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Judge Philosophies

Andrew Potter - Texas Tech

Judging Philosophy – Andrew Potter Experience 4 years high school policy at a small Kansas school on the UN, Civil Liberties, National Service, and Sub-Saharan Africa topics. 4 years NPDA/NPTE parliamentary debate at William Jewell College The Nitty-Gritty I learned debate from Kevin Garner, Kyle Dennis, Luke Landry, Tim Brooks, David Dingess, and the all-knowing Gina Lane. A lot of what they think about debate is what I think about debate. Seeing as they are probably judging you, it would behoove yourself to read their philosophies because it sheds light on mine. That being said, I have some predispositions on this game.  One of these predispositions is: I LOVE HEARING ABOUT THE TOPIC. Initial Thoughts As I am sure almost anyone can tell you, I like a good joke. I think debate should be fun for those debating and for those who watch. Political jokes are good and I am not really one to be offended easily by humor. The things I will be offended by are general disrespect for your competitors or using hate speech. Those are sure fire ways to get your speaks nuked.  I like: Star Wars Lord of the Rings Big 12 Football and Basketball Kansas City sports Video Games (Specifically Zelda, God of War, and Starcraft) Dingess jokes Incorporating these likes into a joke or an analysis of an argument effectively will improve your speaker points. Offense/Defense Defense may win championships in sports but offense is what wins debate championships. However, that does not mean to cast off defensive arguments because those can be damn useful when weighing impacts. Use both offense and defense strategically and you will likely get higher speaker points and access to my ballot. Status of Counter Plans/Kritiks I am prone to believe all positions are dispositional. Each piece of paper has an impact on the round once it is said. A good example is a DA. Team A runs the DA. Team B answers the DA Once the argument has been answered there are one of three scenarios that are true with regards to said position. 1)Team A avoids the impacts, 2)Team B avoids the impacts, 3)There are no impacts for either team. It is up to both teams to tell me which of these three scenarios I am supposed to believe. Every position (CP, K, DA, T, Theory, Adv, etc.) ran in the debate is prone to these three scenarios. Now, this does not mean I will not vote for a conditional CP or K. What the former paragraph means is that I am swayed by dispo and it may not be the best idea running condo in front of me. It is an even worse idea to run multiple conditional CPs or Ks in front of me because I have not heard too many great arguments for the existence of multiple conditional positions. My definition of dispo is: If you straight turn the CP, we have to go for it. If you prove it is not an opportunity cost to the plan i.e. a perm, CP links to the DA, Net-Benefit has no impact, then you reserve the right to defend the SQuo. I also believe the status should be said right before the text as in “The CP, the Unconditional Text, US Congress will pass and President Obama will sign blah blah blah”  Flowing I flow the Resolutional Analysis, Background, Plan, and Solvency contention (if there is one) on one piece of paper. All subsequent advantages/off case positions get their own sheets of paper after that. I break up Counter Plans and the Net-Benefit into separate sheets of paper. Also, each section of the K gets its own piece of paper with the Alt and Alt Solvency on one paper.  I flow answers to positions in a long column starting with 1,2,3 etc. Speed My general tendency towards speed is that if you are going too fast for me to flow, then I will yell “clear.” I do not believe speed is the issue, it is clarity. There is nothing wrong with going slower but being more clear. You will probably win more rounds and get better speaker points if you do so. Also, I do not like seeing speed used as an exclusionary tactic. If you are clearly faster than your opponents and they yell clear but you do not slow down or try to accommodate them, then your speaks are gonna suffer. However, I do not find “Speed Kills” arguments persuasive because it feels like some sort of intervention would have to happen on my part to vote on that position and that is not a position I am comfortable judging. Also, here is how you can make sure I get all your arguments. For example, if you are answering a DA then it should go something like this “1, Non-Unique, Dems capitol low b/c blah blah blah. 2, Non-Unique Obama capitol low b/c blah blah blah. 3, No-Link, plan doesn't affect captiol. 4, Turn, plan increases Dem cap blah blah blah......” Warrants Yes, please! I fall into the Luke Landry school when he says, “I guess I missed the meeting where people decided not to use warrants.” I will have a high threshold voting on positions that are lacking substantial warrants. I will also have a tough time voting on positions that are one thing in the LOC and another thing in the MOC and will be pretty sympathetic to new PMR characterizations of MG responses to fit the transformed position.  Questions I believe it is the duty of every constructive to take one question. Every constructive has importance for another speech's strategy. If Team A is speaking and Team B asks for a question but Team A says they are not taking a question, then I will do one of two things but probably both 1) give leniency to the strategy choices of Team B or 2) allow Team B to shout their question while Team A is speaking. Team B will suffer no consequences of speaker points while the speaker from Team A who refuses a question will see a deduction. In a format that does not allow C-X and is getting increasingly fast and techy it is ridiculous to refuse to give ONE question. Also, the time it takes Team A to refuse and to justify why like saying “not during the constructives” would take the same or less time than answering the question in the first place. Theory I ran theory a lot in college and feel like I have a decent grasp on the ins and outs of theory. However, that does not mean I will fill in blanks for theory. Every theory position should have an interpretation that is read twice and preferably slower than other arguments, a violation, reasons to prefer, and voters. I view theory debates similar to CP/Plan debates. There are texts, DA or Advs to those texts, and impacts for voting for or against a certain text. I would say I have an average threshold on voting for theory but if you can run it well and win it, then my thoughts should not detract you from making that strategic decision.  Disads I feel like this is the most straightforward part of my philosophy. Disads need to be unique and warranted. I feel this is a question more on Econ or Politics debates. On Econ, instead of just throwing numbers my way, why not make some comparison why your numbers are more important/predictive of economic trends. Politics is the same way, do not just throw out Dems high, Bill gonna pass, you stop it, bill woulda done some good things, WE ALL GONNA DIE. Instead, I like Politics that focus on key members of the Senate or House who would be influential in the bill's success or demise and EXACTLY what the bill does. That will give me a better idea of how to evaluate the claims of the debaters.  Impacts Run any impact and make it important. I usually default to Timeframe 1st with Probability and Magnitude 2nd and 3rd. I like good impact analysis with Timeframe because if you win the impact to a disad/adv before the other DA/Adv happens, then it probably changes the impact story of the other DA/Adv. CPs  CPs need to be functionally competitive and have a net-benefit, whether that is an advantage the CP captures that the plan does not or a DA that is avoided while gaining the Solvency of the Aff. I feel like I have a decent grasp on what textual competition is and I have determined it is not nearly as important as people have made it out to be. Functional competition is the way to my heart.  Types of CPs to be avoided in front of me: Delay Veto-Cheeto Secrecy CPs Types of CPs to be ran in front of me: Alt Agent (mmhhmmm they warm my soul) PICs  Alternate Plans that avoid the DA but solve the Case (Example: Plan regulates Ag pollution with an Environmental Adv. CP is to clean up ag pollution and run a regulations bad DA.) Advantage CPs Ks These were not really my thing in debate. I ran them occasionally but it was nothing super tricky or too post modern. Basically I ran Biopower. If you run something like Derrida, Deluze and Gutarri, Zizek, Lacan, Baudrllaird (I have no clue how to spell their names nor do I believe they would care about the spelling with everything being fluid and shit) expect me to be confused and have an expression of “why me?” on my face. I feel comfortable in Cap, BioPower and some more of the generic Ks but this PoMo BS is too much for a debate round with no C-X, backside rebuttals or backfiles. Maybe this sentiment will change in the future but for right now it stands. I am fairly persuaded by “No Alt Solvency” or Solvency Turns to the K. More times than not I am pretty sure their Kritik hurts Hegemony and you should probably say that's a bad thing.

