here - College of Arts & Sciences - Bethel University

Carver, Randy
Texas State University
Background of the critic:
I have been judging and coaching for the past year at Texas State. Our team has mostly
traveled a regional and local circuit so my exposure has been limited by that travel
schedule. My experience as a competitor is primarily in individual events.
Approach of the critic to decision-making (for example, adherence to the trichotomy,
stock-issues, policymaker, tabula rasa, etc.):
I use the critic of argumentation paradigm when judging debate rounds because it best
meets the educational and competitive purposes of debate. While some my say that they
are tabula rasa, I don’t believe they are completely accurate. Tabula rasa is a means to an
end and I will leave as much of my personal feelings out of the debate as I evaluate your
arguments.
Relative importance of presentation/communication skills to the critic in decision-making
:
Communication skills are very important to me. My background as an individual event
competitor leads me in that direction. NPDA grew as a reaction to the noncommunicative
aspects of policy debate so I uphold the rhetorical tradition of this format
as opposed to a faster and un-kinder delivery.
Relative importance of on-case argumentation to the critic in decision-making:
Debate in the trenches and the line by line case debate appeals to me. The pre-flowed
generic disads or off case positions are not strategic for me. Topicality run on open
motions is just plain dumb. Kritiks, like disads, are just generic positions that you run
when the on case knowledge is not there. Not a fan of these. Counterplans do provide a
viable option in a policy debate if the competition standards are clear and there is a
definite net benefit.
Openness to critical/performative styles of debating:
I did interp events as an IE competitor. That’s where performance/critical arguments
belong. While they may be becoming more popular, they move away from the
argumentative paradigm that I adhere to, so you would not be wise running one in front
of me.
Any additional comments:
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