I haven't judged a lot as of yet, I do have an understanding of how to judge most forensics and debate styles, I have previously debated in LD and IPDA and performed a poetry and OO piece before so I have a better understanding of the rules to those... styles/forms of debate. So I have done this, I understand it is very scary but I promise I try not to be scary. I'm a traditional judge. Here is some basic stuff I judge by or just stuff I look for:

Civility - please be nice to everyone and the room

-I won't require everyone to stay in the room to watch every piece because it's already a stressful environment and others have more rounds to attend

-Please don't be coming in and out of the room if someone is performing, you wouldn't want the distraction while you were performing

Logic - if your evidence is logical or obvious, I won't require a source, ex: murder is bad

Refutation/Clash - if you drop points your opponent makes then that only hurts you

Cross-Ex - I won't judge cross-ex unless you bring it up in one of your speeches

Spreading - If I can't understand you I won't be able to flow it so please articulate your words(unless spreading is expected of the debate style)

As a judge, I aim to offer constructive feedback that helps competitors grow while ensuring fair evaluation. My criteria focus on:

• Content & Argumentation: Clear thesis, well-organized, and relevant points.
• Delivery & Presentation: Engaging, confident, and expressive delivery with appropriate tone and gestures.
• Voice & Diction: Clear, articulate speech with effective use of pauses and emphasis.
• Presence & Persona: Strong stage presence, authenticity, and connection with the audience, managing nerves effectively.

I strive to be objective and fair, celebrating achievements and encouraging improvement. Thank you!

Lisa Haddock

***IF YOU SPREAD, I’m warning you now that I will DROP you. If the average person wouldn’t be able to understand you, I won’t be able to either. I will NOT read off a doc so if I can’t understand you I won’t flow it

TLDR: Please send a copy of your speech to: lisahaddock68@gmail.com

Tech over truth

Rounds will be evaluated and final decisions made based on flow so don’t drop your arguments.

I’m good with any argument but discrimination of any type will not be tolerated and could result in an automatic loss.

THINGS EXPECTED IN A ROUND:

Please time yourselves as this is for your benefit more than the judge

Off-clock roadmaps are recommended for your benefit; however, please let your opponent and judge know so there is no confusion

When you take prep time, please make sure you are ready to begin once prep time is over

Make sure that cross-ex is used appropriately

PUBLIC FORUM:

Arguments will be evaluated based on how strong they are presented along with the weight of their impacts-this is very important.

Make sure to number and emphasize your arguments

Remember to extend your arguments

Keep rebuttals in a clear line-by-line format

Second rebuttal should focus on responses in rebuttal

During summary, remember to extend defenses and offenses or whatever you feel is most important in the round.

Do not try to take over in crossfire and try to ensure that grand cross is not one-person dominated

Final focus should provide clear weighing ground for judges to determine why either team should win the debate.

Refutation, commentary, logic and argument extension are my primary voters. I am a tabula rasa judge for most forms of debate.

Email for chain: Duste04[at]gmail[dot]com

LD - I enjoy/prefer having a traditional framework set up in LD but if you can link your debate theory and turn a case that is acceptable. If the arguments are accessible and we understand the ground of the debate and can create clash then there is no issue. I am not crazy about spreading and if I find that I can't hear/understand the arguments in this form of debate it makes it hard to flow.

PF - This form of debate should be accessible to the average citizen. Speed should be moderate at most and there should not be an expectation for a plan/policy or alternate. I weigh more heavily on impacts than framework but having a weaved in framework throughout the case is a huge plus. I flow and weigh cross.

Biggest pet peeve:

{First speaker starts} Reads a questionable card in 1AC

{Neg during cross} can you summarize the card...?

{First speaker} I can't summarize it but I can read the card again.

Congress: I am on year three of congress judging and have a decent grasp of Robert's rules. I enjoy it immensely and prefer to judge/weigh based on the NSDA Debate Guide rubric. For example, the book lists that representatives should not infringe on the chamber's time - stop before the grace period. I weigh questions in your overall score ESPECIALLY if you are tied for speech scores. By the Third speech on a bill there should be active clash in your speech and you should not just be rehashing old points or reading a canned speech. I love a good clarity/summary speech. If you are double entered and leave the chamber I do not let that affect your score for questioning BUT your goal is to be present and move the chamber you can't do that if you are not in attendance.

WSD

I am looking for presentation/style, organization, and of course well explained content. Please make sure to respectfully wave questions - I prefer civility and clarity. In terms of evidence, ensure that you focus on how the evidence fits in your argument / substantive and whether or not it is relevant or credible for the side.