Chuck Walts - UT-Tyler

Jacob Stutzman - OKCU

22 years in debate, HS policy, NFA-LD, but mostly NPDA (judging for the last 14 years).  This year I’ve been in tab a lot, so I haven’t judged many rounds. I want the debaters to decide the form and substance of the round.  I’m not opposed to any particular argument or strategy that you feel fits the purpose of the debate. Framework debates are good, but rarely dispositive. Absent a specified framework for viewing the round, I default to whatever makes it easiest for me to render a decision. I get very frustrated by debaters who do not think their way through the round. This shows up when debaters don’t make connections between positions or go after obvious deficits in the other team’s arguments. If you can’t compare solvency of the plan vs. the CP or give me specific link analysis on the K, then something is wrong. On the flip side, debaters who do those things usually make it easy for me to vote for them. Smart debaters are the ones who take the easy ways out of the round. I’d like a copy of plan and CP/alt text. Perm text too, if possible. I tend to prioritize probability in impacts, so tell the better story on your positions. Regardless of how fast you’re going, I’ll let you know if you’re not clear. Please take into consideration the size and shape of the room and any other atmospheric factors that may complicate my hearing you. I prefer that you only call points of order on arguments that are likely to be very important to my decision. Calling points simply to disrupt the speaker or to contest minor arguments will be given very little leeway before I start docking speaker points. Absent punishment for that sort of stuff, exclusive language, or otherwise improper behavior toward your opponents, speaker points are usually 25-29, very rarely above that, and are decided based on the amount of enjoyment I get out of your participation in the debate round. Make smart choices and explain those choices to me well, and you’ll come in at the top of that scale. Don’t assume I know your lit on the K. Explain the warrants to me and make the links very explicit.

