Speech and Debate is three things, to me: a sport, an art, and a game. I judge accordingly. These tenets are universal, although I do have event-specific info below.

AS A SPORT

Speech and Debate is about winning, but not through raw force of will, or endurance, or physical power. It's one of the only spaces in which the winner is the one who best utilizes their intelligence and skill. This is what I want to see from competitors: however you see fit, show me unequivocally why you deserve to triumph.

AS AN ART

Speech and Debate is a space for you to express yourself and strike at the heart of what it means to be a human being. This is the next thing I want to see from competitors: show me unequivocally who you are.

AS A GAME

Speech and Debate is also supposed to be entertaining. Although debate kids tend to be above average (read: monumental nerds) this is not quiz bowl, this is not UIL history, this is not chess club. This is meant to be entertaining and enjoyable, and the best competitor is often the one who is having the most fun. This is the final thing I want to see from competitors: show me unequivocally why you're having fun.

And now, Event Specific Info, for the poor souls who find themselves judged by me:

Congress/Extemp

These two events function based on the same fundamental framework. Be clear, convince me, utilize analysis. Either make me laugh (using humor, puns, irony) or make me cry (using pathos, real stories, emotional appeals.) Above all else, DON'T BE BORING.

LD/PF/CX

I despise spreading, communicate with me or lose. I am willing to vote on either tech or truth - it is your job, not mine, to set the parameters of the debate. Just know, if you're going to run something that is flagrantly untrue, you must be ready to go to the ends of the Earth to defend it... in the words of David Foster Wallace, "The truth will set you free, but not until it is finished with you."

Speech Events

I don't really know much about judging these events, but I'm looking for the competitors who sell me their role, their character, their story, their whatever. I want to be convinced that I'm witnessing something real, not a performance by a high school kid in formal clothes. Please don't spend your whole speech screaming at headache-inducing levels.

Good luck everyone!

also if you quote or reference: tolstoy, dostoyevsky, kafka, wright, ellison, delillo, or d.f.w., i will up you.

Congress

Argumentation - Make sure your arguments make sense(CWDI), please don´t do non solvency or nonunique arguments, it get´s pretty boring to your judges. You must have impacts, don´t give me word salad. Clash :)

Presentation - PLEASE DON´T READ YOUR INTRO OFF YOUR PAD, it should be our first impression of who you are and if you can´t memorize something as integral as your intro it´s not a good look. Maintain eye contact, don´t overuse gestures, speakers triangle. Funny intros are good, but just make sure they relate in some way to the bill or topic itself. If you say ¨the opposite of congress is progress¨ in your speech I will down you. Engage me and I will listen to you, you´re already here, make the most of it.

Questioning - If you ask a question make sure you know the answer too it, it get´s pretty awkward when you somebody says ¨im sure you can tell me¨ and you can´t. Be direct, use your time well, engage the questioner. Active questioners will be noticed, and having a presence in the chamber is equally as important as speaking itself.

PO - Be confident, know parli procedures please, if you can make your PO sheet available to observers(tinyurl or bit.ly) it will be noted. Keeping decorum is a must, you will not be an automatic break just for POing. Please tell your judges to mark you down as the Xth speaker after each hour. POing isn´t really my thing, if you step up to do it if no one in your round wants to I´ll keep it in mind, most importantly don´t let the small mistakes get to you, and have fun.

Extemp

Restate the question, have an engaging intro, good presentation, use your time well, make sure you give me your sources+dates. I will listen to a confident, collected speaker any day over someone rushing.

LD/PF/CX

Spreading is a death sentence

Everything else

Have fun, I´ll try my best, be entertaining