Iowa High School Forensic League State Tournament
2025 — Indianola, IA/US
Speech Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideContact info: avejacksond@gmail.com
Background: I competed for Okoboji (IA) and was at the TOC '13 in LD. I also debated policy in college the following year. I coached from 2014-2019 for Poly Prep (NY). I rejoined the activity again in 2023 as the current assistant debate coach at Johnston (IA) and previously an adjunct LD coach for Lake Highland Prep (FL). I also was an instructor at NSD Philadelphia 2024.
LD
General: Debate rounds are about students so intervention should be minimized. I believe that my role in rounds is to be an educator, however, students should contextualize what that my obligation as a judge is. I default comparative worlds unless told otherwise. Slow down for interps and plan texts. I will say clear as many times as needed. Signpost and add me to your email chain, please. Don't spread if your opponent isn't okay with it.
Pref Shortcut
K: 1
T/Theory: 2
LARP/Policy: 1/2
Tricks: 2/3
K: I really like K debate. I have trouble pulling the trigger on links of omission. Performative offensive should be linked to a method that you can defend. The alt is an advocacy and the neg should defend it as such. Knowing lit beyond tags = higher speaks. Please challenge my view of debate. I like learning in rounds.
Framework: 2013 LD was tricks, theory, and framework debate. I dislike blippy, unwarranted 'offense'. However, I really believe that good, deep phil debate is persuasive and underutilized on most topics. Most framework/phil heavy affs don't dig into literature deep enough to substantively respond to general K links and turns.
LARP: Big fan but don't assume I've read all hyper-specific topic knowledge.
Theory/T: Great, please warrant extensions and signpost. "Converse of their interp" is not a counter-interp.
Speaks: Make some jokes and be chill with your opponent. In-round strategy dictates range. I average 28.3-28.8.
Other thoughts: Plans/CPs should have solvency advocates. Talking over your opponent will harm speaks. Write down interps before extemping theory. When you extend offense, you need to weigh. Card clipping is an auto L25.
PF
I am a flow judge. Offense should be extended in summary. Weighing in back half is key. I'll steal this line from my favorite judge, Thomas Mayes, "My ballot is like a piece of electricity, it takes the path of least resistance." Disclosure theory in PF isn't my favorite at all. Don't read a K if it's underdeveloped and/or as a way to exclude opp who isn't prepped on it. I will not evaluate paraphrased evidence. Have fun and be nice.
Thank you for debating! It takes a lot of guts to get up in front of a stranger an argue like this. I was a high school debater in the 90’s in Texas and have judged a fair amount in the years since. Speech and debate are all about communication for me. I don't mind speaking at a moderate rate of speed, but if I cannot understand you, I will not flow you. If I don't flow you, I won't consider the arguments when I'm judging the round. Should you decide to spread in front of me, you will not be happy with the resulting speaker points.
When judging LD, I'm happiest hearing a nice package of how your contentions contribute to your criteria, to your value, and ultimately to the truth and falsehood of the resolution. I prefer more philosophy, but that can be challenging with these more practical resolutions. When it come to PF, I appreciate good, clear links and impacts that are well explained and warranted. It's not enough to say the other side will cause extreme poverty or death, show me how the other side gets there and, even better, how you prevent it. A few moments explaining that logic will go a long way toward getting you my ballot.
I am willing to hear almost any argument you want to run, but if you're going to run progressive argumentation, be very sure to clearly explain how it links to the resolution, as in a muddled round, that is where I will first look to decide. Please signpost, clearly show how things link across the flow, and show me how you win the round. In the final speeches, I am more interested in hearing what you think are the biggest issues in the round than to hear you try and sprint through a point-by-point, especially on the affirmative.
Please list trigger warnings before the round begins.
I'm a lay person.
I have no experience in organized debating.
You can go as fast as you would like but if I cannot hear you or understand you I cannot vote for you.
I am a games judge.
Cross is for you. If it is said in a cross but not in a speech, it does not exist for me to judge.
Your clock for prep and speaking is nice, but mine overrules it if there is a conflict between the two.
This is my third year as a parent judge.
I appreciate careful and reasonably-paced speaking, good evidence and knowledge of your sources.
I find that there is plenty of time during the round for teams to present arguments cogently and marshall evidence. Usually the debate gets repetitive towards the end. So don't rush. Make eye contact with me and convince me with good evidence and a carefully made argument.
We are all influenced by implicit bias, or the stereotypes that unconsciously affect our decisions. I will always take a moment to reflect on biases that may impact my decision-making process.
About Me:
I am a student at Simpson College, and a member of the Speech and Debate team. Prior, I was involved in High School Speech and Debate as a Public Forum, Congress, and Lincoln Douglas debater as well as various speech events.
Preferences for Public Forum:
• I am a tech/blank-slate judge, but I appreciate tone, articulation and speech skills, and this will impact my decision, meaning:
-I will vote on anything.
-I vote on both offense and defense, so do not drop your arguments.
• If I cannot understand the speed of your speaking, then I cannot flow your arguments, so please do not spread.
• If you are going to use theory or K's, please clearly warrant them clearly, in a way that a novice debater would understand.
• Please stay respectful, and do not personally attack your opponent. This will result in an immediate loss of the ballet.
