Over five sessions, this debate camp will introduce Middle School students to the basics of good argumentation and then allow them to engage novel debate topics alongside fellow students. 

Session 1: Introduction to debate and the basic tactics of persuasion (i.e. ethos, logos, pathos) and basic fallacies (e.g. ad hominem). First mini-debates after group brainstorming sessions.

Session 2: Structuring arguments into claim/warrant/impact. Introduction to rebuttals. More mini-debates with both constructive speeches and rebuttals. 

Session 3: Evaluating evidence and weighing impacts. Further discussion of ethos/logos/pathos alongside warrants and impacts. Introduction to intermediate fallacies (e.g. availability heuristics). Introduction to cross-examination.

Session 4: Introduction to affirmative plans vs arguing for/against a resolution. Discussion on topicality. Further mini-debates with full constructive speeches, cross examinations, and rebuttals.

Session 5: Final Tournament. 


Concepts will be heavily scaffolded and new challenges will be introduced after each mini-debate round. Throughout the camp, students will paired into Zoom breakout rooms for 5-minute intervals prior to mini-debates so that teammates can collaborate as they prepare for their speeches. Team collaboration and camaraderie will be heavily emphasized during debate round prep and teams will be frequently rotated.

No prior debate experience is required to attend the camp.