here - College of Arts & Sciences - Bethel University

Unique consideration: I am hearing impaired. No joke-- I wear hearing aids in both ears,
and am basically deaf without them. As such, clarity is particularly important for me. I
am working very hard to understand what you say, I’d appreciate if you help me out a
little.
Approach of the critic to decision-making (for example, adherence to the trichotomy,
stock-issues, policymaker, tabula rasa, etc.):
See above. Although I don't believe complete objectivity is truly possible, I do try my
best to let the debaters themselves determine what is and is not best for the debate
process.
Criteria should be carefully thought out. What is to be weighed should be identified along
with how the weighing takes place. The opposition team should feel free to offer counter
criteria. I very much like to hear warrants behind your claims, as too many debates are
based on unsubstantiated assertions. As such, while a “dropped argument” definitely has
weight, it will be evaluated within the context of the rest of the debate and is not
automatically a round-winner.
Relative importance of presentation/communication skills to the critic in decision-making
:
Delivery: Structure is important and should be verbally identified as you speak. It should
be clear where you are refuting and extending arguments. Simply going down the flow is
not good enough, you should still be identifying the argument you are addressing by
something other than “their next argument.” Your “next” and my “next” may very well
not be the same thing.
Some may call me a dreamer, but good content still weighs more heavily to me than slick
presentation. Have something good to say, rather than simply being good at saying
things. Also, please feel free to actually enjoy yourself. Debate should be fun.
Relative importance of on-case argumentation to the critic in decision-making:
I find that case debate, while a very effective strategy, is rarely practiced by debaters.
This is unfortunate, as it usually provides the most direct and relevant clash. I can
understand, however, that at times counterplans and kritiks make a case debate irrelevant
or even unhelpful. nevertheless, I can't tell you the number of times I have seen an
Opposition team get themselves in trouble because they failed to make some rather
simple and intuitive arguments on the case.
Openness to critical/performative styles of debating:
77