properly. If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask.

LD Philosophy

I'm up for about anything when it comes to arguments. Run what you feel comfortable running. I prefer the debaters to tell me what they want the round to look like. If you leave it up to me I will vote almost exclusively on framework and impacts. Not a big fan of speed at all. If you are spreading then you aren't trying to win my ballot. If I can't follow you then I won't flow the arguments. If I don't flow it then I won't vote on it. If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask.

Extemp: Competitors should speak at a conversational rate. I value analytical components over presentational, but if I believe there is a tie between two competitors, I will vote for the competitor with higher presentational skills. Competitors should focus on a more casual tone over a formal tone. Bonus points for jokes. Hand gestures should be used intentionally and should be varied. There should be at least two verbally cited sources per point in the speech. Citations should be referred to with their respective publication dates, not access dates.

Interp: Competitors should have cited evidence in their introductions to support their position. Citations should be referred to with their respective publication dates, not access dates. Blocking should be polished and/or intentional at all times. I recognize the subjectivity for blocking and tonal inflections and will remain flexible so long as the intention and execution align with the literature. Author's intent must be protected and followed. Literature and piece selection should not only demonstrate originality character development, but they should align with the position that is advocated for in the introduction and demonstrate the exigency of that argument. Performances should have inflectional variation to be tonally engaging. Performances discussing traumatic, explicit, or difficult topics should be handled with grace and done so in a way that does not re-traumatize either the performer or any audience members. Trigger warnings for said topics should be written on the board when competitors sign into rounds. If a verbal trigger warning is provided, I will not count that warning as part of the performance's time.

OO/INFO: Competitors should provide a "roadmap" or thesis statement at the end of their introduction. Signposting (stating where along that roadmap you are entering) should be evident throughout the speech so the audience does not get lost. The speech should sound less like an essay being read aloud and more like an engaging presentation, similar to TED talks. Competitors should have inflectional variation to be tonally engaging. Bonus points for jokes. Hand gestures should be used intentionally and should be varied. Citations should be referred to with their respective publication dates, not access dates.

IMP: I will provide fifteen seconds for competitors to read the prompts, per the rules decided by the American Forensics Association, so long as competitors do not write anything down during those fifteen seconds. Competitors should aim for a 2min prep time with a 5:30 speech. A "roadmap" or thesis statement should be provided at the end of their introduction. Signposting should be evident throughout the speech so that the audience does not get lost. The speech should land a bit more on the informal side, have a nice balance between analysis, explanation, and humor, and should be as smooth as possible. Given the nature of this event, I am flexible in accidents/mistakes in fluency.

I.E

The speaker captivates its audience. Is very precise on the approach of persuading or informing. Whether you use your body or not, nonverbal communication represents 93% of my understanding. Speech and debate is a great stage for inclusion and creativity, but use of vulgar words and content should be communicated before hand as to show respect to judges and audience. It is important to protect avenues we use to grow and uphold values of professionalism.

Debate

Purpose of debate at its core is argumentation. Winners in debate events bring not only the passion they have for their side but clear communication that judges and opponents can understand in attempt to create a well exchanged debate. Successful debate research hit the core of the cause at hand, assertions are impactful and are supplemented with recent/reliable evidence. Winners in debate do not always have to prove they are right , just that you are wrong.

I am a retired speech and debate coach. I coached almost all the events. I was a policy debater in high school and college (a long time ago).

Congress:

Be prepared. It is frustrating to take multiple in house recesses because nobody has a speech. Be active in the chamber (ask questions, make helpful motions or suggestions). Refute and/or reference previous speakers. Please don’t rehash. I love a good synthesis speech but don’t often see them. Good Presiding Officers are appreciated and will get ranked well.

Speech:

Public Speaking: In general, I prefer a more natural/conversational style and audience engagement. Ideas should be well supported. Transitional movement should be natural and appropriate for whatever space you are in. In extemp, the points should directly answer the topic question and the sources should be recent. I'm big on content so I'm looking for depth of analysis. In Info. I like to hear an interesting topic that isn't something everyone already knows about. Visuals should not be static - i.e. just a bunch of small pictures. In oratory, I appreciate good content balanced with humor. The solution section shouldn't just be a sentence or two.

Interp: Again, I prefer natural, believable characters. I appreciate good technique but it shouldn't be the focus. Put me in the moment with you and make me feel.

Debate:

I default policymaker but will vote for critical frameworks. If you are going to run a K, however, you should assume that I have not read the lit. and will need clear explanation. Things I like to see in a debate round: impact calculus, evidence comparison, clear signposting (If you make me guess where it goes on the flow, it might not be on my flow.) Please, please, please extend your offense. Things I don't like to see: blippy theory arguments, reading 5-10 pieces of evidence that all say basically the same thing combined with no analysis of how it responds to the argument, repeating arguments rather than extending them. Don’t go for everything in 2NR. Don’t kick the puppy rule: If you are clearly winning the round against a much less experienced team, be kind. Please feel free to ask me questions before the round.

Speed: Slow down on tags and authors (and anything else you want on my flow). I don’t care how fast you read evidence. I broke my right thumb in a car accident and although it has healed, writing is still painful. Speech drop or an email chain would be much appreciated.

I strive to be a fair judge with focus on effective communication, commitment to performance, and student learning. I do my best to be open to all competitors from all different backgrounds as well as to the prespectives being shared.

For IE's I look for the expression (example when they are passionate about making a specific point in their speech their tone, and their word choice should align) and presentation (like making well chosen hand gestures, good body language, etc) and whether the main points in a speech are distinct and clear as possible- this allows me as a judge to at least know there is foundation to as speech.

As for debate events I look for strong compelling arguments. Typically in favor of more traditional ones, however am open to who can effectively argue using logic and explain their point more superiorly.

Coached two national competitors and TFA extemp state finalists.

General Paradigm: Honestly as long as you explain your arguments well and tell me why they matter (I'm big on impact calc. This means clear warrants and links. I like to have my job be easier so tell me right from the start what I need to vote on and what stuff is important in the context of the round. If you don't do that I'll be forced to become a policymaker which means I may default to impacts that you may not have focused on. Summary and final focus speeches should be mirrored. This means the arguments that you flesh out and extend are the same ones you should be speaking about in the FF. Don't bother bringing up dropped/dead arguments near the end of the round. You are just gonna be wasting my time. When extending args, include the (warrants, links, and impacts). Make sure you give me voters on why your args matter, and why you win. I weigh presentation and content equally!

Congress: I weigh presentation and warranting/content the same. Truth > Tech, if you say something that’s obviously incorrect, I will down you for it.

Feel free to ask me about anything I may not have covered.

I strongly believe that debate is a game--I am not a policy maker--debate should be fun so argue what you want to argue.

For IE Competitors:

Wish me Happy International Women's Day if you're reading this! I check sources so beware of faking sources.

I did IX and DX for all four years of high school. I will be taking notes while you speak but I am actively listening. I pay attention to mannerisms and level of professionalism and confidence you carry through your speech. I will provide thorough feedback and I am more than happy to chat with you about your speech!

For LD/PF Competitors: add me on the chain, my email is ias982@my.utexas.edu.

Create an email chain EVERY round, it saves time from calling for evidence, thanks.

PF Paradigm:

• Tech > Truth
• I auto drop for racism/sexism/homophobia or anything that is problematic that can make the debate space unsafe for others.
• Spreading is fine.
• If you provide rational impact calculus and extend the right arguments, it will be reflected in my ballot.
• Not everything leads to extinction...
• AVOID SOURCE WARS

LD Paradigm:

• I classify myself as a "traditional" debater, with that being said it might take me longer to understand high theory. If you are running K's make link clear in every speech and explain well.
• Tech > Truth
• Complicated and convoluted arguments that are poorly conveyed are worse than simple arguments conveyed convincingly and strongly.
• I enjoy framework debate.
• Please remain professional and composed--especially during CX. I do not appreciate rude comments between competitors during CX.

As a general blanket statement, I am going to weigh and vote off of the arguments and the warrants you provide. If your spreading is muddled and incomprehensible I will stop flowing until I can understand you again.

If you have any questions or advice on your round, simply ask me after the round or email me at: ias982@my.utexas.edu.

Individual events: in extemp, I'm looking for you to first answer the question and then answer the question with the best possible information that you can give that is factual. My expertise is more on the domestic side but I can do international extent with some basic knowledge of what it is that's going on around the world. Also what I'm looking for is a person that reads like a human encyclopedia or a human archive newspaper person who knows all the facts of the question that is being given them. I can also be flexible in terms of politics but the politics has to still come across as somewhat neutral in nature.

In drama and humor, what I look for the most is a performance that makes me forget that you are performing the peace and that you have somehow become the characters that you have portrayed. The more I get into your peace the better your chances at winning in this event.

My favorite category is original oratory. In oratory all that I look for is for you to tell me a topic and give me all the information that is there. Make sure your sources are correct and that you're not trying to be too showy and sometimes even more natural will get the job done for me.

In duo interp what I always do is that I always look at both performers I'm not looking for a performance where it's just an exchange of lines but what feels like a real dialogue. I'm also looking to see what happens when the other partner is not speaking and if they are performing their character while not being able to speak. You must be in character at all times during the performance.

In prose and poetry, it is similar to what I look for in drama and humorous. I'm looking for performance where I'm no longer seeing a person reading something and more like feeling like you are very much in character in telling a story.

In big questions, your arguments are still important but just like in public forum I look at what it is that is said during The question period. More information can be gleaned from asking questions then what it is that is said during regular arguments.

LD: I will honestly say the I don't judge LD in the traditional sense and I draw my decisions based on my IE and PF experiences. Like PF your cross and rebuttal speeches usually wins the day in my eyes so if you can extract good counter information in cross and use it in rebuttal, then you'll likely get the win.

PF: I put more weight on crossfire than anything else. Be efficient to get your points across and you will win the debate.

I put more emphasis on your time during crossfire because of the shared time for all four speakers. If you use the time efficiently, you should get the win.

Congress: the key to winning Congress is a simple case of taking the chamber seriously and delivering your speeches to say three things. The first thing that you're saying is that you read the bill completely and understand it. The second thing you want to say is that not only do I understand it but my position is this way because I researched it. And the third thing you want to say is that you want to be able to say that you put the time and the effort to push the bill forward because it's the right thing to do. As long as you move the legislation and you don't bother down the bay with amendments and points of order that are unnecessary you are going to go far. If you aren't designing officer it's almost the opposite of what has to happen because as long as you are not cold out and as long as you stay fair and if you keep yourself practically anonymous during the session you'll also do well.

Being the presiding officer it means that you have to dedicate your life and your time at the chamber to the speakers and making sure everybody speaks when they're supposed to. I compare being a presiding officer in a congress chamber the same way of football offensive lineman in a football game. When they barely know you, you've done your job. When you're constantly being pointed out for the mistakes that you made, then you haven't done your job. Presiding officers will always rank high and in the top half of my ballot as long as the chamber is running well and everybody seems satisfied in his or her control of the chamber and considering it's a thankless job that has you not even being able to speak.

I judge on the premise of what did you do to move legislation forward during a session.

My primary judging experience includes the Northeast and Texas regions.

Debate:

#1 thing I want to see is clash. You can be creative with the way you do this, but I want to see strong refutations, especially against your opponent's strongest point.

Always have evidence for any claim that requires it. I also like to see evidence from recent years.

Please limit spreading!

Speech:

I love to see unique visual aids in info!

I love to see unique transitions in extemp and relevant sources

Congress:

CLASH is so important! Make sure you are adding new information to the debate. If you have a similar argument as a previous speaker, emphasize how you are elaborating on their point or expanding their argument. Try and respond to the strongest argument from the opposition instead of skipping over them.

