Learn to Debate - 10 Week Advanced Fall Curriculum
What's included
10 live meetings
20 in-class hoursAssessment
Students will be assessed on whether or not they won their debate rounds based upon how well they argued their side and answered their opponents.Class Experience
US Grade 4 - 7
Advanced Level
During this ten week long debate program students will learn advanced debate techniques, which includes both philosophical and political ways to approach argumentation. This class includes both the advanced debate and argumentation courses. Each class will include both a short lecture followed by an activity to help students learn the skill being taught during the lecture portion of class. Students will learn how to form arguments, listen to their opponents, develop critical thinking skills, and discern the difference between reliable and unreliable sources for evidence. This will allow students to learn to speak to a diversity of different people in order to learn how to adapt their arguments to the audience they're speaking to. By the end of the week students will have developed their public speaking skills, logical reasoning, as well as their ability to listen to and understand others. A breakdown of the course is as follows... Week One: Recap of Basics of Debate, A Lesson on Disadvantages, and a Return to Adventuring Week Two: A Lesson on Opportunity Costs, and Role Playing the Options Week Three: A Lesson on Political Realism, the Prisoner's Dilemma, and Teamwork Week Four: A Lesson on Objectivity and Subjectivity, and a Return to Ethos Activity Week Five: Recap of Debate Format, A Lesson on Utilitarianism and Deontology, with Guided Prep for Same Day Rounds (1 & 2) Week Six: Research and the Credibility of Sources, Truth and Cross-Examination, with Guided Prep for Week Seven Rounds Week Seven: Speaking Drills, Rounds 3 & 4 Week Eight: A Lesson on Discourse and Communication, with Guided Prep for Week Nine Rounds Week Nine: Rounds 5 & 6, Prep for Elimination Rounds for Top 50% and Activity for Bottom 50% Week Ten: Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Finals
Learning Goals
Students will learn how to work in teams, better their research, public speaking, debate, listening, and note taking skills.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Talking with parents and doing some limited research for the mini-tournament is suggested, but not required.
Supply List
Students should come with paper and something to write with. Taking notes on a computer is also entirely fine. A timer is suggested, but not required.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
The BCDA's founder has been run a competitive college debate team for twenty years. He has also run elementary and middle school debate workshops for the past four years both in the US and internationally. We have now taught well over a thousand kids from countries around the world digitally through this platform with great reviews. If for whatever reason you feel the class didn't live up to what you were looking for, please contact us for a refund. We are offering these courses as a way for students to get the benefits of debate and peer-directed education while schools are shutdown. Debate is not necessarily for everyone, but we are confident that if your kid is excited about it they will enjoy this class, and don't want you paying if that's not the case.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$30
weekly or $300 for 10 classes1x per week, 10 weeks
120 min
Completed by 152 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-14
4-12 learners per class