Thibodeau,+Maria


 * Background: **
 * I am a high school English (sophomores, juniors, seniors, AP English Language) and humanities/philosophy teacher in Los Alamos, NM. I am technically a lay judge, with no formal debate background, but I do have argumentation and analysis background. I may not know all of the vernacular, but I do know who has the more compelling case and who has carried the flow. **


 * Yes: **
 * Solid organization and clear cases to build your arguments. Rhetorical flourishes. Eye contact. Humility and practice. Adaptation. **


 * No: **
 * As a newer judge, spreading will not impress me so much as make it harder for all of your quality points to be heard and weighed. In other words, I am not ideologically opposed to spreading, but your main objective should be to clearly communicate your arguments; therefore, if you cease to be effective in your communication, you have defeated the objective. **