POs can earn high ranks by being very fast to react to problems and running the round efficiently.

Make sure you are making eye contact and not just reading from your notes!

Parent Judge

Howdy, I am Charles Schlichenmeyer, an engineering student attending Texas A&M University, where I am the Treasurer of the Speech and Debate Team. I have been debating for many years and therefore can understand a wide range of arguments able to be made on both sides of the issue. That being said, do not spread under any circumstance. Debate is about communicating your stance on an issue effectively and clearly, spreading runs antithetical to this. Also, be mindful of the room and speak in a normal tone and volume, do not yell. Another big thing is to make sure to signpost so that the judges and other debaters alike can follow the flow easily. I will make sure to follow the round to the best of my ability, but making this easier to do certainly does not hurt.

When it comes to congressional debate, make sure to speak early and often, there is no harm in giving the first affirmative or negation speech, they are vital to keep the debate moving. Also do not shy away from running for PO, an effective PO who runs an efficient chamber is likely to be ranked high. Another thing is that if you are giving a crystalization speech as the 11th speech on the legislation you will not be ranked high unless you can give novel arguments so late in the debate on the legislation. It is better to move to the next bill or resolution than to stay on the same one forever.

For LD, I much prefer a traditional LD round. Value and Criterion are the most important, and contentions must be relevant to your framework. Do not make the round a 1v1 policy round.

I tend to include performance, diction, voice, energy, etc. in my evaluation for events like oratory, info, and extemp, along with the obvious analysis of content, ideas, and supporting material.

I think creativity in blocking and staging should be rewarded in a digital atmosphere as much as they are in a live one.

I am pretty liberal on content - language, sexuality, etc. do not bother or offend me, as long as the performer has a real grasp on the subjects they are talking about and understands them fully. However, I view 'profanity' much differently than slurs, derogatory language, etc. In general I would prefer that they not be used. There are scripts that use them in order to bring home a point about the vileness of such ideas and beliefs, but in my opinion, that must be very earned, and in most cases, it is not.

Hello! My name is Anastasia, and I'm primarily a speech judge who dabbles in debate events. I competed in high school and now compete for Texas Speech at the University of Texas at Austin.

OO/INFO

I'll make my decisions based on a combination of content and delivery. Does your topic have significance, and if so, how effectively do you communicate that? If you're giving us solutions, I'm looking for something tangible, rather than blanket statements that diminish your argument. Don't throw away the work you did establishing the importance of your topic with implications/solutions that aren't well-thought-out. As for visual aids, I appreciate creativity as long as the visual supplements your argument in some meaningful capacity. Have fun with your speech! This is a showcase of your research and knowledge on the topic and that is certainly reflected in your performance.

Extemp/Impromptu

I rank on the competitor's ability to answer the question and conduct an adequate analysis of each main point. While delivery is important, the content is most important. Are you giving me the names of people, places, events/etc.? Specificity is appreciated in extemp. I'm also not a huge fan of examples/AGDs that aren't based in reality (i.e. a SpongeBob AGD). Why should I care about the analysis if it's not rooted in the real world?

Interp

A good interp is dependent on how well the performer can embody their character. Are the decisions being made in your performance motivated by the character and their story? How well can the performer follow the rising action/climax/falling action in their piece? I also appreciate attention to the argument you're making with your piece across all interps, not just POI. What does your piece selection say to the audience?

Interpret and public speaking, should leave a judge, wanting to know more answering questions I never thought of getting insight into a topic or character that is not just on the surface

I have been teaching/coaching for 26 years.

When it comes to speech events, I like content and evidence above jokes. Although, I can appreciate humor. Please have clear cut organization that's easy to follow, and make sure that delivery is as strong as the content.

As far as interp goes, I do like teasers, but not the ones that last 2 minutes and break me from the moment. Make sure that you have clear cut characters that are consistent. Tell your story, even in HI, there should always be a story. I don't like the wide use of space, but when done well and with a purpose, I can find it acceptable. Make sure you have emotional levels so that you're not screaming at me throughout the whole piece, and try not to rush either.

Hey everyone! I am a parent judge who has been judging for over a year now, I judge both speech and debate. You should treat me like an average lay judge.

Debate preferences-

• PLEASE NO SPREADING
• I like clash and calling out
• Please be respectful to each other
• Humor is good if purposefully used
• READ THIS EARLY ON- DO NOT ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT MY PARADIGM IN ROUND

Speech preferences-

• I care about both presentation and content
• I will be checking sources- do not lie
• Please make sure your voice can be heard

Debate is supposed to be a friendly and respectful place. No disrespect will be tolerated.

I have judged for a little less than a year; however, I am a former speech event competitor. Pronouns: she/her

Individual Events:

Characterization: I love to see crisp, clear characterization where the character transports you into the story. Please put your spin on the character, I want to see your interpretation of the character in the piece, not the common idea of the character. I like to see characters that have relatable, believable responses to the specific events in the piece. I appreciate performers that cycle through the characters and use distinguished tones, volumes, and vocal nuances to show the different characters.

Cutting: In your intro, please be brief and hint at what your piece is about – I like to be surprised. Sequencing is important and the story needs to make sense. I like to see that that piece flows and conveys the message well.

Delivery and Blocking: Diction is extremely important. Take a breath. Show mindfulness of the piece that is true to the characters. Don’t just recite the words - show me the characters are living the event. Be judicious with movement and make each motion make sense with the events within the piece. The movements should look natural to the story.

Good Storytelling: I want to see the truth in the story. Through your performance I want to gain understanding of the message, feel the emotions of the characters, and see the performer’s passion for the storytelling medium.

OO/INFO:

Significance: At the end of your speech, I need to understand why the topic is important and timely. Clearly outline the goals and points.

Relatability: This is a critical point for me. For me to be persuaded, I need follow the impact to others. Delivery is key here – speaking with confidence and conveying solid evidence to back up your positions.

Innovative Approach: I want to be awed with the information presented to where I think about the topic in a different way. Supporting evidence should be presented in an engaging way.

Extemp:

Intro: Make sure to clearly state the question. Take a breath, then provide the answer. Be careful of pacing here. Your messaging will get lost if the speech cadence is too rapid. In your intro, make sure you articulate the relevancy of the topic, clearly state your position, and briefly provide three points.

Analysis: Provide the 3 points and clearly articulate the positions. 7-10 credible sources should be provided to support your position.

Delivery: Be mindful of eye contact, tempo, and movements. Clear, concise conversational speaking allows the audience to follow your points. Demonstrate confidence in your position.

I believe that everyone has a voice which needs a platform to embrace self-expression, unique personalities, and the social construct of expressive speech in a safe, nurturing environment. As long as we follow the words of Benjamin Franklin, "Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment," for ignorance shall not prevail!

It is imperative to be polite, purposeful. and punctual.

With Lincoln Douglas (LD), I prefer traditional value and criterion debate, impact calculus, solvency, and line-by-line. Speech should have obvious organization which allows me to make a well-informed decision, focusing on presentation, logic, argumentation, and conclusion with a summary to wrap up the topic presented.

With Public Forum (PF), I prefer line-by-line, impact calculus, solid evidence from valid sources, be polite, and time yourselves. There should be a pre-determined resolution based on current events and trends. I should hear valuable insights. If you are providing a "filler", this will guarantee a low score, especially if it is personally offensive to the opponent or other marginalized groups.

With World Schools, I prefer obvious teamwork, focused on the issue presented with in-depth, quality argumentation creating solves with real-world examples while challenging the opposing team on a principled level.

With Congress, I look for proper parliamentary procedures and clarity of delivery through rigor, focused on democracy and clarity of ideas, seriousness in demeanor, and effective empowerment in speaking extemporaneously about the topic. Authenticity with clear speaking points such as sentence structure, eye contact, transitions, and word choice. The standard of decorum must be met.

In terms of speaking events, be purposeful when presenting the piece(s) to the extent that I feel as if you wrote it and expressed it with rigor, intensity, and passion.

You've got this!

Sonya Smith

Hello, my name is Ramiro Soliz and I would consider myself a traditional judge. I look for characterization and their consistency and if movement and blocking is motivated. Articulation and projection is another thing I look for in all performances.

For DI, I like when the performer knows who they are talking to (us the audience). I do not like when performers throw themselves on the floor or yell for the "dramatic effect" if it fits the character and their tendencies then fine. I also look for the little hints of comedic usage in a DI so it is not sad the whole time. Characterization is really important to me and reestablishing and recreating the scene for us the audience. Natural intro, a time for me to hear YOU the performer.

HI, this is alot different from DI because of the use of multiple characters. I look for distinguishable characters and if I can understand and follow the story with the performers choices of characters and blocking. I also look for how this "hilarious story" relates to something happening in society that the performer wants to bring awareness to. Dont use the 30 second grace as part of the performance, its there to help performers not go over time.

PR/PO/POI: Same as above, I also tend to rank higher those performers who have good tech work. Clean and motivated page turns and consistent style of holding the book. I like for the intro to be natural so I can hear YOU and not the character in the performance.

In terms of debate, I like to see arguments that flow throughout the entire round. I look for organization in both speeches and rebuttals. I'm fairly relaxed in terms of what arguments are brought to the table. Have fun with it, and convince me.

In limited preps, I love organization, the use of proper citations, and a solid job of explaining your point to me, rather than just "talking" at me.

In platform events, I look for organization mostly. Is your speech easy to follow? Do you provide justification? Do you bring an interesting spin to the topic? Are your implications believable?

In interp events, I look for believability. I also look at the argument that is being presented.

Coach at Abilene High School

General Notes

For Debate, I'm looking for quality, strong arguments delivered effectively. Style is important to me because this is still fundamentally an act of communication. For Speech, I want to be engaged and drawn in. As a coach myself, my goal is to give you constructive feedback that you can use for future rounds.

Event Specific Notes

CX - Competed for 1 year, judged for 15 years, coached for 3.

I learned policy debate as a stock issues debater and judge, but have been moving towards being a policymaker ever since. I want to see clear, focused cases. That said, do not alter your normal style to fit me--I promise I can keep up structure-wise. Signposting and clear tags should be used throughout speeches. If I'm unsure where something goes on the flow, it may not make it on the flow. This is important because I ultimately decide based on my flow. I'm fine with new in the 2, just be sure to clearly signpost and tag so things end up in the right place on my flow. While we're at it, I'll be flowing on my computer.

AFF: I understand that AFF cases can be structured in a few different ways, so as long as you signpost and are clear with your tags, you'll be fine. The AFF has fiat except for funding. I expect the 1AC to be smooth and polished since you bring it into the round with you.

NEG: I love DAs and CPs. T should be addressed, but don't camp out there unless your opponent is very obviously out of bounds. Theory and Ks are welcome as long as they are adequately explained; if I and your opponent do not know what's going on, you've wasted everyone's time.

LD- Competed for 2 years, judged for 15, coached for 3.

I am a traditional LD judge, meaning I need structure, clear value and criterion, and clash. Framework is key. Do. Not. Spread. Communicate. I'll be flowing along on paper, so be sure to signpost and give clear tags.

Extemp - Competed for 4 years and went to UIL State, judged for 15, and coached for 3.

Answer the question! Clear organization and sourcework are how you set yourself apart for me. If you don't cite sources, I'll drop you to the bottom of the round. I should be engaged the entire time. I'm a big fan of strong AGDs that run as a controlling metaphor throughout your speech. This shows your deep engagement with the question at hand. That being said, don't burn your time on your introduction: you only have 7 minutes!

Congress - Judged for 3 years, coached for 3 with UIL State Qualifiers every year.

