Speech and Debate Club - Public Forum

Get $5 off your first class! Use code: COMMUSTRT5

In this class, learners will be able to consistently practice and improve their public speaking and debate / argumentation skills through team debating. 

Learners will be given the debate resolution a week prior to class. They will not be assigned a side (affirmative or negative) or a team until the start of class. Learning how to debate for either side regardless of their personal opinions improves their skills, but also encourages more thorough research. 

At the start of class, teams will be assigned randomly and be moved to a monitored and guided in breakout room to prepare and plan their debate. 

After prep time, the class will come together to debate using the Public Forum format. Learners will have a role (cross-examiner, closer, etc)  and an allotted amount of time to present their case.  After the debate has concluded, the teacher will provide feedback to both sides and declare a winner. 

If it's not a full class, the class will start by giving the students a random topic to practice impromptu speaking. They will then have 5 minutes to curate a speech (no research needed) and deliver it during the class. The more often they do this, the better they will get a being able to think on their feet and turn those thoughts into effective and compelling conversations and speeches.   If it's a full class, all time will be spent in preparation and debate. 

If your child doesn't have any experience in debate or public speaking, please consider starting with our Beginners class:https://outschool.com/classes/public-speaking-debate-club-beginners-hbOxf41F

Upcoming Debate Topics:

Week of 4/6/25: Parents should be criminally liable for the crimes of their children.
Week of 4/13/25: Countries that contribute the most to climate change should pay reparations to the countries most affected by climate change.
Week of 4/20/25: Purchasing clothes made of animal furs should be illegal.
Week of 4/27/25: We should pay stay at home parents a salary.
Week of 5/4/25: People are less social today than they were before social media
Week of 5/11/25: Every country should implement a universal basic income (if that is not already in place).
Week of 5/18/25: We should ban international adoption (adopting a child from a country that you do not live in).
Week of 5/25/25: Standardized tests are good for education.

We also offer private group classes and 1:1 tutoring! 

This class is backed by Outschool's Happiness Guarantee.