• Off - time roadmaps are acceptable, but please clearly signpost your contentions/sub-contentions as well.
Teams should independently, explicitly, at the beginning, address and agree upon how the round should be weighed; if not, my assumption is cost-benefit analysis.
Preferences for Congress:
• A shorter stronger speech >a longer speech that goes off topic.
• Unless if your speech is first, address the prior representatives speeches, and rebut them.
• Crystallization speeches are unnecessary and a little lazy.
• Charisma and Humor can improve a speech, but are no replacement for a strong arguement.
Be strategic in your choice and timing to speak.
Preferences for Speech:
Speech events are difficult! Try your best, and be confident.
Interpretation:
• Try your best to remain off script, unless if you are still learning!
• I use NSDA judging guide to judge these events, these generally include:
Content: Whether the students explore socially relevant and emotionally powerful content
Performance: How well the students deliver a performance with characters who each have a unique voice
Blocking: The creative physicality of the blocking
• Emotion should be shown in all aspects of your performance, whether its your face, blocking and actions.
Limited Prep:
• Structure is key, signpost your speech.
• Make sure that your presentation is entertaining, whether its serious, funny, or informational, engage me in the speech.
• Attempt to come close to filling your time, and make sure to allocate time for each point.
Prepped:
•Show passion.
• Structure is key, signpost your speech.
• Make sure that your presentation is entertaining, whether its serious, funny, or informational, engage me in the speech.
• Attempt to come close to filling your time, and make sure to allocate time for each point.
samuel.juhl@dmschools.org
I am in my 4th year of coaching speech at East High School in Des Moines. I competed as a student in LD in high school. I have judged every IE event and every debate event. I primarily view debate as an educational activity. If debate weren’t a place for students to develop speaking and argumentation skills, I think debate would have almost no value and I wouldn’t be spending my valuable time away from my small children coaching and judging debate. I’ve broken down my paradigm into sections so that you can skip to the portions of the paradigm that apply to you.
LD/PF
Because I primarily participate in debate for the educational value. I am a Truth>Tech judge but I want to explain what that does/doesn’t mean to me. Truth>Tech doesn’t mean that you don’t have to respond to your opponents’ factually spurious arguments. I’m still going to rely heavily on my flow to determine the outcome of the round. I think it is fundamentally unfair to insert my own arguments into a round though I will do it if a competitor is arguing something abhorrent ie: that it is morally good to kill children or something.
Truth>Tech does mean that unserious arguments do not require a response. Logical fallacies exist for a reason and modern debate is filled with logical fallacy abuse. If in LD, you use a non-topical nazi analysis to point to some problem with a moral framework I likely won’t take that argument as seriously as a resolution critique of the moral framework. Similarly, I don’t find many of slippery slope arguments that have 40 links to some colossal impact to be especially strong arguments either. This doesn’t mean that you can’t win with these arguments on my ballot it just means that I am going to be receptive to responses that point out the problems with slippery slope arguments or bringing everything back to the third Reich when we are debating public service or something.
I expect you to fully articulate your arguments. Don’t just tell me that your first contention turns their second contention tell me why your first contention turns their second contention. Similarly, don’t just make the claim that some behavior is bad for debate, tell me why the behavior is bad for debate. A claim isn’t an argument and won’t really get acknowledged as one on my flow.
I realize that this is debate and not speech and so I don't decide debate rounds on speaking skills but rather the argumentation. However, an argument rendered incomprehensible because of the rate of a person’s speaking is the same as an argument not made on my ballot. I will not read a speech doc unless the document is an accommodation to allow someone to participate in debate. Debate, be definition, is an oral activity and I think that reading speech documents invites the judge to understand arguments that have been ineffectively articulated in round and is a form of judge intervention.
Unless a tournament tells me not to, I will always disclose, and I almost always tell the losing competitor(s) what they could do to have won my ballot in the round. I will sometimes provide feedback about how I would have argued for or against a point but unless those arguments were made by students in the round, they won’t affect my ballot.
Congressional debate
Speeches should be well organized. By this I mean the listener should be able to clearly delineate between your points, introduction, and conclusion. If the delineation between these things is unclear to me, the listener, your speech isn't organized enough. This does not mean reading me a list. A list is better than no organization, but the lists are basic. Think about ways to organize a speech without just going 123
Your speech, when appropriate, should be well supported by reliable and relevant sources. If you can't find research or credible analysis to back up a point that doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't make it but your speech shouldn't be entirely filled with this type of argument. Additionally, I would caution you to avoid simply making an appeal to authority in your speech make sure the source of your information is properly credentialed before making a claim
I prefer an extemporaneous delivery. Computers/notepads should be used as a reference rather than as a script. I also prefer a more polished delivery in which eye contact is more frequently maintained and a student’s movement is controlled so that it enhances the speech rather than distracts the listener. I can handle faster speech speeds but to a reasonable limit. I need people to speak at a reasonable volume. I need to be able to hear you, but yelling is also inappropriate.
Your speech should bring up new information. If your points have already been made in round, then don't waste everyone's time by repeating them. Secondly, While I understand that crystallization speeches are popular in the congressional "meta" they have to be well done and actually work to clearly delineate why one sides arguments are preferable to the other sides arguments. If all you have done is summarize the arguments the other speakers have made in round you have wasted everyone's time.