Congress rounds are long so you win by standing out; you stand out by being active in the chamber. Since speaking time can be limited in a competitive room, make your speeches count. You're more than welcome to bring notes, but this is a speaking contest, so don't read straight from your manuscript/notes. Use your sources. After the initial AFF/NEG speeches, I want to hear new arguments and/or clash with previous speakers. During cross-examination, I want the speaker poised and ready for whatever the chamber throws at them. For the questioners, I want cutting questions to get at the real implications of the speaker's ideas. I want a PO who is in control, confident, and keeps things moving along. It is the PO's responsibility to get as many speeches in the round as possible, so keep things moving quickly.

Speech and Interp Events- Judged for 15 years, coached for 2.

Entertain and engage me! I'm picky on the specifics of each event, so stay in that lane. I rank as I go, so if you're early in the speaker order, swing for the fences and give it your all. You've got to be so good that no one who follows can keep up. If you're later in the speaker order, know that you're potentially having to follow other good speakers, so be big and make me forget everyone who came before you.

As a former debate coach, communication is my number one priority. If I cannot hear and/or understand you, it doesn't matter how amazing your case and arguments are; do not spread! If you breathe louder than you speak, you are speaking too quickly. If you are unable to engage in eye contact, you are speaking too quickly. If I start staring at the ceiling, counting ceiling tiles, you are speaking too quickly. If you have any doubt about your rate of speed, you are speaking too quickly.

I will not disclose results, give oral critiques, or read cards.

CX - I prefer stock issues, DAs, Impacts, weighing, traditional policy debate, etc. (No alien invasion kritiques, or any other bizarre inanity.)

LD - I am a traditionalist and focus on value and criteria. I expect the Aff to uphold the burden of proof and the Neg to uphold the burden of clash.

PF - PF is not CX. It was developed to counter sloppy practices in CX.

All Debaters - I prefer you stand when you are speaking, even during cross-examination/crossfire.

As an IEs judge, I believe in fostering an environment where every participant has the opportunity to showcase their skills and talents to the best of their abilities. I appreciate:

1. Fairness and Impartiality: I am committed to evaluating each speech objectively, without bias or prejudice. Every competitor deserves a fair chance, and I will base my judgments solely on the content and delivery of the speeches.

2. Clarity and Communication: Effective communication is paramount in speech competitions. I value clarity of expression, coherence of ideas, and the ability to engage the audience. Speak with confidence, and ensure that your message is conveyed effectively.

3. Content and Argumentation: Substance matters. I appreciate well-researched and thought-provoking content. Whether it's a persuasive speech, an informative presentation, or an interpretive performance, I expect speakers to present compelling arguments supported by evidence and reasoning.

4. Organization and Structure: A well-organized speech demonstrates careful planning and attention to detail. I look for clear introductions, logical progression of ideas, and concise conclusions. Structure your speech in a way that guides the audience through your message effectively.

5. Delivery and Style: Delivery plays a significant role in capturing the audience's attention. I appreciate varied vocal inflections, appropriate gestures, and effective use of language. Tailor your delivery style to suit the nature of your speech and engage your audience from start to finish.

6. Adaptability and Flexibility: Adaptability is key in any competitive environment. Be prepared to adjust your performance based on the feedback and dynamics of the competition. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and improvement.

7. Respect and Sportsmanship: Respect for fellow competitors, judges, and the audience is non-negotiable. Maintain professionalism at all times, both in and out of round. Embrace the spirit of sportsmanship and celebrate the achievements of your peers.

8. Feedback and Growth: My role as a judge extends beyond evaluation; I aim to provide constructive feedback that helps competitors grow and develop their skills. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn from your performance and strive for continuous improvement.

Remember, the ultimate goal of this competition is not just to win but to learn, grow, and connect with others who share your passion for speech and debate.

In dramatic events, I am looking for clear characterization, strong emotional connections, and understanding of the piece. I want you to draw me in and let me feel with your characters.

In humorous events, I am looking for clear and concise characterizations that are easy to differentiate and follow, and a good sense of comic timing with the piece.

Duo and Duet, I am looking at the same things, but also strong interactions between the different characters.

In Informative, Oratory, and the Extemps, I am looking for a good conversational style with good use of gesture and confidence in your speeches. Know your stuff, or at least look like you know your stuff.

I am overall going to also look at technique and seek for it to be clean and clear.

With all events, I look for clear vocal and non-vocal expression with good, crisp transitions.

I prefer 2-3 evidentiary examples woven in so as not to distract from the competitor’s argument or point.

For introductions and teasers, I prefer short and to the point and most of all relevant to the performance. Transitions are important. I want to be able to follow the performance and the argument and not be confused.

I fully appreciate how difficult character work is so I look for clear demarcations in voice, pitch, and demeanor to show the transition.

Blocking and movement are not the highest priority for me. If the movement and blocking are smooth and natural, then they are hardly noticeable but when forced, they can be distracting.

In general, my higher rankings go to the competitor who gives a smooth performance, clearly articulating the message or argument and how confident the competitor is in the piece. Passion about the topic comes through in delivery and that can make a difference.

For virtual performers, stay within the screen, so movement is not as important but that means transitions are more important.

I am not bothered by any particular material or language so long as it fits with the piece and supports the point, I do not react favorably to gratuitous use of language or material that appears to be for “shock value”. I rank based on whether the competitor made the best presentation of the point of view, argument, or position.

For IE’s and Interpretation Events, just be yourself! Show me you have passion in your topic and perform like it’s your last performance. For extemporaneous speaking, have your points down in a clear structure that I can follow. For all competitors, have fun!!!

I am a newer judge, so I am not going to be in the loop on all the technical aspects of your event. If you are the first speaker (or any speaker) in the room, please tell me how timing will work as I do not know how you want it. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to help judge you.

I am a parent judge. Please speak clearly and at a moderate speed.

I would be evaluating debate events based on the following:

Presentation
(Clarity of thought/speech and flow of arguments )

Arguments and counter arguments

Respectfully disagreeing / agreeing

Confidence, Teamwork

Team that is more convincing

I would be evaluating Speech events based on the following:

Content, clarity and flow of ideas
Confidence
Delivery
How Convincing and engaging your speech is

View Past RatingsView Judging Record Search Judge Paradigms

Put me on the email chain - amlswick@gmail.com

Hi! Below are my paradigms and some resources for different events. Before all of that though is a little about myself! My name is Athan and my pronouns are They/Them/Theirs. The most formal thing I'm okay with being called is "Judge". I'm currently a college student (HOOK 'EM) who competed in speech and debate for 3 years at a high school that didn't have a lot of resources in general and specifically in speech and debate. In high school I did Policy, LD, WSD, Congress, Extemp, Prose, & Poetry. I look forward to being your judge, and if you have any questions at all feel free to ask in person or shoot me an email.

The biggest thing on my paradigm is funnily enough, not specific to any event. In a round, I will DROP or RANK LAST anybody who makes bigoted arguments or takes a hostile action. I don't know the beef, and if I think you're being unfair in round my ballot will reflect that. More than anything, Speech and Debate is an activity of growth that should be available to anyone who wishes to participate, if you are an active hindrance to that I won't tolerate it. AlsoPLEASE GIVE CONTENT WARNINGS if your material calls for it. Speech and Debate is notorious for getting into sensitive subject matter very quickly and seemingly out of left field.

Debate: OKAY! This ALL subject to change as I judge more rounds and change my understanding what I believe debate to be. Last edit April, 2024

I think one of the biggest things that separates debate events from IEs is that debtors have the opportunity to just create the rules. That's something that I quite honestly love and wish was possible in IEs. In spirit of that, that my entire debate paradigm is up for debate. I am willing to change my paradigm in round if a good enough argument is made against it. With one exception, ✨Evidence Ethics✨. Please please please please please please please please please please PLEASE be ethical with your evidence. Properly cite it, don't lie about what your evidence says, where it's from, or anything similar. I've dropped debaters in the past for this, I will probably drop debaters in the future for it, it's sadly incredibly rampant in the community (at locals especially), and it's a very serious offense in my eyes.

Spreading? Huge fan! Can't super keep up with it though. I did Trad Policy in HS, so my flowing ability reflects that. If you speak so fast that I miss something that's tough I won't flow it [which is why you extend]. If you do decide to speak fast I won't drop you, but please slow down and really enunciate at specific things you want writen on my flow verbatim/paraphrased closely. If I really can't hear you I'll yell "clear" and I'll expect you to slow down and enunciate.

Moving along, who said debate had to be boring or full of jargon? I am a fan of style! Don't just read evidence, give me analysis on how it functions in-round and do it with some flair if possible. Make me laugh? That's some extra speaks. Do anything memorable? Higher rank than someone who didn't. At its core this is a public speaking event, it's meant to build your communicative abilities, so take risks, be "lame", be "corny", be you.

Also ALSO, I like weird arguments. Is there some objectively bad / uncompetitive argument that you've been trying to find a round to use it in? Guess who's definitely open to voting for it (ME), so go crazy.

Lastly, I'm a fan of reading paradigms, so in an effort to incentivize that at the beginning or end of one your speeches say "Judge, you can't farm tuna, give me a speaker point" and I'll give you +1 speaks.

CX/Policy -

As it stands right now, I'm pretty sure I'm a mix of Tabula Rasa & Game Theorist, though honestly every debater should be skeptical of judges who just use a label and don't explain their positions or at the very least their history. I've been trying pretty hard to be a non-interventionist judge, but I was brought up Trad, so it's a battle. Quite literally, I have two wolves inside me. I like to think I'd vote any argument, a concrete list of arguments I know I'd vote on are Theory, Topicality, Ks, K Affs, Case Args, Plans, Disadds, CounterPlans, and Tricks. Be warned, I have very little experience with K debate, so if you run a K please take the time to explain to me how it functions. I'm pretty big on theory arguments having voters, so don't just tell me "X thing is bad" and hope I'll take it off the flow impact it out. Counterinterp > Reasonability; please have standards so I can effectively judge both interps. If you are trying to win on theory and your opponent is any level of competent / the abuse isn't incredibly blatant you should almost definitely be collapsing onto theory, or, at the very least, spending a substantially amount of time on it. On final speeches, I love voters! Mmmmmm I love voters so much. Tell me what I should be voting and why. Ballots for rounds I judge with people who write my ballot for me are usually look like what they told me to write out in my ballot.

LD - I did LD and Policy in HS. I'm open to progressive LD arguments, just not its speed (see spreading above). I am a fan of framework debate, I think it gives LD a lot of arguments that just won't fly in CX. Util is boring and basic, useful, but boring and basic. Util has a myriad of counter-arguments that allow for interesting debate. If the debate comes down to Util vs Util please for the love of god do impact calculus. With all of that said, I do believe you can win framework and lose the round, so don't go all in unless you have a very clear line of reasoning that prevents the other side from accessing offense through your framework (There are theory args that attempt to win round on framework alone, which is something I am open to voting on). On case, feel free to go crazy. Like I mentioned earlier I'm here for it all, that means K, Theory, Topicality, Disads, Counterplans, Advantage Take Outs, and Turns. Really the one thing I'm not a huge fan of in LD is extinction args, really in general, but esp in LD. If you have an extinction impact you better have a solid link chain and a damn good warrant. Have fun, don't be intentionally abusive.

PF - I think it's tough that this event is explicitly formatted not to incentivize K's and to a lesser extent Theory as well. I'll def still vote on them if you run though. Look to policy for my paradigm.

Congress - Briefly, I view Congress as more so a debate event than a speech event. That means I'm not looking too much at the speeches side long as what you say is killer. If you give a crazy rebuttal that delinks and/or turns the main points contention and generates solid defense or offense for your side’s key points but sounds robotic while you do it, I’ll probably still rank you highly, esp if most of the other time has been spent on pretty speeches and surface level analysis. To further, I really really like analysis that changes how I feel as though the round should be argued. I will almost definitely rank you highly if you consistently introduce analysis like that. PO will probably break in round as long as they aren’t more so a detriment than a help. Most of all have fun with it. Congress can get so boring so feel free to add some spice.

