Hey, I'm Paul, a rising senior at Stratford High School. I mainly compete in Extemp, and have finaled at UIL State twice, quartered the UT Longhorn in USX, and quartered TFA State in IX. I am the deputy Editor in Chief at the Equality in Forensics Red Folder, a news source geared towards competitors (aka I read the news). I also have some experience in Oratory.

Debate:

I will readily tell you that I have little experience with traditional debate, so I am more or less a lay judge, although I do know a reasonable amount about argumentation from Extemp. Consider me a truth judge, as I will not look favorably on arguments that are not backed up properly. I like to see interesting takes on topics, but ones that can be reasonably be backed up in reality.

Oratory/Info:

For PA events other than Extemp, I generally tend to give equal weight to delivery and writing. I like a polished speech, but I want to see the humanity in it; I should be able to tell why you picked this topic over anything else you could have done.

In Oratory specifically, I need solutions. These solutions should be relevant to your topic and towards your audience. As far as I'm concerned, an Oratory without solutions is pointless.

Congress:

I have some experience in Congress, so I know what the event is supposed to look like, and what it is not. I absolutely abhor the toxic culture that seems to be prevalent which advances being rude and bullying people in order to show "dominance". I value unique arguments, and don't like seeing rehash. Again, please be nice, especially in questioning.

Extemp:

In Extemp, I definitely value analysis over delivery, although delivery is important and I will take that into account. I like to see structure, and your substructure across all three points should be the same (unified analysis) except in VERY rare circumstances (ie super complex court or econ topics).

I almost act as a cross examiner when watching speeches, trying to find weak areas and how you address them. I like to see logical arguments that flow nicely which I have a hard time poking holes in them. I'd actually advise trying this in prep: think about the questions a cross examiner could ask, and address them so that the logic is more sound.

Speaking of cross examination, be nice. I don't particularly like seeing the more "Congressy" style of cross. Although you should obviously strive to ask good questions, and I will reward you if you do, you should ask them politely; cross should look a lot more like an news interview of an expert than a cheap TV show's version of a courtroom.

As for AGDs, I don't value them that highly. What I mean by this is not to refrain from having them, but I would rather not see one than a bad one. They should be clearly linked to your topic, and look like something that is applicable to this speech, not just a device you pull out every time you get a question with the word Nigeria in it.

I do not like canned or inappropriate AGDs, and while I usually won't give it an automatic 6, I will definitely down you for it. In addition, AGDs stolen from NSDA finals are not something you should be using; everyone has seen those, and everyone will know you are fine with plagiarism. This doesn't go so much for ideas that are so widely used that they are in the "public domain" per se, but you should be able to come up with something about it that is unique to you; I don't like canned punchlines.

Interp:

Please don't let me be your Interp judge. I have absolutely no experience, and don't like the event. If that fails, I would like to see clear character transitions (in HI especially), energy that doesn't look too rehearsed, and vocal variety (ie don't just yell at me for ten minutes, have levels). Otherwise, consider me a lay judge.

In all events, DO NOT USE YOUR PHONE IN ROUND. I will drop you to the heaviest extent possible that I can in the event, as will most other judges.