here - College of Arts & Sciences - Bethel University

Menapace, Carrie
Western Kentucky University
Background of the critic:
I competed in parli debate for 3 years at Northern Arizona University and dabbled in LD
along with numerous individual events. I did 4 years of LD and Congress in High
School.
Approach of the critic to decision-making (for example, adherence to the trichotomy,
stock-issues, policymaker, tabula rasa, etc.):
I try to flow every word possible so I can be as tabula rasa as possible. That being said, if
you aren't organized I will guess where to flow something. If an issue isn't resolved by
the debaters I will be forced to resolve it in the most logical way possible. I think the
PMC is an incredibly strategic speech and shouldn’t be discounted in the debate as soon
as the off-case arguments appear. If done correctly it can gain a lot of offense for the gov
early in the round. I’m not very compelled by the trichotomy. I like plans. If you chose
to run a fact or a value, by all means you are more than welcome too, but do so with the
understanding that the opp can engage that debate in any way they deem fit. I’m ok with
that being done procedurally, through a counter case, or counter-warrants. The only thing
I ask is that case has good internal links and impacts that are clearly terminalized.
Relative importance of presentation/communication skills to the critic in decision-making
:
Rebuttals are different than member speeches. They should integrate the line by line into
the overall strategy explanation of the round. I normally give better speaker points to
those that make better arguments. I care about presentation skills insofar as I think you
should probably use full sentences and not look like a bumbling fool, but I don't think
debate should be dueling oratories.
Relative importance of on-case argumentation to the critic in decision-making:
You shouldn't drop case. If you lose the off-case and don't have any case arguments you'll
lose the round. If you lose off-case and still have turns and solvency takeouts on case,
you could still win.
Openness to critical/performative styles of debating:
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