That being said, congress is also a speaking event and so I'll be looking for those things that let me know you're an effective communicator. Things specific to congress are presence, LARPing, and understanding of speaking cycle. Congress people who exert influence over the chamber are noticed more readily by myself and a lot of other judges (if its through motions and POIs it also serves as a demonstration of the finer more technical points of parliamentary procedure which I enjoy). On LARPing I think you should lean into it and that in general it's just funny. The best congressional debaters lean into the fact that the event encourages the LARP and fully immerse themselves, their content, and their mannerisms within that context; if you ever find yourself wondering "Should I be more or less LARP-y" in a congress setting the answer is always more. Understanding speaking cycles I feel like is pretty self explanatory. Don't give me a speech that feels like a constructive as the 11 speaker, don't rehash points your side of the debate as mentioned 3+ times, give a crystallization speech at toward the end of the debate, and please for the love of god DONT be afraid to give a first affirmative or first negative, esp in competitive tournaments (like c'mon y'all quite literally you're the best of the best of the best, if you won't do it who will?) Finally the "Extemp" and "IEs" portion of my paradigm neatly sum up my ideas on what good speaking looks like. As a final note, I hate the super cookie cutter congress style. Please for the love of everything change it up, even if it's only the amount of cadences or times you raise your voice for emphasis.

WSD -I think every team should ask at least 1 POI, preferably 2 - 4 per speech. For worlds I place a lot more emphasis on argumentation than style, but if you do some stylistically cool things I'll reflect upon that favorably. I esp like when things seem to have been extemp-d in round, so good POI responses I find to be very neat.

Speech:

Extemp - By far my favorite event. Does the fact that it’s my best event have something to do with it?? Maybeeeeee. On what I like to see though? The first and most important thing are the basics. If you're unfamiliar, study up! You should have a strong grasp on macro-level organization and at least a understanding (consciously or not) of microlevel organization, you should be able to continue speaking after a stumble (big or small) in a coherent manner, your points should be logically sound (fallacies make my heart sad & your in round ranking low) and contain a Claim - Warrant - Impact (data too, but honestly warrant > data in extemp, you could just be making things up), and CONFIDENCE oh my goodness so many rounds can and have been won off of confidence alone.

-Also huge tip for novice extempers: presenting as an authority figure on your topic is big for a lot of extemp judges in the Central Texas Circuit, so it’ll be a huge help to your extemp career if you work on reaching the 6:30 mark consistently, sounding confident regardless of whether our not you feel confident, infusing emotion into your speech, and “professionalism” (this term is so nebulous and gives me the ick. a lot of extemp judges take it v seriously though).

The next thing I like to see is(assuming mastery of the basics) advocacy, advocacy, advocacy. As an extemper you are a story teller. Often times in extemp as a competitor you find yourself telling people about events that they have little to no understanding about, and so you control narrative. With this control of the narrative you should use it to center the people who are being harmed, esp those being harmed by the materialization of seemingly abstract societal concepts (like patriarchy, imperialism, etc). By the end of your speech I should have a clear idea of those who are being advocated for and the relationship they have between those who are perpetuating harm. Along with the content it can’t be underplayed how important it is for you to speak fluently. You can’t convey the story of another person if people won’t give you the time of day. This doesn’t mean I’ll rank you as last speaker if you stumble a few times, but long pauses, continual and frequent vocal breaks in fluency, or distracting body language won’t do you any favors. Punching down is a big no-no for me, esp in the realm of comedy I have ranked folks last in round for an inappropriate joke and I'm very much so prepared to do again without hesitation.

For my intermediate+ extempers I’ll be looking for style, flair, and little things that demonstrate your skill in the event and mastery of the more technical elements of the event like use of a theme (or extremely clear line of reasoning/convergent point), NON CANNED, TOPIC SPECIFIC INTROS (this is my #1 point of improvement, your AGD is my first introduction to your speaking and you want to start it off with something non-unique, low effort, and often times un-inventive? that makes me sad.)multiple rhetorical devices in speech, compelling SoS, high level organization (substructure), use of experts or highly qualified sources (professors, research studies, multinational service organizations, research centers, etc), mini agds before contentions, efficient use of time, effective use of performance space, and switches in general but esp mood/tone. Honestly my advice? If you make it to higher level tournaments, but are yet to break at one you need to go back to the fundamentals/basics. A lot of intermediate extempers I've encountered will do some really cool advanced stuff and then have multiple logical fallacies, improperly use their time, or (god forbid) not answer the question.

I'll be evaluating rounds on a range of factors and for sure won't immediately vote you down if you don't demonstrate perfect mastery over the elements listed, but it makes it a much harder, uphill battle to give you the 1 - 3 if you made an elementary level mistake but incorporated multiple advanced technical elements vs someone who should complete mastery over all fundamental concepts and showed budding knowledge of the more technical elements of the event.

As a final, please give me the publication/organization, author, and exact date of evidence you use in your speech. If you have a non-mainstream source, please qualify the author or the organization. This is an academic activity and I'll be looking for citations as such.

IEs - Honestly GLHF, like there's not much to say here. Me personally? I don't think it's a good idea to try taking major risks and/or highly tailoring your piece to judge preferences unless you're in an extremely stacked room, even then though judges have a tendency to be switched around, replaced, and/or absent. Though honestly it's in all those smaller tournaments and less important rooms that you should be the most creative in. Explore things you haven't thought of, do things you you've only ever considered in the abstract,HAVE FUN.

In any case, I pay a lot of attention to characterization - I want to see you become the character through properties and traits unique to them. Which also means I SHOULD FEEL A DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU START PERFORMING. I don't care who you are, I care who you become and whether or not you can consistently continue to be that person(or those persons) throughout your performance. Your volume and the emotions conveyed through your voice are vitally important too. You shouldn't be flat, people are dynamic and so should the emotions and people portrayed. I'm a huge proponent of using space effective manner, even if your event constrains you to a specific point in space I think there are ways for you to interact with the environment that make the piece more interesting and unique to the medium. I'm not super strict about time in IEs as long as you don't go over the grace period I generally don't care.

amlswick@gmail.com if you have any questions at all:)

Treat me as a lay judge, coming from a 20+ years of technology consulting and management background.

Debate: Don’t talk fast, clarity is very important to understand your points. Explain your arguments clearly and consistently, so that I can make a fair judgment. Don’t be rude or disrespectful to other party, respect each other throughout the event. Be confident in your arguments and make sure they are backed-up by data/facts and most important thing don’t forget to have fun!

Speech: Presentation, content of a speech and fluency is a key factor. Be engaging and have good points that flow well. Don’t rush if you are running out of time and be confident. Come prepared with great material, analysis, looking forward to seeing you in action with great presentation, humor and creativity.

Hi! I'm Abhinav Tiruveedhula, CS + Polymath Honors @ UT. I competed primarily in Congress at Tompkins High School where I qualified for TFA State twice and NSDA nats once. This paradigm isn't all-inclusive; feel free to ask about any specifics before round starts.

email - ranjaniabhinav@gmail.com

General Stuff - Scroll for event-specific preferences.

• Speak at a speed where the other competitors and I can hear you. I will try my best to keep flowing but I may miss stuff if you go too fast.
• Fake/misappropriated evidence will result in an immediate L/6/last if it's caught and proven. I know from my time that this is sometimes a big issue and don't want it in the round.
• This should go without saying but please be good people. Rudeness, ignorance, homophobia, sexism, racism, etc. will negatively affect your ballot.

Congress Paradigm (Updated through TFA State '24)

• Author/sponsor should explain the bill and set a good foundation for the rest of the round.
• CLASH. Anyone other than the 1st aff should be spending significant time refuting the other side's specific arguments.
• Speeches towards the end of the bill's debate should crystal and weigh the various arguments made during round instead of bringing up new arguments.
• I highly dislike a one-sided debate if no new information is being brought up. If you have a speech thats the 2nd or 3rd in a row on the same side, consider making it a crystal, flipping to the other side, or just speaking on the next item.
• On a similar note, don't rehash the same arguments over and over. If the same arguments are being brought up over and over, move to previous question and go on to another item.
• Don't just read off your pad. Speak somewhat extemporaneously. Looking at the chamber, hand motions, vocal inflection, etc are all expected in every speech.
• Questions: Ask good questions; don't ask just for the sake of getting questions in. In addition, ask concise questions; aka, not spending half the questioning block phrasing the question in a certain way. While asking questions to a speaker on the same side isn't necessarily bad, avoid it unless it is extremely critical or brings something very important up.
• Be an active member of the chamber, whether with motions or just taking a leadership role in the chamber. At the same time, don't overdo it with excessive motions just to show off your knowledge.
• If time prevents you from giving as many speeches as others, I'll take that into account when doing ranks. Not having both sides prepped isn't a valid excuse for not speaking on an item ESPECIALLY with a preset docket.
• POing: I used to PO all the time when I competed, so I'm pretty familiar with it. I appreciate a PO who is willing to do it when no one else wants to and will take that into account when ranking. The thing I value most for POs is getting through as many speeches as possible with no big mistakes. Small mistakes may not harm you much but big ones (i.e. multiple precedence mistakes, round being run very slow, etc.) will push you down on the ballot. A good PO is one who can get through 11+ speeches an hour with little-to-no mistakes.

IE Paradigm (Updated through TFA State '24)

• All events - I'm fine if you want to time yourself. Otherwise, I'll give you 3 down, fist at grace unless otherwise asked. Style is also important to me. Fluency, hand signals, eye contact, etc should all be present throughout the speech.
• Extemp - I like extemps that are structured well, clear intro, 3 points, and conclusion. An AGD isn't completely necessary to me; I would rather you get right into your speech than use a canned AGD. The 3 points should be relatively unique and contain a roughly similar amount of sources and content. Make sure that your analysis ties into the answer to your question. Sources should have publication/author along with the date (month and year at the minimum). The conclusion should effectively wrap up the speech by summarizing your key points and the answer to your question.
• OO/INFO - Since this is one of the only events where your whole performance is memorized, fluency should be great. Original topics are appreciated and may make you stand out in a room of great speakers. The speech should persuade/inform me throughly, using evidence/anecdotes sprinkled throughout. I will rank based on a mix of originality, content, and presentation/style.
• Interp - I never competed in interp, but have judged a bit of it this year. I like pieces that have clear characters and good acting. If I'm your judge for an interp event, I'll rank mostly based on overall enjoyment and originality.

Debate Paradigm (Updated through Mayde Creek '24)

• Try to go at a speed where everyone can understand. I can only flow what I hear. If you insist on spreading, send the speech doc.
• If you decide to run any kind of theory, make sure to explain it very very well. In addition, links should be very strong if the end argument is extinction.
• I never did LD/PF/CX at a high level, so don't expect me to understand every trick, K, specific jargon.
• Keep track of your own time.
• Tech > Truth most of the time.
• Don't cut cards in a way where the author's words are being misrepresented. If this comes to light, you are very likely to get an automatic L.
• Treat me like I know the basics of the topic but don't assume I know everything about it.

Hello, I'm Isaac Torres, a Speech teacher at Horizon High School, and former collegiate National Qualifying Interp Performer.

For Extemp/Info, Oratory Speeches, I look for how well you know your content, how well do you support your claims and arguments, and how well do you speak and express your ideas.