Jared Bressler - Texas Tech

Jared Bressler - Debate 4 years, Coach 4 years Coach Texas Tech University Case: I much prefer policy to value and fact, but if you relay want to run a value or a fact I will listen to it. I am OK with performance and other non traditional affs explain how you want me to evaluate them. I will not vote on case defense (or any defense) unless you give me a reason to.  Topicality: Make sure you extend your voters I have drooped way too many people for not doing this. In general I prefer competing interpretations to any other standard, but if the Aff wins I should only look at in round abuse I will only look at in round abuse. I don't know what is or is not reasonable if you are running that as a counter standard tell me why your reasonable and how to evaluate that. T: I will vote on competing interpretations unless told otherwise. I will vote on RVIs and Ks of T if you win them.  Theory: I have the slight preference that you put theory on a separate sheet of paper than the CP or the K it keeps my flows better. Do the same if thing if you have a large theory preempt in to LO.   Again you need a clear voter for me to vote here.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Disads/CPs: Fine give good impact calculus. This should probably include magnitude probability and time frame and if you relay want to do a good job explain why whichever of these you are ahead on is the most important. Again offensive answers will help you more than difference. If you want to go for deference explain how it fictions in comparison to your offense (if you win a terminal no like explain how that makes the DA go away). I will only look at the impact caculus that you gave. This means if everyone only talked about magnitude that is all I will look at. Clear and concise counterplan texts and perm texts make my job easer. K: I am cool with any framework you want to set up. I am cool with any theory argument you make on the K (again put this on another sheet of paper for me).  Other things If you shame your opponents I will give you 0 speaker points.  I am cool with speed and will tell you if you are unclear.  I will severely dock speaker points if you are rude or offensive.  If you are passing around coppies of plan and counterplan texts and you want me to make my decision based on what is written down you would do well to give me a copy. Make sure you termanilize your impacts. I think that you should call points of order.  Any other questions feel free to ask     Things people should read, but many don’t.<o:p></o:p> Read what you are most comfortable with, teams who never read the K trying to impress me by reading one typically don’t. You just need some offense at the end of the round<o:p></o:p> I like copies of texts when possible.<o:p></o:p> I can be very harsh with speaker points if you step over certain lines. Don’t say racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. things. If you do, you will lose points. Don’t shame your opponent/ knock excessively or you will lose points. Also a few years ago there was a habit of asking for speaker points (ie. Giving a short preview saying that all debaters should get 30s) - if you do this, you will lose a lot of speaker points. If you don’t do any of these things, you will get a 25 or above. If not, I have given debaters 1 point (mostly for shaming, or being really offensive when I thought they should know better) and more 15s (if they said something really offensive without thinking about it) so if seeding matters to you, be nice.<o:p></o:p> I have a reputation of being a K hack and historically, I have voted more for Ks than against them (though this year, that pattern has been reversed.) I think the reason I tend to vote for K’s is because teams are not responsive to key (often stupid) arguments such as questions of root cause, in round solvency, nuances of how the framework functions, and K turns solvency.<o:p></o:p> I try to judge as much as possible as a robot evaluating the flow (I don’t know how good I am at it). If an argument is dropped it is true no matter how underdeveloped. That being said if there are opposing arguments with no analysis on which one prefer I will vote for the one that is the truest/ best warranted.  I also think comparing warrants is the best way to decide debates.  <o:p></o:p> Other things the NPDA wants<o:p></o:p> I don’t look at presentation to make decisions as long as I can understand you.<o:p></o:p> I like POIs. I try to protect, but I’m not all that smart.<o:p></o:p> <a name="_GoBack"></a>  <o:p></o:p>