This is congressional debate not congressional speech. While I can understand a lack of clash in the authorship speech, I believe that all other speeches in a cycle of debate should make a clear attempt at refuting the specific arguments that other speakers have made in round. Bonus points if you can set up these arguments using a questioning block to draw attention to the flaws in your opponent’s logic.
If you are speaking in the negation, please don't center your argument around a problem that can be amended away. Write an amendment. If your problem with a bill is that it appropriates 20 million dollars instead of the 25 million that it should have fix that problem with an amendment.
While the PO is responsible for running a smooth and equitable chamber it is not only the responsibility of the PO. debaters that have a clear understanding of the rules and don't disrupt the chamber by making incorrect motions or violating chamber rules will be more highly ranked.
For PO’s: I care that you run a smooth and equitable chamber. Make sure you are properly following rules for recency and precedence. Additionally, where rules/procedural issues arise I expect you to be able to handle them without relying on the parliamentarian I will say that I typically have a hard time ranking POs at the top of the chamber unless the quality of debate is exceedingly low or the PO is exceptionally proficient. However, I will usually rank the PO in the top 5 if there are no serious errors in the way they conduct their chamber.
Speech
I consider your decision of what piece to perform one of the many decisions that I will evaluate in round. If your piece is problematic in its portrayal of people with mental illnesses or you are depicting an act/event I don't think is appropriate that will affect your final rank. I am tired of judging rounds in which students mine traumatic events that happen to real people in the real world to win a high school speech contest and that fatigue will start being reflected in the final ranks I assign after speech rounds.
Speeches should be well organized. By this I mean the listener should be able to clearly delineate between your points, introduction, and conclusion. If the delineation between these things is unclear to me, the listener, your speech isn't organized enough. This does not mean reading me a list. A list is better than no organization, but the lists are basic. Think about ways to organize a speech without just going 123
Your speech, when appropriate, should be well supported by reliable and relevant sources. If you can't find research or credible analysis to back up a point that doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't make it but your speech shouldn't be entirely filled with this type of argument. Additionally, I would caution you to avoid simply making an appeal to authority in your speech make sure the source of your information is properly credentialed before making a claim
I don’t judge visual aids in informative speaking. If the visual aid detracts from your speech, it will hurt your score. If the visual aid enhances your speech, it will help your score. If you have no visual aid but deliver a stellar speech I will give you a high rank.
Finally, I place a high emphasis on actually answering the prompt in USX, IX and Spontaneous Speaking. Try to make sure you answer the question you’ve been asked and aren’t doing something adjacent to it. I will rank people who do not actually answer the question at the bottom of the chamber.
Background: I was a PF debater from 2014-2016 on the local and national circuit. I also participated in a variety of speech events through NSDA tournaments as well as the IHSSA, including spontaneous, public speaking (IHSSA), and expository address (IHSSA).
Debate Preferences:
- In the rebuttal, the team which speaks second should both attack the opposing team's case and defend their own case against attacks by the opposing team.
- Please collapse the round in the second half. If your opponents decimated one of your arguments and you don't have adequate defense, don't waste your time trying to prop it up. The most successful debaters are those who understand the context of their round and can pivot to frame the round around elements they are winning.
- Essential defense should be extended in the first Summary.
- If something is not mentioned in the Summary, it will not be flowed in Final Focus.
- I really appreciate voters in Summary and Final Focus.
- Weighing makes my job a lot easier. If no weighing occurs, you lose control of the round.
- I do not flow crossfire. If something important happens in cross, tell me in a speech.
Speaking Preferences:
- Organization: Please signpost whenever possible. Good organization helps me make a fairer decision and usually results in a better round of debate.
- Speed: I can handle moderate speed, but if you speak too fast, I may not be able to flow everything. Remember -- this is PF, not Policy or LD. Your clarity and eloquence will be reflected in your speaker points.
- Please slow down on author names and dates so I can keep track of evidence in the flow.
Evidence:
- I prefer that evidence be initially introduced by direct quote, but if you must paraphrase, please ensure you represent the evidence accurately with regard to its meaning, intent, and context. In later speeches, feel free to (accurately) paraphrase but make sure all evidence is connected to an author or organization for flowing purposes.
- After frequently dealing with teams using inaccurately paraphrased evidence during my time as a debater, I have zero tolerance for bad evidence. I will call for evidence at the end of the round if there is any question as to its credibility. Please have evidence either as a cut card or highlighted in a PDF. If I conclude that evidence has been misrepresented, I will drop it from the flow and drop speaker points as appropriate.
Arguments:
- While I am open to any argument, I am not very familiar with how to evaluate arguments that deal with Ks/theory/etc. You will have to work harder to explain to me why I should care (and slow down, please).
- Creative/unexpected arguments can be fun, but they still need to be well-supported, well-warranted, and impactful to be effective.
Other Items:
- I will do my best to keep time, but please time yourselves as well to keep everyone accountable.
- Please be respectful to your opponents. The inability to do so will be reflected in your speaker points.
- Feel free to ask me questions about what you have read here! Debate is an educational activity, and adapting to your audience is an important skill that you will utilize for the rest of your life.
