Paradigm

Colin Nohr
Dr. Phillips High School

About Me

I used to be a high school English teacher and helped with congress debate, but I have since changed to the healthcare field. I still judge for events because I love speech and debate.

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

When it comes to LD, I prefer trad debates. Imagine that you are trying to convince an educated public, not another LD debater. I don’t flow completely, but I keep track of arguments/counters and evidence as best as I can. I give my vote to whoever persuades me best with their overall case and I only judge based on what is presented to me. For example, if your opponent has a really strong counterargument with clear evidence and real-world impact that you don't address whatsoever, then that will lower your standing in the debate.

You can add me to the email chain: Colin.Nohr@gmail.com

Some things to incorporate in LD for me :

✅ Strong evidence/arguments that are relevant, clear, and show real-world impact

✅ CLASH whenever possible. Collegially, of course.

✅ Voting issues down the flow and during final speech

✅ Strong value criterion framework that connects well to your points is a bonus (especially if there is a clash)

Some things that do not convince me in LD:

⏺ Unrelated extinction or highly improbable impacts (e.g., how student debt will/won’t lead to nuclear winter)

⏺ Theory shells that put unreasonable strain on the competitor and the spirit of debate (e.g., we should only consider a priori arguments in round)

⏺ Kritiks (In spirit, I appreciate them, but in practice it does not really influence my final decision much at all)

Congress:

I care a lot about proper decorum, especially with respect to interaction among members in the chamber. For example, if you're asking questions to the congressperson with the floor, please do not preface your question for an inordinate amount of the questioning block. Use questions to get your prefacing in. Prefacing is fine, but excessive or unnecessary prefacing is not.

Question and rebuttals are the heart of what makes this event something more than just people going up to the front of the room to read a static speech then sit down 15-20 times in a row.

For speeches, make your arguments and supporting evidence clear with sign posts. Don't read so heavily from your speech that you rarely (if ever) look up.

If there is a one-sided debate going on (two or three affs/negs in a row) please know that I will be expecting a better than normal speech with arguments that have not already been made along with clear rebuttals OR strong crystallizing.

I love congress and I'm excited to hear your speeches and give you feedback in comments.

Speech (interp, info, oratory, extemp, impromptu, etc.):

Pacing, passion, novelty, and and complexity score highly with me.