Chamberlain,+David

David Chamberlain English Teacher and Director of Forensics - Claremont High School, CA 15 years coaching forensics. I usually judge Parliamentary debate at tournaments.

=**LD Debate**=

I prefer a more traditional debate round with a Value + Value Criterion/Standard that center around philosophical discussions of competing moral imperatives. I understand the trend now is for LD Debaters to advocate plans. I don't know if this is good for the activity. There's already a debate format that exclusively deals with plan debate. **LD is not one-person policy debate.**

I can flow speed debate, but prefer that debate be an oratorical activity.
 * Speed:**

I enjoy Theory debates. I don't know that I always understand them. I also prefer rounds to be centered on substance. Theory/Topicality debates aren't particularly fun for me unless your opponent has done something that makes it impossible for you to debate. I usually default to reasonability, and don't prefer the competing interpretations model. It takes something egregious for me to vote on T or Theory.
 * Theory/T:**

I usually start at a 27.0 and work my way up or down from there. Usually you have to be rude or unprepared to dip below the 27.0.
 * Points:**

I don't think it makes sense to operate a counterplan unless the Aff has presented a plan. If the Aff does go with a Plan debate, then a Counterplan is probably a good strategy. If not, then I don't understand how you can counter a plan that doesn't exist. If this is the debate you want to have, try Policy debate.
 * Counterplans:**

The biggest problem with these is that often debaters don't understand their own message / criticism / literature. I feel they are arguments to be run almost exclusively on the Negative, must have a clear link, and a stable alternative that is more substantial than "do nothing", "vote neg", or "examine our ontology/epistemology".
 * Critical Arguments:**

I really enjoy Political discussions, but again, LD is probably the wrong format of debate for the "political implications" of the "plan" that result in impacts to the "status quo" to be discussed.
 * Politics / DAs:**