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.

Speech Events Paradigm

Extemp / OO / Informative

I am looking for confidence in my speaking competitors. If you don't believe it, how can you expect me to?

Extemp - make sure that you communicate the question and your answer! Everything in the middle should support that answer. Source citation at this level will be the difference between the ranks. You've all proven throughout the invitational season that you know how to do this, now we reward the best of the best.

OO - This is your chance to really shine. It is without a doubt my favorite event and I love hearing your stories. If you have a topic that has burned you in the past because of the level of sensitivity then I am definitely the judge that you want. These are subjects that are important to you, I am only here to judge your technical proficiency in delivering the message not the subject matter itself.

Informative - You've got the hardest job of all. How do you inform the audience about a subject that is important enough to speak on without getting passionate enough to slip into persuasiveness? Those that can sell me on the value of their topic while maintaining that balance of info/persuasion will be rewarded with the better ranks. Also, keep in mind that at this level of competition your visual aides can hurt you as much or even more than they can help you. A badly produced prop will hurt your ranking more that just going without will. Don't throw something in just for the sake of having it, the purpose of allowing visual aides is to enhance the message, not detract from it.

INTERP - I am probably not your guy here.

It isn't that I dislike the events, in fact I love watching a good interp round, the problem is that I am highly volatile in my rankings. What appeals to me one day might not on another. I hate that my mood of the moment has that kind of influence over my ballot but that's why I'm disclosing now. I am not well versed in the technical aspects of Oral Interp so I default to voting for the performer that best channels their characters, makes me believe in them, and the literature that connects with me emotionally.

TRIGGER ISSUES - Rape & Child Abuse

If your piece contains Rape scenes please do us both a favor and use a strike on me or at least a Pref level 4

I am a parent judge and a math teacher (ha). I am not a debate coach and did not do debate in high school.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I have an auditory processing issue - I can keep up pretty well if you speak clearly. If you speak too fast, so that I can't understand and flow your argument, I will have a hard time assigning you a victory. Sharing a copy/digital version of the constructive/cards is a plus. I will only vote on what I get if you don't share with me. If you have a card debate, it would be wise to share those cards with me so I can analyze them and form my opinion.

I want to hear clash. Bring new points. I do not like a debate that just ping pongs back and forth saying the same thing over and over. Make it interesting and weigh your points for me! You will want to explain concepts that a regular citizen may not know. This is public forum and should be accessible to any judge. Please remember that. I will vote on logic and probability more than tech. Period.

halston.mccalla@midlandisd.net for email chains.