Advanced Debate to Build Thinking, Speaking, & Listening Skills (Ages 13 - 15)

In this ongoing club, students will practice and reinforce modified parliamentary debate skills and format in the context of 2 versus 2 team debate. This includes debate terms and the use of supporting evidence from credible sources. Each weekly session topic will be learner-directed or dictated weekly due to current events/happenings. Outside preparation for each weekly topic is essential for success.
Each debate will consist of 3 speeches per team as follows:
• First proposition constructive speech 5 minutes
• First opposition constructive speech 5 minutes
• Second proposition constructive speech 5 minutes
• Second opposition constructive speech 5 minutes
• Opposition rebuttal 3 minutes
• Proposition rebuttal 3 minutes
The non-speaking team is allowed to interrupt a speaker to ask three types of questions:
1. Points of Clarification (POC)
2. Points of Information (POI)
3. Point of Order:
Debate skills practiced will include introduction of resolution, defining resolution, building support with evidence for learner's side of the resolution, refuting opposing team's arguments, summarizing the argument with an effective summary statement, and appropriate heckling/points of order.
Elements of scoring, poise, voice projection, gestures, and organizing effective arguments will be reinforced each week. Each student debate will emphasize respectful presentation of opposing ideas as well as active listening. Students will collaborate on motions in teams of 2 and present their motion as a team. Age-appropriate topics will be used. Although topics will be  learner-directed or dictated weekly due to current events/happenings,  "hot button" topics that involve politics, religion, and highly controversial ideologies will be avoided. This class is for the purpose of refining the art of civil debate and learning how to present, defend, and respect opposing ideas. Please adhere to the recommended age for enrollment to ensure your student has the optimal learning experience.