For Interp events, I look for how well do you portray authentic and genuine emotions and delivery of your piece. Does your intro make it clear what I'm supposed to get out of your performance? Make me believe everything you are saying and feeling is real. "Would a real person in this situation act this way?" If a performance is too over the top or seemingly inauthentic I will not be impressed. Be real, be sincere, and be great.

Theatrical Individual Events - DI/HI/Duet/DUO/POI/Prose/Poetry

Be in the moment. Perform with focus on your verbal presentation blended with your physicality. I look for proper inflection, diction, and enunciation alongside other elements of characterization. Balance your time with the story arc you are attempting to establish - help me visualize your character's world and the thematic meaning you are highlighting. Have you created a reflection of the mood and essence intended by the author(s)? Be sure to include an appropriately crafted introduction. I enjoy a well designed teaser before entering into your introduction. In partner events the introduction should be equally balanced. Throughout the round remain respectful of the performances in your room.

Forensic Individual Events - OO/INF/USX/IX

A professional presentation is anticipated ranging from mannerisms within your speech towards vocabulary choice, organization, handling of presentation topic (this includes props in Informative) to general presentation techniques of pace, diction, projection and general enunciation. I look for a well developed and organized concept supported by appropriate evidence, statistics, and personal anecdotes. A balanced use of time in appreciated as you present your introduction, points and conclusion. Inform, persuade and entertain. I enjoy effective use of rhetorical devices. This includes both historical and pop cultural allusions, alliteration and the rule of three. Sound devices enhance the quality of a presentation and make your statements memorable.

IE: My priorities are presence, dynamism, clarity, eye contact (with any/all of the audience, not just me), and creativity. Watch your hands and avoid filler words.

Debate: My email address is pete.trevino@nisd.net . You can add me to your email chain at your discretion.

I'm not a fan of spreading. I will look at your case, but if you can't be understood without it, I will count it against you. We're not at a cattle auction.

Try to make claims that are verifiable, and have your evidence ready.

Speaker points are awarded according to rank; see my IE notes above.

Speech Events:

What are your stylistic preferences for extemp? How much evidence do you prefer? Any preference for virtual delivery?: properly structure your speech, quality over quantity for evidence (6 is a good number for me, but of course more is ok), no preference for virtual delivery - speaker's choice

What are your stylistic preferences for Oratory/Info? How much evidence do you prefer? Any preference for virtual delivery? - just persuade me and leave me with some realistic solutions. solutions that are not even possible for me to enact will be considered less than ones that I can actually do something about. I don't have the ability to change the entire educational system, so please don't tell me to.

Any unique thoughts on teasers/introductions for Interpretation events? intros are important

Any preferences with respect to blocking, movement, etc. in a virtual world? speaker's choice

What are your thoughts on character work? need to be realistic, I want to hear their story, not you pretending to, make it real

How do you feel about author's intent and appropriateness of a piece? For example: an HI of Miracle Worker (author's intent) or a student performing mature material or using curse words (appropriateness)? High school tournament = high school appropriateness. This isn't college yet.

I am a parent judge that has slight experience with judging debate.

Please avoid Hurtful comments or rude behavior (ex: sexism, racism, etc.) ,will not be tolerated.

Please do not speak too fast or spread as I may not be able to understand what you are saying so it will not be on my flow. Keep in mind that I am a lay judge!

Time yourself, and if it is an event where you cannot then explain how you would like time signals.

Most importantly, be respectful, have fun, and good luck!

Most of my feedback will be on the written RFD.

Hello! My name is Alejandra (Ale) Vadillo. I'm a speech judge who specializes in limited prep and public address speeches! I competed in Nebraska in high school, on the Bradley University Speech Team my freshman year of college, and have been on Texas Speech for two years now. <3

IN GENERAL:

I am looking for confident speakers who engage with the judges and the rest of the audience. The best speakers show that they are knowledgeable about the topic they are speaking about and are genuinely interested in sharing it with others. Speech does not exist without the audience, so it should be your top priority.

EXTEMP:

I judge extemp largely based on content and argument. Great delivery will put you over the top! I need you to answer the question coherently and give me three reasons why you chose your answer (unified analysis). Ideally, I would love to see at least two sources in every subpoint, but it is not an exact science. Please make sure that you are accurately citing your sources, looking past the headlines and daily newspapers, and that your sources are as recent as the topic allows.

As an extemper, the analysis in each of your subpoints is what proves if you know how to memorize a flow or actually understand what you are talking about. The best extempers don't try to prove that they are the smartest in the room, but instead, that they are the best teacher of the topic that they selected in those seven minutes. Try to keep delivery conversational and hand gestures meaningful.

***For econ questions - If the crux of your speech is numbers, I will be disappointed. We care about the human impact, not percentages and statistics.

OO

I judge OO on topics and solutions. Is your topic timely and relevant? Do you have agency for the topic? Do your solutions actually solve the problem? I love solutions that allow audience members and judges to take action. You made us care about the problem, how do we fix it? I appreciate VAs, but they are often overdone. Too many VAs are unnecessary and take away from the speech more than they add to it. Speakers must be comfortable with the mechanics of their VAs as they deliver the speech. Delivery and gestures should be conversational and not appear over-rehearsed. If there is humor, please commit to the bit. I will laugh! But not if you make it awkward!

INFO

I judge INFO on topics and implications. Is your topic timely and relevant? Are you teaching the audience something new or giving us a new perspective on something we already know? Are your implications actual implications or just stating things that have already happened relevant to the topic? Your implications should be thought-provoking and leave us wondering what the future of the topic you just taught us about might look like. Conversational delivery and gestures. VAs should add to your speech, not just be an arts and crafts show. If they are being used, they should be clean and manuvering them shouldn't distract the audience from the speech you are delivering.

INTERP:

I judge interps on topics and arguments. Why are you doing this topic? Why should the audience be interested in learning more? What do you want the audience to gain from this performance? I think the best way to build a good argument is to have a clear cutting. Does your storyline make sense? Is it easy to follow?

Delivery is almost everything in interp. Have you taken the time to develop your character's subtext? Do we feel like we get to know your character(s) by the end of your piece?

Author's intent: I stand by the author's intent unless it’s part of the performer's argument to perform something outside of the literature's intended purpose. In that case, it must be explicitly stated within the intro as to how/why the performer decides to do something outside of the author's intent.

As a judge, my main objective is for you to deliver your best performance and enjoy the process. If you're not finding joy in it, then something's amiss. Remember to engage in respectful and effective communication with your peers.

In Speech/Interpretation:

1. I generally look for effective use of voice, tone, diction, eye contact, suitable gestures, and intentional movement.

2. I value believability and your ability to embody the characters.

3. I appreciate captivating teasers or attention grabbers – make me sit up and pay attention!

4. Your delivery should be clean and clear.

In Debate:

1. I expect a clear understanding of the resolutions being debated.

2. I discourage the practice of spreading.

3. Good use of credible evidence and sources is crucial.

4. Effective diction, tone, and appropriate gestures are important.

5. Always maintain a kind and respectful demeanor.

I have a background in acting and usually coach/judge interp & public speaking. I am looking for those hallmarks that make a story complete. In extemp, even as a person who has no knowledge base of the topic should at the end of your speech have a firm grasp of its background and you argument in the matter. Informative speeches should be clear and should include creative visuals, interesting takeaways, and a concise train of thought. Oration should be a place to share experiences either personal or researched. The personal experience should be authentic and tied to the topic. Oratory should be a place to advocate for the things you believe to be important. Hi, Di, Duo, Duet, Poi, etc, should have a story that through the acting/blocking is easy to follow and enjoy. Contestants should always be courteous in the round and respectful of competitors and judges. Final interp ranks are factored between story, technical blocking, acting, and overall effect.

Trigger warnings are appreciated when appropriate.

Teasers should set the mood for the piece and not be too lengthy.

Intros need to continue to prepare the audience for the piece by setting the appropriate tone as well as give important exposition. A sharp or clever intro that is well constructed can be the determining factor in scoring among two equally done pieces.

Blocking and movement should be clear, well defined, and motivated. Clever or creative staging is appreciated. Unclear or unspecific pantomime, upstaging, or weird angles that prevent seeing the actor's faces should be avoided.

Characterization should be consistent and easy to follow if performing multiple characters. Pops should be clean. Vocal characterization should be suggestive of the character and not an opportunity to showcase cartoon voices/cliche characters (the surfer, the New Yorker, the Brit, the Aussie, etc.) unless warranted by the script/story.

The binder is NOT a prop other than in POI. Movement below the waist (steps) should be clear and motivated as well as minimal.

Author's Intent and/or Appropriateness of Literature-How do you feel about an HI of Miracle Worker (author's intent) or a student performing mature material (appropriateness)?

That's a big NO for me if it's offensive more than it is creative. (Miracle Worker as an HI, or The Lovely Bones, or anything like that is offensive to me. Hearing loss and child rape aren't funny and do go against the author's intent.) Mature content if it's handled well and suits the piece doesn't bother me- if it's excessive or for shock value, then I may not like it. It really depends on the piece and the performer; I'm not conservative.

For Speech Events OO/INFO– I weigh the written speech (construction/logic/novelty/grammar/humor) equally with the presentation of the speech. I like creative/inventive Info props.

I am parent judge.

I debated (mainly policy, after a very brief foray into LD) throughout high school, back in the debate dark ages. After a decades-long time away from the activity, I have more recently begun attending tournaments again, assisting my wife with coaching responsibilities and judging for her Houston-area school team. I've had many years to appreciate the skills that speech and debate helped me begin developing in high school, and the importance of seeing those skills develop drives my judging paradigm more than anything.

In short, I'm a traditional judge that considers debate to be a communication event above all else, with logical argumentation and researched evidence being a close second and third. I value clash, and I will always go back to my flow of the round to determine a winner in a close round. I don't mind hearing obscure contentions if they are well prepared and presented, but I don't appreciate outright tricks, excessive speed, or anything else that comes across as abusive or generic.

In LD debate, I expect a value debate and not a discussion of plans and counterplans or other concepts borrowed from other formats. In PF, I want to see that you've done the research and that you understand the tradeoffs between pro and con, so weighing is important to me. I grew up with stock issues as voters in policy, so those arguments are most comfortable to me. In any of these formats, if you’re taking a different approach than what I’m describing, know that you’re taking a risk, and be sure to take me with you.

Speaker points are based on professionalism, persuasion, and polish. Rudeness and disrespect don't belong here or anywhere. If you came to my paradigm primarily to see if I can handle spreading, I suggest you don't test that in round. Even if I can keep up with you, I don't want to, and it's tough to persuade me to vote for you if I can't follow your logic or if I'm annoyed that you've ignored my paradigm. I appreciate the need to hurry things along, particularly in the compressed rebuttal time, but quality of argumentation will beat out quantity every single time.

Congressional Debate

Congress, while functional debate, is just as significantly role playing. Take the role. Serve the part. This increases professionalism and individuality within the round. I prefer quality over quantity and communication must be elemental to the round. It the quality here blended with unique arguments that leads to clash.

Theatrical Individual Events - DI/HI/Duet/DUO/POI/Prose/Poetry

Be in the moment. Engage your judge and audience. Be confident. Perform with focus on your verbal presentation blended with your physicality. I look for proper inflection, diction, and enunciation alongside other elements of characterization. Balance your time with the story arc you are attempting to establish - help me visualize your character's world and the thematic meaning you are highlighting. Have you created a reflection of the mood and essence intended by the author(s)? Be sure to include an appropriately crafted introduction. I enjoy a well designed teaser before entering into your introduction. In partner events the introduction should be equally balanced. I equally enjoy well crafted settings through movement and pantomime. Throughout the round remain respectful of the performances in your room.