Keri Gray - ACU

I was a CX debater in high school and debated parli for two years.  I am now a graduate assistant for ACU debate team. I enjoy all types of rounds, but I do have a preference and more experience with policy debate. I look for well explained and thought out impacts that are not overly dramatic. Try to be as real and tangible as possible. I’m good with all types of arguments, but at the same time I prefer good arguments versus running things just to through your opponent off or waste time in the round. I’m good with speed, I would prefer you not to spread, but if you do then you need to work harder to make sure your arguments are clearly understood. Love humor and wittiness in debate rounds, absolutely will not be okay with disrespect and condescending tones towards your opponents. Just articulate well how the round is weighed and why you are winning and that will make the round great. Have tons of fun!

Kevin Garner (Hired) - Jewell

Experience: 1 year of NDT at University of Kansas; 3 1/2 years of parli at William Jewell College; 2 year parli coach at Texas Tech University; 6 years parli coach at William Jewell College.  Note: I have been out of the activity since the fall of 2015. I judged at one tournament since and kept up with the pace. Section 1: General Information - I am a flow critic who evaluates the round through net benefits unless told otherwise. If a distinction does exist between pre/post fiat, you should tell me how to weigh all the arguments. I generally do not find arguments that seek to prevent the negative team from competing compelling (i.e. "you can't run DAs, etc). I am fine with discursive impacts, but make sure all can access the round. You don't get to win simply because you are aff. I also do not like fatr/value debate and have a low threshold for voting on "Fact/Value bad" arguments. - I am frustrated by the trend of parli to reward unclear, blippy debates that lack substance. I give preference to warranted arguments and clash as compared to a dropped blip that was not developed. An argument is not one line! The above is especially true concerning impacts; a quick blip on “Resource wars = extinction” does not mean anything nor will I just assume the number of people who die as a result of your impacts; YOU MUST DO THE WORK! - I can flow a pretty fast pace, but there is such a thing as too fast and really such a thing as unclear. If I do not flow your arguments due to excess speed/lack of clarity, your fault, not mine. - I will give you a few seconds to get a drink and order, but I am frustrated with stealing prep. I may begin time if I think you are taking too long (you will know I am irritated when I ask you for the order). - You cannot perm a DA….period! - I believe that you should take a question if your opponent wants one concerning a new advocacy (plan, CP, alt text, and if perm is more than “Do Both”). - Slow down and read your plan texts/interps/counter-interps twice unless you plan on giving me a copy - If you say “x argument is for cheaters,” you will probably lose my ballot. There is a difference between claiming an argument is bad/should not be ran and making an attack against a team. If a team has cheated, that is to be determined by the tournament, not in round. - I do not understand rudeness. Being rude does not help your arguments and only gets me irritated. Sarcasm and banter are fine, but there are limits. Section 2: Specific Inquiries How do you approach critically framed arguments? Can affirmatives run critical arguments? Can critical arguments be “contradictory” with other negative positions. The aff/neg can run critical arguments; make sure you have a framework and alternative and be clear as to how I evaluate critical arguments with non-critical arguments. Also, dropping authors’ names and using big words does not mean the K is good; make sure you know what you are talking about or there is a good chance, I won’t. The alt should be ran prior to protected time or allow time for questions. - I do not vote on Speed Ks (Update: There is a potential I could find this argument compelling, if framed correctly, when it becomes apparent that the sole purpose of using speed in a round is to exclude another team....but this is a stretch in most instances). - I will let teams debate out the legitimacy of contradictions. Performance based arguments… I will not exclude any arguments. Just make sure you have a clear framework to evaluate the argument and have an alternative Topicality. What do you require to vote on topicality? Is in-round abuse necessary? Do you require competing interpretations? I require you to win the argument and have a voter…. I do not require a counter interpretation; I just highly doubt you will win T without one Counterplans -- PICs good or bad? Should opp identify the status of the counterplan? Perms -- textual competition ok? functional competition? The opp should identify the status and if not, should allow the gov to ask what it is (without counting it as a question). The CP should also be ran prior to protected time or allow time for questions about the CP. I will let the debaters debate out CP theory for PICS, perms, etc. In the absence of debaters' clearly won arguments to the contrary, what is the order of evaluation that you will use in coming to a decision (e.g. do procedural issues like topicality precede kritiks which in turn precede costbenefit analysis of advantages/disadvantages, or do you use some other ordering?)? I default to the weighing mechanism established (so if you say net ben and I am not told when to evaluate T, I will evaluate it as a decision of cost/benefit instead of as an a-priori issue). In a round with T and Ks, teams would be wise to debate out which one comes first. How do you weight arguments when they are not explicitly weighed by the debaters or when weighting claims are diametrically opposed? How do you compare abstract impacts (i.e. "dehumanization") against concrete impacts (i.e. "one million deaths")? I love the buzz terms “time frame,” “magnitude,” and “probability.” Debaters should use these. One million deaths will always come before an unwarranted dehum claim. Debaters should also tell me which impact standard takes priority. I also do not consider internal links, impacts. Telling me “the economy goes down” does not mean anything. Also how do I evaluate quality of life?

