[eDebate] Speaker Points

[Joshua Hoe]

I have to amit lately the speaker point issue has been troubling for me.  I 
firmly believe that point-inflation is so rampant that it no longer is 
meaningful to distinguish between speakers in a round based on points.  
Twice recently I have had people I really like confront me over relatively 
low-points and both times I have had the same answer, basically:

1). Not all of your speeches are equal in value.  If I have heard you give a 
speech that is a 28.5 and then the next time I judge you your speech does 
not meet that standard how in the world can I let you know that without 
lowering your points?

2). Not all speeches are 28s or above.  Just because every single first year 
judge in the USA thinks theywill pariahs if they use the 27s does not mean 
you always give 28 or better speeches.

3).  There should be something special about getting a 29 and something 
otherworldly about getting a 30.   A 30 should be for the best speech you 
ever gave not for every other speech.

4).  When, for instance, a UNT speaker was 22nd at Wake but tied for 11th 
there may be something a little skewed in point land.

I guess the most illustrative example I can think of was a discussion I had 
with a debater who will remain nameless who asked why I did not give her/him 
high points like everyone else did.  I replied that the style that debater 
used was more intended to emphasize her/his advantage in technical ability 
instead of emphasizing persuasion and speaking and that the cost of that 
strategy of speaking was lower points.  To me, a great speaker would never 
put me in a situation where I had to read every card in a debate to make the 
correct decision.

Now that I have firmly placed myself both in the old school and at the lower 
reaches of the strike sheet :) I will go back to tournament administration 
:)

Josh


Joshua B. Hoe
University of North Texas



>From: Jean Paul Lacy <lacyjp at wfu.edu>
>To: Jason Regnier <jason at regnier.com>
>CC: eDebate at ndtceda.com
>Subject: Re: [eDebate] Speaker Points
>Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 21:06:33 -0500 (EST)
>
>
>Sounds like Wake is going to get great points from you, since none of our
>cards make our arguments.
>
>(at least the cards I cut)
>
>--JP
>
>
>
>
>On Mon, 26 Nov 2001, Jason Regnier wrote:
>
> > > 27.5: Above average (Hard to get above this if your best argument has 
>to
> > > be made by your partner during your speech or you need to rely on a
> > > boom-box to make your argument for you-deal with the format like
> > > everyone else has to)
> >
> > I agree.  But i'd like to extend this sentiment.  When I start judging 
>in
> > the future, I will only give 27.5 to anybody who needs to rely on cards 
>to
> > make their argument for them.
> >
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