Hello Debaters,

I approach the debate with a focus on substance and argumentation, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and effective case development. Here are key aspects of my judging philosophy:

Flow-Centric Evaluation:
I prioritize the flow & time limits as the primary tool for decision-making.
Debaters should clearly articulate and extend arguments throughout the round.
I appreciate the organization and signposting that enhance the flow

Impacts Matter:
I give weight to well-developed impacts that are linked to the resolution.
Impact calculus is crucial. Clearly explain why your impacts outweigh those presented by your opponent.

Clarity and Signposting:
Clear, concise, and organized speeches are key. Clarity in communication helps me understand your arguments better.
Try to use simple words during the debates, remember, the PF should be the debate everyone can understand.
Signpost consistently to help me follow your line of argumentation.

Adaptability:
I appreciate debaters who can adapt their strategy based on the flow of the round.
Flexibility in argumentation and the ability to adjust to your opponent's arguments will be recognized.

Framework and Weighing:
Framework is essential for framing the round, but it should be applied in a way that enhances substantive clash.
Effective weighing of impacts is crucial. Explain why your impacts are more significant in the context of the round.

Evidence-based arguments:
I like debaters who use accurate and meaningful data & resources during the round, they are more persuasive to me during the round; In another way, I am not a fan of theory arguments.
Quality over quantity. Well-analyzed and relevant evidence will carry more weight than a flood of less meaningful sources.
Reference your evidence appropriately and be prepared to defend its relevance.

Respect and Sportsmanship:
Maintain a respectful and professional demeanor throughout the round.
I don't tolerate any form of discrimination or offensive behavior & language. Such behavior will have a negative impact on your final result.

Remember, this paradigm is a guide (besides the last part), and I am open to various debating styles and arguments. Adapt your approach to these guidelines, and feel free to ask for clarification on any specific preferences before the round begins.

Good luck & Have fun during the debate!

Hello :)

I am currently a varsity PF debater and sophomore at Harrisburg High School. I don't have much judging experience ngl, but I'll give it my all.

For technical stuff:

Don't be mean to anyone in the round, there is no reason for it and it just makes you look bad.

I heart off the clock roadmaps (you briefly telling me the order/structure of your speech)

You can time your own speeches, and I'll also keep track of I remember. If you go over the speech time, I probably won't listen to anything you said after your time limit.

If someone says something in the round, I'm gonna take it as true unless your opponent combats it. So basically, make sure you are responding to all your opponent's points bc otherwise they are right ig ????‍♀️ but also don't be abusive or smth and lie.

if you were thinking about spreading (talking extremely fast in your speeches) then don't. I will only write down what I can understand. I like to think I am good with speed, but I could also just be gaslighting myself. Out of ten, I'm prob a 7/10 on speed

I will flow (write down what you are saying so I can reference it when I'm making my decision) in the round if that means anything

tell me why/how/on what points you won and why that matters (your impacts)

I'll provide some feedback in my notes, idk if I'll do it in person or nah bc I am very new to this

I'm sure I missed something you might wanna know, but good luck :)

Experience: I do PF and extemp for Harrisburg. I am not a lay.

PF:

70% tech 30% truth. I vote on turns and linked impacts. Make sure you extend responses, weigh, and extend narrative. If you're a novice, filling your speech time will help you a lot. I really really like prereqs, link-ins, and probability weighing. Also, the biggest reason i vote down teams is because they drop offense on their case, so try not to do that and theres a solid chance you'll get my ballot.

Hello, I’ve done speech and debate through all four years of high school, and I now compete in college. I think Speech and Debate is a great tool to initiate meaningful civil discourse, for that reason, it’s imperative that you are respectful during rounds. If you are being unkind to your opponents, your partner or to me, you will get low speaks, and possibly the down in the round.

Speed

I can handle speed but make sure you are still being coherent.

Public Forum

I appreciate well-organized debaters who use effective signposting. I keep a good flow so make sure you point out any drops. You should write the ballot for me in the last two speeches. I truly believe in the idea that anyone should be able to walk into a round and understand what is happening in PF.

Flashing Evidence: I won't take prep, but be quick with it.

LD

I have never debated it before. Most likely, I will not familiar with the topic. I have judged it before and I understand the value, criterion, and the works of LD, but I’m definitely not extremely well versed in it.

You all are incredibly talented, and I’m so excited to watch you. Good Luck and you’ll be great. If you have any questions feel free to ask me during the round or feel free to email me at abiahsg@gmail.com if you have questions after the round.

I'm a 3-year varsity debater at Washington High School. I mainly compete in PF and DX but will occasionally do Congress.

Congress:

Make sure you are asking actual questions and not just making statements during the questioning period.

Try to bring something new to the floor, it gets boring hearing the same arguments repeatedly.

PF:

Constructive: I'm ok with speed

Cross x: I like a heated crossfire, but be nice

Rebuttal: Try to use up all your time, use evidence, and be organized

Summary: Same thing as rebuttal and don't bring up new evidence/points

Final Focus: Don't bring up new evidence, focus on the main topics debated

Debate is supposed to be fun, make it fun!

I am a traditional public forum debater who doesn't promote fast speaking. If you do, just make sure you speak loudly, clearly, and concisely. I'll understand it, but it comes from your speaker points. This especially goes for novices. There is no need for any of that; just talk confidently and persuasively.

PF:

I currently debate for JHS, so I'm pretty well-versed on this PF topic, there's no need to treat me like a lay.

