Experience:

I did 2 years of Lincoln Douglas, 2 years of Public Forum. My partner and I competed at NSDA Nationals 2021 and 2022 and qualified to Public Forum TOC in 2022. I now mentor with Boston Green Academy's High School novice team as part of the Boston Debate League.

For Varsity:

Unsurprising preferences:

• Engage meaningfully with the substance of your opponents' arguments ("I want to see clash")
• At the end of the round, I will vote for the team with the strongest link to the most important impact. This means I need terminal impacts extended into the final speech and weighing done to tell me which ones are most important.
• Use your final speech to write my RFD for me. Tell me what is still standing in the debate and why it means I should vote for you.
• Don't steal prep
• Tech > truth, if I have to pick one, but like, don't read bad arguments. Debate is still a game of persuasion, and true arguments are more persuasive than untrue arguments.

Other preferences:

• If you are called on an evidence ethics violation I will weigh that heavily in my decision. Debate relies on a high degree of self-regulation and trust because there is only so much time in-round to review evidence. If you have ethically questionable evidence in your case, remove or revise it before your round with me.
• I'll flow CX. It's part of the debate for a reason and if anyone makes a really good point in CX I'm not gonna pretend I didn't hear it. But ideally save me the trouble and bring it up in your speech.
• I would love to see a collapse to theory! I will heavily reward a good theory debate with high speaks. There are real conversations to be had about what norms are best for maintaining the fairness and education of debate, and the round is a great platform for those.
• I have limited (but nonzero) experience with K's, so I won't be able to fill in the blanks for you if your story is not clear and convincing. I will happily vote on a kritik, I just need a clear and convincing reason as to why I should vote for you.

For Novice/JV:

Know your case!

Before the round, you should try to summarize in a single paragraph (you can do this in your head) what the story is for voting aff or neg. If you could explain to me over coffee in like 60 seconds what your case is about and why it matters, you will be way more comfortable reading it, responding to rebuttals, making rebuttals, surviving CX, and so on.

In general, I vote for the team with the strongest link to the most important impact. So the most important thing to do in the round is give me that 30-60 second summary, in one or both of the later speeches. Ultimately, I decide a winner based on my own explanation of why I'm voting aff or neg (the RFD), so if your story isn't clear, I won't be able to justify a vote for your side.

Jake LoRocco

Updated 1/10/2023

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About Me

I did policy debate for four years in high school at Dallas Jesuit. I did not debate in college but judged throughout and stayed involved in the community.

Currently judging/volunteering with the Boston Debate League.

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General

I'm good with any type of argument (as long as it's not racist, sexist, etc...) in any form (K, DA, CP, etc...). No matter the argument though, tell me why it's important and why I should vote for it. And please make it aff specific.

You can talk as fast as you want (and I will let you know if you aren't clear).

I don't think new affs bad is a legitimate argument.

Silas Wickenden

Debated for 4 years, open for 3

If you're reading this as a middle schooler,, you've probably already won

If you or your partner say 'riddle me this' in any of your speeches I'll give you both an extra speaker point

Policy Debate wins I look for (how to impress):

1. Have fun!
2. Use of meaningful pauses and inflections during your Constructive presentation go a long way towards impressing me.
3. Ensure you Cross X as many of the arguments presented in the others team Constructive presentation as possible.
4. Try to use up most the time allotted to you. It is a shame when someone rushes through their Constructive presentation and has over half their time remaining.
5. Display of respect to your opponent and the effort they have taken to prepare and present during the debate.

Policy Debate concerns I look for (how NOT to impress):

1. Mundane and/or monotone reading of Constructive presentation from paper or laptop.
2. Not showing eye contact when presenting.
3. Use of personal slights or offensivelanguage meant to intimidate others.
4. Showing little interest in material or position being represented.

Certifications:

NFTS Speech & Debate

Course Work:

NFTS Adjudicating Speech & Debate

NFTS Coaching Speech & Debate

NFTS Speech & Debate Event Management

NFTS After School Security

NFTS Bullying, Hazing and Inappropriate Behaviors

NFTS Protecting Students from Abuse

NFTS Implicit Bias

NTFS Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

NTFS Cultural Competence