Forensic Individual Events - OO/INF/USX/IX

A professional presentation is anticipated ranging from mannerisms within your speech towards vocabulary choice, organization, handling of presentation topic (this includes props in Informative) to general presentation techniques of pace, diction, projection and general enunciation. I look for a well developed and organized concept supported by appropriate evidence, statistics, and personal anecdotes. A balanced use of time in appreciated as your present your introduction, points and conclusion. Inform, persuade and entertain. I enjoy effective use of rhetorical devices. This includes both historical and pop cultural allusions, alliteration and the rule of three. Sound devices enhance the quality of a presentation and make your statements memorable. Eye contact shows confidence. Rhetorical situations should include the full rhetorical square and nit simply the triangle - use ethos, pathos, logos and kairos.

My name is Cathryn Watkins, and I'm currently the Assistant Debate Coach for Clear Brook High School.

For extemp, I don't have any stylistic preferences. I enjoy individuality, and would like to see each student's unique speech style rather than ascribing to a specific speech pattern. Regardless of delivery choice, students should enunciate clearly and project their voice to ensure they are heard and understood. Speeches should be balanced between evidence and commentary. Evidence provides the backbone of an argument, but commentary makes the evidence concrete and meaningful. You need both in your speech to be effective.

Oratory and Info are heavily reliant on aggregating data, and I expect the evidence presented to be thorough. I want the topic presented to be unique. If a subject has been presented multiple times already, students must find a way to make their information impactful and stand apart from other performances. Overall, I look for passion in speech delivery. If the student does not seem to care about their topic, how am I supposed to care about it? Again, I enjoy experiencing each student's unique style of delivery, so I have no delivery preferences.

Interpretation events are centered around how well the student marries author's intent with their own experiences to create something new from a piece. Teasers and introductions should be created to maximize audience interest and familiarize the audience with the subject matter. Without an effective beginning the audience doesn't know where the interpretation is going, which could cause confusion. Blocking and movement should always be intentional and used to create meaning. Random movement without a connection to the interpretation will only distract and confuse. To the same extent, curse words can be powerful but if used too often become a distraction as well.

Debate rounds are, at their core, about respectful discourse. The ultimate goal for me is to persuade me to agree with you over your opponent. I do not have any preferences about the structure of debate, but I do not appreciate spreading, especially when students speak so quickly I cannot understand what is being said. If I can't understand you, you lose my vote.

Disrespect, in any form, is not received well from my perspective, particularly when one side is behaving with integrity and respect and the other side is not.

Congress:

Don't speed through your speeches, speed matters to me. Style matters to me as well, I am looking for structured arguments with clean rhetoric that comes in a polished package. Introduce new arguments. In questioning, I look for fully answering questions while also furthering your argument. I notice posture and gestures -- and they do matter to me. Evidence should be relevant and (for the most part) recent. Evidence is pretty important to me, and outweighs clean delivery if used properly. A clean analysis will rank you up on my ballot as well. Don't yell at each other. Overall, be respectful of one another. If I don't see respect for your fellow competitors, it can be reflected on my ballot. Don't rehash arguments. An extra speech with something I have already heard that round is likely to bump you down when I go to rank. As far as PO's go, I typically start them at 4 or 5, and they will go up or down depending on how clean the round runs. A clean PO in a room full of really good speakers will likely be ranked lower on my ballot. As far as delivery goes...as it says above, I am a speech coach. Your volume, rate, diction, etc are important. Make sure you are staying engaged and talking to the chamber, not at the chamber -- I want to be able to tell that you care about what you are speaking on.

Speech:

EVERY performance must tell a story.

Extemp: Someone with zero knowledge of your topic prior to the round should be able to walk away from your speech with a basic understanding of your topic and your stance on the issue. You should include a variety of sources, and they should be as current and relevant as possible. I look for organization and structure, but I also like to see some evidence of your personality to keep me engaged. Knowledge of your topic is important, as is rhetoric and logic throughout the speech.

Info: These speeches should be clear and entertaining, and should include concise and organized ideas, thought-provoking takeaways, and interesting, engaging visuals. I will be looking for how well you inform your audience about your topic.

Oratory: Original oratories are a place to share personal experiences, either lived or researched, and should showcase your passion for an idea that matters to you.

HI, DI, Duo, POI: Tell a compelling and meaningful story that can be clearly followed. Acting and blocking should ADD to the performance, not detract from it – remember that drama is not always about crying, shrieking, and falling on the ground. Oftentimes, the best performances utilize pauses and soft spoken words more often than noise to convey emotion.

Prose and Poetry: I was an English teacher before coming to coach Speech and Debate, so I absolutely love listening to prose and poetry. I will evaluate characterization, insight and understanding as far as the mood and meaning of the piece, how clearly themes and ideas are expressed, and overall delivery (aim for distinct enunciation without sounding pedantic).

Final Interp ranks are based on the story, acting, blocking, message, and overall effect of each performance.

toby.whiz@gmail.com

Fundamentally I see debate as a game. I think it is a valuable and potentially transformative game that can have real world implications, but a game none the less that requires me to choose a winner. Under that umbrella here are some specifics.

1. Comparative analysis is critical for me. You are responsible for it. I will refrain from reading every piece of evidence and reconstructing the round, but I will read relevant cards and expect the highlighting to construct actual sentences. Your words and spin matters, but this does not make your evidence immune to criticism.

2. The affirmative needs to engage the resolution.

3. Theory debates need to be clear. Might require you to down shift some on those flows. Any new, exciting theory args might need to be explained a bit for me. Impact your theory args.

4. I am not well versed in your lit. Just assume I am not a "____________" scholar. You don't need to treat me like a dullard, but you need to be prepared to explain your arg minus jargon. See comparative analysis requirement above.

Side notes:

Not answering questions in CX is not a sound strategy. I will give leeway to teams facing non responsive debaters.

Debaters should mention their opponents arguments in their speeches. Contextualize your arguments to your opponent. I am not persuaded by those reading a final rebuttal document that "answers everything" while not mentioning the aff / neg.

Civility and professionalism are expected and will be reciprocated.

Speech events. I am looking for quality sources and logic in OO and Inf. I have been teaching speech for 18 years and will evaluate fundamentals as well.

I'm a full-time teacher and coach in the North Texas area. I have experience coaching, teaching or competing in every event. I've been involved in Speech and Debate, as either a competitor or a coach, for 14 years.

PF

Theory and Ks - I'll evaluate and probably be able to understand these, but it's honestly not my preference to judge this kind of PF round. On theory in particular - please try to only run this if you believe you're the target of intentional and flagrant unfair behavior. Otherwise, I'd rather you just talked about the topic.

Speaking quickly is okay but please do not spread. The teams that get the highest speaks from me tend to talk at conversational or slightly faster than conversational speed.

If you're goal is to qualify for and do well at the TOC, you probably wouldn't consider me a "tech judge" ; I'll flow the round line-by-line in the case, rebuttal and summary but also want to see a lot of summation / weighing / big picture breakdowns of the round in the summary and especially in the final focus. I like a nice, clean speech that's easy for me to flow - tell me where to write things. Signpost more than you would think you have to.

Some answers to questions I've been asked:

-I think that it is strategically smart for the second speaking team to defend their case in rebuttal, but I don't consider it a requirement. In other words, if all you do in your rebuttal is attack your opponent's case, I won't consider all of your opponent's responses to your case to be "dropped."

-If you want me to vote on an issue, it should be present in both the summary and the final focus. The issue should be explained clearly by both partners in a similar way in each speech.

-If you say something about the opposing case in rebuttal and your opponents never respond to it, you don't need to keep bringing it up (unless it's a turn that you really want to go for or something like that).

-Speaker points - My 30 is "I feel like I'm watching someone debate out rounds at a national circuit tournament" and my 25 is "I'm going to go ask to talk to your coach about what I just saw." The vast majority of my scores fall in the 29-27 range.

LD

The question I get asked most often at tournaments when judging LD is "are you okay with speed?" The answer is yes, but you'll probably find that I understand your case/arguments better if you slow down during any analytics (interpretation, plan text, standards, spikes, etc.) that you expect me to write down or remember. You'll also probably find that unless you don't spread much, I won't achieve 100% comprehension of your "top speed." And I'm big on this one - if your opponent doesn't understand spreading, don't spread.

Another question I get asked a lot is "are you okay with policy-style arguments?" Again, the answer is yes, but with some caveats. The farther your argument goes from traditional LD or traditional policy case structure, the harder it will be for me to grasp it and the less likely I am to vote on it.

I used to have a lot of really negative stuff about theory arguments in my paradigm. My position on that has softened a bit. There is a place for theory arguments in modern LD debate, but I still generally think theory should be in the minority of LD rounds, and the abuse should be substantial, deliberate, and clearly demonstrable if a theory argument is being made.

I do not disclose speaker points.

Congress

I generally include the PO in my ranking of a round, although not as highly as the best speakers in a round. Expect a rank in the 3-6 range unless you screw up often, are an exceptionally good PO, or are POing a round full of very bad speakers.

A few particulars:

-It's a good idea to break down the what exactly a piece of legislation says and does as the first negative and/or first affirmative speaker. Never assume that the judge has read or analyzed the item you're discussing!

-Refuting or extending the argument of at least one specific person by name is mandatory if you're the fifth speaker on an item or later.

-From the second you step foot into a Congressional Debate chamber, my expectation is that you are IN CHARACTER as a member of the United States House of Representatives or Senate. Breaking character (even during recess, or AGDs) and acting like a high schooler will disappoint me.

-I care about how good your best speech was more than how many speeches you gave.

-I am rarely impressed with three-plus main point Congress speeches. Unless you're in a round that has four minute speech times, this is a bad idea.

-I want to see a strong debate, not parliamentary games.

Extemp

The single most important thing to me is whether or not you answered the question. Your three main points should be three reasons why your answer is correct. Somewhere between 7-10 sources is ideal. You should present an extremely compelling reason in your intro if you are giving something other than a three main point speech; 95% of your speeches or so should be of the three main point variety. Your speech should be over at seven minutes. Grace time is for you to finish a sentence that got away from you, not deliver a conclusion. I often rank people down for talking longer than 7:10.

Oratory/Info

It's important to me that I be able to tell, based on your oratory, how exactly you are defining your topic and what exactly you are proposing we do about it. This may sound obvious, but one of my most common negative comments on oratory ballots tends to be something to the effect of, "be more clear about what your persuasive goal for this speech is." Speeches should have a personal story. They should have a literary reference. They need to include some research.

The most important thing to me about your informative speech is whether or not you are actually informing me about something. Again, this might sound obvious, but I feel like many Infos are either disguised persuasive speeches or speeches that are repeating very widely known information (and therefore, no actual "informing" is taking place). I tend to have a "less is more" attitude when it comes to Info visual aids - this isn't to say that I penalize students who have elaborate visual aids; just that if you only have a couple unsophisticated visuals you could do still quite well with me if you have a good speech.

For both of these events, I want a balance of "hard" evidence (research, data) and "soft" evidence (anecdotes, stories, literary examples).

Interpretation Events

My overarching philosophy with all interp is that as a performer, you are baking a cake. The three main ingredients of this cake are "characters," "emotion," and "story." Everything else - blocking, accents, how your intro is written, suitability of subject material, author's intent, humor - is icing on that cake. Not totally unimportant - just not the first thing I think about when I'm deciding whether or not I liked it.

On the "what's more important, author's intent or creatively," I don't have a strong opinion, other than that is important to know and follow the rules for your event in whatever league you're competing in.

I prefer in HI, POI, and Duo fewer characters to more characters; 3-5 is perfect, more than that and it is likely I will get confused about your plot unless your differentiation between characters is exceptionally good.

I'm not the judge you want if you have a piece that pushes the envelope in terms of language, subjects for humor, and depictions of sex or violence.

