I like puns. Extra imaginary points for puns.

I am an Ares, I like lively but respectful clash.

All events are about making an convincing argument and presenting it well.

forensics@tempeprep.org

Congress:

45% presentation, 55% content. I expect lively debate and I appreciate (and take note of) good cross examination. I don't care for jargon ("vote aff", etc).

Presiding officers get a special place in my heart and will generally rank for a standard/competent PO performance. A PO performance blending effectiveness with pizazz will rank higher in my book. A really effective PO will coordinate with other competitors, exemplify authority, cleverly use humor to engage the room, and leverage parliamentary procedures to maximize the number of speeches and equitably distribute speaking among the room. Extra imaginary points for whomever can gavel the loudest.

Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum:

No spreading. Organized claim, warrant, impacts are important for me. You need to effectively synthesize the round and weigh impacts for me. Please refer to your evidence by some key word or phrase, I won't necessarily remember authors only. I prefer traditional debate (a must in Public Forum) so if you run something progressive our out there please explain it like I am 5 years old. Debaters who are witty, personable, and clear/concise speakers will score well with me - I'll vote on the content that's presented and weighed in the round.

Individual Events:

Even though IEs are not strictly debate, I expect you to make a novel argument and support it via your speech or interp. You need to convey to me why I should care about your piece - why is it worth performing? For interp, please use good judgement when choosing accents, caricatures, and themes - I expect themes that are appropriate for a high school environment although some sparse elements of adult themes are welcome if done tastefully.

Public Forum:

I flow the rounds and judge based on your speeches not cross fire. I review notes, contentions that flow from beginning to end. Please make sure to have definitions and framework. Framework is very important to your case. Make sure you are clear in your contentions and arguments. If I cannot understand you or you are talking too fast, I miss things and it can be a problem. You are there to convince me why your team wins-explain the impacts and weighing, FRAMEWORK and explain the reason for decision. Pretend I do not know anything about the topic. Be respectful of your opponents and let them talk during cross fire. You should be able to provide your cards, evidence quickly. You should be organized and have them quickly to provide competitor if asked. I will reject any extinction impacts. I will look at climate change and increasing threat of war, but the huge numbers used will not be counted. I do like when teams collapse to one or two best contentions and not the laundry list. Give me the impacts, weighing and why you win.

LD

LD is a speech form of debate and I need to understand your case and reasoning. Spreading is very common today, but it does not mean you are an excellent debater, logical or can convince someone to your side of the argument. You need to convince me, your contentions, framework and the reasons why you won the round. I will flow the rounds and judge based on your speeches not cross fire. I review notes, contentions that flow from beginning to end. Please make sure to have definitions, values and criterion. Make sure you are clear in your contentions, definitions and arguments. If I cannot understand you or you are talking too fast, I miss things and it can be a problem for you. You are there to convince me why you win-explain the impacts, logic, reasoning explain the reason for decision. Pretend I do not know anything about the topic. Debate the resolution and topic. Some LD topics are more like PF but keep to the resolution. Plans and counterplans need to fit the resolution and debaters need to keep to the resolution.

Congress:

Make sure to advance the debate and there are differences betwen first, middle and ending speeches. Do not use debate lingo as please affirm is not done in Congressional debate. Do not use computers and read your notes. Make sure you have credible sources and know your topic. Be able to debate both sides of the topic. Two good/great speeches are better than 3 average/poor speeches so in other words, less can be more. I want you to particpate but quality is very important. You are there to persuade the members.

IE:

Impromptu: Biggest ranking is did you answer the question or prompt. Do you understand what is being asked. Make sure you are organized, confident and always each reason/point relates to the prompt.

Extemporaneous. Use good sources of material. Economic would be The Economist, Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times. New York Times is better than Arizona Republic but make sure you have good credible research. The topics are very advanced and in many cases specific so answer the question. You are to use persuation and logic, with your sources to convince me the answer-keep to the question.

Congress:

Absolutely no spreading.

Passion is a part of persuasion, how can I believe you if I don't buy you believe in your own argument

If there is a tie, I will use great questioning as a tiebreaker.

I automatically set Presiding Officer at 1st, you have to be that much better to surpass them if they do their job effectively and efficiently

Debate:

Most above applies as well, no spreading, passion, great questioning.

You cannot simply refer to a card, you must elaborate and connect the card to your/opponents arguments and must be clear in that connection.

I am a speech and debate coach and an English teacher, who taught logic, technical writing, composition, and Literature in college for 11 years. I debated in high school. These are some of the things you should consider when debating:

1. Speak clearly, do not spread. I am mostly deaf and I rely on imperfect hearing devices and lip reading. If I can't hear your arguments you haven’t made your argument.

2. Have empirical evidence and use it concisely.

3. Consider your structure. Make the time for a well thought out planned case or response that makes sense logically.

4. Be mature and respectful at all times. Yes, be confident and assertive, but do not yell, bully, belittle, roll your eyes, use sarcasm etc. . ..

5. For speaker points make sure to have a polished presentation style with appropriate eye contact, volume, dynamics, dramatic pauses, rhetorical appeals, tone etc. . .

I prefer to hear a few well developed arguments, delivered with clarity, rather than a mass of contentions delivered at an unintelligible rate. Debate the topic and refrain from Plans as they often tend to skirt the issue. Please avoid speaking over your opponent during Cross. I tend to weigh impacts rather heavily and I will consider the flow, however it will not be the sole factor in determining the round.