Lauran Schaefer - Texas Tech

Section 1: General Information  Please begin by explaining what you think is the relevant information about your approach to judging that will best assist the debaters you are judge debate in front of you. Please be specific and clear. Judges who write philosophies that are not clear will be asked to rewrite them. Judges who do not rewrite them may be fined or not allowed to judge/cover teams at the NPTE. Overall, I honestly want debaters to do what they do best in round. I do have a few caveats, however. First, I was never a theory debater and I can get lost in them very easily. I would suggest a few things, most importantly, slow down on the most relevant parts of the theory debate, specifically interpretations. So be advised, I need a clear story and proven abuse to feel comfortable with a decision on theory. I understand in some cases where the other team meets your interpretation, but you don’t have any good positions to go for, in that case be as clear as possible. Second, I prefer probability to magnitude and I will explain that in a later section. Section 2: Specific Inquiries  Please describe your approach to the following. 1. 1. Speaker points (what is your typical speaker point range or average speaker points given. I’m probably too generous with speaker points. I generally give between a 27-29 and avoid 30’s unless the speech is close to perfect. If the round is full of speakers who are generally at the same level, I default to giving the best a 29, the second best a 28.5, etc. This is subject to change because of Rob Layne’s incessant nagging about being a point fairy. J 1. 2. How do you approach critically framed arguments? Can affirmatives run critical arguments? Can critical arguments be “contradictory” with other negative positions?  I really like critical debates. Affirmatives can run critical arguments, but I think they need a clear framework with an interpretation and standards. Specifically, tell me why this particular critical aff is warranted. Your interpretation can’t be some “reject blah blah” that are somehow mutually exclusive and some bs solvency telling me how the world will all of a sudden change their mindsets from collapsing some “ism.” Although, I ran arguments like that, I now see that made me a bad debater. JExplain your solvency. What does the world look like after the action is taken? This seems to be missing in most critical debates. 1. 3. Performance based arguments… I’m fine with them, but I need to know how to evaluate them. 1. 4. Topicality. What do you require to vote on topicality? Is in-round abuse necessary? Do you require competing interpretations?  Like I said, I prefer proven abuse. Competing interpretations is probably your best bet. I’m not sure I would even know what to do with out one unless you’re critiquing T. 1. 5. Counterplans -- PICs good or bad? Should opp identify the status of the counterplan? Perms -- textual competition ok? functional competition? PICs are a good strategy. The opp should identify the status IF they are asked to, otherwise it’s fair game. Perms should be functional in my ideal debate world. If you’re going to go textual comp you’ll probably want to run more theory than you would with functional telling me why I should prefer it.  1. 6. Is it acceptable for teams to share their flowed arguments with each other during the round (not just their plans) I think as a courtesy, you should always give a copy of any plan text or counterplan text, especially if asked. I don’t care if teams want to share anything other than that. 1. 7. In the absence of debaters' clearly won arguments to the contrary, what is the order of evaluation that you will use in coming to a decision (e.g. do procedural issues like topicality precede kritiks which in turn precede cost-benefit analysis of advantages/disadvantages, or do you use some other ordering?)? Procedurals are obviously first. Next, I would go to framework, if necessary, to determine if the K comes first. Then the substance. I default to the impact debate.  1. 8. How do you weight arguments when they are not explicitly weighed by the debaters or when weighting claims are diametrically opposed? How do you compare abstract impacts (i.e. "dehumanization") against concrete impacts (i.e. "one million deaths")? I look to probability, first. Then magnitude. Finally, timeframe. If you want me to vote on huge impacts that are incredibly unrealistic, you should warrant exactly how these impacts will occur. Not some x country is pissed, the US gets involved, boom, big explosion because some random action causes a war in which rational actors would absolutely have to use nuclear weapons and it would cause a dust cloud that covers the sun. Although I did this, it’s because I had no idea if what I was saying was actually true.  Other Things Making fun of Colin Patrick would make me smile. Forrest Gump, Keith Stone and Honey BooBoo references are a good idea.