Parker Klyn, Director of Forensics at Theodore Roosevelt High School (Des Moines, IA)
Call me Parker, Mr. Klyn, or judge, whichever you're most comfortable with.
Email: klynpar@gmail.com
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Judging Philosophy
Tech over truth. The only arguments I won't vote on are unwarranted IVIs and "new affs bad." I am happy to adjudicate the round the competitors want to have, whatever that looks like. Judges have a moral obligation to evaluate debates as fairly as possible and any intervention at all does a profound disservice to the hard work and preparation of the students in this wonderful activity.
Write my ballot for me (utilize clear judge instruction) in the final speeches. Offense/defense, the flow determines all, go as fast as you want as long as you're clear. I do not flow off the doc.
Outside of that, to cast a ballot in your favor, I need two things. First, I need complete extensions of whatever argument you're going for in each speech. Second, I need to be able to articulate the link story that resolves your offense, whatever that offense might look like. If one or both of those requirements are not met, I am comfortable holding the line even if those arguments are "won" on the flow.
LD Prefs:
Policy/LARP: 1
K: 1
T/Theory: 1
Phil: 3
Tricks: 4
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About Me
I'm on the NSDA Public Forum Topic & Wording Committee.
I love judging. It makes me a better coach. You will always have my full attention in-round and I will do everything I possibly can to adjudicate the round fairly and completely. Ask as many questions before/after the round as you like.
Debate is the best part of my life. I feel so lucky to be able to do this as my calling and I'm proud of you for doing it too. Debate has allowed an awkward kid like me who grew up in Grinnell, IA (population: 9,000) to flourish as an educator and coach. I'm an open book: if there's anything I can do to help you learn, just ask. I value the educational aspect of debate far beyond any competitive result. If you want to read some of my opinions/takes on debate click here.
COME LEARN DEBATE FROM ME! NDF: Public Forum – Summit Debate. We have a stellar staff including Bashir Eltyeb (Iowa City West, TOC semifinalist), Michi Synn (Canyon Crest, dozens of bids), Devin Lester (Lakeville North, 3x TOC), and Ingrid Alg-Liening (Theodore Roosevelt, 3x Gold TOC). We support students of all experience levels, from brand-new novices to national circuit contenders. If you have any questions about camp, come talk to me (preferably after my ballot has been submitted).
Been involved in debate for over 20 years. Coached mostly PF and Congress, however have judged all events at just about every level.
Speed is fine in LD and policy, but in pf do not sacrifice clarity for speed.
Theory should ONLY ever be used if there is a real violation in the round that skews it greatly.
I like numbers, I will favor an economic impact over a general good of humanity argument. No warm fuzzies.
I HATE performance in any way shape or form. This will end the round for me. If you want to do a passion project go do OO.
Debate the topic. Tie your arguments to the topic. As long as you can establish a clear link we are good to go.
Mostly just ask what you want to know, I am pretty open and just like good debate.
Email for chains Akkrell@hotmail.com
Experience:
I did Speech and Debate my junior and senior year of high school (that's when we actually got a program) I did Public Forum Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking, Spontaneous Speaking, World Schools and Original Oratory.
I have multiple state championships under my belt and went to Nationals for Public Forum and World Schools Debate
I am now a student at Simpson College and am a member of their Speech and Debate Team there. I currently do IPDA, Impromptu, Extemp, ADS, Interviewing, Duo, and probably more at some point.
tldr: I know the activity and I know both speech and debate
Speech:
I got two things I like to see - Talk pretty and be unique
Be confident and comfortable, not cocky (been there and it's not a good look)
Be unique, I don't want to hear the same 8 speeches in one round. The best way to make me vote for you or rank you higher, is to make me remember you
Also, I'm all for humor in all forms of speech (unless it's a DI or something)
I'm here to have fun, please don't make it hard for me
Debate:
I'm probably more lay-oriented than other college students but I'm gonna flow. I'm not the best at flowing so one dropped argument from your opponent isn't gonna make or break a case to me, unless you tell me why it should.
Don't be an jerk. If you are rude to your opponent then I'm not likely to vote for you. Watch your volume, you shouldn't be yelling at me or your opponent but obviously you can raise your voice a tiny bit.
In all honesty, I'm a sucker for squirrely arguments. That being said, I'm not going to vote for you just because you do have a weird argument. Fight for it.
Tell me how to vote, I just might listen to you
Be respectful to your opponent. NO SPREADING FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLEASE.
Speech Drop:
If you really wanna make a speech email thing, I guess I can be on it. I will not follow along with what you're speaking on the doc. Sharing your case isn't an excuse to spread. Still needs to be slow enough to flow. Also, if you call for a card, I'm not gonna call to see it unless you or your opponent tells me to and says why it matters.
High School Speech and Debate Experience: Congress, Public Forum, Duo Interpretation
Coaching Experience:Coach since 2019
Judging Experience:Judging since 2013--Congress, PF, All speech events
Preferences: Please watch speed reading and use of jargon--consider saying the full thing the first time around then shorting lingo/acronyms.
Notes:I do my best to take diligent notes on argumentation, speaking demeanor, performance, etc. as applicable by event. If I am not looking at you it is because I am trying to listen and make sure I record as much information as I can.