BQ

Framework and definitions are pivotal. I know it is the same case all year but I do my best to evaluate the round as if I have not heard the topic. Unless you agree to FW or Definitions then there should be time set aside in each speech to remind me why yours is preferred or superior and how it helps your observations and contentions. Don't spread - be civil - be organized.

**For Nationals Policy Paradigm, scroll to the bottom**

General Debate Paradigm:

Experienced Coach and Flow Judge and 4 Year High School Debater, World History/Psychology/Sociology Teacher with previous career as a Community Corrections Officer (Probation and Parole).

In my experience, all forms of Debate are a synthesis of examples, evidence, and analysis. Competitors need to dive deep into the resolutions presented and wrestle with the ideas, evidence, philosophy, experiences, and impacts that stem from the resolution while tying back the original intention of the resolution. (Framer's Intent)

In my estimation all possible areas of inquiry are on the table, but be mindful that some styles of debate depend more on some mechanics then others. If you run inherency in a LD case, it feels off. If you try to solve for BQ, that's just wrong. Debate styles need to stay in their own lanes and crossover is risky if I'm judging your round. Debate is about connections and persuasion and connection with your judge.

I believe in the Burdens of Debate. Aff must prove the resolution's premise as true and correct via the Burden of Proof, regardless of the style. If not they lose. Neg must attack and uphold the Burden of Clash (Rejoinder) and if they do not they can not win.

A quick word on preferences for case presentation. Constructives need to be clear cut and purposeful, lay out all your arguments and evidence, simply open doors or you to walk through in the next speech. Extension evidence is always welcome to expand your points in support in 2nd speeches. Cross should allows be respectful and civil, I do take notes on cross but the points made there highlight your style and ability to think on the fly. Use of canned questions in any form are looked down on.

Rebuttals are fair game but you should always attack, rebuild and expand your arguments in this speech. Repeating points in Rebuttals doesn't increase the weight of the argument.

Consolidation Speeches are for crystalizing the main ideas and presenting voting issues in and overall persuasive and final presentation of your case through points. Please respect the format, arguments that extend well past the rebuttals do not carry more weight with me and are presented too late, make sure to do your job in each segment of the round.

A word about style within the round:

Using excessive speed (defined as 145 or more words per minute, above regular conversational speed of speech) or use excessive points or stylistic tricks to try to disadvantage your opponent in a round will win you no style points with me. If you are speaking beyond my ability to flow or use excessive points within a case I will put my pen down and this signifies that I am no longer constructively in the round. This is to be avoided at all costs, keep your judge “in the round” and go slow, standard conversational pace.

A word on technology and style choice: I have noted in my time as a judge and a coach that reliance on your computer makes you sound robotic and read faster than running off paper. Although I won't ever vote someone down who reads off the computer, you need to make sure to get the message home to the judge with emphasis and good speaks to do well in the round. Having a flat monotone computer voice, spreading evidence, card slamming, and hyper-aggression will not win you any points with me and arguably makes your job harder.

Other Points:

• Case Points for case clarity are gladly accepted.

• Tie things back to framework to impress me and get me on your side. If you "set and forget" a framework or weighing device, its on my flow but not helping you win. This is true for Value Criteria, Weighing Mechs, and Frameworks generally.

• Running Logical Fallacies are strongly encouraged. If you spot one, feel free to call an opponent out for it provided it is valid and you can explain the logical flaw clearly and directly (thus avoiding committing a fallacy of your own.)

• Unique arguments hold more weight then generic arguments, so look for a new angle to gain the upper hand. You have got to prove links to the resolution and prove topicality, if you can't then the claim is bound to fail.

• If you are Aff/Pro and doesn't rebuild and/or extend in later speeches, they lose. If you are Neg/Con attack doesn't attack, clash, and disprove, they lose.

• Observation is good, Observation + Analysis is better, Observation + Analysis+Evidence is best.

• In this world of "technological wonders", I am not on team AI, the expectation is that you write your own case, have your own thoughts, and defend your own ideas. If it is clear you didn't write it and don't know how to run it, I'm not likely to vote for it. Play with AI toys on your own time, not mine.

- NATIONALS 2024 POLICY PARADIGM-

Going to be honest here, policy is not my favorite style. I am not a fan of spreading, speed dropping cards, and theory arguments before the resolution. I won’t buy card formatting arguments or other fringe or minor arguments that do not deal directly with the administration of the cases in the round.