Patrick Muenks - UT-Tyler

Name: Patrick Muenks School: UT Tyler   Section 1: General Information Please begin by explaining what you think is the relevant information about your approach to judging that will best assist the debaters you are judge debate in front of you. Please be specific and clear. Judges who write philosophies that are not clear will be asked to rewrite them. Judges who do not rewrite them may be fined or not allowed to judge/cover teams at the NPTE.   I view debate as an educational activity that should supplement and enhance the collegiate experience of those who participate in it. As for my debate background: -3 years competing @ Washburn University. (2005 - 09) -4 years coaching @ Drury University, Washburn University, & UT Tyler. (2009 - 13)   Please slow down to roughly conversational pace and repeat any and/or all of these arguments: plan/cp texts, alternatives, perms, interpretations/counter-interpretations.   Always call points of order. I will protect in rebuttals, but I would rather have you error on the side of caution.   The term “default” in my philosophy. Default means that I will revert to that position or method of evaluating arguments in the absences of any arguments made to the contrary.  Default does not mean that I hold an attachment to these predisposition. For example - while I default to evaluating topicality through ground, I would vote for the gov if they won arguments about why evaluating topicality through education is best.   A couple of things to know about how I look at debate:   An argument = claim + data + warrant.   Depth is always better than breadth.   Debate is ultimately a strategic exercise.   Pen time & speed: In most instances, speed is not necessary. If you’re fast and unclear, I will start yelling “clear” until you become cogent. Additionally, making a lot of warrantless claims usually means I’ll miss something which will no doubt upset you when it comes time for the RFD. When you’re debating, make arguments as opposed to claims.   This ensures two things. -I keep a much better flow because I can listen to an argument develop as opposed to trying to keep up with the ten claims you’re attempting to shell in 45 seconds. Ultimately benefits you, the competitor, since a better flow means I can better evaluate your arguments. -You won’t sound informed and/or will sound under researched. I do not find underdeveloped arguments persuasive or compelling. If you’re disad turns case but you don’t mention that, I won’t do that work for you.    When it comes to NPTE, I want to stress that while I have been researching and reading about the topics, it would be better for you to assume I know nothing. Just because I have been researching does not mean I’ve been examining the same material you have.   Section 2: Specific Inquiries  Please describe your approach to the following.   Speaker points (what is your typical speaker point range or average speaker points given)?   25 - 30.   27.5 = average performance. You made some arguments and did not do anything to “lose” the round.   28 - 29 = You made deep well warranted arguments. You made smart tactical and strategic decisions within round to defeat your opponents. Usually associated with some level of risk taking as opposed to “screwing up less” than your opponent.   30: I was in awe of your performance and will make a Facebook post immortalizing it.   If you receive anything lower than a 25 from me, you were a terrible person in round.   How do you approach critically framed arguments? Can affirmatives run critical arguments? Can critical arguments be “contradictory” with other negative positions?   Critical arguments, projects, etc are fine. I default to evaluating critical arguments through net-benefits.   Critical affirmatives are fine.   Its fine by me if a team runs a critical argument and double turn themselves with other negative positions.   Performance based arguments…   Performance based arguments are fine. I default to evaluating performance based arguments through net-benefits. My only reservation to performance based arguments is I don’t think you should “win” just because you “preformed”. The performance should solve something.      Topicality. What do you require to vote on topicality? Is in-round abuse necessary? Do you require competing interpretations?   I default to requiring in round abuse to vote on topicality. I also default to evaluating topicality through a lens of ground. I do not require competing interpretations. The question of whether or not a counter interpretation needs to be deployed is a tactical consideration, not a necessity.   The above also applies to specification arguments.   Counterplans -- PICs good or bad? Should opp identify the status of the counterplan? Perms -- textual competition ok? functional competition?   I’m fine with all types of counterplans. The theoretical validity of a given counterplan is subject to debate. In this area, I try to be as open as possible and come in without any predispositions. I default to assuming theory is a reason to reject an argument, not a team.   Is it acceptable for teams to share their flowed arguments with each other during the round (not just their plans)   Yes   In the absence of debaters' clearly won arguments to the contrary, what is the order of evaluation that you will use in coming to a decision (e.g. do procedural issues like topicality precede kritiks which in turn precede cost-benefit analysis of advantages/disadvantages, or do you use some other ordering?)?   I default to the following order:   Topicality/Procedurals Net-benefits calculus of all other positions in the round   So unless the K framework sets forth arguments why it should be evaluated before the case, then I will default to weighing case versus the kritik.   How do you weight arguments when they are not explicitly weighed by the debaters or when weighting claims are diametrically opposed? How do you compare abstract impacts (i.e. "dehumanization") against concrete impacts (i.e. "one million deaths")?   I default to body count over abstract impacts.