Argumentation and Style: Argumentation takes precedence over style for me. In other words, I care more about what you say rather than how you say it. Exceptions would be harassment/vulgarity/rudeness especially towards your fellow competitors. If you can't argue against someone without insulting them, you may not have as good of an argument as you think.
About Me
I was on the debate team for five years in Lakeville, Minnesota and competed in (mostly) LD. As a debater, I spent a majority of my time on the local circuit. I most frequently ran consequential frameworks so am best at evaluating those rounds. I went to less than 10 national circuit tournaments throughout my entire debate career and only cleared when in the novice/jv divisions. I graduated high school in 2023, and now I’m in my second year of coaching Novice LD for West Des Moines Valley while I study pharmacy at Drake.
Judging Overview
Watch your own time. Finish your sentence quickly after time runs out and I won’t flow new arguments made after time runs out.
I’m not a fan of spreading- If I can't comprehend what you're saying without looking at the doc, it will not be on the flow. If you aren't sure if your pace is going to be too fast, play it safe and go slower. It is not my responsibility to yell "clear", it is your responsibility to speak clearly.
I love unique and fun arguments if they aren’t problematic or abusive. If there’s real evidence to back it up, and it actually makes sense, go for it. Rounds with "strange" cases are more interesting to follow. If sources back you up then tech>truth
Spend time on extensions! Explain what the card/arg is and why it matters in the round. Just saying that your opponent dropped something is not a strong extension.
When running circuity arguments, explain it how you would to someone who isn't well versed in these things. Clarity is everything- I won't sit there and try to figure out what you mean if it isn't developed enough in round.My debate background was on the local MN circuit.
Similarly, if your plan is to read a philosophy that will confuse your opponent, I may also be confused and I will not vote off of it if I do not understand it.
Give voters at the end of your rebuttals!! Saving some time in your speech to tell me what the most important issues are will only help you and I believe it's a necessary part of debate.
If you are a higher-level debater and know that you are debating a novice, be nice. Win the round but make it a positive educational experience for them.
Speaks are generally 28+ unless you run/say something that’s offensive or problematic. If you want to boost speaks, adapt to me as a judge- be the debater you think I would like to see.
If you have any questions or plan to make an email chain (which I highly recommend)-kristinneary04@gmail.com
GENERAL: I debated for Bettendorf HS '14-'18. I competed in Public Forum Mainly, little bit of Lincoln Douglas, and tried just about every other event. I was a 3 time national qualifier and this past year became the assistant coach at Bettendorf High School. Lots of national circuit experience in PF. As far as other events go i'm not here to push my or any agenda. My goal is to interpretate your performances in the debates/speech rounds not how I feel or think. My paradigm here is just to make your lives easier. Any questions feel free to ask!!!
I understand that things can be tense at tournaments so I try to keep the things pretty relaxed but with that being said a few things I expect:
1) Shake hands with opponents after round
2) Make sure everyone is ready before we start
Afro pessimism = auto W and 30’s from me.
{Public Forum}
NPF-No new evidence in second speeches or no new after two on the flow. Just be nice to each other everyone is learning.
VPF- Rock roll, just send speech docs if spreading. Better safe than sorry. Not that I can’t flow just want to make sure you are actually reading cards in case and not just like 3 words of a card.
SPEECHES:I like nuanced arguments. Clash is must Summary can be line by line and FF should generally go over the same issues in the same order. But please for everyone’s sake no new in the 2 and make sure you are signposting.
CROSSFIRE:I don't flow crossfire, questions must require some nuance or explanation so don't force opponents to quickly answer yes or no to make them look bad. At the same time answer the questions and move on. If you opponent wants more of an explanation don't just try and push past it for your turn. Feel free to capitalize on concessions but everything that happens in CF must be used in the speeches for me to flow it.
Afro pessimism = auto W and 30’s from me.
{Lincoln Douglas}
NLD- No new evidence in second speeches or no new after two on the flow. Just be nice to each other everyone is learning. Unless you can clearly explain what you are arguing, keep it simple. Novice is to learn and should be treated as such.
VLD- Truth over tech. I'm pretty much a traditionalist in the sense of topical LD debates. Easiest route to my ballot is value, criterion, (definitions if needed) and contention level debate. However I do enjoy a well constructed CP or even good K if actually fighting against real issues and not using K as a chance to win ballots.
Speed: I'm okay with speed normally. Most people I have met cannot spread and they say a bunch of words but don't finish sentences Im not going to write down words you didn't say so don't try it. I like some kind of doc share just to be safe.
SPEECHES:1AR, and 1NR, should be line by line with lots of sign posting. 2NR, and 2 AR should generally go over the same issues in the same order with some form of crystallization. Give me voters and tell me why based on your last speech you should win.
CROSSFIRE:I don't flow crossfire, questions must require some nuance or explanation so don't force opponents to quickly answer yes or no to make them look bad. At the same time answer the questions and move on. If you opponent wants more of an explanation don't just try and push past it for your turn. Feel free to capitalize on concessions but everything that happens in CF must be used in the speeches for me to flow it. CX should be relevant and questions should actually further the debate or be used to clarify questions not as prep time. I will not hold it against you if the cross doesn't go full time if you deemed yourself done with questions.