My attitude towards blocking is that it should be in service of developing a character or making a plot point. I find myself writing comments like "I don't know what you were doing while you said XXXX" and "you doing XXXX is distracting" way more than I write comments like "need to add more blocking."

Policy

I judge this event extremely rarely, so if you have me judging you here, treat me like an old-school, traditional debate coach. You'll do best debating stock issues, disads, topicality, and fairly straightforward counter plans. I probably haven't judged many (or any) rounds on your topic. As I said earlier with LD, spreading is fine but probably not your "top speed" if your goal this year is to qual for/break at the TOC.

I tend to be a more traditional judge, but that does not mean I oppose different styles of LD Debate. While I am not fully accustomed to CX-style debate in LD, I am comfortable with CX arguments. If you feel more comfortable running policy arguments, go for it. It won’t impact your ballot simply because it is policy.

Spreading: I’m pretty comfortable with spreading, but if I can’t understand you, I will put my pen down and stop flowing your arguments.

Impacts/voters: Please weigh your impacts in your final rebuttal! Give voters! If you don’t tell me why I should vote for you based on the arguments in the round, I will default to your opponent's voters.

Overall, keep it classy. I will dock major speaker points if I feel a competitor is deliberately attacking their opponent.

OO/INFO/Extemp:

As long as the speech is organized and easy to follow, how you organize it is up to you. I know there are different standards everywhere. Make sure you back up your points and arguments with sufficient evidence!

INTERP:

I have no preference for how you put together your piece as long as it helps the plot structure overall. I love good character work! While pops and tricks are nice, what really wins me over is getting lost in the character's story when it is genuine.

I look at the basics – poise, use of voice, effectiveness of gestures, emphasis, variety – the overall delivery.

EX: Argument and analysis should be presented in a conversational style that is engaging. Organization is key. Don’t promise something in an intro and not deliver.

OO: Persuade me with a variety of evidence that shows how versed you are on the topic. Let me see your logic through the originality and creativity of the piece.

INFO: I like learning new perspectives on widely known topics and learning new things that I might not have been aware of otherwise. If visual aids are used, make sure you are using them in a way that enhances your speech and doesn’t distract from it.

INTERP: Make me get lost in the performance. Connect with your piece(s), ensuring it is an appropriate fit. Characters should be easily identifiable. Transitions should help move the audience along and blocking should be purposeful.

Hi there!

Most importantly, I want y'all to know that I am a parent judge, and a novice one at that, but I assure you, you'll have my full attention and respect during every round I judge.

Any homophobia, sexism, ableism, racism, etc. against your opponents or your own teammates will result in an automatic loss. I will immediately stop following the debate and will report the behavior to your coaches.

Debate is about respect. If you don’t show respect your opponents, or me, that will significantly impact your speaks and your ballot. Attempting to make your opponent feel bad about themself is not acceptable, and it will have a negative impact on your score.

Speed is ok, but please articulate and speak at a volume that I can hear from several yards away. Spreading is difficult to flow, so please avoid it whenever possible.

Please don’t present any Theory or K’s, because I don’t know how to flow those.

I most likely will not disclose after round; I like to take time to articulate my thoughts on your performance in writing out of respect for the work you've put into your debate.

If you want to send me pictures of your cats, or see pictures of my cats, my email is acwlazlowski@gmail.com :)

As a judge, and a mom, I’m always rooting for you and want you to do well! GOOD LUCK!

Speech:

First off, I’m gonna be biased here, speech is my ABSOLUTE favorite! Here are some individual things you can do to maximize your success in these events.

General:

Creativity, character, and confidence! That’s how you can impress me and get a great ranking if I’m your judge.

Being respectful during other’s speeches is absolutely necessary. If you don’t want someone texting, eating, moving whilst you’re trying to give your speech then don’t do it to others!

If you make a mistake, remember, I DON’T KNOW! I don’t have your script! Stay calm, and keep going!

Info:

If your boards fall, don’t worry! Im not going to rank you down for it, accidents happen. I look for clear speakers, with a well structured speech. Sourcing is always good, make sure the information you cite is relevant.

Oratory

Similar to info, annunciate and make sure to truly convey your message. Movements and actions are always fun and engaging!

Interp:

Y’all there is a line. Interp can be one of the absolute best events to experience as a judge, but not if the content is excessively vulgar. Im fine with swearing and vulgar pieces, but please just don’t make it nasty to where I want to leave the room. Please? This is mainly for HI but don’t abuse other people’s trauma! Make your character come to life, make it seem natural!

This is for DI specifically, I’m probably going to cry. And maybe a lot. But! Please don’t feel like you haven’t impressed me if I’m not sobbing; some pieces are more touching for personal reasons than others are. Just make your character as moving and piece as powerful as possible and you will like your rank!

Extemp:

This event is pretty easy to judge in terms of what I look for:

-structure (Intro 3 points conclusion)
-sourcing (Not just for the “I added some sources to my speech,” check box, but rather to support your point and what you’re saying”

-Hey it’s out of your control if you get a boring question, keep me interested and engaged and it won’t really matter what your question is!

-Avid supporter of Taylor Swift if you wanna use an AGD for her… (Favorite album is 1989 of course)

Other speech events:

I don’t know a whole lot about other speech events, but I love to see new events and see new styles of Speech! If you don’t see anything on here for specifics, ask me about them or maybe even tell me something useful for judging before.

Congress:

This is one of the first times that I'm judging Congressional Debate. Please be patient. I've learned how to judge it, but some of the logistics of the round may throw me off because congress is based off of role playing congressional officials.

I value not only speeches, but also the way you behave in questioning, recess, etc. If you give really great speeches, but you are disrespectful or rude in questioning, you’re not going to like your rankings.

Again, I reiterate, I'm really big on respect. You guys all work so hard to prepare so I ask that you give everyone in your chamber the same level of attention and respect you'd like to receive yourself. If you are respectful to me and most importantly, your opponents, I'm more likely to rank you higher for exhibiting the respect the round and your opponents deserve and keeping the round running smoothly.

For my PO: I appreciate you running the round and making it as efficient as possible. If you run a good chamber, I will give you a good rank. If you run a chaotic chamber with frequent mistakes and pauses, your rank will most likely be impacted. PLEASE bring it to the attention of the PO if there is a mistake in round. I want to make sure the round is running as fair as possible

In speeches I look for an equal balance of content and style. I look for people being active in the round as well. If person A gives one great speech throughout the entirety of the round, and person B gives three decent speeches but is always questioning and very active, person B will be who I most likely rank higher.

I think Congress specifically has really good potential for personality as well. I appreciate fun AGD’s, a good tone, decent volume, and smile. The point here is to have fun and be confident. Make judging fun for me as well, and your rank will affect it.

Try not to rehash, and if it reaches a point in which it’s just the same 4 points over and over, move to previous question. I want to make sure everyone gets a speech.

Recess is not for prepping a speech, it’s not fair to take time away from others because you didn’t prep. Please try to keep the chamber running!

I wish you all the best and I’m super excited to see you in round! Good luck!

Decision Processing & Ranking:

•Dominant/Powerful Speaker within delivery
•Plot/Story Development to flow & articulate
•Character Development & Differentiation / Clarity
•Introduction : Clear, concise & flow into story/piece
•Author & Title clearly spoken & delivered
•Confidence & experience- Proper expression & lack of error within delivery
•Grasp attention & Demanding the room
•Respect & courtesy towards judges, room & language within dialogue
•Passion & Connection within pieces & facts if stated & characters.
•Following all correlated rules to each area of speech and debate regarding to time, eye contact, and interaction within pieces.

Brief Experience:

• Competitive Speech & Debate: 2013-2018
•GPHS UIL Play 2013-2017 (Leads)

•UIL Musical 2017 (Lead)
•TFA State DI Champion 2017

•National Summer AVID Institute Speaker 2017

•Live Play - Forbidden Love 2017

LD, CX and PF:

Weigh: Weigh arguments as much as you possibly can. Compare clashing arguments as soon as you have the opportunity (for LD, ideally in the NC/1AR). Weighing is more important to my ballot than extra cards. I also love to see risk analysis.

Crystallize + Persuade: Take the time to provide me with a very clear story of why I should vote for your case. Speech and Debate is all about creating a narrative that people want to listen to, so make me want to listen to your narrative! Clearly explain to me why your narrative is the most correct and most important in the round. Tell me the story of your case, and provide me with explicit reasons to vote Aff/Neg.

Signposting: Make it as clear as possible where you are on the flow and where you want me to note your responses. This will help both me and your opponent.

Warrant Your Arguments: Every time you make an argument, you need to provide a clear warrant that proves WHY your argument is true. Highlight these warrants for me and make sure to extend them to your arguments in later speeches. Pointing out the concession of warrants is an excellent way to strengthen link weighing, but be careful not to claim that an argument is conceded when it hasn’t been.

Speed: You may speak quickly, but I would greatly appreciate it if you do not spread. If you do spread, you will need to make your taglines clear. If I cannot understand your tags, I will have a difficult time flowing the argument. I will understand your arguments better if you slow down during your signposting in particular. I likely won't achieve 100% comprehension of your "top speed,” and your opponent may not either. If your opponent doesn't understand spreading, DO NOT spread. If you are using speed to increase clash, great, but please do not use it merely to outspread your opponent. I think a pre-round conversation with your opponent is helpful and something that we as a Speech and Debate community should encourage more often.

Most importantly: Be honest, fair, kind, and considerate to one another at all times.

Congress:

Clash: Unless you are the 1st Aff speaker, you need to have clash in every speech. Be sure to mention other representatives by name during clash when referring to specific arguments. Present NEW points -- please do not repeat the same arguments other representatives have already made.

Evidence: Each speech needs a MINIMUM of at least one piece of evidence, ideally more. Evidence should clearly link, demonstrate relevance, and should include dates of publication -- the more current your sources are, the better.

Speeches: Do not read your speech. Engage with your audience, make eye contact, and be respectful. You are judged based on the WHOLE round, not only speeches, so please do not be rude, inattentive or disengaged. If you do not participate much in the round or if you are disrespectful at any point, I will notice. Be kind always, and express counterarguments thoughtfully and politely.

Speech:

EVERY performance must tell a story.

Extemp: Someone with zero knowledge of your topic prior to the round should be able to walk away from your speech with a basic understanding of your topic and your stance on the issue. You should include a variety of sources, and they should be as current and relevant as possible. I look for organization and structure, but I also like to see some evidence of your personality to keep me engaged. Knowledge of your topic is important, as is rhetoric and logic throughout the speech.

Info: These speeches should be clear and entertaining, and should include concise and organized ideas, thought-provoking takeaways, and interesting, engaging visuals.

Oratory: Original oratories are a place to share personal experiences, either lived or researched, and should showcase your passion for an idea that matters to you.

HI, DI, Duo, POI: Tell a compelling and meaningful story that can be clearly followed. Acting and blocking should ADD to the performance, not detract from it – remember that drama is not always about crying, shrieking, and falling on the ground. Oftentimes, the best performances utilize pauses and soft spoken words more often than noise to convey emotion.

Prose and Poetry: I am an English teacher, so I absolutely love listening to prose and poetry. I will evaluate characterization, insight and understanding as far as the mood and meaning of the piece, how clearly themes and ideas are expressed, and overall delivery (aim for distinct enunciation without sounding pedantic).

Final Interp ranks are based on the story, acting, blocking, message, and overall effect of each performance.

Elizabeth Wu (she/her)

add me to the email chain: elizabethwu38@gmail.com

Debate: I'm a lay judge but i did PF before so I understand the basics of how everything works

tech>truth, no debate jargon pls

speaks start at 27

I'm a lay judge.