Travis Smith - UT-Tyler

Name: Travis Smith School: University of Texas at Tyler   Section 1: General Information Please begin by explaining what you think is the relevant information about your approach to judging that will best assist the debaters in front of you. Please be specific and clear. Judges who write philosophies that are not clear will be asked to rewrite them. Judges who do not rewrite them may be fined or not allowed to judge/cover teams at the NPTE.   I believe in freedom and America and all the great things that exist here like NASCAR, chubbies and happy hours that start at noon. On that note, I view debate as a game where one team tries to beat another team. In this regard, I am open to most arguments with the exception being performance based arguments. If you believe that an argument will win you the round, go for it. The only things I ask for are: warrant your arguments and make impact calculus so I don’t have to.   Section 2: Specific Inquiries Please describe your approach to the following.   1. Speaker points (what is your typical speaker point range or average speaker points given)?   0-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------30   2. How do you approach critically framed arguments? Can affirmatives run critical arguments? Can critical arguments be “contradictory” with other negative positions?   Kritiks are fine for both sides. A contradiction doesn’t mean that a team automatically wins or loses; I will evaluate the round as it is presented to me. I will vote on double turns if they are brought up and explained as to why I should vote on them. I will also vote on perf-con if it is legitimate and impacted out. If it is not a perf-con, but you keep claiming it is, I will probably mock you incessantly after the round. I am down for conditionality or dispositionality or whatever other ality you kids have come up with.   3. Performance based arguments…   Not a big fan, mainly because I don’t understand how they make a difference. It is probably best to not run these in front of me since I’ve been doing this for 11 years and I still don’t get it.   4. Topicality. What do you require to vote on topicality? Is in-round abuse necessary? Do you require competing interpretations?   I require in-round abuse or a reason why in-round abuse is not important. Competing interpretations means I should look to the standards to evaluate the best interpretation, so that’s pretty important, but just saying those words doesn’t mean you win. I think T is a-priori unless otherwise noted. If you are kicking out of T and there is no offense on it, you don’t have to mention it in the MOC.   5. Counterplans -- PICs good or bad? Should opp identify the status of the counterplan? Perms -- textual competition ok? functional competition?   Debate what you want, I will not discount a counterplan on face, just defend it well and understand what competitiveness you are going for. I do not care about the status of the counterplan, just make sure everyone knows what it is and defend it. Please put voters on theory that actually means something, not just random words.   6. Is it acceptable for teams to share their flowed arguments with each other during the round (not just their plans).   People really do this? I don’t care what you share in the round, just keep it PG.   7. In the absence of debaters' clearly won arguments to the contrary, what is the order of evaluation that you will use in coming to a decision (e.g. do procedural issues like topicality precede kritiks which in turn precede cost-benefit analysis of advantages/disadvantages, or do you use some other ordering)?   Procedurals should be a priori, followed by pre-fiat impacts and then fiat impacts. I am open to being told otherwise though. I cannot stress this enough: please tell me how to vote and we will all be happier people.   8. How do you weight arguments when they are not explicitly weighed by the debaters or when weighting claims are diametrically opposed? How do you compare abstract impacts (i.e. "dehumanization") against concrete impacts (i.e. "one million deaths")?   I personally believe death outweighs dehume, but I will listen to other views, just make sure the warrants are there for whatever you are arguing. If no debater in the round has presented me with a way to weigh the round, I will close my eyes, point to my flow and whatever argument I am pointing at will win.

2013 The University of Texas at Tyler Invitational Swing Part 2