{Speech events}
Interp- (DI- Whoever moves me the most or makes me the most sad along with clear transitions and character switching will get the top rank.
Hi- Whoever makes me laugh the most along with clear transitions and character switching will get the top rank.
Duo- Whoever makes me laugh the most or Whoever moves me the most or makes me the most sad along with clear transitions and character switching will get the top rank.
Exempt: Usually I prefer 3 main points. Good intro and outro. Sources are dated and usually enjoy when you are able to create a story out of your answering of the question.
Spon: Same thing as above just no sources.
Joe Rankin
Bettendorf High School
UPDATED: October 4th, 2022
I'm not sure what happened to my previous Paradigm that was posted, but it appears to have been erased/lost. My apologies as I just learned of this at the Simpson Storm tournament (Sat, Oct 1, 2022) this past weekend.
My name is Joe Rankin and I am the head coach at Bettendorf High School in Bettendorf, IA. I have been the head coach at Bettendorf since the 2005-2006 school year. I primarily coach Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Public Forum Debate, Congressional Debate, and Extemporaneous Speaking...however, I am familiar and have coached all NSDA sanctioned speech/debate events over my time at Bettendorf.
In terms of my coaching paradigm, I'd generally consider these the 'highlights:'
- I prefer topical debate. The resolution was voted on by coaches and students through the NSDA voting process. That's what I want to hear about.
- I can generally handle 'speed,' but that doesn't mean I enjoy it. I'd rather help you develop skills that you will actually utilize interacting with other human beings outside of this one particular subset of existence - so I'd much prefer a rate that is more akin to real-world applications.
- You can make whatever arguments you want to make...but I generally haven't voted on many things associating with theory, kritiks (or however you want to misspell the word critique), or other generally non-topical arguments you make in the round. It takes more work for me to believe those types of arguments are true and not a whole lot of work to make me believe those types of arguments are generally false. So, I wouldn't encourage this type of argumentation in front of me.
I figure that is sufficient for now. If you have any questions, I tend to give you that window before the round begins while setting up to judge. If not, please feel free to ask before the round. The end goal of the round for me is a competitive academic environment that is focused on education. I don't mind answering questions that will help all of us improve moving forward.
Do not qualify, justify, or explain before or after you speak. This is the performance. I am the judge. Impress me.
All movements (Feet, hands, body, eyes) should have a purpose.
Interps should have arcs and PAs should have thesis statements.
Background: 4 years at Baylor University, 1-Time NDT Qualifier. Assistant Coach at the U.S. Naval Academy, 2018-2022, Assistant Coach at Dowling Catholic High School, 2019-Present. Currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science and I work for the Legislative Services Agency in Iowa.
Yes I want to be on the email chain: Sheaffly@gmail.com. Also email me with questions about this paradigm.
Paradigms are difficult to write because there are so many potential audiences. From novice middle schoolers to varsity college debaters, I judge it all. As a result, I want everyone reading this paradigm to realize that it was written mostly in terms of varsity college debates. I think about debate a little differently in high school and a little differently when it comes to novice debates, but I hope this gives you a general idea of how to debate in front of me
== TL;DR ==
Do line-by-line. I do not flow straight down and I do not flow off the speech doc. I am a DA/CP/Case kind of judge. I am bad at understanding kritiks and I am biased towards the topic being good. Be nice.
== Top Level - Flowing ==
It has become clear to me after years of judging that most of my decisions center not around my biases about arguments (which I won’t pretend not to have), but rather around my ability to understand your argument. My ability to understand your argument is directly related to how clean my flow is. Thus, it is in your best interest to make my flow very clean. I used to think I was bad at flowing, but I've come to the conclusion that line-by-line and organized debate has become a lost art. Debaters who learn this art are much more likely to win in front of me.
You are NOT as clear on tags as you think you are. Getting every 4th word of a tag is okay only if every 4th word is the key nouns and verbs. This is never true. So slow down on your tags, I am NOT READING THEM.
I’m not gonna flow everything straight down and then reconstruct the debate afterwards. The 1NC sets the order of the debate on the case, the 2AC sets the order of the debate off case. Abide by that order. Otherwise, I will spend time trying to figure out where to put your argument rather than writing it down and that’s bad for you.
Another tip: Find ways to give me pen time. For example, do not read 4 perms in a row. It’s impossible for me to write down all of those words. Plus, it’s always first and you haven’t even given me time to flip my paper over. And then your next argument is always an analytic about how the CP doesn’t solve and then I can’t write that down either. So stop doing things like that.
== Top Level – Arguments ==
Basic stuff: I love creativity and learning from debate. Make it clear to me how much you know about the arguments you are making. I don’t think this means you have to have cut every card you read, but understanding not just the substance of your argument, but the tricks within them is important.
As I said above, the thing that will be a problem for me is not understanding your argument. Unfortunately, this probably impacts Kritik debaters more than policy debaters, but I’ll get to that in a minute.
I am probably a little more truth > tech than most judges. I believe in technical debate, but I also believe that debate is a place where truth is important. I don't care how many cards you have that say something, if the other team asserts it is not true and they are correct, they win the point.