Evidence clash (indicts, better sources, etc.), warranting (explaining why your argument is good and cards are important, not just throwing them at me), and weighing (why your impacts are more important than the other team's) are the most important things to me. Additionally, great speaking ability and signposting/flowing through your arguments will especially make me vote for you.

I have zero preference for 'debate norms'; I'll vote for anything you could possibly think of, as long as you win it (just not on K's or theories). If your opponents say the sky is green and you drop it, the sky is green.

LD:

Yeah I don't know anything other than the structure, treat me like a lay

Hi!! I'm a varsity PF debater at Washington, and this is my 3rd year doing public forum! With that being said, I love giving feedback in my RFD because that's exactly what I wanted in my novice year. Check your results if that is something you are interested in!

Feedback for your rounds with me as your judge-

-Speed: I'm okay with it as long as your opponent can understand you, and I can too. If you have to speak a little fast to fit your case into 4 minutes thats fine, but you wouldn't be gasping for air because of your speed.

-I am a "flow judge", my vote will be based on who carried their points and effectively argued them. Dropped points will be dropped off of my flow only if you comment on the fact they are dropped. If the fact a point was dropped isn't brought up, consider yourself lucky and bring it back up. Please label whichever contention you are commenting on, such as "pro's 1st contention" or "my 3rd contention". This helps me flow effectively so I can best judge the round.

WEIGH YOUR IMPACTS!! You should be telling me WHY you win and WHY the pro/con world serves more benefits/harms. Your final focus is the perfect place to do this! I recommend bring up very few cards in your FF, and focusing on voters (main points of the round that were heavily debated) and why you won them.

I am a 1st speaker, and I realize how hard summary can be. I hear you guys! As long as you bring up every point and card you want to carry into the FF, that is good with me. I also strongly advise you to use voters, it makes it a lot easier to format your speech.

-You can be assertive, but be respectful. Disrespect will lead to a drop in speaker points.

-If you are calling a card, your prep time will start when the card is pulled up and you begin reading.

Homophobia, transphobia, sexism, racism, ect are an immediate lose with me. This is an inclusive activity, and discrimination hurts the nature of debate.

I'm a huge swiftie... bring up Taylor Swift in any speech and I'll give you an extra 0.5 speaker point :)

Hello :)

I am a varsity PF debater at Harrisburg High School. I haven't judged much as this is the first year I am eligible to do so, but I'll do my best regardless!

For PF:

1) I am 100% okay with off the clock roadmaps and would actually prefer them along with signposting so I know where you are on the flow

2) I will time your speeches, but please time yourselves as well! Just as a general rule I probably won't flow any arguments you say after your speech time ends

3) If someone says something is true in the round, then I will believe them unless you tell me otherwise! If you're opponents tell me the sky is green and you don't refute them, then the sky is green ig

4) As for speed, I don't have much of an issue with it as long as you aren't spreading (talking extremely fast to the point where I can't make out what you are saying). If you do spread, then I won't flow <3

5) PLEASE extend impacts and warrants! I need to know why I should vote for you!

6) Above all else, be kind!

For LD:

I couldn't tell you what a criterion is if my life depended on it, so just be nice to your opponent and be patient with me ig

Hopefully this helps, good luck :)

I've been doing Public Forum debates for the past 4 years and I am currently a senior at Washington High School.

Road maps are off the clock.

Calling cards means you're using your prep time to look at a card.

If you do not tell me something is dropped then I will continue to flow it.

everything will flowed from constructive to crossfire to final focus.

Keep it light but don’t be afraid to be confrontational it’s debate so debate.

have fun with it all. Any reference to a good rapper will gain you .5 in speaker points any bad rapper will not result in a .5 boost.

TL;DR, be clear be confident be kind

I competed in pf for 2 years,I’d rather not see PF develop into a shortened CX

I am very traditionalist. Everything you say should be fairly easy to comprehend by a person off the street as this is an educational event. I won’t vote on generic or off-the-wall impacts unless dropped or explained really well. Probability>magnitude I'm not a huge fan of extinction impacts. I only vote FW if your opponent completely drops it. Don't be abusive, anything that goes against the educational and fair nature of the event is a good way to lose my vote. Make it clear where the card ends and the analysis starts. I think disclosure theory is bogus (debate is a speech activity -- an argument hasn't been made until a speech is delivered).

Constructive: Don’t have something in your case as a time filler you plan on kicking later. Don’t push the pace and please show emotion while reading your case.

Cross: Be firm but don’t be rude, if your opponent asks for a follow up allow it but after 1 it’s your job to cut them off. This time is completely yours, I’ll never vote on it. Also, you need a good poker face, try to hide your reactions to your opponents.

Prep: Use it, even if your speech is ready you should look over your flows and see if there is anything you could add. You don’t need to save 1:30 of prep for the final focus.

Rebuttal: I’m very policy-like here, blocks are more than OK but don’t act like it’s your first time reading them. Go down the flow in a consistent manner, I love it when teams cross-apply cases but make sure it makes sense when you do it. If something is dropped point it out, otherwise, I cannot vote on it.

Summary: Start crystallizing, and try to avoid new args, especially as 2nd speaker. Don’t spend all your time on clashed args it's okay to drop them if it's unclear, use your speech to point out areas you’re clearly winning. I vote really hard on weighing so please be clear with that.

Final Focus: Voters, Voters, Voters. It’s ok to drop at this point, go all-in on the args you’re winning. Tell the story of the round, act human, and show emotion.