Aff Burden: I am an old school Policy Judge. Aff needs to set a Plan that is well thought out, supported with cards, and a detailed and nuanced Plan that takes into account the harms/ads/disads and impacts of the Plan. Plan needs to think through all the standard planks.(• Topicality • Harms / Inherency • Significance • Solvency • Advantages / Disadvantages) If you run something that is not a plan, it is hard to address/solve the burden of the Aff which is to propose a Plan.

Neg Burden: I’m ok with the Neg focus on counterplans and but my main focus as the judge is if the plan is well supported, funded, enforced and FESABILE. Neg should pressure test the Aff plan and be able to show how the plan presented, originating from the three possible policy applications, may have flaws/shortcomings/disads/impacts that the Aff may not be looking at or see. Neg needs to keep it topical though, I will not be buying any argumentation that reducing Social Security would lead to nuclear war, or anything of the like. If Neg does not establish and maintain strong link chains and impacts its going to be hard to show the flaws and get around or past the Aff plan.

Disclosure Note: So when it comes to disclosure, I am not going to factor into a decision disclosure of cases online well before the round. I would love a copy of the case in paper or digital form before you start, I feel it is required if you plan to spread. If you expect me to flow your spreading without some form of your case I will not flow your case, I will just put my pen down. If you go at a moderate speed, I can and will flow with you but would still appreciate a copy of the case to look at in case I have questions. If you are doing a piecemeal Neg case that is Straight Refusal and line by line, then no case is needed but make sure you go slow enough that I can flow it out.

Cards Note: If you have the card, be able to provide it if asked. I prefer paper cards, but know that is way Old School so make sure I have your Linktree/Drive or something established so if I have a question on a card I can see it. If it sounds too good to be true don’t be surprised or offended if I ask to see it. Also, do not try to discredit cards due to templating, without a National template I am not the style police for carding, if they made an effort, can provide it and it makes sense it is admissible to use in the round.

Spreading Note: Honestly, not a fan of spreading, it is a choice in delivery, and not a requirement. You have 8 mins to set the case, if you need to sacrifice speed for speaking I think that your case is overloaded and you are card slamming just to give the opponents more to answer. I think spreading takes away from the communication of debate and would rather hear the arguments and experience the clash then hear someone mumble their case at me. Set the case as you choose but then give the spreading a break and advocate for why your case is a good thing and should win. If you spread every speech at me with no real application or connection it will be a hard win. Just being honest.

Importance of Impacts: I am a impacts debater, meaning I want to see the impacts that a line of argument of questioning have on the status quo or proposed Aff/Neg world. I often follow the line for impacts to a ballot so be sure to apply the impacts of your attacks all the way through. Don’t just stop at the evidence and ask me to apply it for you, show me your warrants to get that impact!

What doesn’t Flow: I flow cross if it applies to advancing argumentation. I don’t flow ad hominum/personal attacks. I will flow case side extensions but not too late in the case and will always flow impacts and stock issues flowovers if set up and backed up with cards.

Plan Planks Priority: For me the order goes, from most to least important:

Topicality, Solvency, Advantages/Disadvantages, Harms/Inherency, Significance

Introduction -

My Name is Dakota Thompson, I am a Biologist and a Biology Teacher at Mills High School. My introduction into Debate and Forensics is quite new but I am the assistant debate coach at Mills High School.

Debate Judging -

When judging I look for confidence, delivery, and sound logical arguments during debates. I enjoy clear and confident speakers, if your points and contentions do not make any sense then it will count against you. As for your delivery I would like you to sound knowledgeable and informed on your topic. If you are simply reading from your computer or notes for the entire debate I see that as a lack of preparation and information. As for speaking as a whole, speed is not an issue for me as long as what you are saying is clear, if you speak fast and I can clearly understand that is fine, if you speak fast and you slur and I cannot grasp the information it will be counted towards you. I will take notes during the debate but it is not my job to be kept up with what was said, I do not flow during any Cross X, that is your job as a debater. As may be expected I do not have any tolerance for Racism, Sexism, Homophobia or anything of the sorts directed towards your opponents during debate.

Speech Judging -

When judging an event such as HI, Poetry or Prose I look for clean Delivery, I would like to see a person understand what is being said and is able to convey with a clear set of words and phrases. I always love to see Emotion in rounds, especially in events such as poetry and POI. If you truly connect with the topic you have chosen I need to be able to see that, show me how well you connect with the idea of your poetry and POI reports by connecting with it live. Confidence in any form of competition is a vital resource, if you do not seem confident in what you are doing and how you convey it comes off as under prepared and not at a competing level.