== Top Level - Community Norms ==
1) For online debate, prep time stops when you unmute yourself and say stop prep. A couple of reasons for this. a) I have no way of verifying when you actually stopped prep if you come out and say "we stopped 15 seconds ago" and b) neither do your opponents, which means that you are basically forcing them to steal prep. I don't like it so that's the rule.
2) Debate is a messed-up community already. Don't make it more so. Be nice to each other. Have fun in the debate while you are disagreeing. If you make it seem like you think the other team is stupid during the debate, it's gonna make me grumpy. I love debate and I love watching people do it, but I hate confrontation and I hate it when people get angry about debates that don't matter that much in the long term. Be nice. Please.
3) This is mostly for high schoolers, where I see this issue all the time: If you are going to send a document without your analytics in it, making the version of the doc without the analytics in it IS PREP TIME. You don't get 45 seconds to send the document. Y'all are GenZ, I know you can send an email faster than that. You get 15 seconds before I break in and ask what the deal is. You get 20 seconds before I start prep again.
== Specifics ==
Affirmatives...
...Which Defend the Topic - I enjoy creativity. This includes creative interpretations of topicality. You should also read my thoughts on DAs as they apply to how you construct your advantages. Clear story is good.
...Which Do Not Defend the Topic - I am likely not a great judge for you. I think I may have a reputation as someone who hates these arguments. That reputation is not unearned, I built it up for years. But over time I’ve come to become a lot more accepting of them. There are many of these affirmatives that I think provide valuable debate. The problem I have is that I cannot figure out an interpretation of debate that allows the valuable "K Affs," but limits out the affs that I think are generally created to confuse their way to a win rather than provide actual valuable propositions for debate. I will always think of framework as a debate about what you JUSTIFY, rather than what you DO, and every interpretation I have ever seen in these debates simply lets in too much of the uneducational debates without providing a clear basis for clash.
I realize this sounds like I have been totally brainwashed by framework, and perhaps I have. But I want to be honest about where I'm at. That said, I think the above makes clear that if you have a defensible INTERPRETATION, I am willing to listen to it. You should also look at the section under kritiks, because I think it describes the fact that I need the actual argument of the affirmative to be clear. This generally means that, if your tags are poems, I am not ideologically opposed to that proposition, but you better also have very clear explanation of why you read that poem
Negative Strategies
Framework: See discussion above. Good strategy. Impact, impact, impact. Education > procedural fairness > any other impact. “Ks are bad” is a bad argument, “their interpretation makes debate worse and uneducational” is a winnable argument. Topical version of the aff goes a long way with me.
Topicality: Good strategy. Impact, impact, impact. Case lists. Why that case list is bad. Affirmatives, you should talk about your education. I love creative interps of the topic if you defend them. But for the love of god slow down.
Disads: Absolutely. Well constructed DAs are very fun to watch. However, see truth vs. tech above – I have a lower threshold for “zero risk of a [link, impact, internal link] etc.” I love Politics DAs, but they’re all lies. I am up-to-date on the news. If you are not, do not go for the politics DA using updates your coaches cut. You will say things that betray that you don’t know what you’re talking about and it will hurt your speaks. Creative impact calc (outside of just magnitude, timeframe, probability) is the best impact calc.
Counterplans: I'm tired of the negative getting away with murder. I am VERY willing to listen to theory debates about some of these crazy process CPs which compete off of a net benefit or immedicacy/certainty. Theory debates are fun for me but for the love of god slow down. Otherwise, yeah, CPs are fine.
Kritiks: Eh. You can see the discussion above about K affs. I used to be rigidly ideological about hating the K. I am now convinced that the K can make good points. But because I was so against them for so long, I don’t understand them. I still think some Kritiks (here I am thinking mostly of French/German dudes) are basically designed to confuse the other team into losing. Problem is, I can’t tell the difference between those Kritiks and other Kritiks, because all Kritiks confuse me.
Very basic Ks are fine. Realism is bad, heg is bad, capitalism is bad, I get. Get much beyond that and I get lost. It's not that I think you're wrong it's that I have always been uninterested so I never learned what you're talking about. I cannot emphasize enough how little I understand what you're talking about. If this is your thing and I am already your judge, conceptualize your K like a DA/CP strategy and explain it to me like I have never heard it before. Literally, in your 2NC say: "We believe that X is bad. We believe that they do X because of this argument they have made. We believe the alternative solves for X." I cannot stress enough how serious I am that that sentence should be the top of your 2NC and 2NR. I have had this sentence in my judge philosophy for 3 years and this has been the top of the 2NC once (in a JV debate!). I do not know how much clearer I can be. Again, I am not morally opposed to Kritiks (anymore), I just do not understand them and I will not vote for something I do not understand. I believe you need a good link. Yes, the world is terrible, but why is the aff terrible. You also need to make your tags not a paragraph long, I never learned how to flow tags that were that long.
PF
I am a judge who listens for Impacts on why your Impacts outweigh others. I am not a huge fan of speed. I am more concerned with the content of the speech rather than the amount of information given. I do understand the PF jargon. It is up to you to persuade me to vote for your side. I am not a huge fan of using FW and definitions as a weighing mechanism but will consider it if the other arguments are well-balanced. Make sure to clearly state your Impacts and how these impacts link to the resolution. I will do my best to flow the arguments presented. I am a judge who will listen to cross X but will only count it in my decision if there is no other way for me to vote.
