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More information about Ustar Spring Debate Argumentation Class
This class is designed to teach elementary and middle school students that are interested in Debate, argumentation skills that will enable them to develop confidence, self-esteem, critical thinking skills, creativity, and leadership. Participants will have a chance to improve their communication skills in a safe and secure environment. The classes aim to equip children to structure arguments, prepare debate cases, research evidence, write rebuttal briefs, deliver speeches, and refute arguments. It will also prepare them to join high school speech and debate teams in the future.
Course Breakdown
Week 1:
Getting To Know You Activities
Which do you prefer? Mini debates
Objective: Students will be introduced to the idea of having preferences/opinions and the importance of respecting others by participating in mini debates.
Week 2:
Continue Mini Debates
Basic Debate Vocabulary
Objective: Students will begin learning the basic vocabulary terms of debate and how to conduct themselves in a debate round.
Week 3:
Resolution Debates
Claim, Warrant, Impacts
Objective: Students will be introduced to critical thinking and problem solving skills as they are introduced to defending arguments.
Week 4:
Organized Group Debate rounds
Objective: Students will participate in their first organized/formal debate round that is timed and structured.
Week 5:
Resolution Debates Advanced Topics
Research and Effective Flowing(note taking)
Objective: Students will learn more indepth information about anaylzing resoultions and the importance of flowing in a debate round.
Week 6:
Professional Single Debates
Super Debate Tournaments
Objective: Students will demonstrate their knowledge of debate thru a professional debate tournament online with judges.
Week 7:
Debate Vocabulary Activity: Let’s Go To the Movies
New Resolution Topic Discussion
Objective: Continue extensive rebuttal speech training and debate rounds.
Week 8:
Debate Rounds
Objective: Continue extensive rebuttal speech training and debate rounds.
Week 9:
Debate Rounds
Objective: Continue extensive rebuttal speech training and debate rounds.
Week 10:
Debate Rounds
Objective: Continue extensive rebuttal speech training and debate rounds.
Week 11
Congressional Debate: Passing the Bill
Objective: Students will learn the steps to getting a bill passed through congress.
Week 12-15
Congressional Debate: Bill creation and Congressional Debate Procedures
Objective: Students will create bills for competition and understand/practice the steps to participating in a congressional debate round.
Week 16-20
Partner Debate/Policy Debate: Students will use the Congressional Debate Bills to create a policy debate topic for debate rounds.
Objective: Students will learn the the third style of debate:policy or CX debate . They will choose a partner to research and prepare for debate rounds.
*Students must do all required homework in order to master the concepts as they are very challenging.
Saturday/Sunday Workshops
Every other month for one Saturday/Sunday we will hold Speech and Debate Tournaments to further enhance the classes. These tournaments will be from 9-2pm. At 1:00pm parents will be invited to see their child participate in a showcase of what they learned. This will be online should the parents agree.