Domalewski,+Armand

I debated for four years of college NPDA/NPTE style parli, which, if you're not familiar with it, is sort of like HS circuit policy without cards. I was generally a policy making debater, but in my final year I ran the K quite a lot, so I'm comfortable with it. I've been judging Varsity LD on and off for two years, but it's more off than on.

Here's the tl;dr if you're reading this right before a round: 1. Speed, theory, k's, procedurals are totally fine.

2. My background is not in LD and I have not read anything about this topic, so feel free to go fast but explain everything and tell me why it matters in the round. Especially important: slow down on tags so I have pen time, indicate clearly to me when you've switched from one argument to another (numbering is great, but can be confusing because many cards have internal numbering, so "next" works well.)

3. Economics and politics probably need less explanation. Philosophy (framework, especially) needs more.

4. Theory in LD is much more complex and sophisticated than anything I <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">ever dealt with, and while I love a good theory debate, I find that <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">it's the most perishable skill in debate, so please please please be <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">clear, be organized, and tell me how theory arguments interact. The <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">easiest way to win my ballot on questions of theory is to prove some <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">theory argument is the internal link to all other theory arguments, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">for example.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">5. I have some competence in debate and I'm reasonably intelligent, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">but, like most circuit judges, I am not as smart as you think I am and <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">especially not as smart as I think I am. Keep that in mind.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">So you're still here? Alright. Here's the long form birth <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">certificate---I mean, judging philosophy. (Hurray for references that <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">will be dated in four years!)

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">Speed/Communication:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">1) If you are clear I will be able to flow you. Please allow for pen <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">time, though. The buzzwords in LD are different than Parli so my <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">shorthand is not as developed. Make sure your tags are clear. I will <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">call for cards if necessary. If I do not understand your argument in <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">round, I will not use cards to clarify my lack of understanding; I <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">will only use cards to resolve a dispute about what evidence does or <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">does not say. It's the debater's job to communicate arguments clearly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">I know that sucks---I've been on the receiving end of enough "judge <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">told me to make the argument I actually did make" decisions for three <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">debate careers, but it's the only way we can play the game.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">2) I will yell clear for clarity, loud for loudness. I will yell these <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">many times if need be, because I do really want to understand you, but <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">if you persist, I won't keep yelling all round.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">3) Please ignore my nonverbal. During debate rounds, I'm very focused <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">on being as fair as I can to you, so my facial control goes out the <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">window. My happy face doesn't mean you're winning, and my sad face <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">doesn't mean you're losing. My lack of flowing may mean I'm confused, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">or it may mean I've already written enough of the argument to satisfy <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">me.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">4) Please do not reference arguments solely by card author. I don't <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">know how y'all remember which argument goes by which author, but I do <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">not have that mental muscle. It is fine to reference authors---that <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">will probably be helpful I need to call for cards---but you must at <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">least give me a quick reference to the argument itself for me to be <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">able to follow you.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">Theory:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">My biggest disclaimer is that while I enjoy theory debate, I've found <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">that LD theory debate is much higher level than that in NPDA parli, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">and has different nuances because of the different structure. Please <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">be clear where your answers to theory are (on the counterinterp, on <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">the violation, etc.) and what their function is. The easiest way to <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">win my ballot here is to weigh your various theory arguments against <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">each other, and explain to me why this means you win. (I've judged <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">rounds where the debater explained to me afterwards why a five second <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">theory argument should've won them the round. The debater was right, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">but the explanation in round to communicate that argument was <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">insufficient. )

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">I accept whatever arguments are presented to me. If those arguments <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">are not made, here is how I default:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">1) RVIs in Parli are stupid, but I understand that in LD the community <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">norms are different, so I'm fine with them in this space.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">2) Theory comes before pre-fiat comes before post-fiat

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">3) I default to a framework of competing interpretations. Potential <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">abuse can be just as bad as real abuse, but you need to explain why.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">What arguments you should run in front of me:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">I'm comfortable enough with LD now that I don't have a bias towards <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">plan/CP debate. Feel free to mix it up. Part of the reason I judge is <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">to learn.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">Kritiks: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">I really, really, really like the K, because I think it is an <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">incredibly valuable way to confront our most basic assumptions about <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">society. K's are fantastic and cool and wonderful. BUT DO NOT RUN THEM <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THEM. The K works well when you understand not <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">only what the argument says but also why the argument explains why you <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">win the round. Yelling "they use biopower" is not enough; you need to <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">give me reasons why their use of biopower means I should vote against <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">them. Talk about role of the ballot, tell me why your alt solves, and <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">tell me why I should vote for you.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">Extensions: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">1) Extensions. I am not okeh with shadow extensions. It's fine to say <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">"extend the Domalewski card" (I live for the day someone says that, by <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">the way), but do not use the next speech to explain how that card <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">interacts with an argument your opponent made. I will not allow <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">"extend x" in one speech to become magically explained in the 2AR.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">Speaks: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">My range is from 27-30. 28 is average, 27 is below average, 26 and <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">below is probably racist. 28.5 is above average, 29 is "you will <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">probably clear", and 29.5-29.8 is "you are likely to win this <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">tournament." Anything above and I will be actively recruiting you to <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">join my future Presidential campaign, both because I am in awe of your <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">talents and terrified that if you do not join me you will destroy me.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">I reward, in this order: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">1. Good strategic choices. Do you have a crafty, strategic case? Do <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">you collapse to the right places throughout the round? Do you use your <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">opponent's mistakes against him/her? Do you see the outs your opponent <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">has, and shut them down? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">2. Clarity. To quote my good friend Om Alladi, "structure is KEY. I <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">really like structured arguments. this does not mean subpoints etc. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">but labelling of arguments. if you tag every argument with the <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">appropriate function, ie '1) not true- 2) alt causality 3) solvency <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">takeout' i will appreciate it immensely." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">3. Innovation/cleverness. Running a weird interpretation or unique <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">contentions will earn you points. I like creativity. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">4. These things will TANK your speaker points: rudeness, being mean to <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">novices, spreading out people who ask you to slow down, intentionally <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">being unclear, racist/sexist/homophobic language. Read the room: being <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">aggressive and dominant is fine against a debater that is equal to <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">you in skill, but comes off as bullying to someone who is less <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">experienced.