LD
I have judged LD a few times so I am familiar with the structure of the round. My suggestion for you to win my ballot is to lay out your arguments for or against the topic and convince me why your side means more than the other. I do not appreciate speed when presenting your arguments. I am a quality over quantity when it comes to judging. If you try any tricks, theory, or K's, I will not be able to vote for your side. I have extensive experience judging PF and know argumentation and Impacts. This will help you win your round with me.
Congress
Presiding officers:
I expect you to use preset recency unless otherwise determined by the competition. I pay attention to pre-session, in-session, and post-session politics and expect to see the presiding officer as a leader in those discussions. Remember that your job is to run things quickly while adhering to parliamentary procedure - Exercise your power if necessary, but don't skip the essential processes.To get a 6 from me, you must be efficient, clean, and commanding. Time signals should be obvious and consistent.
Structure: The structure of the round is extremely important - The first few speeches should be constructive, the next few speeches should be heavy on refutation and extension, and the final few speeches should crystallize the debate. Keep in mind that Congress is a debate event, so every speech past the author/sponsor needs engagement.
Your intro is a way to add value to your speech and enhance my understanding of the topic. I have a strong preference for intros that feel specific and unique to the particular bill at hand and your speech. If it feels generic or recycled, then I don't think it's a good use of your limited time.
Authorship and sponsorship speeches are very different from 2nd or 3rd pro speeches. Since you aren't being asked to refute, the expectation is that you frame the debate: set up the problem and how this bill addresses it.
Your contentions should be the most important reasons for the bill, not necessarily unique arguments that no one else thought of. 1st con should similarly help frame the debate for the neg side. There needs to be a clear warrant and impact. Avoid making assumptions of what we should/shouldn't know by being explicit with your logical steps to connect each cause and effect. Impacts should be the consequences that are reasons we should pass/fail a bill. Try not to reiterate points that have already been given unless you have a particularly unique perspective or piece of evidence to add to the debate.
Ethicality: Evidence is borrowed credibility; borrow honestly. A source should necessarily include its date & the publication in which it appeared, & should not be fabricated. No evidence is better than falsified evidence.
Presentation: Congressional Debate is the best blend of speech skills & debate ability; what you say is just as important as how you say it. The best speakers will maintain a balance of pathos, ethos, & logos in both their content & delivery style. There's a performance element and an argumentation element to each speech. Do not speak quickly and make sure to enunciate so you are clearly heard. Make sure that your tone doesn't change for your flow but that your tone changes for emphasis.
Participation: Tracking precedence & recency is a good way to participate – it helps keep the PO accountable, & demonstrates your knowledge of Parliamentary Procedure. Questioning is an integral part of Congress; I like thoughtful, incisive questioning that doesn’t become a shouting mach. Both your questions & your answers should be pertinent & to the point. Above all, I am a big fan of competitors who are as invested in making the chamber better as they are in bettering their own ranks.
Questioning: A skilled questioner either leads the speaker down a line of reasoning to where the speaker arrives at a conclusion that contradicts themselves or asks a question that immediately forces the speaker to acknowledge a hole in their argument. Furthermore, do not condescend, gaslight, or otherwise be rude to the speaker. Do not bring in new evidence. Keep the questions short and to the point.
Speech:
I have been coaching speech for 8 years. In terms of content, as long as the topic being covered is not vulgar or offensive, I am fine with it. In interop events, I want to understand the climax of the piece. Take me on a journey through your piece. Loud does not necessarily mean you will get a good score from me. Provide dynamics to the piece so that when you do go big, you catch me off guard. For the other categories, I want you to have structure in your speech. I want you to either convince me of your position or inform me about a topic or question you are presented with. Memorization is key!
I am a First-year out 4 years of PF at Theodore Roosevelt High School
Add me on the email chain please: Charlesetimm@gmail.com
Please make an email chain and send docs so evidence exchange is either not necessary or it goes really quickly
Feel free to email me with any questions/concerns etc.
TLDR: I am a tech judge.
Judging Philosophy
For all events I am here to evaluate you, run whatever you would like.
I am tech>truth. I will evaluate anything I can understand.
I don't care about speed.
I don't flow off the doc
I do not keep time, please keep it yourself and check back on your opponents.
Extensions must include all parts of an argument, including the uniqueness, link, internal link, and impact.
Good weighing will probably win you the debate.
Evidence ethics are VERY important to me. fabricating/being unable to produce evidence is bad have cut cards.
Teams should have evidence readily available in a cut card format as per NSDA guidelines.
Kritiks
I had very limited exposure to Ks when I was debating. I have seen more since judging and can evaluate K's but you must run them
Theory
Generally speaking, I believe that open-source disclosure is good and paraphrasing is bad. That said, I am still tech>truth in theory debates.
Theory debates can be hard to evaluate; if you want to win, make it simple for me.
Speaker Points
I assign speaker points based on strategy and speaking ability. Smart arguments usually get high speaks.
If you have any questions please send me an email or talk to me before round. also, feel free to postround me; it makes me a better judge and I do not find it offensive.