Extemporaneous speaking

• Have good fluency, good fluency is key - if you have good fluency you display a level of knowledge and coherence of thought
• although I am a lay judge I have a decent understanding of world events and can reasonably deduct if your content is reasonable (eg. don't lie, I usually can tell)
• I believe an extemp speech must have personality. Funny or serious is okay, but I value a consistent and singular style that makes sense for the topic presented.

Original oratory/Informative speaking

• Yes, I am lay. No that does not mean that flowery rhetoric or cute platitudes of society are going to get you the 1.
• I value the depth of a topic and a meaningful understanding and interpretation of a topic with a convincing argument over a flashy, rhetorical speech
• Fluency isn't going to give you the one but it certainly wouldn't hurt

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Speech/Platform

General:I'm looking for clear organization and relatively equal splits for the main points. I'm also looking for sourcing - minimum two sources per point of the speech with at least another source in the intro. The better speeches, in my opinion, cite at least seven sources - especially platform events. Also for platform events - originality of topic is taken into consideration (generally as a tie-breaker when two performances are equal).

Extemp:You gotta answer the question and connect each point to the answer. If your points are general and don't directly relate to your question it's gonna knock you down. Sources must be cited with at least month and year for articles in the last twelve months and year for older articles. Bonus points for a variety of publications and a hook that cleanly connects to the topic.

Informative:Visual aids should ENHANCE the speech, NOT MAKE the speech. If they are distracting me from the content of your speech then it will detract from your ranking.

Interpretation

Important Judging Quirk:I write comments as I'm watching (it's my version of flow for interp) so you're gonna get a stream-of-consciousness of what I'm thinking throughout the performance. I'm not being rude. I'm just giving you my real, raw thoughts as I watch your performance. If I'm confused you'll know I was confused. If I'm turned off by something you'll know I was turned off. If something made me feel an emotion you'll know it. If these types of ballots offend you STRIKE ME NOW. Do not wait until you get your ballot back and make me look like a bad guy because you didn't like how I took in your performance in the moment. Unlike a lot of interp judges (my kids do this event and I see their ballots) I'm trying to write down my thoughts and comments as they pop in my head, before I forget them forever. As a result (and with the number of rounds I judge) I don't always do a great job of editing these comments to make sure they won't sting. But students, coaches, if I say something you feel was unnecessarily hurtful please find me and talk to me. It was never my intention and I'd be happy to clarify my thoughts.

General:Performance needs a clear plot line (rising action, climax, falling action). No plot line? Not gonna be a good ranking. Character differentiation is key as well. If I get confused as to who is speaking when, it's gonna take me out of the performance. Blocking should make sense with the plot and remain consistent. If you create a wall, don't walk through the wall. Volume control is also considered - does the yelling make sense? Does it make me shrink away and not want to listen (not a good thing)? Is it legible? Emotions should match the scene/character as set up by previous scenes.

HI:I've become notorious for not laughing during performances. This is not me purposefully not laughing or trying to throw you off - I just don't find the humor in current HIs funny. In those cases I'm looking more at the characterization and plot line in the piece. That being said, if you see me laugh that is a genuine laugh and it'll for sure go into my considerations of rankings.

Debate

TL;DR: If it’s not on my flow it doesn’t exist. If I can’t explain the argument to you in oral critiques/on my ballot I won’t vote on it. Disrespect, discrimination, or rudeness will cost speaks or, if severe enough, the round. Also, I agree with Brian Darby's paradigm. Go read that and come back here for specifics.

If the words "disclosure theory" are said in the round I will automatically give the team that introduced it the down.

General: I won’t do the work for you. I am tech unless the argument being run is abusively false (Ex: The Holocaust was fake; the Uyghur camps in China are #FakeNews; the sky is red; etc.). I don’t care what you run or how you run it (with a few exceptions below). You need to weigh, you need to explain why you won, you need to extend, you need to signpost. At the end of the round, I want to be able to look at my flow and be able to see clear reasons/arguments why one particular side won the round. I don’t want to have to do mental gymnastics to determine a winner and I hate intervening. Do I prefer a particular style? Sure, but it doesn’t impact my flow or my decision. If you win the argument/round (even if I don’t enjoy it) you won the argument/round.

Style Preference

Email chains/Cards

Don't put me on the chain. You should be speaking slow enough that I don't need to read the speech docs in round to keep my flow clear.

Flow Quirks

First, I still flow on paper - not the computer - keep this in mind when it comes to speed of speech. I kill the environment in Policy by flowing each argument on a different page. Be kind and let me know how many pages to prepare in each constructive and an order to put existing flows in. I flow taglines over authors so, let me know what the author said (i.e. the tag) before you give me the analysis so I can find it on the flow.

Speed

SLOW DOWN ON TAGLINES AND IMPORTANT FACTS In the physical world if you ever go too fast I will throw down my pen and cross my arms. In the virtual world, I suggest you start slow because tech and internet speed has proven to be a barrier for spreading, but I will give you two warnings when you start skipping in and out or when you become unclear. After two, unless it’s an actual tech issue, I’ll stop flowing.

Timing

Prep time ends when you press "send" for the doc OR when the flash drive leaves your computer (or in PF when you stand to speak). That being said, I don’t time in rounds. You should be holding each other accountable.

Speaks

I generally start at 28 and work my way up or down. As a coach and a teacher I recognize and am committed to the value that debate should be an educational activity. Do not be rude, discriminatory, or abusive – especially if you are clearly better than your opponent. I won’t down you for running high quantity and high tech arguments against someone you are substantively better than, but I will tank your speaks for intentionally excluding your opponent in that way. It can only benefit you to keep the round accessible to all involved.

Argumentation

PF Specific

Nothing is "sticky." If it is dropped in summary I drop it from my flow and consider it a "kicked" argument or you "collapsed" into whatever was actually discussed. Do not try to extend an argument from rebuttal into Final Focus that was not mentioned in summary. I will not evaluate it. Don't run Kritiks - more info below

Framework

If you have it, use it. Don’t make me flow a framework argument and never reference it again or drop it in your calculations. LD: Be sure to tell me why you uphold your FW better than your opponent, why it doesn’t matter, or why your FW is superior to theirs. Do not ignore it.

Kicks

I’m fine with you kicking particular arguments and won’t judge it unless your opponent explains why I should, but it won’t be difficult for you to tell me otherwise.

Kritiks

LD/CX: If you aren’t Black, do not run Afropessimism in front of me. Period. End of story. In fact, if you are running any K about minorities (LGBTQ, race, gender, disabilities, etc.) and you do not represent that population you need to be VERY careful. I will notice the performative contradiction and the language of your K (Afropessimism is a great example) may sway my vote if your opponent asks. Anything else is fair game but you need to explain it CLEARLY. Do not assume I’ve read the literature/recognize authors and their theories (I probably haven't). You decided to run it, now you can explain it.

PF: Don't run this in front of me. You don't have time to do it well, flesh out arguments, and link to the resolution. I will most likely accept a single de-link argument from your opponents or a theory that Ks in PF is bad. For your own sake, avoid that.

Structural Violence

Make sure that you understand the beliefs/positions/plights of your specified groups and that your language does not further the structural violence against them. These groups are NOT pawns for debate and I will tank your speaks if you use them as such.

Theory

You can run it (minus disclosure), but if your impact is “fairness” you better explain 1) why it outweighs their quantitative impacts and 2) how what they are doing is so grossly unfair you couldn’t possibly do anything else. If you run this I will not allow conditionality. Either they are unfair and you have no ground, or you have ground and their argument is fine. Choose. Do not run theory as a timesuck.

Tricks

Strike me. I don’t know what they are, I will probably miss them – just like your opponent – and you and I will both be wasting our time on that argument.

Congress

My interpretation of Congress debate is a combination of extemporaneous speaking and debate. The sponsorship/authorship and first opposition speech should be the constructive speech for the legislation. The rebuttals should build on the constructives by responding to arguments made by the opposing side. Both styles of speech should:

1. Engage with the actual legislation, not the generalized concepts,
2. Have clear arguments/points with supporting evidence from reputable sources
3. Have a clear intro and conclusion that grabs the audience's attention and ties everything together
4. Articulate and weigh impacts (be sure to explain why the cost is more important than the lives or why the lives matter more than the systemic violence, etc.)

Rebuttal speeches should clearly address previous speeches/points made in the round. With that in mind, I will look more favorably on speeches later in the cycle that directly respond to previous arguments AND that bring in new considerations - I despise rehash.

Delivery of the speech is important - I will make note of fluency breaks or distracting movements - but I am mainly a flow judge so I might not be looking directly at you.

Participation in the chamber (motions, questioning, etc.) are things I will consider in final rankings and generally serve as tie-breakers. If two people have the same speech scores, but one was better at questioning they will earn the higher rank. Some things I look for in this area:

1. Are your questions targeted and making an impact on the debate of the legislation OR are they just re-affirming points already made?
2. Are you able to respond to questions quickly, clearly, and calmly OR are you flustered and struggling to answer in a consistent manner with the content of your speech?
3. Are you helping the chamber move along and keep the debate fresh OR are you advocating for stale debate because others still have speeches on the legislation?
4. Did you volunteer to give a speech on the opposite side of the chamber to keep the debate moving OR are you breaking Prop/Opp order to give another speech on the heavy side?

Presiding Officer

To earn a high rank in the chamber as the PO you should be able to do the following:

1. Follow precedence with few mistakes
2. Keep the chamber moving - there should be minimal pause from speech to questioning to speech
3. Follow appropriate procedures for each motions - if you incorrectly handle a motion (i.e. call for a debate on something that does not require it or mess up voting procedures) this will seriously hurt your ranking

Hi, My name is Leyla and my pronouns are she/her. I am a parent judge. When speaking,please speak clearly and annunciate your words,

as well as provide trigger warnings about racism and suicide and sa. I always love to see characterization.

For DI's and HI's:

-Strong embodiment of your character is important to me

-I am a crier

-I will pay attention for a clear climax of your piece

• Be mindful that you don't fall into speech patterns, focus on pitch/ rates.
• Be mindful of keeping your popping clean

For Book Events:

• I pay attention to clean bookwork
• again, pitch and rates
• emotions in your voice are most important to me when I watch a performance

For Oratory:

Be confident.

Hi, I'm Greg Zarbo,  This is my first time to have the honor to be a judge for a speech and debate tournament.  I've have vast experience presenting speeches public speeches.  I have been a member of Toastmasters and was an MC at conferences and presented at lunch and learns and corporate dinners, 

Hi, I am parent judge and I've judged IEs and debate during the 22-23 debate season for TFA and NSDA District.

IEs:

For speech delivery, I appreciate that you speak clearly without excessive word crutches. Use time wisely to fully develop the speech. Fluid speech and professional mannerisms will be noted.

On EXTEMPT/INF/OO, make sure your points discussed clearly address the question that you’ve chosen. Following the standard speech outline and including clear impact analysis would help. Cite your sources. I read broadly about economics, geopolitics and technologies on a regularly basis. Logical analysis of event and impact will be noted.

On INTERP, it is a performance and characterization is important. All movements (gestures, head, and other body movements) are done with purpose.

Debate:

- I do not mind speed as long as words can be understood. I also evaluate on speaking ability.

- I will evaluate how each side address other’s arguments with good logic and evidence.

- Off-clock road map is much appreciated.

- Please add me to the email chain: joyzhang08@gmail.com

Since I am an English teacher, I care about the organization of your speeches. If I have a hard time figuring out your argument, I will be more likely to dock speech points. I absolutely do not tolerate any discrimination in my rounds. I prefer hard facts that are relevant and up to date, and if you lie or exaggerate/understate your evidence, I will vote that down.